(Compiled from existing posted teachings)
In today’s study, we look at evil spirits of doctrine (A) and evil spirits that manifest themselves as various sicknesses (B) and sexual manifestations (C).
A) False Doctrines
What influence do evil spirits have in our lives? All evil spirits are sent by God to do what they do.
1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sa 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
When we are being afflicted with demons, we are afflicted by an “evil spirit from the Lord.” Evil spirits throw us into the water, into the fire, or attempt to destroy us, God’s children, in our seasons. All of humanity lies in the wicked one.
Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.1Sa 18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
It is given to the beast to perform miracles in the presence of those who dwell on the earth. We “dwell on the earth”, and we see and hear of actual miracles which are given for the purpose of deceiving us.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Christ warns us to be filled with the Word and “His Christ” to fill the void which is left after casting out false doctrines from our havens.
Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
We live by “every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God,” including the entering in of “seven spirits more wicked than ourselves.” So, while the demon possession that causes us to become violent to ourselves and others around us at our appointed times, being under the law and it is real, it is still the work of the Lord. In His time, He sends His Word and heals us. In this study, we focus on the inward application. We know the whole world out there is crazy and without Christ being under the law.
Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
The false doctrines of orthodoxy are being tried against the Word of God, and if we do not know that Word, then we do not know Christ and are in no position to carry on spiritual warfare such as Paul mentions.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
The word “places” is in brackets because it is added by the translators. Spiritual wickedness is in our heavens, and “heaven” are our hearts and minds where Christ dwells.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
It is “in us” that spiritual wickedness of spiritual warfare takes place.
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The knowledge of God is found in His Word. We are never to think above what is written.
1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Without God’s written Word, which has endured the attacks of the best scholars of all times, it would be impossible to “try the spirits to see whether they are of God”. The demon possessions that provoke violent physical behavior are minuscule in terms of the damage they do and the deception they accomplish. It is the spirits of false prophets, bringing false doctrines into our heavens with which most of us are afflicted. Those are the spirits with which these verses are concerned.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
When we become familiar with Christ and our Father and our brethren in Christ, we come to know and think as they think. When that happens, we are able to try the spirits and cast out many of the evil spirits that have been sent to try us and to show us just how deceived we have been.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
B) Sicknesses
Diseases are common to all men but not every man is stricken with major diseases. While science tries to understand the biological, psychological, chemical and electrical causes of all of the diseases, Scriptures makes it clear that just as surely as Ahab’s prophets were prophesying lies because a lying spirit had led them to do so, so too, are all of the diseases of mankind, in the final analysis, nothing more than evil spirits sent to afflict us. First, let’s see how this is proven to be so for physical ailments, then we will see how it is also the cause of all mental ailments. Here are a couple of examples of physical ailments which Scripture attributes to evil spirits.
Luk 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
A crippled lady and a man who could neither speak nor hear, are both said to be afflicted by an evil spirit. Here are a couple of mental ailments which Scriptures also attributes to evil spirits.
Act 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Neither soothsaying nor fear are physical ailments. Both take place in our minds and Scriptures declare that both are actually spirits. What does this all teach us? It tells us that Christ is working all things after the counsel of His own will and that all we do, and all that happens in our lives, IS indeed “predestinated” to occur (Eph 1:11). The God- given ability to learn how to treat diseases is as much a part of the sovereignty of God as the disease itself. It is God who is “working all things after the counsel of His own will,” and mankind’s vanity over his great mental achievements is no exception to that sovereignty. Times of depression certainly are a byproduct of our tribulation experience and are common to all men, just as diseases are common to all men. But not all men are afflicted with a crippling affliction in which they are “bowed together” to the extent that they can “in no wise lift up” themselves, and not all men are stricken with fear and major depression. The extent of any physical or mental disease is, a sovereign work of a sovereign God, and that work is always being accomplished by means of the realm of the Spirit. Here are how the Scriptures explain this:
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear is another way of telling us that the visible world is controlled by the invisible world of the realm of the spirit. Here is what we are being taught concerning all suffering that is endured by any of God’s children, regardless of the degree of that suffering:
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The Greek word translated temptation is “pierasmos”, and it is the same word translated “try” in this verse.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
The way of escape does not keep us from trial. The fiery trial is to try us and we escape it only by enduring to the end of these fiery trials.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
We are admonished that we ought not to suffer as evildoers, but nowhere are we ever told that our apparently self- inflicted sufferings are not part of the fiery trials which are to try us. We are all first hardened by God’s spirit and we “do that we would not”. But that is only for the purpose of chastening and scourging us to bring us to see ourselves for what we are, by God’s design. Even our sins, are His work in our lives.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it [the law of God, verse 22] is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Our sins are the result of “a law”. God is the great lawgiver who sustains both the “law of sin and death” and the “law of the Spirit of life”. That is the meaning of the first and the last.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
The “second man” is also called “the last Adam” just two verses earlier:
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Christ tells us that He is the first and the last:
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Christ is saying that this is all a vital part of the revelation of Jesus Christ. Our trials as painful and as long as they seem to last, are all a vital and necessary part of that revelation. Christ uses evil spirits as part of His MO that leads to salvation.
