CLOSING THE DOOR TO DECEPTION!
By Pastor Bill Winston
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" I Timothy 4:1
This is a glorious time to be alive in the Kingdom of God in the earth. In the days to come, we are going to see an increase of what appears to be "supernatural manifestations" such as psychic hotlines, sorcery, readers, yoga, and other occult practices. While God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh, the gifts of the Spirit will be in full operation. Satan has a parallel plan by way of his signs and lying wonders to deceive the nations of the earth into serving him. Behind these activities are demonic spirits giving the person (medium or reader) manifestations of ESP, telepathy, and other premonitions. These manifestations are demonic and are counterfeit works of the Holy Spirit.
In the book of Exodus, Moses threw down his rod and it became a serpent. Pharaoh called the wise men, the sorcerers, and the magicians of Egypt and they did the same (Exodus 7:10-11).
In the book of Acts, Simon the Sorcerer used witchcraft and all the people in that area of Samaria said, "this man is the great power of God. To him they had regard, because that of a longtime he had bewitched them with sorceries" (Acts 8:9).
In Acts, chapter sixteen, there is an account of a woman possessed with a spirit of divination, a soothsayer or fortuneteller. Paul commanded the spirit to come out in the Name of Jesus and the woman lost the ability to tell fortunes.
In the following pages, we discuss some spirits operating in the occult. We will share how to recognize them and stay free of their influence.
Satanic Influences
Spirit of Divination - Divination is broadly defined as an attempt to discern future events or to discover that which cannot be known by normal methods of discovery. The familiar spirit is sought out to assist a person in his quest for hidden knowledge, guidance, and power. Divination includes the practices of occultists, spiritist mediums, witches, Haitian voodoo priests, American medicine men, and Siberian shamans. God has judged it as wrong. He calls divination an abomination and pronounces a curse upon anyone who practices it.
The practice of attempting to foretell future events. The Word of God tells us that people who divine are controlled or possessed by demonic spirits which enable them to receive information beyond the human intellect at a particular time. God's prophets receive their divine revelation by the Holy Spirit. On the other side of the spectrum are demonic spirits feeding information to fortunetellers and sorcerers.
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Fortuneteller / Soothsayer:
Warlock / Witch Sorcerer: Rebellion: Hypnotist / Enchanter: Magic: Water-Witching: Drugs (Greek:Pharmakos): |
Micah 5:12, Isaiah 2:6
Exodus 22:18 I Samuel 15:23 Deuteronomy 18:11 Exodus 7:11; 8:7; 9:11 Hosea 4:12 Revelations 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15 |
According to Matthew 18:18 - BIND: Spirit of Divination LOOSE: Holy Spirit & Gifts
Familiar Spirits - Familiar spirits is the designation of a specific type of evil spirit. It is so classified because of its chief characteristic; namely, familiarity. It is a relationship, a familiarity, with a person. For example, a woman whom Paul encountered in Macedonia, had a familiar spirit which gave her powers of divination. (See Acts 16:16-18). Familiar spirits are common amid the practices of spiritism and witchcraft, but their activity is by no means limited to persons and practices so obviously occult. Evil spirits are personalities, and personalities have the capacity to relate to one another. When a person forms a relationship with an evil spirit, (which can be done either willfully or through ignorance), that person then has a familiar spirit. Thus, anyone who becomes a channel of communication with an evil spirit is a medium. He has a familiar spirit.
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Necromancer:
Clairvoyant: Spiritist: Peeping & Muttering: False Prophesy: Passive Mind-Dreamers Yoga: |
Deuteronomy 18:11, I Chronicles 10:13
1 Samuel 28:7-8 I Samuel 28 Isaiah 8:19; 29:4; 59:3 Isaiah 8:19; 29:4 Jeremiah 23:16, 25, 32; 27:9-10 Jeremiah 29:8 |
According to Matthew 18:18 - BIND: Familiar Spirits & Deception LOOSE: Holy Spirit, Gifts, Knowledge of the Truth (I Corinthians 12:9-12)
Special Note: God's Word clearly forbids communication with spirits of the dead (see Deuteronomy 18:11). Familiar spirits can impersonate a deceased friend or relative. The scripture says, "There is one mediator between God and men, that man is Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus said, "no man cometh to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). There are some, however, who have been taught to pray to departed saints or Mary as mediators. When men pray to the spirits of these departed dead they are practicing necromancy.
Spirit of the Anti-Christ - (all spirits named in this outline deny some part or authority of Jesus Christ) - This spirit attacks the very foundation of Christianity, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, and the truth of the Gospel, such as the Atonement, Healing, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Resurrection of the Dead, the Rapture of the Church, and the Lord's Second Coming. If Jesus was not God in the flesh, then all His other claims are false.
