Testing The Spirits: C 12-1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I John 4:1 A. Imitating the Work of God 1. Rod to serpent Moses and Aaron, Exodus 7:10; Rod to Serpent Pharaoh s Magicians, Exodus 7:11 2. Water to blood Moses and Aaron, Exodus 7:19 & 20; Water to blood Pharaoh s Magicians Exodus 7:22 3. Frogs cover the land Moses and Aaron, Exodus 8:5 & 6; Frogs cover the land Pharaoh s Magicians, Exodus 8:7 4. Fire falls from heaven on command Elijah, I Kings 18:30-39; Fire falls from heaven on command False Prophet, Revelation 13:12-14 5. Prophecy Joel, Acts 2:16; Divination Prophecy Demon possessed slave girl, Acts 16:16, 6. Healing Paul, Acts 28:8; Healing False Prophet, Revelation 13:3 & 13 7. Raise the dead Peter, Acts 9:37-41, Raise the dead False Prophet, Revelation 13:14, 8. Weather obeys Jesus, Luke 8:22-25, Weather obeys satan, Job 1:18 & 19 9. Signs and wonders Apostles, Acts 2:43, Signs and wonders False prophets, Matthew 24:24, 10. Angelic appearances, Hebrews 13:2; Angelic satanic imitations, 2CO 11:14 11. Ecstatic experience Saul, I Samuel 19:24,; Ecstatic experience demon possessed boy, Mark 9:22, Ecstatic experience 12. Political decisions God, Proverbs 21:1,; Political decisions satan, Job 1:14,15,17 13. Quotes the Word of God Jesus, Luke 4:12,; Quotes the Word of God satan, Luke 4:10 & 11, 14. Material blessings God, Proverbs 3:10,; Material blessings satan, Mark 4:19; Luke 4:6; I John 5:19, 15. Filled with the Spirit Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:18,; Demonic Possession satan and demons, Luke 4:33; 22:3; Acts 5:3 16. Kingdom of His beloved Son God, Colossians 1:13,; Dominion of satan, Acts 26:18, 17. Angelic agents God, Hebrews 1:14,; demonic Agents satan, II Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 6:12, 18. Directs our paths God, Proverbs 3:5 & 6,; Directs our paths satan, I Timothy 5:15; 19. Moved by the Spirit II Peter 1:21; Moved by the spirits I Chronicles 21:1; 20. Led by the Spirit Romans 8:14; Led by spirits I Corinthians 12:1,2 21. Spiritual Children God, I Peter 1:3, 23,; Spiritual Children satan, Matthew 13:38; Acts13:10, 22. Tongues of Fire God, Acts 2:3 & 4,; Flaming arrows satan, Ephesians 6:11, 23. Super Human Strength Holy Spirit, Judges 14:6; Super Human Strength demon, Luke 8:29, 24. Animals Become Animate God, Numbers 22:29 & 30,, Animals Possessed demons, Mark 5:13, 25. Shout God, Psalm 95:1; I Thess 4:16; demons, Acts 8:7, Shouting with a loud voice
12-2 26. Shout Servants of God, Isaiah 65:14; servants of satan, I Kings 18:28 & 29, Prophets of Baal, Cried with a loud voice 27. Leaped, Luke 6:23, blessed of God; I Kings 18:26, Prophets of Baal leap 28. Dreams Holy Spirit, Acts 2:17,; Dreams satan, Jeremiah 29:8, 29. Heavenly Hosts God, Luke 2:13,; demonic hosts of heaven, demons, Isaiah 24:21; Acts 7:42, 30. Make men mute, Gabriel, Luke 1:19 & 20; Make men mute, demons, Mark 9:17 & 25 31. Cry out in praise of God, heavenly saints and angels, Revelation 7:9-11; Cry out in acknowledgment of God s holy position, demons, Mark 3:11 32. Demons are caste out, Jesus, by the Spirit of God, Matthew 12:28; Demons are caste out, False teachers and prophets, Matthew 7:22 & 23 33. Holy Spirit associated with a physical presence that is geographically specific, Ezekiel 43:5; Ephesians 5:18; Demons associated with a physical presence that is geographically specific Revelation 2:9 & 13; Acts 5:3 34. Receive Sacrifices Exodus 40:34 & 35; Demons receive sacrifices Leviticus 17:7; Psalm 106:37 35. Use political or geographical groups to punish (II Kings 24:1-3); satan uses these same groups to attack for his purposes (Job 1:15 & 17)
Satan: The Deceiver 12-3 I. Satan the deceiver and the fall of mankind A. According to Genesis 1:26 & 27, in what state did God create Adam and Eve? Gen 1:26-27 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. B. God had created a perfect world, in it he created a perfect garden and in that he placed a perfect couple, Adam and Eve. What were the conditions God placed on Adam and Eve in the Garden? Gen 2:15-17 15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die." C. Read below the account of the fall of man, how sin entered into the world. Gen 3:1-6 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'" 4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! 5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 1. How is the serpent satan described in verse one? How does he deceive Eve respond later when challenged by God? Gen 3:13 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 2. Before her fall, was Eve sinful or perfect?
