HOW DO YOU TEST FOR EVIL?

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Although there is no litmus paper test to discern what is of God and what is of the devil and his demons, there are some guidelines spelled out for us. The first is straight from the teachings of Jesus and the others come out of the New Testament letters.

FIRST-TEST OF FRUIT-Matthew 7:15-20-"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."

So, the test here is that we are to look for the fruit of whatever teacher or teaching that is being presented. I see the fruit meaning that the genuine will look and sound like Jesus and the false fruit will be clearly a little off. There is a good sub-principle here to note. Fruit takes time to develop, so don't be quick to accept something as of God. Something that has helped me is to understand that all that is supernatural is not necessarily of God. It could be from the other side-the Evil One.

The other tests come outside of the Gospels: SECOND-TEST OF SCRIPTURE-I Corinthians 4:6-Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.

This kind of goes along with the "you'll-know-them-by-their-fruits" test. So much of what is taught today as coming from God emerges out of some really bizarre experiences that have never been even referenced anywhere in the scripture. One of these might be the phenomenon of gold teeth "supernaturally" appearing in the mouth of people in a healing service. This is not something to be welcomed as from God without closer scrutiny. Why? Because you don't see it in the scripture at all, so be careful not to go beyond what is written. Those who have referenced this kind of phenomenon to me have expressed it in such a way so as to arrogantly point out that this is a true evidence that this is of God.

THIRD-TEST THAT JESUS CHRIST CAME IN THE FLESH-I John 4:1-4-Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from 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 from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

John actually says that we ought to "test the spirits" to see whether they are from God and not false prophets. The test here is the acknowledgement that Jesus the Christ came in the flesh. When Paul spoke to the issue of Gnosticism in Colossians, he made it clear that all the fullness of God is found in Jesus in bodily form. Those who deny that Jesus the Christ, God's Messiah, actually came in human flesh are not of God.

FOURTH-TEST THAT JESUS IS LORD-I Corinthians 12:3-Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

This seems to say that no one can say "Jesus is Lord" or Jesus is Jehovah or Jesus is God unless he is speaking or teaching in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. So, if a person cannot say this and mean it is not of God.

There is a bottom-line test that I use continually. It's the same test that those in the Treasury Department are trained to use. They don't train these Treasury agents on the variety of counterfeits that exist. They train them on what the genuine looks like, then when they come across something counterfeit it's obvious. It's obvious that something just isn't right here.

I like to put it this way: THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST THE COUNTERFEIT IS TO KNOW THE GENUINE VERY WELL. The more I walk, talk, think, and love like Jesus the more I get to know Him. And the more I get to know Jesus, it gets easier and easier to discern when something or someone shows up that doesn't represent or sound like Jesus. The best defense against the counterfeit is to know Jesus, the genuine, very well.

You see, God's will is that you spend eternity with Him. The devil's will is that you spend eternity without God. You cast the deciding vote. I choose to walk and follow Jesus today so that eternity with Him begins immediately.

PRIDE: THE HEART OF THE DEVIL

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When it comes to deciphering the whereabouts of the devil and his demons, you don't have to go much further than the all-pervasive world of pride. Pride is certainly one of the best, if not primary, themes of the Evil One.

You can check it out in the Garden of Eden. The first thing the devil did is to make the woman doubt what God said. "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God has made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Gen. 3:1) Then the devil changes and contradicts the words of God. He said God said, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen. 2:17). "And the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die." (Gen. 3:4)

Finally, the devil lied to the woman. He said, "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen. 3:5) Note how this was in the mind of the devil from the very beginning. You can actually be like the Most High God.

The devil's final temptation of Eve is the most powerful one because it was how Satan himself fell, wanting to be equal with God. Eve tried to become a god herself by her rebellion against the One True God.

This is the goal of so many popular teachings today: YOU CAN BE LIKE GOD. In fact, you can BE GOD. This desire to be gods is demonic because Lucifer himself said, "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; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isa. 14:12-15)

The close connection between pride and the work of the devil can be found in writings of Peter and James. In I Peter 5:5-9, Peter says: You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him.

