Today, our culture seems fascinated with death and vampires and witches and ghosts and horoscopes and clairvoyants and numerous other dark pathways to evil. It is disturbing because people feel they can control it. These kinds of choices have consequences and things like Demons are real and not to be played with.
Harry Potter
Angels and Demons – Book and Movie
Horror Movies like Paranormal Activity
New Horror Movies like Insidious
TV Shows. Twilight and Vampire Diaries
Ghost Hunters
Halloween
America’s got talent (Some demonic based acts)
Easter Show Haunted House
Meth – drugs
Ghosts on YouTube
American Dollar Bill
Freemasons and the Knights Templar
Lust – pornography etc – tinder – the hook up culture
Love Island
Jordie Shore.
Gambling – lust for money
1 TIM. 4:1-3 “BEWARE OF SEDUCING SPIRITS”
4 Now the Spirit [a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
A) Paul here was writing about a “last day” condition … “The Spirit speaks expressly …”
* The Greek word for “expressly” is “rhetos” and means: “In specific terms, in plain words, or distinctly, so that there can be no question about what is being said.” * In other words …
* The Spirit (Holy Ghost) spoke specifically in direct terms of the last days danger.
B) Bible scholars agree that we are now living in the last days, near the time of Christ’s coming!
* This is the period in which seducing spirits will reign … The phrase “latter times” means: “A little later on, not far out in the future.”
* That is, false teachers were to arise within the church almost immediately and continue on
through our day and on to the end of time.
* The point is well made … The church and the genuine believer have to be constantly on guard against false teaching.
(1) WHAT ARE SEDUCING SPIRITS?
A) “Seduce” means: “To lead away, specially from the path of right by flattering promises …”
* “To lead astray into an evil, or foolish, or disastrous course.”
* This world is contaminated with such evil influences.
B) First: Seducing spirits are the powers of the very devil!
* There is a personal devil!
* In his kingdom there are many demons known as wicked or seducing spirits.
* These spirits are everywhere … Their forces and influences are increased in the latter days.
* They work in cooperation with the devil … They are so closely associated with him that sometimes they are referred to as demons or devils.
C) The day John was writing, these dangerous influences had already invaded the church!
* The children of God had overcome them because God within was greater than the wicked
powers of the world.
* Our best protection against seducing powers is God within us! (1 John 4:4)
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
(2) THE SEDUCING SPIRITS ARE INCREASING!
A) They did their work in the early church, but Paul foresaw the day when their powers would be increased and their work more deadly and destructive!
B) First: When you read your Bible you can see that they worked in the early church!
* Judas was persuaded by the seductive influence of the devil to betray the Lord.
* Ananias and Sapphire were deceived by the same power and lied to the Holy Ghost.
* Hymenaeus and Philetus were influenced by seducing spirits and erred saying that the
resurrection was passed already.
* Many other heresies and doctrines of devils invaded the church soon after Pentecost and these seductive powers made great inroads into the church.
C) Second: Seducing spirits are a last day threat to Christianity!
2 Tim. 3:1 “This know …”
* “Perilous” means “dangerous” … There is danger of being deceived by wicked influences!
* The longer the world stands, the more contaminated it becomes.
* It’s harder to live right now than it was years ago because the devil has more methods and means
by which to deceive people with.
(3) THE CUNNING CRAFTINESS BY WHICH MEN ARE DECEIVED!
A) The devil does not force men against their will … He deceives them!
Men are often so deceived in doing evil that they believe they are doing right. (Cults)
B) The devil deceived Eve! * Notice the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 11:3 …….
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the [a]simplicity that is in Christ
* Paul expressed fear for the Corinthians, lest they be deceived.
* There was danger in Paul’s time and there is much more danger today.
* As an example of how the enemy deceives, Paul mentions Eve who was beguiled (deceived)
through the subtlety of the serpent.
C) The devil doesn’t demand full surrender!