12-4 3. Does her perfection keep her from being able to sin? D. In Romans 5 the spiritual consequences of Adam s sin are described. In the space below summarize the spiritual consequences of this one man, Adam, for all mankind, passing down to us today in the 21st Century? Rom 5:12 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- Rom 5:18-19 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 1. Are we born perfect? 2. Are our powers of perception and values perfect or flawed by sin? 3. If perfect Eve could be deceived by satan, how much more than we today. II. Satan the deceiver and his continued work among mankind today. A. As you read the following verses, under each write a brief description of the ministry of satan as described in each passage. Rev 12:9 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rev 13:14 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. Rev 18:23
12-5 23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. Rev 19:20 20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. Rev 20:3 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Rev 20:8 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. Rev 20:10 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. B. How do the following verses reveal a concern by the Holy Spirit for man today in terms of deception by satan. 2 Cor 11:3 3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 1 Tim 2:14 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression. C. Since the fall man has been prey to deception by satan and his servants. As you read the passages below record under each on how they reveal a concern by God of man s susceptibility to deception by satan and his servants.
12-6 Jer 29:8 8 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. Rom 16:18 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. Eph 5:6 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. II Jn 1:7 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. D. When satan seeks to imitate God the Father he is immediately recognized by 21st Century man. Long ago this ploy was exposed to by the Prophets of God and the ability for satan to pull off this deception as steadily diminished over the years. Read the following passage and then record the weakness of satan as it comes to imitating God the Father. Isa 44:13-17 13 Another shapes wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with red chalk. He works it with planes, and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of man, so that it may sit in a house. 14 Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak, and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. 15 Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, "Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire." 17 But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for thou art my god."
E. When satan seeks to imitate God the Son he has little more success. Eventually the sinfulness, the contradictory nature of his supposed messiahs and prophets are brought to light. How does the following passage reveal the weakness of satan as it comes to raising up false messiahs? Acts 5:34-39 34 But a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 "For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody; and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. And he was slain; and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 "After this man Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away some people after him, he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38 "And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action should be of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." 12-7 F. But when satan imitates God the Holy Spirit he is in his element and we are most susceptible to his deceptions. How do the following verses reveal satan as particularly dangerous when deceiving in the area of the spiritual realm? Rev 12:9 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rev 13:14 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 2 Cor 11:14 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
12-8 1 Pet 5:8 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Eph 6:12 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Rev 18:2 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. I Jn 4:1 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1. If Adam and Eve had relied upon the Word of God rather then their own empirical senses in making their decision, how would the outcome have been different? 2. We, as fallen men and women, who live in the physical world, are especially susceptible to spiritual deception. In the space below write a short summery of the danger of deception for man in the spiritual realm. 3. What then must we rely upon for direction in all things pertaining to spiritual phenomenon and experiences our empirical powers or the Word of God?
