God’s Word tells us we are in spiritual warfare. Paul says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) What are those principalities Paul is talking about? We know “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Timothy 3:16) Paul goes on to say that we must “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they shall not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and they shall be turned unto fables.” (2Timothy 4:2-4) Therefore we should “study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Timothy 2:15)
In the Old Testament the Lord spoke through Isaiah saying, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts, for precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:9-10) Peter in the New Testament goes on to say that we should be like “newborn babes, (who) desire the sincere milk of the word, that you might grow thereby.” (1Peter 2:2) It behooves us to study God’s word carefully so we may be able “to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (1Peter 3:16)
So what are the principalities which Paul speaks of and says wrestle against us? Where do we find such adversaries in God’s word? In the Book of Daniel chapter 10 we find Daniel in fasting and praying for three weeks. At the end of which an angel appears unto him and speaks with him. The angel tells him that his prayers were heard the first day he prayed them, however, the Prince of Persia, a spiritual entity, withstood the angel for 20 days after which, Michael the archangel came to help him overcome the spiritual adversary and finally the angel brings the message to Daniel. (Read Daniel 10:1-21)So in other words, there are spiritual demonic forces that fight against us.
In the Book of Job we find more information about our spiritual enemy? Satan appears before the Lord with the other angels. “Now there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Where do you come from? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.” (Job 1:6-12) Here we see the Lord giving permission to Satan to test Job by afflicting his family and goods. Later in the next chapter the Lord gives Satan permission to afflict Job’s health, but not take his life. Yet the Bible says that “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2: 1-10)
Jesus in his temptation is tempted by Satan. “And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whosoever I will I give it. If you therefore will worship me, all shall be yours. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get you behind me, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” (Luke 4: 5-8) In these verses we see that Satan is the God of this world. Those who want riches and fame and power need only be willing to serve him and he will give them their desires.
Paul also says in Ephesians, “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2) Peter also warns us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1Peter 5:8) John tells us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know you the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1John 4:1-3)
John goes even further and tells us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.” (1John 2:15-17) Oddly enough the warning above compares similarly with Eve’s temptation in the Garden. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6) Paul also reminds us saying, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2Corinthians 11:3) He goes on to say, “For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness.” (2Corinthians 11:14-15)
No doubt Jesus had Satan’s subtlety in mind when he warned his disciples and us today to not be deceived. Jesus’ disciples had just been showing him the buildings of the temple which King Herod had been reconstructing. As they sat upon the Mount of Olives, they asked him what shall be the sign of his coming and the end of the world. Jesus’ first response was, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24: 4-5) He then gives some of the signs of his coming which you may know: wars and rumors of wars, nation against nation, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places and concludes the list with a second warning that “many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11)
Jesus then mentions that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12) Paul says something similar when he says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall… have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof: from such turn away. … But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2Timothy 1,5,&13) So we are to expect false teaching to abound that will even have a form of godliness but will yet deny Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. We see this in a lot of the Eastern philosophies which consider Jesus a master or guru of the first class, but not much different from any other guru or spiritual leader such as Siddhartha, or Mohammed, or Confucius, or any other.
Many different Christian sects and churches also could fall into this group as Paul has warned, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9) He also admonishes the Corinthians saying, “For if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you are all too willing to listen,” in other words, you shouldn’t be listening to it or accepting it. (2Corinthians 11:4 International Standard Version) Further on in the chapter he says “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2Corinthians 11:13-14)
Let’s go back to Matthew 24 where Jesus was warning of the false prophets and false Christs. He predicts that the “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14) He also mentions the “abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet” (Matthew 24:15) shall stand in the holy place. Many eschatology students believe the “holy place” could be a rebuilt Jewish temple on the sacred temple mount in Jerusalem. Jesus then states that the placing of the abomination of desolation in the holy place marks the beginning of the “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21) He goes on to repeat again his warning about false teachers. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that if it were possible, (and it is possible), they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.” (Matthew 24:24-25)
Paul has also warned saying, “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1Timothy 4:1) We have seen that here in Portugal many are going to the Reiki seminars to get enlightenment, healing power and attunements to be better able to help themselves and others. A massive influx of New Age books with their underlining eastern religious philosophy has taken place, besides the atheistic naturalistic evolutionary doctrines taught in the schools. Reiki, for example, is presented as a scientific technique to acquired healing and get relief from stress and anxiety. But it is nothing more than the calling upon spirit guides or angels resulting in spiritual oppression or possession. Many Christians searching for more power and spiritual experience fall for the Reiki advertisement and get deceived especially if they have not a strong foundation in the faith and in God’s Word. Catholics and Protestants can both be easily deceived. The founder of Reiki was a Buddhist Monk who spent 21 days in a Buddhist temple in prayer and fasting seeking enlightenment when he received his Reiki revelation. Because it is dressed in scientific terminology and eastern metaphysics westerners fall for it more easily, even though they are normally wary of religious doctrines.
