by Traveler
Home Church Starter Pack.
The whole objective of this booklet is to give information and pointers on how to start a home based church, or as may soon be the case, an underground church. Apart from the pointers and a few teachings there is a need to also include definitions regarding the subjects of the church and salvation as well as pitfalls to avoid.
First and foremost, It needs to be understood that no church can really prosper in a spiritual sense with out the interaction of Christ Jesus. With out Christ it all becomes just an intellectual exercise. The new home church may start off with only a bible study but if pursued with honest intentions Jesus will start to show up and the Gifts of the Spirit will start to manifest.
Now this is important, the gifts of the spirit tend to operate as a confirmation of the teachings being taught. If there are no gifts operating then double check the teachings to make sure they are accurate. Understand that the gifts are just as active today as they were in the book of Acts. The reason they are not seen much now days is because the teachings have been compromise so of course there will be no confirmations forth coming.
Jesus made it quite clear that you cannot serve two masters. Either you serve God or you serve Mammon. You need to make your choice. Where you have the teaching of bless me quick and the pursuit of worldly riches, know that the real gifts of the spirit are not going to show up. Jesus made it quite clear that the only thing we are going to get from this worldly system is persecution, not worldly riches. Yes there are false manifestations so proceed with caution. But Know that when God moves it is very quiet and Gentle, When the false moves it is accompanied with a lot of showmanship.
I have noticed that two things become apparent when there is demonic activity present trying to derail the saints. The first is excessive religiosity and the accompanied God Sticks to beat the saints into submission. And the other is the driving push to maintain an image. You must appear as if in unity and do not confuse the babies. If the specific gathering leaves behind a lot of bleeding and broken saints in its path then know there is something wrong. By their fruits you will know them. I have noticed over and over that when you get excessive religiosity, look at the teachings and with out fail there is something false being presented that needs force for acceptance.
Now the church is based on the New Testament. It starts with the four gospels. Matthew, Mark and John were some of the original Apostles that walked with Christ. Their Gospels are their eye witness accounts of what they experienced and were taught by Jesus. Luke was a secular historian who came after and researched the movement started by Jesus while the original witnesses were still living. It was so well done that it has been included as one of the gospels and is plainly the more educated witness. All can be taken as literal and an accurate witness. The book of acts was probably written by Luke and records the history of the early church. It serves as a practical example of what the saints should be doing. The Epistles or letters are the original apostles writing to the churches that had been planted, giving them clarification on where they had short comings etc. These are all practical explanations and should be taken literally. The book of revelation is prophetic and needs to be studies with the understanding that there is a lot of symbolism involved. The closer we get to the end of the age the more sense it makes. I have found that I can take 20 well educated scholars regarding the book of Revelation and no two will be in full agreement. The differences mostly come regarding the timing and overlap. So don’t get too hung up over it. But it is very interesting to study and should not be discouraged.
The old testament is mainly a record of the covenant between God and the Jews. No gentile nations were present when this covenant was established and the laws given by God to the Jews through Moses was meant for the Jews only. Christians do not engage in animal sacrifices, For the Christian Jesus is our sacrifice and his shed blood is the payment for our redemption back to God. When it comes to the choice of the Bible to use stick with the King James version even if it gets mocked a lot. The differences between it and the other versions are small but those small changes are enough to result in a lot of misunderstanding that has resulted in many of our modern day churches being caught up in error.
To plant a home or underground church is really quite simple. The original church is a fellowship, not an institution. You do not need qualified preachers with bible school diplomas issued by other men. The real qualification is the one that God gives, to those whom he gives the anointing of the Holy Spirit to. All you have to do to get that is study his word in the scriptures and practice the things it says. I only received my anointing about five years after I was baptized, but I had to draw back from what I had been taught in the established church and start to practice what I grasped from the scriptures themselves. This is why I stated to take the scriptures literally. As stated, the confirmations come when you get it right, if there is error in your theology your spiritual life remains dead.
What you need to avoid is getting caught up in business models. The last thing a home based or underground church needs is the state dictating what parts of the bible you can do a study on. You do not pass a collection plate and generate an income from this, which does away with the needs for tax declarations etc. Fact is if you do this right the only overhead should be the cost of coffee or tea while fellow shipping at home. You do not advertise either, Simply rely on word of mouth and when the group gets a bit big then split up into two groups meeting in different homes. Also avoid making lists, If the state or other group decides that they want to round up all the Christians for re-education then why provide them with a list of saints to round up. In a fellow ship all will know each other anyway so a bureaucracy will be pointless. The fellowship is just a group of friends getting together. There is no need for registrations and declarations etc.
