A study through the writings of Paul to Timothy reveal the sense of urgency with which Paul the apostle wrote to the early Church concerning the issue of demonic deception that had crept inside the Christian Church...
1Timothy Chapter 4 has been discussed numerous times over and over again by a number of Ministers dealing with Discernment and also here at YesuMulungi website. It is a subject that every Christian ought to be aware of that there is a ‘diabolically orchestrated’ deception going on around the world and inside some churches that choose not watch.
Yet still the warnings in 1Timothy are worthy of repeating numerous times perhaps someone will awake and listen to what The Holy Spirit is expressly speaking to the Churches.
Many ministers ignore this warning and many Christians too follow in the ruinous footsteps of some false Preachers and pseudo Pastors by totally ignoring the fact that devils and demons are out there disseminating deception in Christian Circles that if possible the very elect could get deceived.
Part of the problem is the false leadership we have in many Churches and 1Timothy Chapter 3 addresses this issue that for Christians to be grounded in solid bible doctrine requires Christians Leaders who truly love The Lord Jesus Christ from a pure heart and are given to keeping the teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ – Sound Doctrine.
I recently heard a Pastor in the United States of America who accused ‘Discernment’ Ministers of “loving the Word more than Jesus Christ”… The Pastor claimed that such folks (meaning discernment ministers) love the Bible more than Jesus Christ… However, such reasoning is very dangerous and leaves the door wide open for an inflow of falsehood. First and foremost, the Pastor tries to separate Jesus Christ from His Word; secondly he promotes a lie that as long as you love Jesus Christ, his word is secondary and not part of the equation.
This kind of thinking is finding its way in many Christian Churches where they claim to love Jesus Christ but have no regard to the doctrine Jesus Christ teaches. Jesus Christ clearly stated that if you love Him then you will keep His sayings and teachings. Therefore to love Jesus Christ is to love and cherish His Word.
John 14:15
(15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21
(21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:23-24
(23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Yet it is keeping to God’s Word that will keep us safe from any kind of Diabolical Deception out there in the World today. Our discernment is useless and blinded if it is not based of the Teachings and Sayings of Jesus Christ. We therefore cannot separate Jesus Christ from His Teachings and Sayings. Jesus Christ is The Word of God and Jesus Christ and His Words are inseparable. Brethren, watch out and don’t buy into that demonic lie that you can love Jesus Christ even if you do not love His word.
We ought to come before the Throne of Grace with humility and ask for Grace and Mercy that we may love Jesus Christ and Love His Word. It is this single factor of watering down God’s Word, having disregard to the Teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ that deception has crept into churches.
Yet even as 1Timothy 4 gives a warning against the Doctrine of Devils in the Last Days, Paul the apostle made sure that he gave the antidote in the same chapter as we shall see below. However, interestingly, Paul the apostle gives us the ‘times’ or ‘season’ when this kind of ‘diabolical’ deception would occur, and that would be in the last days – the very days in which we live today.
So there are three or four things that we learn from 1Timothy 4 and that is…
• The Demonic Deception…
• Who will be the object of this Diabolical Deception…
• The Times and Season when it Occurs…
• The Antidote to the Diabolical Deception…
The four points are not that difficult for anyone to grasp… Every Christian from the baby Christians to those who have walked with The Lord for many years should seriously consider what Paul the apostle writes in 1Timothy chapter 4 as this is a clear echo of the warnings that Jesus Christ gave concerning the falsehood that would appear in the last days.
Warnings about the Diabolical Deception…
1 Timothy 4:1-14
(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
We see that Paul the apostle using very strong language here in that he quotes the Holy Spirit expressly, specifically, explicitly, particularly speaking that in the Last Days some shall depart from the faith, giving heed top seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…
Those that are departing from the faith are Christians who happened to be in the Faith… You cannot depart from the faith if you are not in the faith in the first place. Therefore the warning is so serious that all Christians should take note of it.
Many times when speaking about deception in the Church, I have found that Evangelical Christians are always quick to point the finger to Catholics, Episcopal, Methodists, among another ‘Liberal Christians’ as being ‘deceived’. Yet many Evangelicals are getting deeper into deception as they fail to examine themselves and their teachings in light of the Sayings of Jesus Christ, if they are still in the faith.