In James 4:6-10, James says: But He gives a greater grace Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Jesus used a phrase on three different occasions that compared the acts of humbling yourself and exalting yourself in pride. One was when He was listing out the wretchedness of the religious leadership. Another was when Jesus said it's important not to take the seats of honor at a banquet or assembly, but allow others to seat you there. And then when the righteous Pharisee was praying next to the tax collector, let's listen in: To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God." Then Jesus repeats this saying: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

You can count on it! If you exalt yourself, you will be humbled. And if you humble yourself, you will be exalted. Now who is it that is doing the exalting and humbling. Well, it's you, however by doing either exalting or humbling you are inviting a third party to come along with you.

Here's how it works. Both humbling and exalting yourself foundationally is before God. When you lift yourself up, you will not receive God's vote of justification. We see this in the comparison of the Pharisee and the tax collector. But if you humble yourself as the tax collector, Jesus says "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God."

But there is something else here. If you humble yourself before God, then God is on your team. So it stands to reason that when you exalt yourself, you invite the vote and partnership of self-exaltation of the ultimate pride-seeker, the Devil. Do you want to call on the devil's help? Exalt yourself and fill up with pride. Do you want to call on God's help? Humble yourself and fill yourself up with God, Himself, in Jesus.

I love the words of President Lincoln that apply here: At the close of a scientific convention in Washington, the members called upon the President. One of them said: "Mr. President, we trust during this time of trial in which the nation is engaged, God is on our side, and will give us victory." The noble Lincoln replied: "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God's side. For God is always right!"

Remember, God is opposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble. So, which do you want: God's opposition or God's grace?

EARTHLY, NATURAL, DEMONIC WISDOM

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In the last session we saw the direct connection between demonization and insanity. Today I want to examine the connection between demonization and your everyday life. There's one part of the body that is arguably the most uncontrollable of all. It's the tongue! In one of the earliest books written in the New Testament, James, like Proverbs of the Old Testament gives an extremely practical and challenging perspective on the tongue. In the third chapter James demonstrates the power of the tongue-the power to bring on depression or to encourage great contentment.

James offers 5 descriptors of the tongue: FIRST-The tongue is inconsequential, yet most important of all. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

SECOND-The tongue is influential. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire.

THIRD-The tongue is inflammable. And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by gehenna. Gehenna is the cursed garbarge pit just outside of Jerusalem. It was the place where babies were once sacrificed to Moloch. Jesus used gehenna to denote a place where people who are worthless deserve to live. Here James says that the tongue can be in such a state of pollution that it is as if it is set on fire by the cursed pit of gehenna.

FOURTH-The tongue is insubordinate. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

FIFTH-The tongue is inconsistent. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

James pictures two possible sources that energize and empower the tongue-earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. He defines each very specifically. Let's look at heavenly wisdom first. James says: But the wisdom from above is first pure peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Only in peace is the fruit of righteousness found-a tongue tied to heavenly wisdom is a seed sown in peace that will produce a Jesus-kind of lifestyle.

Now, let's check out earthly wisdom. James says: But if you have bitter jealousy [sharp & cutting words] and selfish ambition in your heart [divisive, factious, all about their own self-interest], do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

NOTE that "bitter jealousy" and "selfish ambition in your heart" become an earthly, putrid fountain for earthly wisdom. Then, note the flow out of this dirty fountain: · Earthly-limited to this planet-nothing from heaven. · Natural-soulish-the best humanity can do. · Demonic-from the pit of the most worthless place-gehenna!

THEN NOTE that an additional flow from this sort of fountain is "disorder" (restless confusion) and "every evil thing" (worthlessness-good-for-nothingness). Keep in mind that the ultimate flow from this fountain of earthly wisdom is a tongue that is out of control and dangerous, therefore it can destroy people!

The best of earthly and natural wisdom without God is wide open for demonic harassment, influence and control. Your tongue is the place of distribution of this earthly, natural and demonic wisdom.

So, a tongue-check is always in order to decipher what evil may be lurking in your heart. A tongue-check is really a heart-check! To tame your tongue, you must learn to love heavenly wisdom and learn to live by it. These are the Kingdom principles Jesus came to teach us how to live best. You sort of take on the role of being a gardener, learning to love the real productive plants and hate the weeds that threaten them. Maybe the lesson is that you must become tongue-tied; your tongue works best when tied to the heavenly wisdom under the control of Jesus. Oh, and note that the knot that ties the tongue is meekness-a quiet, controlled confidence in Him. James says: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness (or meekness) of wisdom.