You only need a small group of two or three people getting together with the intention of bible study and prayer. It will probably grow from there over time as in the form of an expanding community of friends. This is the original plan that Jesus put in place, Some one that knows a bit goes out and leads others to the Lord and then baptizes and disciples them until they can stand on their own, then those go out and lead others to the Lord and makes their own disciples, This gets repeated generation after generation, thus the Gospels of salvation get perpetuated until the Lord returns. The instruction was to do this until all nations had received the message. Understand that the moment this gets turned into a business model the compromises will start so as to watch the bottom line. It was with good reason that the Lord said “Freely you have received so freely Give” If you want to go full main line institutionalized church then you are no longer a home group or underground church. And with it comes all the government oversight and controls with declared balance sheets etc. This is how all the deceptions spread into the body of believers through the demands of conformity.
The next thing to look at is your motives. You are supposed to be serving Christ and God. But for some reason a situation is coming around where the saints are looking for ways to motivate God to serve their own interests . This will naturally result in no interaction with God at all, but it opens the door for demonic intervention. If you are going to be a servant of the Lord then be one. Start to look out for Gods kingdom and what interests God rather than your own interests . If you wish to build up your own kingdom then fine, go do it, but know that you will have to build it with in the confines of your own strength. But if you are working at building up Gods kingdom then you can expect to see the power of God operating on your behalf. Its as simple as that, so get your motives right and define exactly what your priorities are for any given situation.
If there is one thing a home based church needs, its encouragement from the Lord and the best way to stimulate this is through prayer. Now this is important ! Prayer to bless each other should be at the bottom of the list. The subjects for prayer should be chosen with Gods interests in mind. Look around your community and identify those things that you know God wants somebody to intercede for. Drive out the drug dealers from an area or help some individual that is in trouble. Create opportunities to lift up Jesus etc. When you intercede for those things that you know God will have an interest in you will see the power of God start to move in answer to your prayers. Again it is what you are being motivated by, God first and yourself only at the end and even then only in areas where either God or Jesus are likely to want to operate.
Following are some studies I did myself on specific subjects that can be used as templets for your own study subject matter.
Understanding Mammon
Considering how much Jesus had to say about this subject, it is a wonder why teaching about it from the pulpit is an unspoken taboo. The main point to grasp here is that mammon is the philosophy and governing principles behind the operations in the kingdom of Satan. The economic systems which we have adopted along with its privileged and social ramifications. It instills the opposite behaviours held up as desirable in the kingdom of God. It encourages self centeredness instead of God centeredness. Every other religion will promote the development of self, with self being responsible for their own development in reaching for the higher state of being. While in the kingdom of God it is impossible to earn ones own salvation in any way shape or form. It can only be given as a free gift for the asking. Mans natural reasoning will gravitate towards the principles of mammon because of our fallen state, which makes the learning and understanding of Godly principles something that requires the development of new lines of logic. This line of reasoning is not something that comes naturally to us. There is no shortage of new testament scriptures looking at this phenomenon, such as the one below.
Rom 8:5 For they that are according to the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace:
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
And the solution to the problem being along the lines of this scripture below.
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.
Rom 12:3 For through the grace given to me, I say, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Jesus of course just stated the situation very plainly and bluntly as recorded in this verse below.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
To be noted here, is that Jesus referred to serving mammon as in competition to serving God. No matter how diplomatic you try to be, there is going to come a time where the rules of mammon and submission to Gods laws are going to be in opposition. Do you take the financial loss and obey God, or do you please the stock holders and take the money or the deal and run? But in reality mammon encompasses far more than just wealth. It also includes all the trappings of prestige, political power, influence, worldly respect and all else that places a person in high esteem over the common people in the form of brute power based on wealth, not acts of righteousness.
The kingdom of Satan also keeps close tabs on the distribution of mammon as well. Those who do not play their game will be stripped of mammon and reputation so as to render them the poor of the land. This is to pressure them into compliance or servitude. The specific demonic entities involved with this are Rimmon and Focalor. Interesting read if you look them up. Fortunately they can be bound by the saints using the authority we have in Christ.
The basic dictionary definition in Strongs concordance is as follows!
G3126
μαμμωνα?ς
mammōnas
mam-mo-nas’
Of Chaldee origin (confidence, that is, figuratively wealth, personified); mammonas, that is, avarice (deified): – mammon.
The control comes through the need to protect ones gains in the form of mammon. Worldly wisdom
dictates that reputation needs to be protected in the sight of others that also have the required reputations, even if the course of action denies justes to the poor of the land. We are coming into a time where those that mock God and Christ are held in high esteem. Peer pressure to conform will ensure the mockery of God grows. This is the laws of mammon in operation.