The spirit of anti-christ works through those who teach that Jesus was a good man but nothing more. Muslims categorize Jesus as being a great prophet but just one of many. Even the supposed messages from UFO's nullify the divinity of Christ.
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Denies Deity of Christ:
Denies Atonement: Against Christ & His Teaching: Humanism: Worldly Speech & Actions: Against Christians: Lawlessness: Deceiver: |
I John 4:3; II John 7
I John 4:3 II Thessalonians 2:4; I John 4:3 II Thessalonians 2:3,7 I John 4:5 Revelation 13:7 II Thessalonians 2:3-12 II Thessalonians 2:4; II John 7 |
According to Matthew 18:18 - BIND: Spirit of Anti-Christ LOOSE: Spirit of Truth (I John 4:6)
Seducing Spirits - These strongmen will be especially active in the last days of our age as wickedness becomes more intense. Their prime target will be people who have accepted Christ as their Savior. Satan plays both ends against the middle. If he can't entice Christians with the usual sins, he uses false religions and doctrinal error to entangle them. For varied reasons, these blood-washed Believers will "depart from the faith" and embrace religions invented by devils.
How exactly does Satan seduce a Christian? "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15)
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Hypocritical Lies:
Seared Conscience: Wander from Truth: Fascination to Evil Ways, Objects or Persons: Seduced / Enticed: Deceived: |
I Timothy 4:1
I Timothy 4:1 II Timothy 3:13; I John 2:18-26 Proverbs 12:26 I Timothy 4:1; II Timothy 3:13 II Timothy 3:13 |
According to Matthew 18:18 - BIND: Seducing Spirits LOOSE: Holy Spirit of Truth (John 16:13)
Not Everything Is Caused By Demons
Do NOT believe that Christians can be demon possessed. But they certainly can be attacked in their mind, will, emotions, and body. They can be troubled, pressed, buffeted, harassed, depressed, obsessed, oppressed, in bondage, and bruised. Those people who are in the final state of possession or are indwelt have long since severed their relationship with God. The following are some scriptures which lead us to believe that blood-washed Believers, living according to the Word of God and who love the Lord with all of their heart, cannot be demon possessed.
- I Corinthians 10:21 "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."
- I Corinthians 3:16-17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
- I Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
- I John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he (God) that is in you, than he (devil) that is in the world."
- I Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world (demonic), but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given us of God."
- I John 5:18 "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."
How A Church Member Got Possessed
(A Testimony By Lester Sumrall)
"Evil spirit, how did you get into this woman?" It answered back, "She came to the adult motion picture theater to see a sex movie. While she was watching I was there and I had a right to go into her."
This opened up a tremendous avenue of thinking for us all. If Jesus were on this earth, He would not frequent theaters to allow himself to be contaminated with filthy, immoral and sensual suggestions or listen to obscenities and dirty jokes.
When a person deliberately goes into the devil's territory, while he is there it is possible to become a victim of whatever the devil offers, even though the person claims to be a Christian. For example, because we live in America, we have the full protection as an American citizen. If I crossed the border and went into communist China my protection and rights would cease. The same is true in spiritual things. Cross over into the devil's territory and you may pay a severe price.
Open Doors
Paul tells us that we are the determining factor in whether the devil can operate in our life or not. He says, "Neither give place to the devil." Or as the Amplified Bible says, "leave no room or foothold for the devil"…give no opportunity to him. When we allow openings in our spiritual life, the devil feels he has the right to take advantage of us in those specific territories. If we keep the doors closed, he can't do what he would like to do.
The Bible introduces us to the open door principle in Genesis 4:7 when the Lord said to Cain, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door."
God told Cain that Satan was crouched at his doorway, waiting to leap into his life. Cain had the choice and because he chose to open the door to jealousy, Satan led him into the murder of his brother, Abel.
Sin is progressive. One thing leads to another until we find ourselves in big trouble. For that reason, we must learn to close those doors and keep them closed before they develop into something harmful.
