Try The Spirits – I John 4:1-3

In light of spiritism growing in America, and around the world, I felt it necessary to teach a lesson at our church about how “spirits” work.  Demonism and spiritism is real!  We need to know about it, while not being obsessed with it.  It is all around us:  magazines, TV, internet, checkout  counters, bulletin boards, cartoons (especially cartoons), etc.  Satan has always been fond of delighting men through supernatural means.  I hope this brief lesson gives you a needed sneak-peak into the unseen realm of demonic activity.

Sunday School Bible Study

1-18-09

“Try the spirits”

I John 4:1-3

 

àWe have previously locked in the results that define the CONVICTION of knowing why we are sons of God.

àI John 3:16 – This tells us where are conviction is founded.

 

1.  Vs. 17 tells us that one of conviction cares.

2.  Vs. 18 tells us that conviction is fleshed out when we act on truth.

3.  Vs. 19-22 tells us that God gives us assurance when we are his children.

4. Vs. 23 tells us that one of conviction loves the brethren. (comes from word meaning deliberate action)

5.  Vs. 24 tells us that conviction leads to consistency.  Keepeth comes from the word tayreho: to guard.

      Dwelleth and abideth are from the same greek word (meno), which means to stay.

 

àNow… why are we to develop CONVICTION as sons of God?

àAnswer:  We are to be able to “TRY THE SPIRITS.”

 

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.

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

 

àThe word “try” comes from the Greek word: δοκιμάζω, and it means – To test in order to accept.

àThe word “spirits” comes from the Greek word: πνεῦμα  , and means – a current of the air, and angel or a demon. (I Tim. 4:1 / I Thess. 5:21 / Eph. 2:2)

 

àWe must be a level 4 or higher to be able to “try the spirits” with success.  Why – it is only at level 4 that we begin to “overcome the wicked one.”

 

I.  The Spiritual Realm is Real!

àSatan can word wonders – II Thess. 2:9 /  Gal. 5:20 / Ex. 22:18)

àLev. 20:27 – This law is a declaration that this was an actual occurrence.

àDemons (disembodied spirits):  Ps. 96:5

                àThe power behind the object is real.  The idol or relic is nothing. (Ex. 12:12 /  Num. 33:4 / Deut. 10:17.)

àGod executes judgment on these beings (gods) because they are real.  (Lev. 17:7 / Deut. 32:17 / II chron. 11:15 / Ps. 116:37 / Is. 13:21 / 34:14 / Rev. 18:2)

NOTE:  Our purpose is to proclaim our God as the one true God among many false gods.

NOTE:  Demons and fallen angels are not stirring up an aimless revolt against God; they are incredibly organized by their King – the Prince and Power of the Air (Eph. 6)

NOTE:  This “false religion” began in Babylon (Jer. 51:7)

 

àThe “spirits” use:  omens, tokens, lucky and unlucky day and seasons, purifications, holy water, spells, potions, amulets, charms, fetishes, relics, images, pictures, crosses, crucifixes, and other countless prescriptions to tap into the demoniacal system.

 

àSatan’s primary source of interest is that of MEDIUMS.

àMediums are selected by a demon as his vessel of communication. (ex. Ghostwhisperer)

 

àAnother type of medium is known as an “adept.”  This is the same as the power of Legimacy that Snape was to teach Harry to guard himself against concerning Voldemort.

àRequirement of medium:  Vegetarian, abstain from alcohol, not to marry. (I Tim. 4:3)

 

II.  How Demons Word in the Old Testament:  Hebrew words.

 

1.  Chartummim (Gen. 41:8):  Magic used in form of writing.

2.  Chakhamim (Ex. 7:2 / Deut. 8:10-12):  Wise men or philosophers with greater than human knowledge.

 

Note:  The term “pass through the fire,” is a fire baptism.  It freed the person from fear of violent death.  It was an initiation.

 

3.  Qosem:  A deviner of hidden things (past, present and future)

4.  Moenen:  Connected with word ayin (the eye); a mesmerist.  The ability to observe minute details and devine accurate results.  Ex.  The Mentalist.

