Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already it is in the world. [1 John 4:1-3 NKJV].
Perhaps you have noticed if you are of an older age group how things are not quite as they were. The television seems to be full of violence, vampires and supernatural powers. Even many of the children’s programmes seem to have spiky and unfriendly people and beasts. It seems they have lost some of the innocence that was there in an earlier time. The worst films, books and TV programs seem to have the most publicity. If they are banned from public showing, they suddenly appear on U-tube. Many TV programmes come as a wolf in sheep’s clothing like “A Game of Thrones” and similar. Even a film made at high expense such as the “Noah’s Ark”, had to have witchcraft and strange beings and hallucinations, as if the Bible miracle was not enough. In Noah’s day mankind was so bound up in the world and the things and ways of the world that people could not listen to what God was telling him or her. So it is today, there is a yearning, a longing to fill a spiritual vacuum in men’s hearts. Disenchanted by their vision of the Church they turn in their ignorance, to the supernatural, instead of turning to Jesus who can; forgive sins, change hearts, and fill the spiritual vacuum in people’s souls.
Evolution is another test of our belief’s, it has been scientifically proved that the genetic code cannot gain information only loose it. I remember years ago they crossed a tiger and a lion and bred what they called a liger. One of the first things they discovered was that the animal was sterile, neither male nor female. And yet this Evolution theory, for what it is indeed, only a theory, is taught as fact in our schools. Should a science teacher also teach creation, he would be reprimanded?
Our minds are precious things and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit as much as our bodies. We should therefore hold the information fed to our minds in conscious awareness. …brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. [Php 4:8]. Why would we think Paul wrote these things through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to the Christian’s in Philippi. This Macedonian city was very wealthy and its population came from Roman settlers who had been put there by Rome. They worshipped cult heroes apparently, much as many do today such as sports stars or TV characters, but in a religious sense. Paul caused an uproar when he was there, by healing a Satan possessed slave girl, who used to tell fortunes for money. When her master found out he stirred up the mob and had Paul put in prison. There also we find the account of the jailer and his family being saved. [Php 16:16-40]. Even in Philippi there was fortune telling, and we see from whence it came as the girl was possessed of a spirit which came from the Devil. For those who like fortune tellers, and horoscopes please bear attention from where the information stems from. God warned the Jewish people way back at the time of their settling in the promised land; “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer [or one who relies on], or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. [Deut 18:10-13 NKJV]. We have our Lord to go to in prayer, no other spiritual power. We should not meddle or approach any others who claim such power. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes: For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. [Eph 6:12 WEB]. Paul then exalts us to put on the whole armour of God. Be very aware the church of Satan is very active. Set up in 1966 it has members and churches throughout the world. Its badge consists of crossed arrows and under the badge is a sign reading 666. We are told the Antichrist will have a number and that number is 666!! Stay away from it all, beware, the Devil is after you, indeed put on the whole armour of God so that you may be able to resist the Devil, and all that is associated with him. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. [Prov 4:14-15 KJV]. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, [1 Tim 4:1-2 NKJV]
Throughout the Bible we are warned to be very careful about anything we might feel tempted to fill our minds with. We remember what happened to Lot when he lived among wicked and sinful people. God warns us repeatedly through His word to avoid anything to do with spiritual divergence, witches, wizards, mediums, vampires and all things associated therewith. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [1 Pet 1:13NKJV].
Brian D. Papworth
PWMI representative for the South Pacific