Identifying Last Days False Teachers in the Church

Recognize false teachers in the church who preach prosperity theology.

Understand the dangers of word faith and its unbiblical teachings.

Be aware of the tactics used by false prophets to deceive and manipulate.

Stand firm in your faith and be cautious of easy believism and apostate teaching.

I I provoke you with the question, where in the Bible does it tell us in order to fulfill biblical prophecy of restoring the promised land, you must plant an olive tree for a gift of $159 plus $5 for shipping and handling. This lie goes on to tell the reader that by planting this tree for a gift of money, it will give you a physical connection to the land of Israel that lasts for centuries. This modern-day, energetic, atheist prophet takes audiences by storm with his cohorts who scheme their twisted false doctrines and have made a ministry out of the Word of God. Their doctrines are false and their words are lies which ensnare the minds of weak-willed Christians who have no discernment or discretion of the opportunists who so cleverly deceive them. The title of this message today is called, Beware of Last Day False Teachers Among You. this false prophet also touts that he has holy anointing oil in a 16 pack that you can order from him as well he says this holy anointing oil is made exclusively by my olive tree that is a business my olive tree with oil that was harvested from this prophet's personal olive tree grove in Israel. It is made in accordance to Exodus 30. He continues, I'm always humbled and amazed at God's goodness in allowing us to participate in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. A partner of the for a mention modern day prophet who is the pastor or rabbi to what is called the Life Church, on a particular day, he was pressing and intimidating his congregation for money. And here's what he said. The first thing you need to do is absolutely keep the first fruits of your giving and get that seed in the ground as soon as possible. So what first fruits is, it is the first fruit is tithing. You need to make sure that you tithe 10% of your income. And since I'm speaking to Life.Church, that 10% needs to go into Life.Church, okay? And I want to say this, that 10% spiritually doesn't belong to you, okay? The Lord gives that to you to sow back into the kingdom, okay? If you have financial problems, yes, prayer is good. Yes, fasting is good. But what really causes financial problems to break is giving. And so if you will follow the 10% to the Lord, don't rob. We're in Passover week right now. You can sow a seed into Life.Church for Passover, okay? That's an offering. That's a first fruit to your increase over the 10%. And whatever that amount, that's not really a percentage on it. That whatever the Lord tells you in your heart, okay? Wow, what a spiel about planting a seed. This kind of doctrine is called word faith. A definition of word faith, the word faith movement, is a loose collection of preachers, prophets, and teachers who put great emphasis on worldly success and the power of a Christian to control their own future through positive acts. Though almost always rejected by those who follow it this concept is known as prosperity theology in short the word faith movement is not only unbiblical it is completely heretical this doctrine stands opposed to the concepts christianity has taught throughout its history the core claims of the word faith prosperity movement are that God desires is that all Christians to be happy, healthy, and wealthy. And these teachers often claim that God allows a person to speak their desires into reality as though they had created power similar to that of God. Sickness, poverty, and other struggles are seen as evidence as lack of faith, or at least a poor application of it. Dear listener, today in this year of 2021, we need to be very alert and knowledgeable in truly knowing God's word and sincerely living it. Not only that, we need to be full of vibrant discernment as these days are growing more evil. That is, 2 Peter chapter 2, 1 through 5, the word declares, But also in those days, there arose false prophets from among the people. From among the people, let me pause here, says from among the congregation. Amen. So it is false prophet arise from the congregation of people, from amongst the church. Just as there will be false teachers among yourselves who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines, destructive heresies, even denying and disowning the master who brought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. Verse 2. And many will follow their immoral ways and lascivious doings. Because of them, the true way will be maligned and defamed. Verse 3. And in their covetousness, their lust and greed, they will exploit you with false cunning arguments from the old sentence of condemnation. For them has not been idle. Their destruction, eternal misery, has not been asleep. Verse 4. For God did not even spare the angels that sinned, but cast them into hell, delivering them there to be kept in the pit of gloom till the judgment and their doom. and he spared not the ancient world but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven other persons when he brought the flood upon the world of ungodly people. So the warning here is that we must stand firm in the midst of the famine of the word of God in order that we do not get drawn into any kind of easy believism or apostate teaching, both as Peter and Apostle Paul have warned about. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 13, be alert and on your guard. Stand firm in your faith, your conviction, respecting man's relationship to God and the divine things, keeping the trust and fervor born of faith and a part of but act like men and be courageous, grow in strength. I really like the amplified version of the Bible for really expounding on the word of God. Really appreciate it. Going back to our opening scripture in 2 Peter 2, verse 2, and many will follow their immoral ways and lascivious doings. Because of them, the true way will be maligned and defamed. Well, the interesting thing, or maybe I should say the tragic fact about many false teachers is that they are successful. Many people flock to them, listen to them, and end up following their shameful ways. We were in Myrtle Beach a couple of weeks ago and met some people near the beach and struck up a conversation with them. In talking with them, a woman in the group we were talking with asked so excitedly, Do you know of Perry Stone? My husband Lee just nodded his head yes without saying a thing. The lady gathered that Lee didn't have anything more to say about it, so she pressed him. Do you like Perry Stone? And with that, Lee said, I don't like what he teaches. The sad thing about this encounter was that these people were enamored and infatuated with the person. The woman was like this man was almost on par with Jesus Christ. In our conversation with them, none of us could remember there was any conversation where they mentioned Jesus' name. Now amazing how the spirit of air captures the mind and soul of those who do not personally know their Savior, Jesus Christ. They are like blind bats following their lead with human emotion instead of by the Holy Spirit, who has given two true believers to lead them into the truth and fill them with divine knowledge and discernment so they won't follow a familiar spirit. Now going back to 2 Peter, we seem to be doing this a lot, I must preface before we go on there, that I'm really utilizing this scripture to make my point I guess in the message today because between apostle Peter and apostle Paul they really are emphasizing this fact for the last days so go with me I don't like to even say as I belabor this I maybe could say I belabor it in a positive way so we're going back amen to second peter 2 2 where peter