Therefore the object of this end time diabolical deception is the Church – some in the church are currently departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.
The times and seasons are given to us by Paul the apostle when these diabolical deception is to occur, and that is the last days. Now, the question is that when did the last days begin? This question is important to get the answer and it helps us in our discernment and puts procrastination at bay insofar as discernment in the Body of Christ is concerned.
Acts 2:14-21
(14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
(15) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
(16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
(17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
(18) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
(19) And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
(20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
(21) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter the apostle standing to speak mentions the Last Days as being the time when Joel’s prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would be fulfilled. Certainly from that day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers in the upper room marked the beginning of the Last Days.
This is why Paul the apostle, Peter the apostle, and John the apostle in their epistles always speak of the Church being in the last days… John the apostle puts it more clearly…
1 John 2:18
(18) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Therefore the ‘Diabolical’ deception in the last days is a warning by the Holy Spirit to the current Church with great urgency that all Christians watch and not be deceived by Doctrines of Demons and Devils.
Those who choose to ignore such a warning like many Preachers and Pastors do today, is to do it at their own peril. Walking away from the Faith in Christ because you allowed deception into your life is to follow Devils to perdition. This is a very serious matter as it concerns your very eternal life.
Yet still even more startling is who would orchestrate the deception. It is clear from our study in 1Timothy 4 that it is Devils and Demons. These are fallen angels and agents of Satan who are out to deceive mankind into following and doing the will of Satan.
Yet Paul the apostle uses a powerful word here ‘Doctrines’ as he refers to the teachings of these Devils. What happens is that these Devils creep into the Church by stealth of course using people who are given to deception. Then these Devils ‘communicate demonic and diabolical teachings to these human agents – false preachers and fake pastors, who then teach the demonic teachings.
Yes, the picture is a fearful one and a dreadful one that you would wakeup early in the morning to go to your Sunday service only to have a Pastor engage in Teaching Doctrines of Devils. I tell you the truth and a ‘wakeup call’ truth, that some preachers and pastors on Christian TV, Radio, and Churches no longer teach Sound Bible Doctrine but instead teach doctrines of Devils and Demons.
How do you know if your Pastor and Preacher are engaged in Teaching Doctrines of Devils? The answer is simple; it is all those teachings they teach that contradict the Whole Counsel of God’s Word. It is when they engage in teaching doctrines that contradict New Testament Christian Teachings. It is when they teach commandments of Men as if they are Doctrines of Jesus Christ. It is when they engage in teaching doctrines that contradict the sayings and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Yes, many times the false teachings are accompanied by false miracles, signs, and wonders. There is a so-called ‘powerful Man of God’ in Kampala, Uganda who clearly teaches doctrines of devils and demons in his Church yet at the same time performs great signs and wonders. This Pastor teaches his followers that it is OK to curse your enemies and wish your enemies evil that they wished on you… This Pastor has a very large following as people go out to him to seek revenge against their enemies… The Devils that author his demonic doctrines grant him deceptive signs and wonders too and as such those who are already deceived only continue deeper into deception…and Jesus Christ warned us long before…
Matthew 7:21-23
(21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 24:24-25
(24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
(25) Behold, I have told you before.
A few examples of doctrines that are diabolical being preached by a number of Pastors today include…
- The Prosperity Gospel…
- The Dominionist Gospel…
- The Gospel of Legalism…etc…
Legalism is a clear sign of a Diabolical Teaching in the Church…
1Timothy 4:2-5
(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
(3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
(4) For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
(5) For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Paul the apostle clearly shows Timothy that one of the teachings that Devils would author, would be legalism. These Devils would influence the preachers and pastors controlled by Devils to teach and speak lies in hypocrisy… This is important to note as many times some deceptive preachers use part of truth, usually out of context as a pretext for lies and distortion.