5.  Menachesh:  Word connected to nachash (a serpent);  a hisser or whisperer.  One who utters enchantments.  Gen. 30:27 / I Kings 20:32-33

                àAlso related to the word: menachesh:  one who devines by observing signs and tokens (like show:  Psyche)

6.  Mekhashsheph:  One who uses incantations and magical formulae.

7.  Chobher:  Binder of spell to bring a demon in close so as to obtain information.

àEx. Se’ance beginning with a chant.

8.  Shoel Obh:  Consulter of demons.  Similar to an adept, but is in direct communication w/out amulets, tokens or the such.  Example:  John Edwards)

9.  Obh:  A soothsaying demon (Job 32:18-19 – could be why Elihu’s consultation was in error.)

                àIs an unclean spirit that enters an individual

                àThe individual is a vessel to sheath the spirit (Lev. 20:27 – spirit “in” them)

 

Note:  There is a difference in demoniac possession and when there is an agreement (coventant).

10. Yidoni:  A knowing one

11. Doresh el hammethim:  A seeker unto the dead; a necromancer, one who consults the dead for advise or information.

                àIt is not the dead person, but an Obh that is in contact with the seeker.

12.  Ittim:  Is. 19:3  One who repeats spells and charms.  Ex. Snape trying to protect Harry from Quirrel.

13.  Shamayim (Is. 47:13)  Astrologer who divides the heavens into houses for the convenience of their prognostications.

14.  Modiim Lechodashim:  Delivers monthly predictions from observations (horoscope)

15.  Ashshaph (Dan. 1:20)  A sorcerer.  One who practices the hidden arts.

                àFrom the word: Ashpah: a quiver to hide arrows.

16.  Gazrin (Dan. 2:27)  Astrologers who, knowing the hour of birth, determine the fate of men by the position of the stars.

 

Close:  Supernatural attack on the line of Christ (Gen. 6 / Num. 13:33 / Deut. 2:20-21 / Deut. 3:11 / I Sam. 17:4 / II Sam. 21:15-22)

àAs it was in the days of Noah… so it shall be when the Son of man comes – Luke 17:26 / I Peter 3:19

What is “fruit” in the Bible?

I left off the name so I would not offend the recipient, but I wanted you to see how to use the Bible to answer certain questions.  This person said that the Bible says nothing about “fruit” being souls.  He cemented “fruit” to Gal. 5:22-23.  The rules of the Bible are important because they give us the tools to defend the Bible against wrong interpretation… such as “fruit” cemented to Gal. 5:22-23.  I hope this helps you see what God expects of his people.  May we walk in love while impacting lives for Christ… purposefully.

 

 

 

Dear _______,

 

Here is one more thought.  I held it back because it is so obvious as to what “fruit” is in the

Bible. Proverbs 11: 30 states that, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that

winneth souls is wise.  Let’s cross reference this with three other passages:

 

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,

goodness, faith,

 

 

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth

his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall

prosper.

 

Joh 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my

disciples.

 

Context and comparing Scripture with Scripture is how we arrive at what “fruit” is

in the Bible. Of course we are to produce the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Gal.

5:22-23.  It is impossible to fulfill the purpose of God in love without the fruit of the

Spirit.  But… what is the true reason as to why we are to produce the fruit of the

spirit in the first place?  The Bible answers that question quite admirably.

 

The Bible says the fruit of the righteous (in the N.T. it is a believer according to

grace) is a tree of life.  Psalm 1 tells us that if a tree is “planted” (Biblical discipleship)

correctly, then it will bring forth fruit.  If we are truly filled with the Spirit and living

the fruit of the Spirit then it will culminate in bringing forth the “fruit” of souls… as

shown in Proverbs 11:30 and reiterated in the N.T. with such passages as… “go out

into the highways and hedges and compel them (the lost) to come in (to the family of

God)”… “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”… “reconcile

the word of God to the world”… and many more.

 

Jesus came to “seek and save that which was lost,” and we were told by Jesus… “as

my Father hath sent me, so send I you.”  That is pretty simple.  I hope that you are

using your position as a spiritual leader to prepare your people for the judgment seat

of Christ as it relates to gold, silver

precious stones, and not wood, hay and stubble  May God bless the sharing of His words.

 

Blessed with a burden,

 

Mark D. Harrell (Prov. 13:12)

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