Testing the Spirits: The Danger of the Empirical Scientific Method 12-9 Many times when I am discussing the Testing of the Spirits in terms of a miracle crusade or some new supposed Apostle or Prophet of Christ my evangelical brethren take as the high ground of their arguments that no test is ever made as to the proof or disproof of the miracles performed. The tests to which they refer are always of a scientific nature. This places them on very slippery and precarious ground. Are we to assume then, that if the miracle is indeed proven to have occurred that the Apostle or Prophet is from God? This moves us into the same theological ground as the Pentecostals, Catholic and other Apostolic movements, that miracles prove the validity of a doctrine, teaching or ministry. Are we to say that if it is proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that a baby was healed when the Virgin appeared during the saying of Hail Mary s, that the Virgin did indeed appear and that the Rosary Prayers and Hail Mary s are indeed orthodox prayers, that Mary does receive them as co-redemptress and Queen of Heaven, that she does grant grace and miracles? Are we to say that if it is proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that Brother X s prophecies do come true, that he can indeed perform miracles, that he does indeed have miraculous knowledge of other peoples lives, that he can indeed affect the weather and heal the sick, on this basis are we to conclude that his teachings concerning the Nature of God and Sufficiency of Christ do indeed override Scripture. That he does indeed have a Word from God and that his Extra-Biblical Revelations do indeed carry the authority of Scripture? Nothing of course could be further from the truth. The fact that satan and his demons can and do perform miracles is attested throughout the Scripture. Satan is a great deceiver and in the area of spiritual mysticism and deception he is on his home ground and at his best. The question is not, Did a miracle occur but rather, Does the miracle conform with the Doctrines of the Word of God. We accept the reality of miracles, but in accepting them we view them as completely neutral, simply a miracle. Then from the Word of God we determine their origin, God the Holy Spirit or some fallen spirit. You will always loose the high ground and in most cases your hearing if you argue against the miracle, often because of the simple fact that a miracle has indeed occurred. You then place yourself in the same camp of secular humanists who discount all miracles and in doing so discredit your verbal protestations that you hold to the authority of the Word of God. Again and again Pentecostals will fall back upon their own testimonies and the testimonies of those they know and respect. The evangelical church has laid the groundwork for this in the stressing of experience over Doctrine in salvation testimonies in their own congregations over the last 25 years. Now this has come back to haunt us in that this same authority, the personal experience as presented in a testimony, often times devoid of Scripture references, is now appealed to in the in post salvation experience, the testimony of those who have received the second Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of those who have experienced miracles as a result of this ministry. No, we will grant that a miracle, vision, visitation, spiritual phenomenon has occurred, we will grant that a genuine spiritual experience has taken place. We will not however agree that because a spiritual experience has taken place that this is automatically from God.
Testing the Spirits: The Danger of the Empirical Scientific Method 12-10 First: Under the heading The Event As From God and Situation read the event, then read the passage. If need be read verses before and after the key text if you are not familiar with the event, then write a brief description of the situation and miracle Second: Go to the next heading The Event As From Satan and Situation read the passage and then record how satan is able to reproduce this same spiritual event. Third: Now go to the heading How This Is Determined can you tell from the event if it is from God or from satan and if not, how do we know which is which. The Event As From God and Situation The Event As From Satan and Situation How This Is Determined Rod to serpent Exodus 7:10; Exodus 7:11 Water to blood Exodus 7:19 & 20; Exodus 7:22 Frogs cover the land Exodus 8:5 & 6; Exodus 8:7 Fire falls from heaven on command I Kings 18:30 39 Revelation 13:12-14 Prophecy Joel, Acts 2:16; Acts 16:16, Healing Acts 28:8; Revelation 13:3 & 13 Raise the dead Acts 9:37-41, Revelation 13:14,