Trust In The Lord
MANY HAVE UNFAIRLY ATTRIBUTED ACTS TO GOD THAT WERE REALLY OF THE DEVIL. The results are devastating. What can the person do if he believes it is God who sent sickness into his life to teach him something? He shouldn't fight against God so he allows the sickness to rob him of his health when he should be resisting it in the Name of Jesus to be healed. We are now able to recognize WHO is doing WHAT in our lives so that we can react correctly according to God's Word. (Ephesians 4:27)
Prayer For Deliverance (Read this aloud)
Lord Jesus, I belong to You. You have saved me and redeemed me by Your blood. I have need of no spirit other than The Holy Spirit. Forgive me for having sought from other spirits that which should only come from You. I renounce and separate myself from all familiar spirits, psychic involvements, evil curses, charms, psychic powers, bewitchments, witchcraft, or sorcery which may have been put upon me or my family line; from any person or persons or from any occult or psychic source, however acquired. I call upon you, Lord, to deliver me from the lies and deceptions of familiar spirits. Teach me Your truth and Your ways. It is my earnest desire to walk in Your will (Word) and to glorify Your Name.
Satan, I renounce you. I take back all the ground I ever yielded to you. God is my source of knowledge, guidance, and power. You familiar spirit, leave me in the Name of Jesus.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for delivering me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness by Your Precious blood. In Jesus' Name. Amen
* * Burn all paraphernalia (symbols), charms, amulets, books, and pictures associated with these ungodly practices. (See Acts 19:19). Pray for salvation. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer For Salvation
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, ". ..him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). So I know You won't cast me out, but You take me in. And I thank You for it.
You said in Your Word "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED. For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved". (Romans 10:9,13) I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. I am calling upon His Name - the Name of Jesus - so I know, Father, that You save me now.
Your Word says, "...with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". (Romans 10:10) I do believe with my heart, and I confess Jesus now as my Lord. Therefore I am saved!
Thank You, Father!
How To Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
Step One
Jesus said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13) Notice the two major criteria for receiving the Holy Spirit. First, God must be your Father. This means you must be born again, or have the "within experience". Secondly, you have to ask him believing that if you ask it shall be given.
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Of if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:9-13).
Step one is to ask Him. Remember, all that we receive from God must be received by faith. Faith begins where the will of God is known. If you think it is not God's will for you to have it, it is hard to get faith to receive it.
Some years ago I received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, and it changed my whole life. Shortly before that time, I had received Christ as my Savior, however, I had a hunger for more of God. The church that I was attending did not believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. They taught that you got it all when you were water baptized. So I had to go where they believed and taught this truth. Since I have been Spirit-filled with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, I have seen a dimension of supernatural ability and wisdom added to my life that I never had before. When I was still working in corporate America as a sales manager at one of the largest corporations in the world, I would go in my office and pray in the spirit (tongues) and watch miraculous things happen in my meetings and to my computer sales team. How was this happening? God was enabling me by the power of the Holy Ghost. I came out number one sales manager for two consecutive years. (To God be the Glory!)
Most times I would pray in tongues before I went out street witnessing or evangelizing with other Believers and God would lead us right to those who were crying out for His loving touch. I also saw many bad habits fall away from my life. I guess that is why He is called Holy Spirit. The Bible even says that when we don't know how to pray in a particular situation we can pray in the spirit or tongues (our heavenly language) and thereby pray the perfect will of God (Romans 8:26-2 7). Scripture also teaches, "for if I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth (the real born-again person inside) but my understanding is unfruitful" (I Corinthians 14:14). This means that your mind does not fully comprehend what is going on. However, your spirit, your inner man, the "real" you, is praying in a heavenly language the perfect will of God. Paul the Apostle who gave us this revelation said, "I speak with tongues more than ye all" (I Corinthians 14:18).
Step Two
After you have asked, you must believe you receive when you pray. To receive from God, you must do it by faith. That means you must believe and act like it is already done. Do not look for a feeling. Oh, the feeling will come, but it follows your Faith. Notice when Jesus came to live inside you, the feeling followed you receiving Him as your new Lord. "What things soever ye desire when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24).
Step Three
Lift your hands and say, "Thank you, Jesus." Start thanking God and praising God, and a supernatural utterance will begin to come forth not by your own ability, but by the ability that God supplies. This is a supernatural manifestation of God.
BOOK REFERENCES
Strongman's His Name, What's His Game (An Authoritative Biblical Approach to Spiritual Warfare) by Carol and Jerry Robeson
Shiloh Publishing House
P.O. Box 100
Woodburn, Oregon 97071
Demonology & Deliverance (Principalities & Powers) Volume 1
by Dr. Lester Sumrall
LSEA
P.O. Box 12
South Bend, Indiana 46624
Seductions Exposed (The Spiritual Dynamics of Relationships)
by Gary Greenwald
Eagle's Nest Publishing
Santa Ana, California
Information on Masonic rituals are also available at:
Cornerstone Bookstores
Forest Park Plaza
7600 W. Roosevelt Road
Forest Park, IL 60130
(708) 697-5333
www.cornerstonebookstores.com