Seducing Spirits

1 Timothy  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..."

-Paul was writing about a “last day” condition-“The Spirit speaketh expressly …”

a. 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.”  

b. In other words the Holy Ghost spoke specifically in direct terms of the last days danger.

-Bible scholars agree that we are now living in the last days, near the time of Christ’s coming.

a. This is the period in which seducing spirits will reign.

b. False teachers have arisen within the church and continue on through our day and will do so to the end of time. The church and the genuine believer have to be constantly on guard against false teaching. 

(1) WHAT ARE SEDUCING SPIRITS? 

“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.”

Our world is contaminated with such evil influences. 

Seducing spirits are the powers of the devil.     

-In his kingdom there are many demons known as wicked or seducing spirits.

-These spirits are everywhere and their forces and influences are increased in the latter days.

-They work in cooperation with the devil to deceive and destroy believers.

b. They are antichrist spirits! 

1 John 4:1-3 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."

-We are advised to “try the spirits whether they are of God.” "Try” means: “To test, examine.” 

-These deceptive, seducing spirits are so cunning that they often deceive good people.

-The day John was writing about is here and these dangerous influences have already invaded the church. Yet, the children of God have and can still overcome them because God within us is greater than the wicked powers of the world-1 John 4:4.

c. These seducing spirits are unseen wicked influences.

-They are unseen influences that work in the flesh and in the minds of Christians and are controlled by the devil himself.

-They are, in reality, the spirits through which the devil works to discourage and turn aside all of God’s people from doing right.