1 Timothy 4:1 (KJV)
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 worst thing that can happen to anyone is that they remain entrenched in deception about something, and yet keep expecting somehow things will eventually be different just because they hope it will. Without an active part from us on a reliable source to make those changes, there can be no realistic progress. The Scripture tells us that there will be some who will depart from the faith because they will listen or give their attention to seducing spirits who then will establish their demonic doctrines in their life. I must warn the reader that these and many like them that we will cover in this devotional will be destructive if they remain intact. It is deadly to live a life based on deceptions.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (KJV)
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The Bible teaches that if a man speaks let him speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11). Therefore, we must be cautious to how we go around speaking. The Scriptures teach that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Again, the Word tells us that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. In addition, as a man thinks in his heart so is he. As you can see by these few, yet pointed Scriptures that we have mentioned, one proves to be a fool if he fails to check his spirituality based on how he is speaking. My tongue gives evidence to what I really believe. If I ignore this I may very well be double-minded and clueless to the fact that I am. Once again, we find the Word of God speaks in verse 3 about a day where folks will just refuse to hold on to sound doctrine, because of their lustful desires they will choose to assemble themselves with those who will agree with their sensual and carnal indulgences. They will turn away from the truth willingly and prefer fairy tales or useless dreams instead. The ramifications of doing this are shear disaster in the making.
John 10:10 (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
When we understand or get the revelation that the devil and his agents can only affect our life through the doors that we have left opened in this world, we will start learning how to close these entrances to our enemy. Our adversary is very real and he is behind every evil thing that is contradictory to God's divine provision for man in this world. The apostle Paul was noted as saying that the world was crucified unto him, and he unto the world. In other words, he had nothing to do with the world, so the world had nothing to do with him. We also can consider something Jesus spoke in John 14:30 and we will see this same mindset was in the Lord as well. Jesus said the prince of this world was coming, but he had nothing in Him. In other words, there was no "lovely door" open to this world that attracted Jesus' heart away from the Father, therefore, the devil had no way in His life. Our adversary steals what we love only if it's carnal in nature. Carnality always leads to death, while sowing to the spirit leads to eternal life. Jesus had a dynamic doctrine that was new and wonderfully strange in comparison to the doctrines that devils had produced unto man up to this point of time.
Mark 1:22-27 (KJV)
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
One observation that I quickly noticed in this passage of Scripture is just how that these scribes never knew they had a man with an unclean spirit sitting among them in their own congregation all this time. However, when Jesus walked into the congregation this spirit could not stay hidden because of the anointing on Jesus' life, so the evil spirit cried out making a scene, but Jesus rebuked it and commanded it to come out of the man. Everyone was amazed at this display of authority that Jesus had demonstrated before their very eyes. As a matter of fact, they were asking one another what "new doctrine" is this that the unclean spirits obey Him. Think about this if you will for a moment; doctrines of devils that were initiated by seducing spirits had long been holding people in a form of religion in that day and they were unaware of such authority even existed, at least until "Truth" came on the scene. These doctrines of devils are still very much embedded within the church today in the form of religion that denies the power of God's liberating truth, thereby limiting the manifestations that ought to be in our midst.
Matthew 12:43-45 (KJV)
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
I draw your attention to this passage because I want you to understand something before I start listing a few of these lies or doctrines of devils. We all should know as believers that a Christian cannot be possessed spiritually by demons. Why? It is because the spirit of every believer that is born again in Christ is a creation of the Lord's resurrected power. In other words, the spirit of man that is born of God through the sacrifice of Jesus is untouchable, for he is seated together with Christ in heavenly places right now! Old things have passed away and all things have become new. However, if the renewal of the mind to God's Word is not adopted then evil spirits will have entrance into a believer's life giving access to violate the believer's body and mind; while at the same time this person is certainly a born again believer. The work of God has been accomplished to birthing a new man in all of us that believe through Jesus Christ; yet the developing of the mind is the work that the new man must do by being yielded to the Holy Spirit and devoted to the Word of God. If he does not see the necessity of this, then the devil and his agents will afflict that man or woman through their mind and thus gaining control of their body and use it in defiling ways against the truth even though they are a believer in Christ. Therefore, if Christ has cleaned your temple make sure you have it decorated with the Word of God by painting the walls of your heart with it. Failure to do so will result in a return of demonic activity that will cheat you out of your inheritance that Jesus died to empower you with.
Remember it is the carnal Christian's that go around starting trouble, splitting churches, gossiping and falsely accusing their own spiritual brother's and sisters. A carnal Christian is simply a believer that has evil doctrines planted in their heart that gives access to the demonic world and their influences. In other words, a carnal man stays close enough to the world that they are always susceptible to the demonic influences that keep their life in disarray. Therefore, the physical and mental activity of devils in a carnal Christian is rooted in wrong doctrine that produces death and destruction. On the other hand, the doctrine of God is to heal the sick whenever you find them by casting out devils when you discern their presence. I believe now we have handed you the needed Scriptural foundation to proceed as we look at a few of these: lies or doctrines of devils in the church.