said and many will follow their immoral ways and lascivious doings because of them the true way will be maligned and defamed whether these abusers of the faith be charlatans or lying prophets or seducers or who take sexual advantage of their congregations or schemers who twist and pervert the doctrine of scripture, they're all guilty of blaspheming our Lord Jesus Christ and are designated for condemnation as the scripture says. Peter goes on to say in verse 3 to describe their damnable heresies. verse 3 and in their covetousness their lust and greed they will exploit you with false cunning arguments from old the sentence of condemnation for them has not been idle their destruction their eternal misery has not been asleep verse 4 for god did not even spare the angels of sin but cast them into hell delivering them to be kept there in the pit of gloom till judgment and their doom. Verse 4 describes the doom of these wicked people who live in the moment and think that their lives will go on and on and on. And because of their false doctrines, they deny Christ and the purity of his truth and ways. And secondly, they lead people into hell with them by their convincing words and partial truths. The mix is not okay with God. This verse tells us that because of their lies, perverse ways of living in extravagant lifestyles and deceptive ways, their sentence of eternal misery and destruction is swift and suddenly. Second Peter 2.2 really caught my attention when it says that, and many will follow their immoral ways, lascivious doings, and because of them the true way will be maligned and defamed. This latter part is saying that these apostles bring shame upon the word of God and especially our Lord and Savior when they act contrarily to the truth. This is one of the atrocious ways in which they deny our Lord Jesus Christ. People of the world, unbelievers or weak Christians see this and say, well, this is not for me if this is how Christians live. The God-haters of the world and the heathens are always quick to judge those who profess to be Christians and who live immoral and lascivious lives. The way of the truth is maligned and defamed, the scripture tells us. And it seems very acceptable these days in our modern society that there is such an abuse of using the name of Jesus Christ for profit and gain. There's no shame in the scandalous scheme that charlatans and spiritual imposters use as fraudulent gimmicks and clever underhanded ploys as a mean to trick the ill-informed and unwary churchgoer with their evil motivations of sheer greed and human vanity. the horror of this prosperity gospel is designed to steal money from the gullible weak the ignorant lazy folks who refuse to grow up and be transformed into Jesus Christ which will yield a far better reward and that is called eternal life hallelujah the real horror here dear ones is that God's own son came to this earth in agreement with his heavenly father to die a horrible death upon the cross for all who would choose to live in him by the wonder-working power of the Holy Spirit and to be conformed into the very likeness of his creator and savior. God spoke out of a cloud and announced to the people in the presence of his son and the people around in the temple and said, This is my beloved son. Listen to him. There is no excuse for anyone who does not obey or listen to those who teach the truth and endeavor to lead God's elect into the knowledge of the truth. And there is no excuse for those who hear the truth and choose not to obey it. The growing apostasy in the visible church today is accelerating at warp speed, it seems. the spiritual blindness of so many professing believers and their leaders is truly astounding the sad state of the visible church is both a product of the famine of the word and the cause of it when the word of god is seldom heard or read or taught then its divine purifying power is silenced and non-effective in the ears of those who sit in the pews each week. And it's very sad that the world in its ways now coexist in the visible church. Understand true genuine believers are new creations in Jesus Christ. They are those in whom the Word of God is bringing transformation in. And this work in the individual is called God's workmanship. Look with me please in 2 Timothy chapter 4 verses 3 through 5. For the time is coming when people will not tolerate, endure sound, and wholesome instruction, but having ears itching for something pleasing and gratifying they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number chosen to satisfy their liking and to foster the airs they hold verse 4 and will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions verse 5 as for you be calm and cool and steady. Accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship. Do the work of an evangelist. Fully perform all the duties of your ministry. Our chief apostle also tells us in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 14, but as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you have learned them. Those things that you have heard being convinced of these things isn on a physical or a natural state of mind Being convinced is saying that you see and you understand with the eyes and the ears of your spirit that are being transformed by the work of the Spirit of God within you. And this, precious ones, is called godly discernment. But going back, bearing with me again to 2 Timothy 4, chapter 3, that says, For a time is coming when people will not tolerate, endure sound and wholesome doctrine, wholesome instruction, but having ears itching for something pleasing and gratifying. People will not tolerate sound and wholesome instruction, but will have itching ears for something pleasing and gratifying to their souls. And this says that they want cotton candy. They want to hear preaching that is soothing to their ears. And if you've ever eaten cotton candy, remember how when you first pop a bite into your mouth, The taste was so sweet, but it disappeared so quickly. Well, the false teacher who teaches a doctrine that is sweet or tickles or causes one's ears to itching ears is a man pleaser and cares nothing for the things of God or the people of God. Paul said, a time's coming. People are not going to endure sound doctrine. They're going to have itching ears. They're going to accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. And this kind of false teacher loves praise and being popular with even those of the world. They speak much about happiness, but very little about sin. They teach a whole lot about heaven, but nothing really about hell. They preach a partial gospel, and we have to know that is really not a gospel at all. Apostle Paul said in the last days, people will depart or turn away from the truth. Also, Paul talks about in 2 Timothy 4, chapter 3, a time will come. We already covered that in the scripture. A time will come. That's very interesting. The word for time is kairos or season. And the word time in the Greek here means a set or proper time. Always, another word for always or opportunity, a convenient time or season, a time, a while. It's a space of time which designates a fixed or a special occasion. For the time to come here is a moral and spiritual appointed time in society that will be as such that people will not tolerate the unchangeable and fixed gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ. So Paul is saying here that the time will come that the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is unchangeable and fixed, people are not going to tolerate it at all. Instead, they will cling to a mix in truth and the moral values that are presently most acceptable in society as perverse and gross as they are. We see the infiltration in the church of so many abominable practices that are being allowed and okayed. What they really want to hear is the modern day things that will