Seducing Spirits

1 Timothy 4:1-16 The Holy Spirit is the “great teacher.” Jesus says He, the Holy Spirit, will lead us into all truth, and He will bring to our remembrance everything that Jesus spoke about while He taught on earth. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all have a teacher. Some people have deceived themselves into thinking they are their own boss and they don’t have to learn anything from any man. The truth, however, is that every day of our lives we are learning something. Our teacher may be experience, environment, hard knocks, etc., but ultimately we are taught either by Satan and his demons or by God and His Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us a great invitation. He said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Jesus was yoked to the Father the whole time He was on earth. He only did those things He saw the Father do, and He only said those things the Father told Him to say. When Jesus died and was resurrected, He then sent the Holy Spirit to us. Now we can take the yoke of the Holy Spirit upon us and learn of Jesus every day. The Holy Spirit takes all the things of Christ and shows them to us. Thank God for such a great teacher to learn from every day. I do hope you will choose to come to Jesus daily and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you meekness and lowliness of heart. This, however, is your choice. God will not make you sit at His feet daily. Some people even choose to sit in Satan’s classroom of life.

This passage in Timothy tells us about Satan’s teachers and speaks about what they are teaching. Paul shares with Timothy that in the last days seducing spirits will speak lies in hypocrisy. They will forbid to marry and command us to abstain from meats. These seducing spirits will speak through men and teach these false doctrines. Many cults today exhort their people to be vegetarians, and some even tell you not to marry. Seducing spirits are also sent by Satan as a frontal attack to soften us for the kill. The kill is when we give into our own lusts and commit sin. First, however, we listen to the suggestions and teachings of seducing spirits. Have you ever heard a message like this: “Why don’t you try this? It won’t hurt anyone, and nobody will know.” Guess where that suggestion came from? It came from a seducing spirit, so we need to learn to recognize quickly the whispering thoughts a seducing spirit tries to implant in our minds. You can easily overcome such suggestions from seducing spirits by saying aloud, “You will have to deal with Jesus because I am under His authority and He is my teacher. I can do nothing without His permission.” That will torment seducing spirits, and you will spare yourself the torment that follows giving in to their suggestions through submitting to your own lusts instead of Jesus.

Who will be your teacher today? I hope you choose to learn from Jesus.

READ: Jeremiah 33:1-34:22; 1 Timothy 4:1-16; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 25:23-24