Check it out for yourself. Check your heart by checking out your tongue!

THE DEMONIAC AND JESUS

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I am working my way through some thoughts about the spiritual warfare Jesus encounters from the beginning of His ministry among the people. Today I want to examine an incident in the life of Jesus that can teach us a lot about the devil and his demons.

On the Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee in the area of Gadara or the land of the Gerasenes there was a settlement of Gentiles where a very scary man lived. He lived in the caves and he was known as the crazy man full of demons who screamed and shouted throughout the night. At certain weather conditions he could be heard with his blood-curdling noises all around the lake. People knew who he was and he was no doubt the subject of conversation around the campfire in many homes.

Mark records this fascinating story. In Mark 5:1-20-They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.

This scene may seem way out, but throughout the years I have actually seen this kind of strength and wildness in certain people who have given themselves over to the devil and his demons. The first book I ever had published was entitled Chains of the spirit: A Manual for Liberation. It was about the demonic activity I had personally encountered in the counseling center. I was able to match this experience up with the demonic activity found in the New Testament. Believe me, it is for real and nothing to ignore in your own life, because it is the battle for the soul-your soul!

Now note what happens when Jesus shows up: Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!" For He had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he said to Him, "My name is Legion; for we are many."

There are a couple of observations that are important here. First, note that this man was demonized to the point of control. The demons were in control of this man and speaking through him. Second, note that the demons know clearly who Jesus is. They call Him, Jesus, Son of the Most High God. What you will find as you read through the Gospels is that there is only one group in the various villages who know who Jesus really is. It's the demonized who greet Jesus, either calling Him the Son of God or the Holy One of Israel. Although the disciples and the religious leaders weren't quite sure about the identity of Jesus, the demons certainly knew. Third, Jesus kept saying to them, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"

Now note Jesus' response to the demons speaking through this man: And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The demons implored Him, saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter them." Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

This is a curious thing that the demons asked to be sent into the herd of pigs, instead of being sent out of the country. Jesus went along with the request and sent them into the herd. The herd rushed down off a steep bank into the sea. You can still visit this steep bank on the Sea of Galilee today.

Now keep in mind these were not Jewish herdsmen, because they owned the forbidden pigs. Jews couldn't eat pork. Now watch: Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demonized sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened. These Gentiles were used by God to spread the word in the city and throughout the country what had just happened. What they were most fascinated with was not the loss of the herd of pigs, but the transformation of the wild man. NOTE they came and found him "sitting down, clothed and in his right mind." And when they saw the dramatic change in the man, they were frightened! It was obvious to all that they were seeing a miracle!

Now, the people asked Jesus to leave the area before He put them out of business! Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demonized man, and all about the swine. And they began to implore Him to leave their region.

So, Jesus decided to leave: As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demonized was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you."

This is so interesting! The demoniac-the one who was demonized-was so enthused about what Jesus had done for him that he begged Jesus to allow him to tag along with Jesus wherever He was going. Jesus rejected his request and told him to "go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He had mercy on you."

Jesus urged him to stay home and to spread the word throughout the Roman cities of the Decapolis of what God had done for him. What a testimony this would be! HOWEVER, note that the formerly demonized man disobeyed Jesus. And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Jesus sent him to tell the news of what God had done for him, BUT the formerly demonized man went away throughout the 10 cities of the Decapolis and didn't tell them what God had done, but WHAT JESUS HAD DONE FOR HIM. This man who was demonized knew from his experience with the demons who had taken control of the man that Jesus was the Son of God. So, he spread the word what Jesus (God) had done for him!

You know, this man was desperate and when Jesus touched him, he was transformed. His restlessness was transformed into peace and he was sitting down. His nakedness was transformed by being clothed. His insanity was transformed into sanity! Boy, I know lots of people who aren't so severely demonized, but desperately need to be transformed in the same way-"sitting down, clothed and in his right mind." Now that's true serenity and peace that anyone can own through Jesus and only Jesus.

WHAT'S THE DEVIL'S STRATEGY?