* He doesn’t ask that the Christian surrender unconditionally, but he works for a compromise.
* Little by little the enemy slips upon the Christian.
* At first he only asks that you neglect some duty or commit a small sin of omission.
Lets talk about Demons for a few minutes
1) Where did the devil and demons come from
Rev 12:9
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Note his role on this earth – to deceive the whole world
His fall from heaven is symbolically described in
Isaiah 14:12-15
The Fall of Lucifer
12 “ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[a] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Ezekiel 28:12-15
12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:
“ You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 “ You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
2)Some things the bible says about Demons Spirits
1) There are real personalities
Demons spirits have all the characteristics of real personalities. They possess intelligence and act according to their evil natures
James 2:19
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Luke 4:41
41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ,[a] the Son of God!”
And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
2) They are spirit Beings
Mat 8:16
16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
3) They are Satan’s Servants
Matt 12;22-30
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub,[b] the ruler of the demons.”
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand
4) They are numerous
Mark 5:0 – Legion for we are many
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?”
And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
Does the bible say that a third of the angels fell – No
5) They are symbolised as
Fowls of the air Matt 13:4
Unclean birds in a cage Rev 18:1-3
Unclean frogs Rev 16:13-14
Locusts from the bottomless pit Rev 9:1-10
An army of horses and horsemen with lions as heads and serpents as tails rev 9:16-19
As serpents and vipers Luke 3:7
6) Their Activity
1) They steal the seed of the word of God
Matt 13:19
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside
2) They seek to stop the progress of the work of God
1 Thess 2:18
18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.
3) They hold people captive
2 Tim 2:26
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
4) The blind the minds of unbelievers
2 Cor 4:4
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5) They sow tares among wheat – they want to destroy the church
Matt 13:39
39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
6) They seduce people
They seek to draw people aside from the path – the lead astray – to temp to corrupt defraud and entice.
A false spirit can cause people to obsessed with a false idea or doctrinal inbalance
Matt 13:22
22 For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
7) They oppress people
Greek – Katadunasteuo – means to exercise dominion against, oppress and overburden in body and mind.
Acts 10:38
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
8) They vex people
Greek word is Pascho – involved a person experiencing sensations or impressions – usually painful, feelings, passions and sufferings. The word vex also means to mob to harass or to suffer at the hands of another, to suffer or experience pain
Luke 6:17-18
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
9) They bind people
Greek word – deo – means to tie up, confine, fasten – especially by binding cords around.
Luke 13:16
16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
10) They deceive humanity
Rev 12:9
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
11) They possess people
Greek Daimonizomai – means to be exercised by a demon – to be vexed or possessed by it. Possession denotes both the occupancy and ownership of a person by an evil spirit.. Its is the indwelling control.
I don’t believe that Christians can be possessed by a demon.
Acts 8:7
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralysed and lame were healed.
12) The buffet people
To buffet means to hit with blow after blow to bunch to slap and to fight against against.
11 Cor 12:7
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Our Spiritual Authority over the Devil
Eph 6:10-20
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
God has prepared us for battle
I am also surprised at people’s lack of understand of authority and covering and being under authority.
And consequently in the day of demonic attack – they fall. They are not able to stand.
Ephesians 6: 10
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Strong in the Lord
Strong = Endunamoo
en= in
Dunamoo = dunamis = explosive power
= empowering or inner strengthening
Conveys the idea of being infused with excessive dose of dynamite, inner strength and ability
In the Lord
This locates the power in the person Jesus Christ
Ephesians 1: 3 we are in Christ-located
so is the power-power over the Devil comes through relationship with Jesus Christ
relate back to being seated in heavenly places – and that we are raised up with Christ who was placed above – so we are “in the lord” and this gives us the authority.