What they do is give you drinking water with 30 percent poison in it. The goal is to be deceptive… The 30 percent poison is what puts to sleep the individual that drinks it. The 70 percent truth is used as cover and pretext for some other sinister agendas. The goal is to control and manipulate the individual so that they lose any sense of clarity, reasoning, and sound thinking.
Once the individual has lost any sense of clarity, judgment, objectivity, and Sound Mind, the Devils go for a ‘kill’, they then administer 70 to 80 percent false teachings and at the end of the day the individual is worse off than when they first believed. Yet many times Christians are OK with preachers and pastors who teach things that are just 70 percent truth but 30 percent lies…
The goal of the Devils is to have preachers controlled and influenced by Devils teach lies in hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a very big instrument. It is one reason that you find big name preachers who preach and teach false doctrines engage in “helping the poor” and giving to orphans etc, usually with TV cameras to broadcast their benevolence.
Yet such benevolence is done merely for ‘photo ops’ and using the media to paint a picture that they are truly men of God when the opposite is true.
Yet Legalism is often used in both overt and subtle forms so as to get the deceived Christians to fully comply and submit to the Doctrines of Devils being taught by the demonically influenced preacher. One good example is when Christians are forced to Tithe and told that no blessings would come to them except if they tithe, that they would be cursed until they blessed the ‘Man of God’ with the tithe.
Many other forms of Legalism are present in Christendom, all authored by Devils and their doctrines. In Paul’s time, some folks had begun teaching that people should not marry, even to this day this Doctrine still exists in the Catholic Church were Pastors a.k.a. Priests are forbid to marry; others were teaching forms of legalism that involved not eating certain types of foods.
Yet the same its true today, check through Christendom and look at all the forms of legalisms that some individuals love to call “liturgy”, all such forms of legalism set impediments between the believer and The Lord Jesus Christ. Instead Man becomes center and a form of substitute mediator between Jesus Christ and the Believer. Such legalism is diabolical and hinders a personal relationship between the believer and Jesus Christ.
Legalism is something that all we Christians much watch out for, especially Christians who have walked with The Lord for sometime. We tend to think that our spiritual life and walk should be the standard for all other Christians. If one is gifted in prayer and fasting, then they tend to want to force all other Christians to Pray and Fast or else they won’t be ‘up to tune’ spiritually…
The danger is that the Devil takes your good walk with The Lord Jesus Christ and tries to defile it by turning it into a legalistic activity and then making you set that as a standard for all peoples. This at the same time is not a call for a lazy spiritual life, we ought to encourage and exhort the brethren in good works for Jesus Christ but out of love and desire to serve Jesus Christ and others and not legalism.
The Antidotes to Diabolical Teachings and Doctrines of Devils…
In the last part of 1Timothy Chapter 4, Paul the apostle does not leave the saints hanging as in not knowing what to do in dealing with the false teachings authored by Devils and spreading by stealth inside Churches. Paul the apostle equips the saints with antidotes that would protect and keep them immune to the demonic deception inside Christendom in these last days…
Put to Remembrance these things…
1Timothy 4:6
(6) If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Sound Bible Doctrine is emphasized in the verse above. It was in keeping to God’s Word that the saints in the Church at Ephesus would keep themselves safe from demonic teachings. Paul the apostle places emphasis on God’s Holy Word by telling Timothy that he had to be ‘nourished’ which meant to be fed with nutritious spiritual food, by feeding of the words of Faith and good doctrine.
Refuse Profane and Old wives Fables…
1Timothy 4:7
(7) But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
(8) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Paul the apostle uses very strong language here in his description to Timothy concerning what Timothy was to ignore…Profanity and Old Wives Fables… Of course Paul’s concern was that the worldly philosophies of the day were contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ and Christians had to be aware of such contradictions.
Today many Christian Authors including Pastors and Preachers find it money worthy to publish so-called Christian books that speak nothing about what Jesus Christ taught but rather speak volumes about self help methodologies, positive thinking, and self empowerment among other self- empowerment topics.
Other Christian publishers are so caught up with the latest conspiracy theories of the day that all they do is email and blog about the next global demise President Obama will bring about. Lately such political Old wives fables have consumed time and resources of Christians in America that would have been better spent on spending time in God’s Word and also preaching the gospel.