conform with society and the times that are relevant for today. this is what they really want to hear. And this could be called a culture or the culture of the moment. So people will progressively spiral downward in moral values. They will forsake what God's word declares regarding his righteousness and purity in our outward demeanor and mostly as well as growing in maturity and purity of our thought life and living in righteousness in these days that we are living right now. Because the time will come that people will continually deteriorate, as our chief apostle warns in 2 Timothy 3, verse 1, he says this we also know, that in the last days, perilous times, Cairo, will come. so the word for perilous means fierce there are fierce times that will come as a result of the way people in the church are living this word in the greek is used to represent dogs and wild swine perilous likewise it is used to describe the demons in matthew 8 28 as jesus was walking on the other side in the country of the Gadarenes two men under the control of demons went to meet him coming out of the tomb so fierce and savage that no one was able to pass by and behold they shrieked and screamed what have you to do with us Jesus son of God have you come to torment us before the appointed time very interesting isn't it fierce means in the new testament greek in number 54 67 fierce means dangerous fierce or perilous jeremiah lamented in his day that religious leaders were conforming to the low morality of the people. Jeremiah chapter 5 verse 31, the word says, the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests exercise rule at their own hands and by the means of the prophets. And my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes. You see, God intended that the prophets and the priests would convey his message to the people as an eternal and unchangeable truth, but they were evil in their day too, perverting the truth, just as we see in our day as well. God's word can never be changed because it is eternal truth that stands forever. When God's word convicts us by the power of the Holy Spirit, we must allow it to change our lives. And this is the beauty of the new creation. The Lord through prophet Jeremiah says, what will you do when the end comes? Though we live in a nation that has tried to make abortion of little babies legal, It cannot make it right in the eyes of our wonderful Creator God. He has declared in his word that we shall not kill. And many of the false teachers in the visible church have gone along with this lie and horrible atrocity and made it right even in their congregations. And those who have made these decisions to enact this murderous evil law have allowed a tremendous loss of life that has also caused life to be devalued. Every single aborted little baby has a soul, is made in the image and likeness of our Creator God. These wicked people are putting themselves in place of God and making decisions contrary to the Word of God. And because of these delusions and concepts of perversion, of the truth of God's word men and women desire to hear these that make them feel good about themselves rather than hear the truth of the precious book of life. These people do not want to hear that they are sinners and that God's judgment awaits them. They prefer the worldly way of life with all the comforts that money can buy over the precious promise of eternal life that comes by faith in Jesus Christ. They do not want to hear teachers who remind them that their present life and the way they live now will determine their future place in heaven. But just as Paul and Peter have warned us today, they will search out false teachers who will tickle their ears with pleasing messages and things that they really want to hear, even though these things oppose the truth of the living God. The warning is clear for all of us who have ears to hear. I finish by repeating again the scripture in 2 Timothy 3, verse 14. But as for you, continue to hold these things that you've learned, of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you have learned them. May the Lord be merciful to us all. In the name of Jesus we ask. Amen. Following is a broadcast recorded live with Patricia Evans from Shining Light 7 Ministries. May the Lord bless your ears to hear and your heart to receive as you listen to God's holy word. There is a famous quote. He said, the time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, you are mad, and you are not like us. Anthony's words seem to parallel several prophetic scriptures in Deuteronomy, which were partially fulfilled in their day, but yet will come to complete fulfillment in a future time. Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 28 tells us the Lord will smite you with madness and blindness and dismay of mind and heart and you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in darkness you shall not prosper in your ways and you shall only be oppressed and robbed continually and there will be no one to save you. Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 33 declares, A nation which you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your land and all of your labors, and you shall only be oppressed and crushed continually, so that you shall be driven mad by the sights which your eyes shall see. It seems today that we are seeing these things coming to pass in certain ways with the invasion of other nations endeavoring to take over many aspects of the freedoms that America has known and been known for. We live in a time in this year of 2020 in which it seems that the prophetic word about people going insane or mad is coming to pass right before our very eyes. We live in a day and an hour in these United States of America where we are seeing the attempt to undo what we have loved and cherished as patriotic citizens. citizens, and that is the freedom of rights that our nation is known for and the reason for so many people from other countries who have immigrated to this land legally, as did my grandparents from Italy and Ireland many, many years ago. We are seeing and witnessing in the year of 2020 the undoing of law and order, the disrespect for genuine and legitimate authority, the hatred and insolence for our police, and the call to undo the necessity of police enforcement, and yes, fathom this, the call to do away with prisons in these United States of America. The unrest in some these states in our union is being allowed by the burning of police precincts and police vehicles, the burning and destruction of businesses and homes, and the terrorizing and purposeful killing of innocent people and bystanders all in the name of peaceful protesting? There is even an evil, illegal underground army in our nation who have been assigned an insidious contract on killing police and law enforcement personnel. There has been what many are calling the COVID-19 virus crisis as being a forerunner of biological warfare, and that is only an experiment, it is said to see how fast the disease might spread and infect whole populations. There are rogue groups located everywhere around the world who feel absolutely no responsibility for the welfare of people in any part of this earth who will now begin to experiment with deadly pathogens on whole populations. The world is presently in a crisis state and governments around the world have gained control through fear and lockdown mandates over the COVID virus. People are homeless on the street and hungry because they've lost their jobs and homes. homes. Authorities have shut down businesses and some states in the United States arrest people for not wearing a mask but let murderers, criminals, and felons out of prison because they might contract the virus by being contained within the prison walls. Many people in our nation spin with confusion as to the bewilderments of why such awful injustices are allowed to take