Guarding Against Deceiving Spirits

This morning I woke up from a dream that was about a friends church that had come through a trying time where certain individuals were pressing hard for a "gospel+", looking down on others who weren't seeing things the way they thought, and presenting themselves as holier than others.  Such an approach is almost always the result of a religious spirit.  

As I sat down to pray this morning I felt led to read from 1 Timothy, chapter 4.  Although I know scripture and have read it all several times, I still don't know where certain things are dealt with, what chapter and what verse, so I am almost always a little surprised by what I read when I first open it up as directed.  Anyway today here is what I read - 1 Timothy 4:1-10 NIV:

[1] "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. [2] Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. [3] They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. [4] For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, [5] because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 

[6] If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. [7] Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. [8] 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. [9] This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. [10] That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe."

I love how direct Paul is in his writings.  While it is clear that the Holy Spirit is giving guidance towards the future, I am quite sure that Paul was confronting the same deceiving spirits in his day. There were many heretical and gnostic teachers even early in the church, as the enemy was clearly trying to stop the Church from growing and deception, diversion and division are three tactics he uses.  Paul had already had to deal with the circumcision group, those that were saying that following certain parts of the Law somehow made you a better Christians.  In the same way, there are many that hold up a "gospel+" that is other than the Gospel of the Kingdom, and we must guard ourselves, and labor accordingly. 

I have seen these spirits at work, and they are destructive to congregations and people's faith.  Often they show up when the Holy Spirit is moving and the people who are being influenced seem like virtuous, and zealous believers, and in most cases they are.  However, they have become somehow deceived, and come to believe their way, their thinking, their pursuit of God is better and that should be our first red flag, for spiritual pride is almost always the result.  Paul describes two common attacks, relationship guidance and purity laws, especially concerning diet.  He continues on the next paragraph listing old wives tales, and godless myths as other sources of deception. 

Paul's description of such people is that they have abandoned their faith, and it should be noted that it never looks like that, in fact it looks like and is presented as having a "super" faith.  However, if we get to the core, they have abandoned their faith in Jesus, in His saving work and redemption, and consider it somehow lacking.  They have replaced God on His throne with their own ideas, and judgments!  They have judged God's perfect plans and somehow found them lacking, and in need of some extra special stuff!  

Most such people are well meaning and believe they are pursuing God to the best of their ability.  The problem with being deceived is that you can't tell you are being deceived, which is the nature of deception.  A person who receives a counterfeit bill for payment is unaware they are being deceived, and if they suspected it was fake they would reject it.  It is important in our confronting such people that we remember they truly think they are following God, and we must treat them with mercy, and remember the source is spiritual and demonic.

The good news is that this situation can be reversed, as Paul clearly tells Timothy to point out such things in the hopes that they will repent, and return to the Lord, and put their faith in Him once again!  We must earnestly pray for ourselves and our brothers and sisters that we might be saved from such deception, and have our eyes opened to any such beliefs we presently agree with in our lives.

Oh Lord, help us!  Oh Lord, show us Your truth, that we might recognize the counterfeit and deception.

Amen and Amen!