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I want to further discuss the strategy of the devil today. What I want to share with you is certainly not all-inclusive, but some key areas that I see too frequently in this spiritual warfare. In a sense, the Evil One's strategy is as numerous as there are people and situations-much like the disease of cancer. However, there are some themes to the devil's madness.

One theme is harassment and accusation. The term "Satan" means to accuse or the accuser and that is precisely what he does. After shooting wicked, vile, selfish and self-destructive thoughts in your mind, he then quickly accuses you for having such thoughts. "How could you think such things and claim to love God and follow Jesus? How hideous are you?"

Another major theme is distraction-anything that pulls you away from Jesus and His purpose for you. Much of the time the distractions are not bad, in and of themselves, but still become distractions. It's like the "good" gets in the way of the "best."

This theme is taken a little further when you are caught up in a battle for your attention and allegiance. Many years ago Bob Briner in his book, Roaring Lions, listed out what he called "noble causes" that keep Christians from changing the world. He listed such noble causes as prayer in school, family values, anti-abortion, fighting the homosexual agenda, etc. You may feel strongly about your position on these noble causes, yet each of these and many more have the power to soak up all of your attention and allegiance. In many cases, the energy given to the cause comes into cross purposes with sharing the love of Jesus. For instance, how can you stand in a line screaming against same-sex marriages and share the unconditional love of Jesus with the very people who are the targets of your attack?

A very deceptive theme has to do with the devil and his demons and how they appear to people. You see, if they were always dark, wicked and scary, they wouldn't trick you at all. Therefore, the devil and his demons come across in a positive manner, even attractive, at times. Jesus warned that false teachers and prophets are like wolves disguised as sheep. Then, later in the writings of Paul to the followers of Jesus in Corinth, we read: But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (II Corinthians 11:3-5)

NOTE Paul is speaking of some leaders who have apparently been teaching the followers of Jesus gathered together in Corinth. He says when these teachers came and taught another Jesus or asked them to receive a different spirit than which they had received or a different gospel that they had not already accepted, they loved it! He is contrasting how the Corinthian believers scrutinized and criticized Paul, but easily welcomed into their midst teachers who were off message with respect to Jesus, the Spirit and the Gospel. Paul goes on to point out who these teachers really were.

He says: For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. (II Corinthians 11:13-15) NOTE even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Without this kind of disguise no one would be distracted or pulled away from a focus on Jesus. This is a key component to the devil's strategy!

Jesus speaks of this same sort of deception. Matthew records this in the seventh chapter: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" (Matthew 7:21-23)

Now, Jesus is referring to people who do three things in His name, yet He doesn't know them as His own. First, they prophesy or speak in the name of Jesus. Second, they cast out demons in the name of Jesus. And third, they perform many miracles in the name of Jesus. This is an amazing point Jesus is making here. There will be certain people who will be functioning as "believers" in Jesus and seemingly are part of the leadership within what might be termed the "Jesus movement", yet Jesus doesn't claim them, but rejects them.

Who are these guys? Jesus actually answers this question with His earlier statement. He says: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter." NOTE the only ones who will enter the Kingdom of heaven will be those who do the will of the Father. So, apparently these people who are acting in the name of Jesus are not doing the will of the Father.

So, what does it mean to do the will of the Father? I think Jesus makes this perfectly clear in the next paragraph. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27) It seems by what Jesus says here is that doing the will of the Father is hearing Jesus' words and practicing them.

The strategy of the devil and his demons is very effective, because it usually is into counterfeiting all that is good and all that Jesus does. In order to avoid the traps of the Evil One, you must see through this devious strategy and embrace a single-minded focus on listening to Jesus and doing what He says. It is so easy to be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus.

Maybe the most effective strategy of all used by the devil and his demons is to continue to maneuver us around into doing absolutely nothing, going absolutely nowhere. I'm reminded of the words of an airline pilot: "Ladies and gentlemen: This is your Captain speaking. We're traveling West across the Pacific Ocean. In a few hours you will be able to look down and see land. When that happens, we're going to start looking for a big city with an airport. If we find one before our fuel runs out, we'll land. Then we'll figure out where we are and decide where we want to go next. In the meantime, folks, just sit back and relax and enjoy your trip!"

IF THE DEVIL HAD A FAVORITE WEAPON TO USE ON US, I THINK IT WOULD BE COMPLACENCY! Think it over!