Post by Daniel on Jul 24, 2015 8:33:24 GMT -5
Deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons
by Mike Ratliff
July 23, 2015
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, (1 Timothy 4:1 NASB)
The “Emergence phenomenon” (or whatever they are calling it nowadays) is not Christian. Oh, many of these self-styled “emergents” insist that their “conversation” is the epitome of what Christianity is supposed to be, but the “movement” is undergoing even more drastic transformations, which now include its members celebrating Ramadan or having Buddhist monks instruct them on meditation techniques. This “phenomenon” is nothing more than deceived people who have been seduced by evil spirits to believe the doctrines of demons. We live in a time of deep spiritual deception. I have encountered this spirit of deception working through some people who attempted to cause me to stumble through their deceitful tactics. What we must never forget my brethren is that our enemy is a master salesman and he uses unwitting people to deliver his message to those who are serving the Lord Jesus in order to distract them in an attempt to nullify them in the truth war.
Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post, 1 Timothy 4:1. Here it is from the Greek New Testament.
1 Τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ῥητῶς λέγει ὅτι ἐν ὑστέροις καιροῖς ἀποστήσονταί τινες τῆς πίστεως προσέχοντες πνεύμασιν πλάνοις καὶ διδασκαλίαις δαιμονίων, (1 Timothy 4:1 NA28)
The words “latter times” are the Greek words ὑστέροις (latter) and καιροῖς (times). These two words together are referring to a time or season in the future. This time period started at the first coming of Christ and runs until His return. This passage is referring to apostasy and the fact that it will exist throughout this period. However, using the context of the rest of the Bible we know that this apostasy will continue to increase, reaching a climax shortly before our Lord returns. The apostasy in this passage is seen where Paul wrote that some “shall depart” (ἀποστήσονταί) from the faith (πίστεως). The usage here of the word ἀποστήσονταί tells us that Paul is referring to deserters of the faith. This word describes those who once professed to belong to God, but now they “stand away from Him,” having never belonged to Him. These apostatize from God in an act of rebellion. Why do they do it? They “gave heed” (προσέχοντες) “to deceitful” (πλάνοις) “spirits” (πνεύμασιν). The word προσέχοντες (giving heed) is an interesting word. It figuratively represents one who “holds his mind towards” someone or something. It literally describes those who pay attention to someone or something. These apostates departed from the πίστεως in rebellion from God because they have been deceived by πνεύμασιν πλάνοις. They have listened to those who teach the doctrines (διδασκαλίαις) of devils (δαιμονίων) and the πνεύμασιν πλάνοις working through them have seduced them into believing lies.
continue reading
mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/deceitful-spirits-and-doctrines-of-demons/
by Mike Ratliff
July 23, 2015
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, (1 Timothy 4:1 NASB)
The “Emergence phenomenon” (or whatever they are calling it nowadays) is not Christian. Oh, many of these self-styled “emergents” insist that their “conversation” is the epitome of what Christianity is supposed to be, but the “movement” is undergoing even more drastic transformations, which now include its members celebrating Ramadan or having Buddhist monks instruct them on meditation techniques. This “phenomenon” is nothing more than deceived people who have been seduced by evil spirits to believe the doctrines of demons. We live in a time of deep spiritual deception. I have encountered this spirit of deception working through some people who attempted to cause me to stumble through their deceitful tactics. What we must never forget my brethren is that our enemy is a master salesman and he uses unwitting people to deliver his message to those who are serving the Lord Jesus in order to distract them in an attempt to nullify them in the truth war.
Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post, 1 Timothy 4:1. Here it is from the Greek New Testament.
1 Τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ῥητῶς λέγει ὅτι ἐν ὑστέροις καιροῖς ἀποστήσονταί τινες τῆς πίστεως προσέχοντες πνεύμασιν πλάνοις καὶ διδασκαλίαις δαιμονίων, (1 Timothy 4:1 NA28)
The words “latter times” are the Greek words ὑστέροις (latter) and καιροῖς (times). These two words together are referring to a time or season in the future. This time period started at the first coming of Christ and runs until His return. This passage is referring to apostasy and the fact that it will exist throughout this period. However, using the context of the rest of the Bible we know that this apostasy will continue to increase, reaching a climax shortly before our Lord returns. The apostasy in this passage is seen where Paul wrote that some “shall depart” (ἀποστήσονταί) from the faith (πίστεως). The usage here of the word ἀποστήσονταί tells us that Paul is referring to deserters of the faith. This word describes those who once professed to belong to God, but now they “stand away from Him,” having never belonged to Him. These apostatize from God in an act of rebellion. Why do they do it? They “gave heed” (προσέχοντες) “to deceitful” (πλάνοις) “spirits” (πνεύμασιν). The word προσέχοντες (giving heed) is an interesting word. It figuratively represents one who “holds his mind towards” someone or something. It literally describes those who pay attention to someone or something. These apostates departed from the πίστεως in rebellion from God because they have been deceived by πνεύμασιν πλάνοις. They have listened to those who teach the doctrines (διδασκαλίαις) of devils (δαιμονίων) and the πνεύμασιν πλάνοις working through them have seduced them into believing lies.
continue reading
mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/deceitful-spirits-and-doctrines-of-demons/