How Lying Spirits Make Inroads into Christian Ministry
I was stunned. I had just listened to a well-known
Christian leader address the fact that his publisher had just pulled his latest
book off the market because they had discovered he had greatly exaggerated his
testimony of being a former Satanist high priest. He did not deny the
publisher’s allegation, but justified himself, saying it is OK to “embellish”
one’s story to make the Gospel more attractive.
If
this were an isolated incident, we might shrug it off and move on. The
following selected examples, however, indicate that there may be a real problem
today with the handling of truth in our movement.
· Shortly after 911 a well-known “prophet”
declared on national TV that Bin Laden would be found within thirty-five days.
When, months later, he was confronted by the fact that it did not happen, he
sought to justify himself saying that he had not stated what point the thirty-five
days was from.
· A TV evangelist, who was discovered using
an earpiece to receive “words of knowledge” from his wife about people in the
audience, justified his actions saying it built people’s faith and helped them
receive from God.
· When feathers suddenly appeared floating across
the platform at a large charismatic conference, the evangelist annouced that it was
“Holy Ghost feathers.” She was discredited, however, when a local pastor obtained
a video of the meeting, slowed it down, and pointed out that she had released
the feathers from the sleeve of her blouse.
· An evangelist reported that numerous people
had been raised from the dead in his revival meetings, but when Christian
journalists sought to interview some of them, not a single one could be found.
· A well-known pastor and worship leader
received both sympathy and money while faking terminal cancer for two years,
even appearing in concert with an oxygen tank and a tube in his nose before
finally confessing it was all a hoax.
And
the list goes on.
A
Cavalier Approach to Truth Opens the Door to Deception
Such
cavalier handling of truth is all too common in charismatic circles. Such
behavior, however, is spiritually dangerous. Both Old and New Testaments reveal
that “fudging” or compromising truth opens one to lying and deceptive spirits.
In speaking of the rampant deception that will be characteristic of the last
days, Paul, in II Thess. 2:9-11, says that those who are deceived will perish because
they refused to love the truth (NIV). Those who do not love the truth
find themselves defenseless against the “father of lies” (Jn. 8:44).
This
principle is clearly borne out in the Old Testament account of 400 prophets
being deceived by a lying spirit because they were willing to “fudge” the truth
for personal gain.
Politicized
Prophets
In
I Kings 22, Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, asks Jehoshaphat, the righteous
king of Judah, to go to battle with him against the Syrians. Jehoshaphat agrees
but suggests that they first inquire of the Lord through the prophets
concerning the matter. Ahab agrees and sends for his four hundred court
prophets who are probably products of the “school of the prophets,” often
referred to in the Old Testament as the “sons of the prophets” or the “company
of prophets.”
We
are not told how the “school of the prophets” began and Scripture neither
affirms nor condemns the school. Some believe it was begun by Samuel to prepare
young men for prophetic ministry. Nonetheless, it is clear, that through the
“school of the prophets,” prophetic ministry was professionalized and became a vocation
by which the prophet made his living. Some were hired by the wealthy and kings
kept many in their courts as advisers and to inquire of them concerning the
mind of the Lord.
As a result, prophetic ministry became politicized with
many of these “prophets” yielding to the pressure to prophesy that which would
please those in power, from whom they also received their livelihood. Their
willingness to compromise truth opened them to lying spirits.
At Ahab’s command, these four hundred “school of the prophets”
graduates came before the two kings. They all declared the same message. The
two kings are to go out against the Syrians and God will give them a great
victory. There is even a prophetic drama as one of the prophets, Zedekiah,
takes horns of iron and declares, Thus says the LORD with these you shall
gore the Syrians until they are destroyed (22:11).
A
Prophet Who Will Not Compromise Truth
Jehoshaphat
apparently did not feel settled with what he was hearing, and he asked Ahab if
there was not another prophet from whom they could inquire. Ahab sullenly
replied that there was one more by the name of Micaiah, but I hate him
because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil (22:8). Ah, here
is a prophet who is committed to truth and will not compromise even when it
offends the king. He is no political prophet. He is not trying to impress
anyone. He is committed to truth.