place in our beautiful nation, land of the free and home of the brave. As was stated previously, there is an underground army in the United States that has been formed by the rich elite in this nation and supported also by other wealthy elitists in other countries for the purpose of bringing America down with the intent of a takeover agenda of making her a socialist or communistic nation. This is the bottom line for what we see in this whole rotten plan of chaos, burning of businesses, homes, murder, and biological warfare that we are now experiencing in our country at this present time. Madness seems to incite more madness and insanity. All people need is a cause which is generated by an underground wealthy elite madmen and women who hide behind the cloak of innocence and pay the murderers and felons that they have let out of prisons and also the dangerous foolhardy who have no apparent fear or foresight of their deadly actions as they follow the lead of the narrative of these sick-minded people. In Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20, the prophet declared, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil and put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight. And also verse 23, who justify and acquit the guilty for a bribe, but take away the rights of the innocent and righteous from them. A woe is pronounced in the word of God as an exclamation expressing warning grief pain deep sorrow an affliction to the evil and wicked conniving of people who think they can outsmart the great creator God. Wicked people who are devising evil plans of destruction will be met one day by their almighty maker and will be called to give account of their unjust actions and deeds in the day of their great judgment. Jesus pronounced a woe on two cities in the gospel of Matthew and Luke. And these woes were aimed at the evil lawyers, the unrighteous scribes and Pharisees, who were devising their evil plan to kill him, and also on Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver and a kiss. Judas was a betrayer. Judas was a lover of money. We have many betrayers sitting in the churches today and also standing behind the pulpits who profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but in fact are hypocrites and wolves in disguise whose hearts and souls have never been renewed by the cleansing power of the living God. Ephesians 5 verse 23 tells us, Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water of the word, that he might present the church to himself in glorious splendor. without spot and wrinkle or any such thing that she might be holy and faultless. We have many Judases who are betrayers sitting in the seats of government, who are called judges and those who hold government offices in every state of this United States of America, who have taken an oath to uphold the integrity of the Constitution and that of their position, whether it be the President of the United States or a governor, a mayor, city official, a policeman, sheriff, or justice of the peace. They have promised an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, which, when cited and completed, ends with, so help me God. It must be noted in many states and branches of government they've managed to remove so help me God from their promise or oath to uphold the law in their position they are serving in that seat of government. The phrase so help me God is the affirmation to serve with honesty and integrity and as a solemn commitment, but betrayers give themselves away by refusing to make this commitment to the people and before God Almighty. Furthermore, and most importantly, you must understand as a believer in Jesus Christ, along with this bottom line for betrayers, endeavoring to destroy and bring America down is greed, but mostly it is the hatred for the righteous things of God. This is saying that within the realm of a communistic government, Christianity is eradicated and forbidden. Christians who live in nations where governments are socialistic or communistic experience the abolishment of Christianity and even imprisonment or putting to death the believers in Jesus Christ. And this is Satan's biggest plan in using these wicked people in this great conquest or coup, just as he tried when he endeavored to overthrow the great and mighty eternal God and was cast out of heaven. Satan is busy behind the scene in any chaos in the world as he works through evil-minded people who scheme and endeavor to put to death the most wonderful, greatest, precious masterpiece God has ever created, and that is humankind, whether it be through instigated chaos or man-made viruses and pandemics, bio-warfare, or wars. People with evil minds and hateful, greedy intentions are called the enemies of God. In the Old Testament, when Israel disobeyed God and forsook Him, they were called evildoers or workers of iniquity. The eternal God and Creator has given a remedy for every individual living on this earth in past times and even today. In the Old Testament, God spoke through prophet Ezekiel in chapter 36, verse 26, saying, I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you, and I will take out your stony heart and give you a tender, responsive heart and I will put my spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. So this scripture tells us that this new heart comes only by one's attachment to Jesus Christ upon a true salvation experience. The stony heart is the unregenerate old nature that came with us from birth as a result of the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve in the garden. Only the Holy Spirit who is given to the new believer in Jesus Christ can change a stony heart which is an ineffective nature of the human soul. The Spirit of God alone can give us new appetites, new passions, and a loving heart. In the scripture that says, I will put a new spirit in you, this tells us that precious Holy Spirit will renew our minds and enlighten our understanding and give us correct judgments and godly wisdom. He will give us a will that is after God's will and not after our own hardened will that is only concerned with me, myself, and I, but rather is concerned with other people and their welfare as well. A heart of flesh represents the new heart that can feel the love of God and longs to please God in every way with a longing to represent him with a purity. and a reverence towards him this new nature or new heart and love for god is not a doing of our own wills but it is a supernatural or a divine miracle it is not man generated but it is from god's holy spirit who heard the call and the need of the individual who knew there was more to this earth life and knew there was life beyond this earth. And this is saying that a person who answered the call of salvation was pricked or convicted in their hearts and soul of the sinfulness of their own lives. They reached out to God and he answered them. This is God-inspired, dear listener. This is the miracle of the new creation in Jesus Christ. This is called the call of salvation. This is called the light of eternity that God puts within each individual born into the earth. Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 11 declares, he has made everything beautiful in its time. He also planted eternity in men's hearts and minds, a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages, which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy. the scripture says i will cause you to walk in my statue meaning not only to believe my commands but to reverence my commands and precepts and avoid every appearance of evil you see this new heart was prophesied by prophet ezekiel who was foretelling the coming of jesus christ who alone was able to make possible in mere creatures of clay that is humankind to have a new heart because his holy spirit would live within them and give or work in them and give them the mind of christ jesus said before his death in john chapter 14 verse 15 if you love me you will obey me you will obey what I command and I will ask the father and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever the spirit of truth the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him and he lives with you and will be in you Jesus said the world cannot accept it and neither sees him or knows him. They refuse to see to know Jesus by virtue of his creation. And the Holy Spirit has spoken to them through other people who have witnessed Jesus to them either in word, deed, or action. Jesus' spirit now lives within redeemed individuals and leads them in the way of all truth. He gives them this desire now to follow him and represent his nature and character, which is love, kindness, and respect for all people because they are made in the image and likeness of Almighty God. Jesus also said in John chapter 13, verse 34, For a new command I give you, love one another. I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. Jesus gave this new commandment to those who follow him. This commandment is that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Beloved John the Apostle in 1 John 3, verse 10 declares, By this it is made clear, who take their nature from God and are his children, and who take their nature from the devil and are his children. No one who does not practice righteousness, who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, is of God. neither is anyone who does not love his brother his fellow believer in Jesus Christ 11 for this is the message the announcement which you heard from the first that we should love one another verse 12 and not be like Cain who took his nature and got his motivation from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds, activities, and works were wicked and malicious, and his brothers were righteous. They were virtuous. Verse 13, do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred. The old nature in the old regenerate self could not truly love anyone. This old nature is in conflict with the new nature. The old nature of the human soul is like the pig or the raven which look for something unclean on which to feed. But the new nature in Jesus Christ is like the analogy in scripture of the sheep and the dove which long for those things that are clean and holy indeed there is a struggle that goes on within the life of the believer the unsaved knows nothing of the battle because he does not know the holy spirit who will help guide and lead him and to overcome the old rotten nature this old nature is miraculously transformed into a beautiful soul with a caring heart and the mind of Christ. In John chapter 17, verse 6, Jesus was praying to his heavenly Father, and he said, Father, I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours. You gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. And now they know that everything that you have given me comes from you. And I gave them the word you gave me, and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you and they believed that you sent me. You see, only Jesus gives us a new nature, a new spirit. And now this new person in Jesus Christ truly makes conscientious effort to conform to Jesus' commands found only in Holy Scripture. the Holy Spirit lovingly lives within you now and awaits for you to cooperate with him while he teaches you about the mind of Christ and his will for your life this is an implanted divine supernatural love that grows for God and also for all whom God has created yes that even includes the unlovable people that God puts within our path. In 1 John 4, verse 20, the beloved apostle tells us, if anyone says, I love God, and hates, detests, abominates his brother in Christ, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. and this command, this charge, this order, this injunction we have from him that he who loves God shall love his brother, fellow believer also. Every generation of the time since Jesus Christ came and walked on this earth and was crucified on the cross of Calvary for the salvation of those, all those whomsoevers would choose him as their hope of glory. People have refused his generous offer and gift of eternal life that is found only in him. It is for this reason. We have what has been outlined in this message at the beginning with people who exhibit violent and cruel hearted hatred towards others because their minds have never been miraculously renewed with the love and the kindness of their savior who loves them and died for them they have been given the choice and they refuse the truth and the love for their creator who made them and has a plan for their life. This new beginning of a hope for these evil-minded people could begin with simply coming before the Lord God Almighty with a sincere repentant heart for their sinful ways. Jesus is the light of the world who would shine his truth and love in their hearts if they would submit to him. God speaks through prophet Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11. He says to them for I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you not to harm you plans to give you a hope and a future and then you will call upon me and you will come to me and pray and I will listen to you and you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back from captivity. But without a true and sincere confession of one's sinful past, they will never know the plans for their lives that God has for them individually. they will remain among those who are called workers of iniquity and will continue with a distorted self mind that plots their next evil plan thinking of themselves as normal in the eyes of the world in micah chapter 2 verse 1 the prophet declared woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds then the morning dawns and they perform it because it is in the power of their hand but understand this they remain without excuse before god upon their judgment day and they will remain with their mad sick insane troubled minds repeating again it is very true what saint augustine said many years ago a time is coming when men will go mad and when they see someone who is not mad they will attack him saying you are mad you are not like us in Romans chapter 1 beginning in verse 19 the word declares since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse. Verse 21, for although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Verse 24, therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another they exchanged the truth of god for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the creator who is forever praised amen verse 26 because of this god gave them over to shameful lusts even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones In the same way, men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Verse 28, further, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. they have become filled with every kind of wickedness evil greed depravity and they are full of envy murder strife deceit malice their gossips slanders god haters insolent arrogant and boastful they invent ways of doing evil they disobey their parents they are senseless faithless heartless ruthless and although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death they not only continue to do these very things but approve of those who practice them this is the word of the Lord his word never comes back void it stands forever and it will remain forever it is true there is a great creator who decides the times and seasons of people's lives and the events of the world as we know it in our day today our time job 14 5 declares by the word of the lord man's days are determined you have decreed the number of his month and have set the limits he cannot exceed yes there are rich people and poor in every walk of life in the world who have confidence in their own mental ascent and are rich in their own self-conceived ideals but are not rich in their relationship with God Almighty Jesus gave the parable of such people in Luke chapter 12 verse 19. In the parable the man says to himself, I'll sit back and I'll say to myself, my friend you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy, eat, drink and be Mary. Verse 20. But God said to him, you fool, you will die this very night. Then who will get everything you work for? Verse 21. Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth and not have a rich relationship with God. Although there are many in the world who deny and hate the one, the only awesome God who is in control of all things even in their very lives yet they cannot stop the fact that time marches on towards the prophesied events that are slated to come to pass as God's all-powerful word lays out in the holy book of life called the Bible. Every individual So one day will meet with their maker and stand before him and give account of their lives, good or bad. The wicked minded people will actually gnash their teeth, which means they will be so filled and full of hatred that this foaming, living hatred for God and for mankind, if they can't contain it. of teeth is a phrase that Jesus used to portray the futility of the wicked-minded people who will be judged by God in their time of judgment. And this is a mental derangement of a sound mind, a preference for evil, the evil side of life, which includes lying, cheating, and deceitfulness. simply described this is the mind of Satan and includes all of his works of deception. These people's hatred and insanity will be an exhibition of enraged dementia against the joy that they see in those who are truly filled with joy, have love for God, and endeavor to live upright lives in his son Jesus Christ. As mentioned in this message previously, God has provided through his son, Jesus Christ, the remedy for overcoming a troubled and anxious mind that gives the only way to be sane and filled with joy and peace. as we live in an uncertain world today filled with hatred, war, perversion, and disease that are thrust upon whole nations in this earth by greedy, wicked people seeking to enrich themselves with money, fame, and fortune. Jesus tells those who will listen in John chapter 14 verse 1, do not let your hearts be troubled trust in God and trust in me also and verse 27 he says peace I leave with you my peace I give you I do not give to you as the world gives you do not let your hearts be troubled and don't be afraid in Romans chapter 12 verse 2 the instruction of our chief apostle says, do not be conformed to this world, to this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and new attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect is in his sight for you. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 22 commands us to strip yourselves of your old former nature the old man the old person the old self put off and disregard your old unrenewed self which is characterized by your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. Put off the old nature and regenerate south. Create in God's image, God-like in true righteousness and holiness. Verse 25, therefore rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor. For we are all part of one body and members one of another. You see, God has made provision for all people everywhere to be saved from insanity, anxiety, and hatred. if only they will heed the word of God found in the Holy Scriptures. There are two trees in which all people are given to choose from, the tree of life who is Christ and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which belongs to Satan the devil. People who purport to be a Christian need to answer this question for themselves. Did or has my decision for Christ changed my life? Have I been following false prophets or teachers who teach a false doctrine which produces false righteousness? Do I follow those who magnify themselves and not Jesus Christ in their purpose to exploit people for personal gain and some other cause rather than build Christ in people's lives. All people who believe in any false doctrine, such as Buddhism, New Age religion, humanism, Scientology, and so on, will never experience a changed life because only Jesus Christ brings change that is eternal. Unfortunately, some people will not realize this until it's too late, although they have had clear witnesses from people all along in their walk on this earth. Jesus told us in John chapter 16 verse 33, I have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration, but be of good cheer. Take courage. Be confident, certain, undaunted, for I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you. Hallelujah. Philippians 4, 7 declares, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ. Again, only in Jesus Christ. That is the only place where true peace and joy in this world in which we live today will be found and more so for all of eternity. It is a clear fact, according to scripture, that people who go on in their pride and offensive sinful lifestyles refuse God's wonderful offer of eternal life through his precious son, Jesus Christ, death, burial, and resurrection. they will experience the worst kind of pain and torment and agony forever as they are cast into outer darkness with their excruciating self-inflicted physical and mental agony for which there is no comfort that money could buy nor words that they could ever take back it is too late at this point in time. It is just too late. The Lamb of God, the innocent one, would have been your friend and would have also loved you and ruled your life and saved you. But now it is just too late. Cry not aloud for the Lord to save you. It is too late. Look what you have brought up on yourselves now, O wretched, stubborn, prideful soul. It is just too late. We would like to hear from you if this message has touched your life in some way, either by encouragement, healing, deliverance, or simply if you've been enlightened by the word of God in an area of understanding in your Christian group. Contact us and remember, your information will be kept strictly confidential. May our Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you this day. Today we are going to speak about the spiritual battles and strongholds of the mind and the soul. Last week we talked about the supernatural miracle of the renewal of the mind. This renewal or transformation of the mind is a whole new way of thinking and living in our Lord Jesus Christ. this new way of thinking is brought about by the power of the holy spirit working in a believer's life this new way of thinking is not with our old mind of flesh but now it is with the mind of christ the old mind of flesh was the burdensome baggage of anger doubt addictions jealousies spitefulness torments of the mind perversions of all kinds and so on these are called sins because they are called lawlessness or transgressions against the will of god as mentioned this awesome miracle is the divine work and power of the holy spirit working in a willing individual who is hungry for the promises, the knowledge, peace, and joy of God's will to be the rule and center of their life now. For those listening on radio internet or the audio Christian teachings on Shining Light Ministries website, this message again is called The Supernatural Miracle of the Renewal of the mind. As a part two follow-up today, we are going to talk about the spiritual strongholds that prevent an individual from actually experiencing true security, contentment, joy, peace, and absence of war in their minds. Please understand, the peace the Bible speaks of is an inner tranquility and stability in the Christian whose trust is in God through the Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The peace that Jesus speaks about is a combination of hope, trust, and calm quietness in the mind and soul