- araratchurch
- Feb 9, 2024
- 4 min read
”“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.“
Revelation 2:24-25 NLT
It never ceases to amaze me how interested many people are in books, movies, any number of vehicles presenting magic, spells, demonic involvement, and so forth. In fact, concerts of some of our most popular teen “idols” (I guess that says it all), employ satanic images and depictions of satanic rituals as part of the “show.”
At the same time, many of the people who are intrigued by this whole Satanic allure, have no interest in the power of God, the gifts of the Spirit, or the moving of the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, many of these individuals make fun of those who operate in the gifts of the Spirit.
Sadly, this being intrigued with the knowledge and power Satan has to offer, began with a woman and a serpent in a garden.
I’m sure you are aware of the story of man’s Fall: After Eve had told the serpent that they could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and if they did so, it would lead to death, the serpent offered a different take on why God did not want them to eat of that tree.
”Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.“
Genesis 3:4-6 NKJV
There it is. And yes, the deception that there is some better or easier way to knowledge and power (outside of God), continues to corrupt and collect unstable souls.
Paul warned the church at Corinth that they must not be deceived as Eve was, and embrace a false Christ.
”But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!“
II Corinthians 11:3-4 NKJV
This talk of the search for “deeper knowledge” outside of the Holy Spirit of God, brings me to share with you concerning the last two entities who presented themselves during my spiritual journey. Actually, I would say that this was, in reality, one entity, who, when rejected in one form, presented later on in another form.
This last entity came first in the form of an old, sinewy, bent over man. He was wearing what could be best described as sort of a sultan hat (“genie” hat). As he was coming toward me, he was putting his fingers into his right eye socket, as though he were going to pull out his eye and give it to me. My immediate response was, “I don’t need or want your eye, I have the Holy Spirit of God.” And—as was the case with the other entities—he immediately disappeared.
Interestingly, toward the very end of the spiritual journey, this spirit appeared again in the form of what could best be described as a life-size paper doll of a young girl. I say a paper doll, because there was no depth to the image. It was holding what looked like an X-Acto knife with which it started cutting its eyes out. Again, I knew it was offering its eyes to me. I again rejected this offer and the entity disappeared.
Now, what was all that about with this entity offering me its eye(s)? You see, what was being offered was the same thing Eve was offered: knowledge apart from God.
In our opening scripture we see Jesus’ warning and instruction to the church at Thyatira. They had in their midst a person referenced as “Jezebel,” who was teaching them “deeper truths.” And, as these so-called deeper truths often lead, it was seducing them into sexual sin and idolatry.
Now, this demonic, deeper truths deception, will come to bear again when we get to the last of the dreaming visions in my spiritual journey. For now, let it suffice for me to warn you that any knowledge contradictory to the word of God, is demonic and offers its students nothing short of total bondage and ultimate destruction.
Remember, anything that is truly good, comes from “the Father of lights.” Reject all knowledge or power that finds its source in darkness!
”Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.“
James 1:12-17 NKJV
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Feb 8, 2024
- 4 min read
”Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.“
I Peter 5:6-9 NKJV
On Day 8 of the spiritual journey, we talked about the first of the entities who came to me in waking visions under the guise of wanting to “help” me. This “Christ-like” entity was not from the Lord. As I noted, when I spoke that he was a deceiver and was not from the Lord, then told him to leave, he did.
Over the next couple of days, other deceitful minions from hell would present themselves before me. With the appearance of each entity I knew that they were offering me “help.”
After the false Christ entity, a person dressed like a woman, wearing a jacket made to simulate “wings,” presented itself before me. I immediately saw that this was a perverse spirit, and indeed was a “man” masquerading as a female “angel.”
After this one came an entity with beautiful golden hair who leaned over towards me but would not show its face. Each of these deceivers were quickly dispatched when I spoke that they were not from the Lord and told them to “get out of here.”
One appeared as I was waking and was attempting to spread some sort of white “salve” on my chest. I immediately told it to get away from me—that I didn’t need its “cure”—and it fled as well.
There were two others I will discuss another day. But for now, I describe all these encounters to remind/inform you that in such circumstances, you must actively resist these interlopers.
Understand, you may not see the “persons” involved in the temptations presented to you, but believe me, they are there.
James gives a wonderful and concise description/prescription of how our resisting should look, and the context within which our resisting is successful.
”Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.“
James 4:4-10 NKJV
I speak of the “context within which our resisting is successful” because simply telling the enemy to leave with empty words (not backed by a true relationship with Jesus), will not work.
As well, if we are actively inviting and/or partaking of, or involving ourselves in, the things of this world, the things of darkness, we will not have authority to send evil minions fleeing.
Consider the story about the seven sons of a Jewish leader who tried to exorcise a demonized man:
”Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.“
Acts 19:11-16 NKJV
These fellows had no authority to resist the devil and narrowly escaped to tell the story.
In our opening scripture we find Peter warning the people that the devil is an adversary who is unrelenting in his efforts to “devour” human souls. Peter says that the devil flees when he is resisted “steadfast in the faith.”
Friend, our adversary, the devil, takes very seriously his efforts to deceive and destroy souls. We must be very serious, immovable, rooted, and grounded, in our faith in God through Jesus Christ. Otherwise, trying to resist the devil, becomes like trying to rid yourself of a piece of plastic, stuck to your skin by static electricity: The more you try to shake it off, the more it clings.
We’ll talk more tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
”Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.“
Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV
Many of you may be familiar with the fact that Moses was not allowed to go into the Promised Land because he failed to “sanctify God” before the people.
”And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”“
Numbers 20:10-12 NKJV
Utter exasperation with the people’s ongoing complaining and accusations, provoked Moses to strike the rock, rather than speaking to it, as the Lord had commanded. It’s interesting to note that the Lord allowed the water to flow from the rock anyway. In this case, God honored Moses in front of the people, even though Moses had not honored Him in front of the people. However, the lapse did not go unpunished.
Yesterday we discussed how the forces of darkness will pose as sources of light to try to get you to accept help which is not from the Lord. Ultimately, as we have pointed out before, whatever the devil uses is based on a system of deception, and is meant to move you from the word of God by accepting or aligning yourself with his way of being and doing. But understand, if one ploy won’t suck you in, the devil will try something else.
Indeed, the devil will use whatever advantage he can find in order to get you to turn from what God has said to what he is saying. In the case of Moses, it was his frustration and anger that caused him to disobey a direct order from the Lord, and it would cost him dearly.
In our opening scripture, we see the account of the temptation of Jesus Christ. As you read this account, notice how the devil switches from one thing to another as he tries to get Jesus to follow his instruction.
Satan first appeals to Jesus’ hunger to try to provoke Him to use His power to get something to eat. Then Satan tries to use God‘s word to get Jesus to act presumptuously by jumping off a high place to show that He could do so without getting hurt. Finally, Satan brought out the “big guns” by offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, if only He would bow down to him.
At each point of the temptation, Jesus, when presented with an offer from Satan, properly used the word of God to indicate that He knew these offers were not for His benefit, but rather to cause Him to dishonor the Word of God.
As I have shared with you, over the course of what I have referenced as the waking visions in my spiritual journey, several entities would come offering me relief. They all were meant to move me away from what God has said. And, each of these deceitful minions of Satan would flee when I recognized that they were not sent from the Lord and rejected their input.
We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!