At
Jehoshaphat’s insistence, Ahab calls for Micaiah. The messenger who goes for
Micaiah informs him that the four hundred prophets are all in agreement and
exhorts him to let his word agree with theirs, i.e., to get in unity with the other prophets. Micaiah replies that
he will speak whatever word the Lord may give him.
Micaiah’s
response reminds us that our ultimate goal is not unity, but conformity to
Christ who is Truth personified. True Biblical unity is always built on truth.
A
Lying Spirit is Released into The Mouths of the Prophets
Micaiah
arrived and after a brief exchange with Ahab he related an astounding vision he
had seen. Micaiah said he saw the Lord sitting on His throne and all the host
of heaven standing by. He heard the Lord say, Who will persuade Ahab to go
up, that he may fall [die] at Ramoth Gilead (22:20).
Different
ones offered suggestions, but then a spirit came and stood before the Lord and
said, I will go and be a lying spirit
in the mouth of all his prophets (22:22). Micaiah then heard the
Lord say to the spirit, You shall persuade him and also prevail. Go and do
so (22:22). Micaiah then declared to Ahab, Therefore look! The Lord has
put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord
has declared disaster against you (22:23).
Ahab
responded in anger, ordering Micaiah to be imprisoned and fed only bread and
water. The other prophets were also offended and one of them, Zedekiah, went
up and slapped Micaiah in the face (22:24). Ahab and Jehoshaphat chose to
ignore Micaiah’s word and proceeded into battle where Ahab was killed, and the
armies of Israel and Judah were forced to withdraw, just as Micaiah had
predicted.
How did a lying spirit find its way into the mouths of
these prophets who prophesied in the name of the God of Israel? There is no
question that their willingness to fudge the truth for personal gain and to please those in power had opened the door. It still happens today.
It Still Happens Today
I
remember a Christian leader, whom I respect, tell about attending a meeting
where the evangelist was, reportedly, functioning in the gifts of the Spirit in
a remarkable way, particularly in prophecy and the word of knowledge. He said
the man ministered in an entertaining sort of way revealing personal things
about people in the congregation, even telling one man the brand of cigarettes
he had hidden in his pocket.
While
observing this, Kenneth E. Hagin said he heard a voice say, “familiar spirit.”
The voice was so clear that he instinctively looked around to see if someone
next to him had spoken. He then realized it was the Holy Spirit speaking in his
heart that this was a familiar spirit at work.
Knowing
something of the man’s background and ministry, he realized that the man had
built his ministry, not on the word of God and truth, but on the sensational
gifts of the Spirit. When the gift was not operating by the Spirit (I Cor.
12:11), this man, to draw the crowds, had sought to operate the gift out of his
own soul. This involved being less than honest; and by playing fast and loose
with the truth he had opened himself to a familiar/lying spirit.
Closing the Door on Satan
There
has been so much reckless handling of truth and so much gullibility in charismatic
circles that I have wondered if some may not be among the first to embrace the
anti-Christ when he comes on the scene with his counterfeit miracles. Deception gives birth to more
deception. Speaking of the great deception of the last days, Paul tells the
consequences for those who refuse to love the truth. He says,
For this reason [not loving truth] God sends them a
powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, and so that all will be
condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness (II Thess. 2:11-12; NIV).
We
can close the door on lying and deceptive spirits by loving truth. Satan
traffics in lies and deceptions, for this is his only means of power and
control. This is why Jesus said in Jn. 8:31-32, If you continue in My word,
you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall
make you free. When we love and walk in truth, there is no place for Satan
in our lives.
Hear
the words of Paul in II Cor. 4:2-5 concerning his commitment to integrity and
truth. This statement is a wonderful guide that we should all utilize. What a
difference it would make in the body of Christ today. Paul says,
We
have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we
distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we
commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God . . . For we do
not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants
for Jesus’ sake (NIV).
This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's latest book, Angels of Light, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
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