THE HOLY SPIRIT
and other spirits 

PART II.—EVIL SPIRITS.

Deceptive Spirits

  Every spirit of the devil is deceptive, but in this chapter we shall expose a few general principles of deception, rather than name different spirits.

  The devil uses many different ways to deceive the souls of men; such as false impressions, deception through false teachers,etc. We shall now examine separately a few of the most common ways of deception.

  FALSE IMPRESSIONS.—By false impressions we mean impressions direct from the spirits of devils. Some may not be ready to believe that Satan can send us impressions direct through evil spirits, but it is true, nevertheless. Satan deceived Ananias and "filled his heart to lie to the Holy Spirit"; and so does he still continue to fill the hearts and minds of men and women and causes them to lie to God and their fellowmen.

  Deceptions of the devil are manifest on every hand in the form of false doctrines and fanatic ideas. The devil will impress a man that a certain doctrine or idea is right, and he will go to the Bible with a preconceived notion and hunt for a few abstract passages to support his theory. In this way hundreds of people are deceived by the devil, and go on believing they are right and trying to bring everyone else to their deceptive way. For illustration, we shall take the Catholic doctrine of forbidding the priests to marry. Paul declares this to be a "doctrine of devils" (1 Tim. 4:1, 3), and yet the Catholics in general believe it to be of God. This is a fair sample of thousands of doctrines and ideas that emanate from the devil, both among Catholics and Protestants.

  Possibly one of the most prolific means in the hands of the devil to deceive souls is

  DECEPTION THROUGH FALSE PROPHETS.—To many the prevalence of false prophets is a great source of discouragement, but when we see their appearance f foretold d in the Bible and see there the faithful warnings of the men of God, it should only  cause us to "draw nigh to God." To point out even a few of  the most noted false prophets of the past century would require  several volumes. "But there were false prophets also among the [137] people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Peter 2:1.

  When the devil has succeeded in deceiving a man, he naturally makes a good agent for the devil, to be sent out as a false prophet to deceive others. We need not be surprised if some of our number who have been our nearest and dearest friends are some time led away and made false prophets; for Paul says, "Also of your ownselves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20:30. Neither will they always be unsuccessful; for "many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Pet. 2:2. These deceptive agents of the devil often come in shining garments and innocent robes. Jesus says, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matt. 7:15. However, we need not fear them; for "a good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Matt. 7:1.3. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:20

  Many false prophets will never realize their condition until the judgment day. Then they will awake, when too late, to the fact that Satan has deceived them. Jesus says, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord! Lord! did we not in thy name prophesy, and in thy name demons cast out, and in thy name many works of power perform? And then will I confess to them, I never approved you, depart from me, ye workers of lawlessness." Matt. 7:22, 23.—Rotherham.

  SELF DELUSION.—While the devil has many ways to deceive, it is possible for a man to deceive himself. However, in such cases I do not think it would be unjust to ascribe a part of the cause to the devil, as he never fails to lend all the assistance possible when the gain is in his favor.

  One way of self deception is to hear and understand the Word of God, and refuse or neglect to obey it. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES." James 1:22. Another way is to profess religion, and neglect to bridle the tongue. "if any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but DECEIVETH HIS OWN HEART, this man's religion is vain." James 1:26.

  A man who is deceived by the devil, by false prophets, or a man who deceives himself, may escape the dark powers of [138] the devil through the mercy and power of God; but there is a way which if a man enter, there is no chance of escape. This is the way of

  STRONG DELUSION.— A man who travels the way of self delusion far enough is sure to end in the dark gulf of strong delusion, and this is the way it is generally reached: "Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong de fusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:10.12. In this state the soul sleeps a perpetual sleep, only to wake at the last trump, when all hope has fled and mercy is no more.

  A WARNING.—In the Word of God we are repeatedly warned of deceptions and deceivers, and every minister of the gospel should be diligent in warning the people of God to shun every false way. Jesus said, "Take heed that no men deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many." Matt. 24:4, 5. Again he says, "If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matt. 24:24. Paul says, "Let no man deceive you with vain words." Eph. 5:6. "Be not deceived." Gal. 6:7. Again he says, "Let no man deceive himself." 1 Cor. 3:18. John says, "Little children, let no man deceive you." 1 John 3:7.

  The New Testament abounds in such warnings, which were given for the reason that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13. Let everyone who values his eternal welfare take warning and beware of deceptive spirits, false prophets, and self delusion. [139]           

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