brought about by a true reconciliation with Creator God. This is all a direct result with a personal faith in Jesus Christ. True peace of the mind is not possible in any other way, no matter how many books one may read or other doctrines people may come up with, which try to circumvent the true path and way to the Father's heart. Knowing that we all like titles we are going to call this message today spiritual battles and strongholds of the mind and soul first of all i believe we need to start with what god's word tells us in whom and where our refuge and stronghold is found king david in psalms Chapter 9, verses 9 and 10 declares, The Lord also will be a refuge, a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble, high cost, destitution and desperation. Verse 10, And they who know your name, who have experienced and acquainted with your mercy, will lean on and confidently put their trust in you. For you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek and inquire of you on the authority of God's word and in rights of their necessity. And Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 3 through 5, declares, For though we walk, we live in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood, for they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings in every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. Our Lord Jesus Christ is our place of safety If we place our trust and place our confidence in him He promises to never leave us nor forsake us If we lean confidently and habitually on him Apostle Paul tells us that the weapons of our warfare and strongholds As believers in Jesus Christ Are not physical weapons of flesh and blood but they are powerful supernatural weapons of warfare that disarm the devil and his co-laborers because we are trusting and living in accordance to this new way of life in Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that the battles begin in the mind with our thoughts and King David shows us many scriptures that he prayed continually for the cleansing in heart life. In fact, he cried out from the deep chasms of his soul for the help from stumbling, falling, bad thoughts, thoughts that were hateful, and even the temptations that rose up against him. We have to ask ourselves, why did David pray for the cleansing of his soul and his appeal for help from the sanctuary? it was because his inmost faults were truly secret they were a secret from david himself david knew that only god could save him from the prison of his mind and soul in jeremiah chapter 17 verses 9 and 10 the lord tells us why the heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely mortally sick? Who can know, perceive, or understand and be acquainted with his own heart and mind? Verse 10, I the Lord search the mind. I try the heart even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing. In Mark chapter 7 verse 20, Jesus declared what comes out of a man is what makes him unclean for it is from within out of a man's heart come evil thoughts sexual immorality theft, murder, adultery greed, malice, deceit lewdness, envy slander, arrogance and folly all of these evils come from the inside and make a man unclean our Savior is confirming that whatever comes out of a man's heart is what makes him unclean. And this is why King David prayed for God to cleanse his heart and make him pure. Jesus provided everything we need regarding this victory, dear one. He requires that we do what is right and to stop sinning. He requires that we obey his word, not just a part of it, but all of it. First and foremost, he requires that we love him with all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, everything that is within us. By God Almighty's power alone, he brought the Israelites as a needy people to whom he had pity on into the promised land. and God will bring you and me through also if we are habitually obedient to his commands. Our Heavenly Father delights in helping his people, but we must understand one thing. He does not delight in people's can't do it myself or I am self-sufficient and need no one's help. God warned the Israelites in taking the land of Canaan. In Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 17 You may say to yourself, my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. Verse 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth and so confirms his covenant which he swore to your forefathers as it is today. In the account of 1 John 3, verse 8, the beloved apostle John tells us that he who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to overthrow the devil's work. Verse 9, no one who is born of God will continue to sin because God's seed remains in him. He cannot go on sinning because he's been born of God. Verse 10, and this is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother. We have read the scriptural account in the book of Exodus 23 and Deuteronomy 7, where we saw that the promised land of Canaan was not a type of heaven. but rather it was a type of meeting with our spiritual enemies and driving them out in order to live a victorious Christian life in Jesus Christ. It is a place where we consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ. The ites spoken of in these chapters are the seven nations of Canaan. God commissioned Joshua to go forth and cast these physical ites out before they took the land. This act of Joshua in his book is a likeness, a picture which shapes into a prophetic picture or type of our literally taking possession of our land through the help of precious Holy Spirit with these spiritual ites. These ides represent the evil spirits that trouble our hearts and souls before our salvation experience and even afterwards while our salvation is being worked out as Paul spoke about in Philippians chapter 2 verse 12. therefore my beloved as you've also obeyed not only in my presence but now how much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling verse 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure let's look again at these ites and see what they really represent in Deuteronomy chapter 7 verses 1 and 2. When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations, the Hittites, Gurgashuites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, the Hivites, Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you verse 2 and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them then you must destroy them totally looking at each one of these we see that the Hittites were a people according to Joshua 9 24 who tripped Joshua into a covenant they answered Joshua saying your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servants Moses to give you the whole land to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you so we feared for our lives because of you and that is why we did this we are now in your hands do to us whatever seems right to you so joshua saved them from the israelites and did not kill them 27 that day he made the gibbonites woodcutters and the water carriers for the community and for the altar of lord and at the place that the lord would choose that is what they are to this day these hittite spirits signify the spirits of fear and discouragement in hebrew this name hittite means terror these spirits discourage the soul continually with false fears which habitually cause sudden and great fear or terror these evil spirits purpose or design is to keep the soul from a finishing work in jesus christ these hidey spirits raise up what the bible calls infidelity and this means according to webster's dictionary one who is not a christian or who opposes christianity one who has no religious belief, an atheist. This spirit causes false reasoning through its earthly wisdom with continued disputing the faith and the power of God. It will tell you that it is impossible to come into perfection or maturity and that you will never overcome sin