Download... April 25, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT 1 TIMOTHY 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
The implication in this verse is those departing, were once in the faith. Therefore the warning for those still in the faith, ...to take heed. The nature of those seducing spirits will lead to doctrines of devils, causing a departing from the faith, and all spiritual authority.
Those ultimately deceived had to have allowed at some point, for it to happen. God always provides us with the spiritual armor or tools to fight it, and commands us to do so. Ephesians 6:11-18 verse 13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. So it is the decision of those involved through accusation, pride, etc. to cease fighting with the gospel weapons. Even though a seducing spirit may not be obvious, it none the less can only gain entrance through the choice of allowance. From carelessly listening to the seductive voice of the enemy, without casting it down. This is the danger of not being vigilant in taking heed. The consequence is losing their Christian Authority. It is Satan's mission to seduce the saints, as he already has the lost! He works by a seducing voice/spirit.
Four Steps to Seducing Spirits:
1) A fleshly thought, teaching, or temptation that presents itself as righteous.
The evil or seducing spirit disguises itself, as a trap hidden in leaves ready to spring on the careless one,.. not watching. Our biblical instruction for help is to "try the spirits." I John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Temptations do not present themselves for what they are,.. in order to be seductive. They most often are presented in an unclear way, in order to be confusing. How to prevent the deception? By trying that spirit, as stated in verse 1. Earnestly ask God to help.
2) The mind will consider that teaching and or temptation, to satisfy the flesh.
The seductive spirit or teaching will lead you in a fleshly direction, if you pause to consider it. If then allowed to pull you into a fleshly way, Beware! If it is gaining a foothold or your attention,... you have listened to someone's lie. You have neglected "trying the spirit," and considered it.
Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. The law of sin is what afflicted Paul here, while he had still lived for the flesh.
Jeremiah 3:6-14, 20
6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
7 And I said after she had done all these [things], Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw [it].
8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever.
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
20 Surely [as] a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.
God instructs here that the backslider had a deceitful nature, as a harlot, yet was warned to turn back, but did not listen. This example is the explanation of a people in seduction, that turned away. Yet God has been merciful even to a backsliding people.
The best prevention is to not heed the enemy, and to listen to the clear and unconfused voice of God. God likens our experience with Him as a marriage spiritually. Therefore to listen to a seducing spirit is to break the vows made in salvation, because of a lie. To be saved is to be married to Christ as His bride. So beware, the seducing spirit wants to divide the marriage, and God's children from Jesus, and one another. In essence leaving our "first love."
3) Those who are spiritually seduced will teach the opposite or less than His law of liberty.
They teach contrary to the will of God, yet believe they are still in God's will.
I Timothy 4:2, 3
2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
II Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Demas left God because he loved this world, and substituted it for his fervor spiritually. It happened by his listening to the tempter's voice of seduction. This is how the substitution of restrictions not based on God's word originate. By not taking heed. At times all of us are exposed to those seducing voices. We must be vigilant to watch and cast it down. The choices? One to draw closer to God, ...the other will take you away. Seductive spirits can be fanatical as well as of compromise, from one extreme to the other. It encompasses embracing any thoughts and ways of the world that are an exchange for the pure love and way of God. To be kept by God is to be in this world, yet not of it. John 17: 14-15 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Again the seductive spirit of fanaticism is just as much a part of the world as the seductive spirit of compromise. It can only exist as a substitution for God's pure love and word. Those who give heed are ultimately unaware of their backsliding, found in spiritual adultery as a harlot, untrue to their vows to God. Just as in a literal wedding, vows should be taken very seriously as in a binding contract, so also even more our vows to God's pure unadulterated word.
4) The authority over sin or of a clear conscience that salvation brings, will be lost through giving heed to a seductive spirit.
The conscience is a private entity. When in sin, it is not so clear, and of a personally horrible factor, spiritually. For others, we cannot know their hearts, whether they are clear, even if they may proclaim it in profession, and are not.
That spiritual authority is granted to us in salvation, and remains dependent on Jesus alone.
II Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. To be in Christ, is to be dependent on His way alone, as in a newness of life.
Acts 19:13-16
13Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14And there were seven sons of [one] Sceva, a Jew, [and] chief of the priests, which did so.
15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Those attempting to cast out the spirits, could only have lost their spiritual authority, by giving first heed to a seducing spirit from the enemy.
Pastor D Goble relayed a story he had read of a farmer who had a boy as a helper. The boy who served God and accustomed to praying was able to sleep, during a storm. The farmer was worried in the midst of the storm, and had to keep checking his animals and property for assurance, even though everything was safe. He marveled at the boy's peaceful assurance, and asked him about his confidence. The boy answered that he knew God had everything in control, for his conscience was clear, which was his authority. Your authority is living a clear life. You have confidence that God is pleased with you. A seducing spirit will result in a loss of that spiritual authority. You are then given over to that false spiritual voice. It is a personal choice you make, as no one makes you carelessly listen to it. A seductive spirit will tell you it is okay,.. when you pause to consider it. You are then deceived, because no one wants to believe they are lost, so they proclaim their profession. They then reside in the "land of good enough!" For everything to them is okay,.. as long as they believe it is. It is a religious place of deception. The land of "good enough," is in the mutual "okay" of society. "They" have gotten there by going away from God's straight and narrow way. Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. By going away from that way, the door is opened to a seductive spiritual place that is ungodly. Those deceived have no authority to get them self out. The enemy desires for you to choose this "land of good enough" so you will be seduced into his doom of deception.
The pastor also relayed his past experience from a prior employment, of traveling on a business trip with his coworkers. When not occupied in the trip's business meetings, he found it necessary to isolate himself from the rest that were involved in recreation that was by association, of a sinful atmosphere. He did not isolate himself in an unkind way, but needed to keep himself clear of a spiritually negative influence. His spiritual authority was demonstrated when later there was a greater respect shown to him, by his Christian conduct. This was because of the great authority that Jesus was in his life. Commanding a spiritual respect. It was possible by not giving into the "land of good enough," which is filled with one's own personal reasoning, that has been substituted for the pure love of God. A clear conscience. How do you get free from this "land of good enough?" You acknowledge your condition, and cry out for God to return you to the land of perfect spiritual liberty. Then beware again of that seducing spirit. It may be too hard to ever get back,.. if you listen to it's voice. Ask God to "try you," and know you. Psalms 139: 23,24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