To discern well the spirit behind the different philosophies we are presented with today, it is important to know the word of God. The author of Hebrews writes, “The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Paul says it like this, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2Corinthians 10:3-5)
But we will not have that ability to discern unless we are knowledgeable of God’s word. The Psalmists say, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)Paul said to Timothy, “Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear unto all.” (1Timothy 4:15) The author of Hebrews states, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Hebrews 2:1)
Jesus said, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23) He also warned, “If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:23) Do we really have the true light of Christ or are we being deceived by “angels of light”? (2Corinthians 11:14)
Having a good knowledge of God’s word will help to be able to discern the spirits. Isaiah warns us not to seek spiritual help from the dark side. “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep (whisper) and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God?” (Isaiah 8:19) He goes on to say, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20) That’s why Paul has admonished us to “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Timothy 2:15)
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a good protection against being deceived by “unholy” spirits. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would “guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) Jesus makes some conditional statements about the Holy Spirit and its presence with us. “If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father and he will send you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you and shall be in you.” (John 14:15-17) In other words, if you love me, keep my commandments and then I will send you the Holy Spirit or, I will send the Holy Spirit to those who love me. You show you love me by keeping my commandments. Jesus says, “If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)
We read earlier that John has told us to try or test the spirits to see if they are of God. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it shall come; and even now is already in the world.” (1John 4:1-4)
Paul also says something similar, “that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1Corinthians 12:3)We can in fact demand that the spirits reveal their alliance and whether they are servants to the Lord Jesus Christ or not. Jesus when casting out demons often found out the spirit’s name and then rebuked him by name. “And he (Jesus) asked him, What is your name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.” (Mark 5: 9) You can also pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the gift of "discerning of spirits." (1Corinthians 12: 10)
Another important point is that you cannot pay money to receive the Holy Ghost. As we have seen earlier, Jesus says the Holy Spirit will come upon those who love him. We show our love for him, by keeping his commandments. God has promised that if we love him he will send us the Holy Spirit. We should ask for an infilling of the Holy Spirit and or be prayed over to receive the Holy Spirit. “If you 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) Simon the Sorcerer in the Book of Acts tries to pay money to receive the Holy Ghost. “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God.” (Acts 8:17-21)
Another account in the Old Testament is in the life of King Saul. At the end of his life the Holy Spirit was no longer with him because of his earlier sins of disobedience. The Bible says, “Now Samuel (the Prophet) was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.” (1Samuel 28:3) Earlier at the time of the Exodus, God had commanded Moses saying, “When you are come into the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, (a form of child sacrifice or abortion) or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord your God does drive them out from before you. You shall be perfect (or in other words, entirely obedient) with the Lord your God. For these nations, which you shall possess, harkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for you, the Lord your God has not suffered you so to do.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)
Wikipedia defines necromancer as “a form of magic involving communication with the deceased – either by summoning their spirit as an apparition or raising them bodily – for the purpose of divination, imparting the means to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge.” However, God’s people were not even to mention the name of other gods. "And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth."(Exodus 23:13) Later in Leviticus we see, “A man also or woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:27)
Saul, however, communes with a woman who has a familiar spirit to try to get counsel from the departed spirit of Prophet Samuel before an ensuing battle. The Bible recounts: “And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.” (1Samuel 28:5-6) The Urim may have been a stone in the High Priest clothing which was used to somehow indicate a yes or no answer when trying to find the will of God. In Dr. Bruce Waltke’s book “Finding the Will of God,” is found the following comment on the Urim and Thummin, pp. 62. "The priest could use the urim and thummin to determine God’s will in a particular situation. We are not exactly sure what the urim and thummin were, but the priest carried in his breastplate perhaps two sticks or stones, one white and the other black, that would give a yes or no answer to a specific question. Should Israel be preparing for battle, they would somehow shake or toss the sticks. If they turned up black the Israelites would not go to battle, and if they turned up white they would proceed into battle with the knowledge that they were in the will of God. That is one form of divination that God allowed in the Old Testament." We read in Exodus 28:30, “Also put the Urim and the Thummin in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.”
Continuing with the story in Samuel, because Saul was not able to get any answer from the Lord, he disobeys the Lord’s counsel and his own decree. “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night.” (1Samuel 28:8) The woman does seem to be able to conjure up Samuel’s spirit which is a shock to her as well and prophesizes Saul death the following day. “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.” (1Chronicles 10:13-14)
We today should beware and take heed to God’s Word which tells us, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Corinthians 10:11-12)
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