Eph 1:20-23
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The power of his might
Kratos Power – not power you intellectually believing
-it is power that is demonstrative, eruptive, tangible
Relate back to Ephesians 1: 19-22 -talks through the story
Eph 1:19-21
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Mat 28:18-19
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Before Jesus said Go – he said know this – that all authority has been given to me
So first up we need to understand that Jesus has Authority
Authority of Jesus –
1) Christ had Authority
1 Pet 3:22 – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him..
2) Matt 28:18 – He was given ALL authority on heaven & earth.
Mat 28:18-19
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
3) Christ Cast demons out with a word –
· Mk 1:25-26, 3:11, 5:1-13, 7:29, 9:25-26,
· Luke 6:18, 8:26-33, 9:42,
Lk 4:33-36
33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
4) Christ Still had Authority after Ascension – Rev 1:18
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death
He Delegated it to us –
· Matt 16:19
· Matt 18:18
· Matt 28:18-19
· Matt 10:1
· 2 Cor 10:8
· Mk 6:7
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
5) He is Stronger than Satan – Lk 11:20-23
Luke 10:17 – 17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even (A)the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
And He said to them, “I was watching (B)Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
?Behold, I have given you ( See Mat 16:17) authority to (C)tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
?Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that (D)your names are recorded in heaven.”
Tread Means absolute mastery
It is a position of domination
Ps 108:13
Through God we will do valiantly,
And (J)it is He who shall tread down our adversaries.
Is 10:5-6
Woe to (A)Assyria, the (B)rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hands is (C)My indignation,
I send it against a (D)godless nation
And commission it against the (E)people of My fury
To capture booty and (F)to seize plunder,
And to trample them down like (G)mud in the streets.
Delegated Authority
Matt 16:17 – “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
Power in the Name of Jesus –
Acts 4:7 – “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Acts 3:1-10 – ‘In the Name of Jesus, get up and walk’
Acts 4:30 – Signs and wonders through the Name of Jesus
Acts 8:12 – Phillip preached in the name of Jesus
Lets look at some other power scriptures.
Power Scriptures
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col. 2:15).
“What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (I John 4:4).
“For He (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness (Satan) and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…”(Col. 1:13).
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” (II Th. 3:3).
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.” (II Tim. 4:18).
“Unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Eph.3:20).
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philipp. 2:13).
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” (Eph. 6:10a).
We need to understand the authority that we operate in as Christians
6 Keys to operating with spiritual authority
6.1 Relationship
i. Acts 19:13-17 – 13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognise Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 1And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
Authority comes through Faith in Jesus –
The authority is not in the name of Jesus, but in the belief and submission of one’s life to that Name.
Our authority comes through the faith we have in Jesus as our saviour, and because of that faith He delegates us Authority. Speaking the Name of Jesus is not enough.
Acts 19 – Seven Sons of Sceva.
· These guys spoke ‘in the name of Jesus’, but there was no belief in Him, no submission of their lives, and therefore no delegated authority.
Simon wanted to buy the authority
Acts 8:17-19 -17 – Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
6.2 Revelation
ii. Ephesians 1:15-22 – 15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church
Watchman Nee – Spiritual Authority
Hopefully this sermon is helping you understand the authority you have has a believer.
6.3 Be Under Authority
Centurion Story
Matt 8:5-13
And (G)when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying (H)paralysed at home, fearfully tormented.”
Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9?For I also am a man under (I)authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
Now when Jesus heard this, He marvelled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
11?I say to you that many (J)will come from east and west, and [a]recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
but (K)the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into (L)the outer darkness; in that place (M)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you (N)as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.
· Matthew 8:10 – Now when Jesus heard this, He marvelled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Talk about umbrella’s – and coming out from underneath God’s covering
This is a challenge – because submission to authority is not something that sits really comfortable with us.
In fact coming out from under authority – is an issue of pride – talk about Adam and Eve and the garden
Talk about people who step out from underneath the authority of the church – I think it is a very dangerous position
Talk about people who we have disciplined in the church and how they leave
6.4 Submit to God
Finish off with James 4:7
Resist the devil and he will flee from you
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you
