Tag: deceiving spirits
Beware of deceitful spirits!
Scripture reading for September 29: 1 Timothy 4
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teaching of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the Word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5
We often think of cultural anomalies and local superstitions as harmless but they can have demonic spirits behind them. Paul told Timothy to be careful by repeating a warning the Holy Spirit revealed to him. In the later times, nearer to Christ’s return, demonic spirits would be active in bringing deception over people and holding them in darkness through religious means. Some would forbid marriage and promote all kinds of living arrangements that were actually teachings of demons. Adultery, fornication, and homosexuality would be examples mentioned in Scripture.
Other false spirits might require certain diets to be followed and forbid certain foods in order to be accepted. This appears harmless, but God’s Word teaches that all foods have been declared clean by God under the New Covenant. They are made holy by the Word of God and prayer. That is why we pray over our food, thanking God for His provision. Examples of this might be vegetarianism, keeping Jewish laws on clean and unclean foods, or teaching that certain foods defile us spiritually. When we believe and know the truth, we are set free from these deceiving spirits and the bondage that comes from them. This doesn’t mean that God cannot direct us to abstain from certain foods that our bodies can’t tolerate. We are called to a life of freedom and grace that rests in Christ’s finished work on our behalf. Everything we do is to be by faith to the glory of God.
Have you ever been in bondage to a deceiving spirit or come under a doctrine of demons? Are you now living in freedom and under grace? From this passage, what deceiving spirits are operating in our culture during our lifetime?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for illuminating the world of evil spirits and how they are set to bring deception and bondage. Thank You for delivering me from seducing spirits of human effort and good works for true salvation by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Use me to declare Your victory. Amen.
Train yourself to be godly!
Scripture reading for September 29th: 1st Timothy 4
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1st Timothy 4:1) Spiritual warfare will intensify as the time of Christ’s return approaches. Satan will use people in the church who Paul calls “hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1st Timothy 4:2) A hypocrite is someone who puts on a show for others approval. True believers must be transformed by the Spirit through applying God’s word.
“If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1st Timothy 4:6-8)
Paul encouraged Timothy to warn his flock of the coming deception and then to teach and live out the truths of the faith and sound teaching. Sound doctrine is an antidote against deception. As athletes have a discipline of physical training to prepare them for competition, so Timothy must train himself to be godly by following the spiritual disciplines of reading the word of God and prayer. Physical training is temporal in its value, but godliness pays dividends in this life and will be rewarded by Christ at the final judgement.
“. . . But set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (1st Timothy 4:11-13) Good pastors and Christians model godliness!
Setting an example of godliness!
Scripture reading for October 19th: 1st Timothy 4:1-16
“The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1st Timothy 4:1) Paul told Timothy that there would be many false teachers to confront in these last times before Christ’s return. These teachers would be full of demons which would bring doctrines that would cause people to depart from the true Gospel of salvation through faith. These teachers would have their consciences cauterized so that they could not feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
But a minister of Christ would know the truth and teach it. They would have nothing to do with these teachers, rather they would warn the believers to have nothing to do with them. Not only that, they were to embody the truth by living in godliness by the power of the Holy Spirit. (1st Timothy 4:8-10) Only the Gospel has the power to bring godliness into our sinful lives through faith in Jesus Christ!
Preaching the Gospel is the life-calling of pastors and teachers. “Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set and example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching.” (1st Timothy 4:11-13) Paul told Timothy to move forward in his calling. For a pastor this involved setting the example for the believers with your own life. His ministry must be matched by his living. If these contradicted each other, his message would be lost!
Timothy was to devote himself to public reading of God’s word! (Romans 10:17) The central focus of all a minister’s preaching and teaching must be the word of God! Myths, jokes, and ‘old wives’ tales’ would not bring the change needed in the hearts of his flock! “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers.” (1st Timothy 4:16) As you look for a church family today, evaluate what you are receiving from the pulpit ministry. Is there an example of godliness and strong preaching and teaching of the word? Beware of wolves in pastor’s clothes!
Setting an example of godliness!
Scripture reading for October 19th: 1st Timothy 4:1-16
“The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1st Timothy 4:1) Paul told Timothy that there would be many false teachers to confront in these last times before Christ’s return. These teachers would be full of demons which would bring doctrines that would cause people to depart from the true Gospel of salvation through faith. These teachers would have their consciences cauterized so that they could not feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
But a minister of Christ would know the truth and teach it. They would have nothing to do with these teaching, rather they would warn the believers to have nothing to do with them and teach the truth instead. Not only that, they were to embody the truth by living in godliness by the power of the Holy Spirit. (1st Timothy 4:8-10) Only the Gospel has the power to bring godliness into our sinful lives through faith in Jesus Christ!
Preaching the Gospel is the life-calling of pastors and teachers. “Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set and example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching.” (1st Timothy 4:11-13) Paul told Timothy to move forward in his calling. For a pastor this involved setting the example for the believers with your own life. His ministry must be matched by his living. If these contradicted each other, his message would be lost!
Timothy was to devote himself to public reading of God’s word! (Romans 10:17) The central focus of all a minister’s preaching and teaching must be the word of God! Myths, jokes, and ‘old wives’ tales’ would not bring the change needed in the hearts of his flock! “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers.” (1st Timothy 4:16) As you look for a church family today, evaluate what you are receiving from the pulpit ministry. Is there an example of godliness and strong preaching and teaching of the word? Beware of wolves in pastor’s clothes!