We prefer to call our sicknesses ailments that are the result of genetics or a chemical imbalance in the brain, or epilepsy or germs; any of the diseases caused by these conditions. But Scriptures call them all “spirits of…” whatever.
1Ki 22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
1Ki 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
In Kings 22, we learn of Ahab’s death but also see an example of how the Lord uses evil spirits to be lying spirits when He gives us over to the idols of our wicked hearts (Eze 14). The story is too long to include in this study, read it for yourselves and then we ask ourselves: “Was Ahab’s carnal mind schizophrenic”? Yes, he was, here is the example of spirits used one after this manner and another after that manner in accomplishing all the Lord is intending. Lying spirits are from the Lord who sends them. There is no peace.
1Ki 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he [Christ] said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
In His time, we are bearing the image of the heavenly when His work in our lives are being finished.
C) Homosexuality
Can homosexuals or lesbians help the way they are? Whether they are super masculine or super effeminate, they are what Christ made them.
Exo 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
A NT witness:
Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Rom 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Adultery is always listed ahead of fornication when the works of the flesh is listed.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Nevertheless, these verses condemn homosexuality, abusers of themselves with mankind:
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Lust is idolatry.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
God makes us “marred in the hand of the Potter [with] no good thing… in [our] flesh”. That is why we lust. It is not that we choose to do so, it is because “there is no good thing” in us because:
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh [the “old man” sitting on the throne of God in the temple of God, our bodies – 1Co 3:16 and 2Th 2:4], Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Now, here is the same question we and all men, ask of God:
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
And this is the same answer Christ gave to Job:
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Homosexuality, like adultery and fornication is an abomination to Christ.
Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Lev 20:13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.
Homosexuality is an abomination and disciples of Christ are not conformed with this world and its increasingly evil ways.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We do not follow the crowd and avoid the persecution of the cross of Christ.
Exo 23:2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Christ did not condemn the woman in adultery and neither do we condemn those that He is making this way. Christ is calling a few out of the many to be His people and fewer still will remain and are faithful to the end.
The spirit of homosexuality is the exact same spirit as the spirit of the Nicolaite’s, one man having dominium over another which Christ hates.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
And here is Truth of Scripture:
2Co 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Summary
What are we to do then when evil spirits get hold of us. We can get the words and thoughts of Christ to replace our evil thoughts, the evil spirits in our heavens. Then Christ will have “sent His Word and heals us.
Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
The Lord turns up the heat before His coming to bring us to out wit’s end. Job learned to sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Our trials which we endure is what all of this is, according to our Creator who has given us His Word:
Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
The end of the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. We feel only the physical and mental pain of life, and we, of ourselves, are not capable of equating any of this with pity and mercy. But in time we will come to repent of contending with, reproving, and condemning our own Maker, and we will then understand that it actually takes trials which cause us to do just that to bring us to see ourselves and come to repent. Only then will we see that the Lord chastens and scourges every son He receives, and we will then understand that it was because of our trials that we are being able to come to repent of condemning our own Maker.
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
In the end, we come to see and understand that Christ is working with us all along and making us into vessels and instruments for His glorious use and purpose:
Isa 41:7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
Isa 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
Isa 41:9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee
It is better to gratefully appreciate and enjoy what Christ is given us. It is only those who have no hope in Christ who see no purpose in walking through this life which is known as “the valley of the shadow of death”. Simply put, it is better to be grateful for what we have, than to be ungratefully coveting that which we have not yet been given. It seems obvious that the Lord works with men in the physical realm through His spiritual realm. Joseph’s brothers thought that selling Joseph into Egypt was their own idea, but in reality, Christ had sent a spirit to induce them to do His will and this is the reason for all evil spirits:
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me but God meant it [your evil deed, which was actually the workings of God] unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Here are examples of foul spirits which are being cast out through the Word.
- A spirit of schizophrenia, we cast this spirit out through resting in Christ Heb 4:4
- A spirit of homosexuality, we cast this out by being helpers of each other’s joy 2Cor 1:24
- A spirit of lesbianism, we cast this spirit out not ever learning but doing also 2 Tim 3:1-7
- A spirit of soothsaying, we cast this out by judging righteous judgement John 7:24
- A dog spirit, we cast this out by being of the spiritual circumcision Rom 2:28-29
- A spirit of a lunatick, we cast this spirit out through the one mind of Christ Phil 1:27
- A spirit of antichrist, we cast this spirit out through the words of Christ John 6:63
- A spirit of infirmity, we cast this spirit out through the power of Christ 1 Cor 1:18
- A spirit of fear, we cast this spirit out through love, the bond of perfection Col 3:14
The dream is one, it is only the Word and His Christ that are able to cast out evil spirits and heal us. The sum of His Word is Truth.
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Sincere comments and questions are welcome. You call also email us at peterjwilson56@gmail.com
For a related post on CASTING OUT EVIL SPIRITS; principally focused on lies and false doctrines. CLICK HERE