Paul also makes some interesting remarks about bodily exercise. Timothy might have spent perhaps more time in the gym of his day taking care of his body, yet not much time doing spiritual ‘exercise’. As Paul note, taking care of your body is not bad in itself and healthy but more time should be devoted to spending time in God’s Holy Word and other spiritual duties like prayer, fasting, helping the poor etc.
A godly life is important and every Christian should seek to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. The theme of Sound Bible Doctrine and a godly life always go together in Paul’s letters to the Churches. Therefore is should be our prayers that The Lord grants us grace to keep His Word and also live a godly life…these are spiritual areas in our lives that we all must continuously grow.
Let it be known to all that we are all not perfect and no one is perfected yet. This however, is no excuse to give up, or in some cases make excuses for falsehood and a hypocritical life but we strive and wrestle everyday, dying to self and giving up the lusts of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life, striving day by day to be life Jesus Christ until He returns. Yes, Christians do make mistakes and lots of them; however, we can come before The Throne of Grace and receive Grace and Mercy in times of need rather than cement our weaknesses as normal and standard. The door for repentance is open to all.
These are Faithful and Worthy Sayings…
1Timothy 4:9-10
(9) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
(10) For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.
Paul made a note to Timothy that the words he stated in his letter were faith and worthy of all acceptation. The warnings of Paul concerning the demonic falsehood that would come in the last days is worth take note of by any serious Christian today. Paul makes even this point stronger by stating that he and is team labored and suffered reproach because they trusted in The Lord who is Savior of all men and especially those who believe.
In other words Paul was willing to take the reproach of equipping the Saints and warning them about the wolves that would come in their midst. Some times ministers will have to endure ridicule and mockery as they preach and teach Truth and Sound Bible Doctrine…the false preachers and pseudo pastors always belittle and make mockery of those who expose false teachings inside the Church.
These things command and teach…
1Timothy 4:11-14
(11) These things command and teach.
(12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
(13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
(14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Lastly Paul writes to Timothy to observe and do the following things that would help Timothy better guard himself against the demonic teachings that were floating around in his day and also help the Christians of that time stand strong and firm, withering all the storms of false teachers and winds of false doctrines at that time. Yet this is very true for us today…Paul’s writings to Timothy still apply to our generation and any serious Christian would take heed to follow the remedies that Paul wrote to Timothy…
Teach God’s Word…
Lastly Paul commands Timothy not to be timid but boldly command and teach these things… Which things? What Paul the apostle was writing in his letters to Timothy…’these things’, Timothy had to COMMAND and TEACH.
Teach and Preach with Boldness and Courage…
Timothy was to be bold and not allow anyone to despise his youthfulness… The same message goes out to those called to preach and teach that you do so faithfully, boldly without fear and do not be intimidated…
Set an Example with your life and walk with Jesus Christ…
Timothy however, had to set an example, live a life that sets an example as a follower of Jesus Christ…in word (Study and Practice of God’s Word), charity (Love and ministry to others), in spirit, in faith, and purity (holiness)… The same call applies to us today regardless… The call is even stronger in these last days…
Attendance to Reading Scripture and Sound Doctrine…
Timothy was to give attendance to reading scripture, exhorting the saints, and to keep to sound Bible Doctrine… Today’s Christian ministers are called to the same calling and even with greater urgency as we live in these last days…
Neglect not the Gift…
Finally Timothy had to fulfill his ministry, he had to stir up that gift in him…which in the context of Paul’s writings seemed to be the gift perhaps to Teach with Discernment…Timothy was to stir up that gift without timidity, in boldness but with love and boldly teach Sound Bible Doctrine to the saints.
Perhaps there are many Christians out there who have been silenced by preachers and pastors not to stand up and speak and teach God’s Word… Perhaps you have been discouraged due to the overwhelming falsehood coming to the Church like a flood… Yet there is no other time than these last days that the church needs men and women who are bold and will stand for truth and God’s Word regardless, doing it with The Love of Jesus Christ.
Kato Mivule