The Event As From God and Situation The Event As From Satan and Situation How This Is Determined 12-11 Weather obeys Luke 8:22-25, Job 1:18 & 19 Signs and wonders Acts 2:43, Matthew 24:24, Angelic appearances Hebrews 13:2; 2CO 11:14 Ecstatic experience I Samuel 19:24 Mark 9:22 Political decisions Proverbs 21:1 Job 1:14,15,17 Quotes the Word of God Luke 4:12 Luke 4:10 & 11, Material blessings Proverbs 3:10 Mark 4:19; Luke 4:6; I John 5:19, Filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18 Luke 4:33; 22:3; Acts 5:3 Lead by Romans 8:14 I Corinthians 12:1, 2 The Spirit
The Event As From God and Situation The Event As From Satan and Situation How This Is Determined 12-12 Kingdom of His beloved Son Colossians 1:13 Acts 26:18, Angelic agents Hebrews 1:14 II Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 6:12, Directs our paths Proverbs 3:5 & 6 Timothy 5:15; Moved by the Spirit II Peter 1:21 I Chronicles 21:1; Spiritual Children I Peter 1:3, 23 Matthew 13:38; Acts13:10, Tongues of Fire Acts 2:3 & 4 Ephesians 6:11, Super Human Strength Judges 14:6 Luke 8:29, Animals Become Animate Numbers 22:29 & 30 Mark 5:13
The Event As From God and Situation The Event As From Satan and Situation How This Is Determined 12-13 Shout Psalm 95:1; I Thess 4:16 Acts 8:7 Shout - Servants of God Isaiah 65:14 I Kings 18:28 & 29 Leaped Luke 6:23 I Kings 18:26 Dreams Acts 2:17 Jeremiah 29:8, Heavenly Hosts Luke 2:13 Isaiah 24:21; Acts 7:42, Make men mute Luke 1:19 & 20 Mark 9:17 & 25 Cry out in praise of God Revelation 7:9 11 Mark 3:11 Demons are caste out, Matthew 12:28 Matthew 7:22 & 23 Collapse/Swoon Daniel 10:8; Rev. 1:17 Matthew 17:14 18;
12-14
The Event As From God and Situation The Event As From Satan and Situation How This Is Determined 12-15 Holy Spirit in man Ezekiel 43:5; Ephesians 5:18; Revelation 2:9 & 13; Acts 5:3 Receive Sacrifices Exodus 40:34 & 35 Leviticus 17:7; Psalm 106:37 Use political or geographical groups to punish II Kings 24:1-3 Job 1:15 & 17 Now reflect back on your study If satan s works were put to the Empirical tests of the scientific method, how would they fare? If the scientific method of empirical testing is used to determine if something is from God, what error will be introduced into the church? In each of the above situations you were able to tell which were from God and which were from satan. How did you know this? Did the Holy Spirit simply leave you to come to your own conclusions through deductive reasoning and empirical tests? How did you know which was which? The Word of God most ultimately be the test of weather or not a miracle or spiritual event is from God. How does this truth effect the strength of the personal testimony in validating that a miracle or ministry is from God. How do we respond to the statement, I do not know the Word of God but I know what I have experienced! As evangelicals how can we change the culture of the personal testimony in our own congregations, moving it back from the emphasis on personal experience and thereby returning the testimony of salvation to an emphasis on the authority of the Word of God where it has traditional rested?
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD JEREMIAH 15:16 THEME: satan s imitation of the work of God PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: II Corinthians 11:14 How does this passage relate to the theme? 12-16 When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why: How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage a part of my Christian life? PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: Matthew 24:24 How does this passage relate to the theme? When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why: How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage a part of my Christian life? PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: II Thessalonians 2:9 & 10 How does this passage relate to the theme? When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why: How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage a part of my Christian life?
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD JEREMIAH 15:16 THEME: satan s imitation of the work of God PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: Revelation 16:13 & 14 How does this passage relate to the theme? 12-17 When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why: How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage a part of my Christian life? PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: Revelation 20:3 & 8 How does this passage relate to the theme? When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why: How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage a part of my Christian life? PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: I John 4:1 How does this passage relate to the theme? When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why: How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage a part of my Christian life?
12-19