Lie #1 God makes people sick.
- There are many believers that feel like God is in partnership with the devil in order to perfect the saints. Yet, the Scriptures teach us that Jesus came to destroy every work of the devil. God has no pleasure in seeing His people sick nor would He afflict one of His kids with some disease. If God is god of love as the Bible says He is, and you believe He would do something like this to one of His very own, than I as a man have a greater love than God because I would never strike my children with sickness. God's love is much greater than mine I assure you!
Lie #2 God gets glory out of my sickness.
- Over in John 11:4 we see where this lie came from, Jesus heard that, and said, this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Someone would say, see there it is! But let me ask you something regarding this account in the Bible. When was Jesus glorified? When Lazarus was in the grave or when he came out? Notice, that Jesus said this sickness was not unto death; but when He raised him up people would glorify Him for destroying the devil's evil work. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, which through this He would always be glorified!
Lie #3 Sicknesses keeps you humble.
- If you buy into this lie than you will not be able to ever be healed from a sickness, because your faith is telling you that God put this on you to keep you humble. Why take something away when its sole purpose was to instill in your life some divine virtue. Sickness is not a tool of God's to make us humble. This is a lie from the pits of hell.
Lie #4 God uses sickness.
- This is implying that God has handshaked with the devil and is in direct partnership with demonic activity so as to work some divine thing in your life. Again, this paints God as being a pretty disturbed Father if He chooses to use something evil for our good. If sickness had something good in it that God would use; then why did He give His disciples including us the authority to cast the spirit of infirmities out? If they or us were to do this than we would be casting out something God wanted to use in a person's life. Makes no sense, and therefore, this is an out-right lie of the devil.
Lie #5 Sickness draws you closer to God.
- I have never witnessed not one time a person ever get a diagnosis from a doctor that was terminal that immediately threw up their hands and begin thanking Him for giving them a disease that would enable them to be closer to God. I guess though, if you believe this way it will definitely get you closer to Him when you die prematurely.
Lie #6 God allows sickness.
- Many believe because sickness is present in our world and lives that God has allowed it. Yet, God's word teaches that we have been given authority over our adversary the devil. Whereas, if Christ bore stripes for the healing of our infirmities, then we need to enforce it. The devil is supposed to be under the foot of Jesus' body (you and me).
1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (KJV)
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (die pre-maturely).
Lie #7 God is trying to get your attention. Lie # 8 God is trying to teach you something. Lie #9 God is testing you.
- These three lies overshadow one another. Over in (2 Tim. 3:16), we find the way God intends to get your attention and it is not through our hardships and troubles. This lie is propped up by those who refuse to obey the teaching from God's Word. Its like using Romans 8:28 to convince yourself that God will just work all of your deliberate and rebellious decisions against Him for your good, as though doing right and obeying God's Word didn't matter.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
- As mentioned already, God does not use hardships to teach His kids anything, but would rather we heed to His Word for our life. If these lies were true, why don't God just go ahead and put sin on us to test us also? Both ideas are absurd! James 1:13 tells us that God will not use evil to test us.
James 1:13-15 (KJV)
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Lie #10 God doesn't heal everybody.
- Then God must be a liar if we believe this. Psalm 107:20 God sent His Word to heal us and deliver us from our destructions. Psalm 103:3 says, who forgives you of all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases. Who redeems you from destruction. Therefore, what makes a man free? Truth! You change that truth and you will reap the consequences of that choice.
Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV)
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
- When we change any truth from God's Word through the suggestions of seducing spirits; it is the same as changing its meaning from what God meant it to say, to what the devil is saying makes more sense. That can't be good for those who do such a thing.
I have over seventy lies like these that cover many areas that we address in our 2nd year IBTC Bible School class here at Potter's Wheel Ministries. These are lies and doctrines of devils and they are destroying God's people. We must not close our eyes to demonic activity and remain ignorant of their schemes or methodologies in our world around us. Sickness has not evolved from the Bible days into a non-demonic aggression in our day. Anything that is outside of the purpose and will of God revealed, is an evil influence that must be stopped by the believer with his authority in Christ. We are anointed to go and heal the sick and cast out the unclean spirits. Therefore, we must understand our adversary and his evil agendas. Otherwise, we will suffer and live well beneath our privileges in God as we follow these diabolical lies that become the doctrines we live our life from.
* This devotional is excerpts from a message by Pastor Tommy Morgan on 1/3/2010. If you would like to receive this teaching in its full content on DVD please write us at: P.O. Box 2290 Rowlett, Texas 75030 or email us at admin@potterswheel.org The cost of our teaching DVD's are $5.00 each.