and self and the temptations and the assaults of the devil. This Hittite spirit will continue to discourage the soul, keeping it from going on into perfection or maturity. Please remember that the spirit of faith in the name of Jesus Christ and the blood of Jesus does conquer and overcome these Hittites in your life when you obey God's commands. Remember, it is not by power nor might, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty. The second that we look at are the Amorites, and they signify bitter and fierce talking and judging spirits. They have no bounds in their judging, as they will leap from one thing to another without an ounce of compassion. All of their judging is from the root of bitterness. Their name, according to the Hebrew dictionary, means warlike, lofty, clatter. Clatter is someone who makes a bunch of noise. They bring confusion into the room. They descend from Ham's son, who was brilliant, but he had the greatest tendency to degeneracy because they opposed and had hatred for the truth of God's word and God's ways. These perverse spirits would rather cause the soul to practice revenge, eye for an eye. They waited in the dark to bring revenge. They are unforgiving and merciless, and in their fierceness they rage against meekness, which is compassion and the law of love and tenderness and kind behavior. clearly said this Amorite spirit is of envy, jealousy, and rash judging. This is the very reason that Jesus came. He came to make a way for true believers victorious living in him by giving of his Holy Spirit to live within every true believing Christian who longs for the truth and way of God Almighty. The third we look at is the nation of the Canaanites, which signify and mean, according to the Hebrew dictionary, trader or merchants. These people were famous as merchants and for their artistic skill. Although they had many gods, the sun god was their most notable god. these merchandising spirits take a continual occupation in our minds our wills and thoughts and in our senses and in our imaginations and yes even in our affections they trap the soul into false concerns and they will convince you of what you are thinking and doing is good and right you become so preoccupied with false cares they will even act in the moment as you try to come close to the Lord God and they put deep wedges or valleys between your coming into true relationship with your Savior by disrupting the necessary silence and pure stillness you need to learn in order to truly know the Lord your God Their purpose is to keep you over-concerned with yourself and all things that concern you. The fourth is the parasites. And they represent the careless, secure spirit that open the door to false freedoms. They form a screed or a shield around the individual, making it unable to see or know the hidden dangers that await them like traps. Their name means villagers. They didn't put up walls around their cities. They had unwalled towns. They entered marriage with their captors and seduced the Israelites into idolatry. these parasite spirits will try to seduce the soul into false freedoms before the crucifying work of the holy spirit is done in your life these spirits labor to take us off of our watchfulness in order to make us neglect the work of the cross which jesus won for our freedom from these ites They come to oppress the life of Christ in us and desire to cause us to forsake our continual progress of circumcision of our hearts as we walk in this Christian path. They are purposed to get their toe in a door and keep us from going on into the perfection or maturity of our Lord Jesus Christ. King Solomon in the book of Judges captured and forced the Perizzites into forced labor. And Jesus has given us the authority and power to overcome these evil spirits that continually harass us. The fifth one are the Hivites, the talking spirits that move us to talk of vain and needless things. they were descendants of ham and the hebrew dictionary says they were an impulsive unsuspicious people who would fall for gaining wealth rather than waging war to defend themselves they would rather talk idly rather than fight many in this clan were murdered by simeon and levi after they assaulted their sister Diana. Joshua made them servants. These spirits are designed to awaken vain thoughts and imaginations, and they deceitfully endeavor to inspire empty fantasies, romantic scenes, and impure thoughts, and they will shift through your thought life and preoccupy your time with sinful ideas. They love to cause many, many words and vain thinking, especially amongst the intellectuals with long discourses and great speculations and unnecessary disputes. Many people are trapped by their snares and never know it unless they're awakened to the truth by the Holy Spirit. As a Christian, we are to exemplify a life of humility, of innocence and simplicity, which the Lord finds more beautiful than all the other gifts or knowledge. The six that we look at is called the Jebusites. They are a type of spirit signifying pride and self-elevation. King David ran up against these people in the book of 2 Samuel chapter 5 They mocked David and said that he would never get in their fortress They mocked him by saying even the blind and the lame can fight you off King David You are no match for us. We have to understand that pride and disdain were the defeat of these people. And today this fortress that King David took back in his day is called the City of David. God was with him. David's son Solomon put these bragging Jebusites into forced labor by making them slaves. And the name Jebusite signifies to trample upon and despise. These evil spirits are designed to cause the soul to despise meek and humble people and the way of the cross of Jesus Christ. They elevate themselves above the power and love of Jesus for his people. These spirits desire to cause apostasy by puffing us up in spiritual pride, making us think of ourselves as perfect and good just the way we are. Pride is the opposite of humility. Humility is found only in Jesus Christ alone. And we are told that we are to become like the innocent lamb of God by casting out all pride and self-life. And lastly, number seven are the Gargashawite spirits. According to the Hebrew meaning, Gargashawites mean those who dwell in clay soil. These are earthy, dirty spirits that tempt and draw us into the earthy life and all of its vanities. these Gragasheite spirits represent the animal nature of man which cause excessive lusts and perversions within the soul these are totally against the law of God's purity in all things and manner for his chosen people all of these sinful ites which we have just covered were conquered by Joshua in the Old Testament. Joshua represents the type of Jesus who was yet to come. Joshua means Jehovah saves. The book of Joshua demonstrates God's faithfulness to his promises by leading Israel into the land of Canaan as he led them out of Egypt. Now for us, Jesus Christ has come and he has provided everything we need regarding the ites in our lives. Jesus has won the battle by taking the keys of life, of death from Satan the devil and he now lives in true believers and gives us the keys and power to overcome every ite in our lives. He says trust in me. Cooperate with me. Love me and we together will be victorious in kicking the ites out of your life just as Joshua conquered the physical ites in his day. Through the process of time you co-labor with the Lamb of God through his Holy Spirit who loves you and says to you and me in the New Testament the same words that he spoke to Joshua on the day he commissioned him. These words are found in Ephesians 6 verses 10 through 15. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes for our struggle is not with flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the he

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