Doctrines of Demons

118 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit 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,” The church will always be dealing with the matter of false teaching. Some of it so strong and beguiling that even the elect may fall for it and consequently fall from the faith. As Jesus said in Mt 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. The “deceiving spirits” are those who have themselves departed from the faith having been beguiled by the “doctrines of demons,” (Doctrines straight from hell.) What are some of these doctrines? We get a hint from the Book of James as he refers to “demonic wisdom.” James 3:14,15 says, “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” Teachings that involve “self-seeking” rather than “other seeking.” Teachings that appeal to what is “earthly and sensual.” These are things that sinful flesh long for, and are quick to grab when presented to us (especially by trusted Bible teachers, the kind that the Apostle John warned about in 1Jo 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us;” ) These false teachers cater to the flesh in two ways. The first and most obvious way is teach that anything goes. Does your flesh envy something? Go for it! And fornicators, sexual, and sensual sinners of all types are given a green light with no restraints. The other way the flesh is catered to is by presenting laws (restraints) to the flesh that make it believe it can contribute to it's own salvation. This latter self-seeking is even more dangerous than the first. Both are deadly traps! Beloved, when fleshly temptations come, whether by legalism or cheap grace remember: Your flesh was crucified with Christ, buried with Him in baptism, and you no longer need to feed it with unholy sensual sins, or any kind of seemingly holy laws to aid in your salvation. Rather you need to feed yourself with the Spirit of Christ!