A good example of where this plays out is to be found in these verses;
Est 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
Est 3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
Haman was number two in the kingdom, He had lots of mammon and a great deal of pride to go along with it. When this Jew did not bow and tremble before him when he passed, Haman decided to kill off all the Jews in the land. He was to be feared and reverenced because of his station. As is the case of mammon in operation.
Fortunately the kings wife just happened to be a Jew and the daughter of Mordecai, so the Jews came through and Haman ended up on his own gallows.
This of course is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught;
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
This of course does create a challenge for us in that we have to live in a world that is governed by mammon, while we are supposed to be striving to uphold godly principles. Jesus, fortunately did give us some advice on how to handle this situation.
The fact is that our economic system is designed in such a way that the good guys will inevitably finish last and those that want to come in first no matter what will have to leave their godly principles behind so as to beat out the competition. The higher up the ladder you go in the worlds system the more you will have to exploit your fellow man and stretch the truth in order to accumulate wealth. Get enough of it and you may even stand a chance in politics where there is some real power to go along with it.
Now that leaves us in a bit of a problem. We want to pursue the things of God and lay up for ourselves some treasures in heaven but at the same time we have out of necessity to engage in worldly mammon in order to live. So the question is, How do we handle this. Well the first thing is to identify what belongs to the kingdom of God and what Belongs to the kingdom of this world in the form of mammon. The moment the two get mixed up everything gets corrupted.
Now Jesus did point out that there is a conflict of interest involved when dealing with mammon while attempting to also walk in the spirit. But he also pointed out that you need make a decision regarding which you want to serve. We do have two masters over us but we get to choose which we want to honour and which we want to despise.
However Jesus also gave some very good advice on how to handle the situation. And it is found in the context of the first verse quoted which is reproduced below.
Luk 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Luk 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luk 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luk 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Now right off the batt Jesus acknowledged that as far as our dealings with mammon are concerned we are probably going to fail as the doors of the world will tend to close to us. But he also cautioned that we are to deal faithfully with it as in a trust worthy manner.
But what Jesus also pointed out was that while you have it use it to make friends and alliances so that you will not be an offence to any and they will be willing to help you in the future in times when you will inevitably need the help. That way by remaining true to your Godly principles you will still be rewarded in other ways when the mammon of the world fails you.
True Prophecy / False Prophecy
The receiving of a prophecy is by nature a supernatural experience. But a supernatural experience in itself does not mean it is of God. The Buddhists have their prophets who receive prophecies that encourage the path to the Buddhist enlightenment. The Hindus have their prophets that provide the encouragement for the development of ones Karma and soul. The Muslims have their prophets that encourage the Jehad and demolition of the infidels. The witches and wiccans have their prophets that provide access to their spirit guides. The pagans have their high priests and prophets that commune and pass on instructions from their respective god pantheons. Be it Zeus or Jupiter or Thor etc. Then you just have the spirit mediums and fortunetellers that do the same thing with familiar spirits that pose as departed loved ones or whatever. None of the above is inspired by the Holy Spirit , but is the demonic engaged in their normal business.
However when it comes to Christianity or Judaism things get a little more complicated. The demonic entities are no longer acting in defence and encouragement of a particular worldly faith but are in an attack stance so as to corrupt and subvert a covenant faith in such a way as to produce an alternative to the true that can be used to deceive the saints and draw them into an alternative faith that looks like the biblically inspired covenant faith but is promoting a different God and a different Jesus. Yes it uses all the right terminology and is steeped in hyper religiosity but does not lead into a real salvation or a real reconciliation with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The writers of the New Testament had already come into contact with this deception and they gave a name to it, The Spirit of the Antichrist.
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.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
G500
ατιριστος
antichristos
an-tee’-khris-tos
From G473 and G5547; an opponent of the Messiah: – antichrist.
Basically the same deceiving demons that had come against the Old Covenant and corrupted Judaism and had gained control over the pharisees, where now starting to do the same thing with the way or the early church comprising Christianity of the New Covenant. Just as the priest of the second temple had been so corrupted in their understanding and practices, to the point where Jesus referred to them as complete hypocrites, so the demons were trying to do the same thing with the early church and corrupt their doctrine as well.
Luk 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
Luk 11:40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
Luk 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
Luk 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Luk 11:43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Luk 11:44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
Well this of course raises the question of what is the difference between the true prophecy and the false prophecy if both are supernatural in origin. Well the answer lies in who it is that is giving the prophetic word. From the Christian perspective the True prophecy comes from the kingdom of God and the false comes from the kingdom of Satan. Demons are quite happy to be very religious and are in fact the deities behind all the worlds Pagan and other alternative religions. But there remains only one real God and that is the one that established the covenant faiths as found in the scriptures as in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He has sent his only Begotten Son Jesus to redeem us at Calvary and set him up as his King over all of the creation.
Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psa 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
So the next question is just how do we establish that the prophecies we are receiving are actually coming from the Kingdom of God and not an alternative source. The writers of the New Testament faced this question as well and left us instructions on how to do this. The first is to test the spirit that is giving the prophecy directly as in when the spirit starts to deliver the prophecy, ask the spirit what their confession of faith is. And the other is to judge the fruits produced or intended to be produced by that prophecy as compared to the scriptures themselves. Are they in line with the Great Commission given to the Saints to accomplish while awaiting our Lord Jesus return.
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.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Now lets look at the Mechanics behind that instruction. A lot of saints disregard this because they cannot see how asking a deceiving spirit to confess that Jesus has come in the flesh is going to force them to reveal themselves. But the process involved is far simpler than it would appear and this is not the only question available either.
A false spirit of prophecy is here to deliver a deception. When you are asking these questions you are placing them in a position where they are being required to affirm and confirm already established biblical truths, the very ones they are required to draw us away from. By asking these questions we catch them between a rock and a hard place as they cannot confirm the truths associated with Christ with out compromising the deceptions they were sent to introduce to us.
Has Jesus Come in the flesh
Does Jesus now sit at the right hand of God on high.
Is God the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob.
Is Jesus king of Kings and Lord of Lords
Is Jesus the lamb that takes away the sins of the world.
Is salvation to be found only in the name of Jesus who shed his blood for us and is now seated at the right hand of God.
Is Jesus the Christ
The list can be added to yourselves. All you need is known biblical truths that has to be confirmed as true and that can only be affirmed by the spirit that comes from Gods throne of grace. The scriptures instruct us to do this, If the prophetic spirit is from God it will comply very readily. If it is not it will resist in some way or pull away. From experience I have found that quite often when a deceiving spirit is tested in this way it just swears at you or tries to intimidate you.
The same principle can be applied to people as well
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
You simply apply the same list of Biblical truths and compare what a false Apostle is teaching or enforcing to what the bible says. I know quite a few that will not affirm that simple list I put together and they will be the first to teach that the spirit of prophecy is not to be tested this way even though the instruction in the scriptures is perfectly clear. And when you go look at their fruit you can see it produces bitter results. A very obvious modern example is the oneness doctrine, How can Jesus be seated at the right hand of God if he is God. Right off the batt you see who has drifted off into the false. And as expected they will be the very ones that discourage the testing of the spirit of prophecy with excuses like it is disrespectful etc. Then it is the same group that will promptly start giving out prophecies of the different incarnations of God such as Melchisedec which is so obviously wrong but it shows which spirit of prophecy they are listening to. The false. And through religiosity they will bully whom they can into following them. Rotten fruit!
If there is one thing the church really needs now it is the true prophecies from Gods thrown of Grace being delivered to the saints, not the false. We have been instructed how to test so why are we not doing it. Is it any wonder there is such a falling away and so much Cynicism on display in the body.
The Real Front Lines
Most Christians already know we are in a spiritual battle and that there is an organized opposition to our fulfilling of the great commission of taking the gospel of salvation to all creation. However not all are aware of just how far the front lines of this battle extend. Yes we know that a lot of it is out in the world where we send the missionaries and evangelists and where we come into opposition from other religions or pagan deities. But what most do not grasp is that a lot of the front lines in the battle between good and evil is in fact found right in the organizations that calls itself the church. Simple logic reveals this when you consider the huge amount of separate denominations that all hold to different doctrines but all claim to follow the same God and the same Christ and draw their theology from the same Bible.
Yes we all want to avoid falling into error but where do these errors come from in the first place. They are the result of the spiritual battles that are being raged right in the church so as to render the saints inoperable. Demons are religious in nature and are the pagan gods of old. Rimmon, Zeus, Moloch, Beelzebub etc. They have no problem operating in a religious setting however they do need an intermediator to operate through so they are always on the lookout for someone that can be beguiled by their temptations. This is nothing new and this tactic of corrupting Gods people from within goes right back to Old testament times.
For example look at what happened to King David; His temptation was to go all bureaucratic and step out in his own strength effectively usurping Gods position over the running of his own Holy nation. Yes he had been set in place as king by God but he was still Gods king that was to operate under Gods direction over Gods own nation. He was never given the nation as his own possession.
1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
1Ch 21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
1Ch 21:3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
1Ch 21:4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
The thing was that the nation of Israel had been blessed by God and has gained military supremacy over all the nations surrounding. These other nations were all under the control of Satan and as long as Israel was under Gods blessings the kingdoms of Satan were going to be taking a hammering. Hence Satan tempted King David in such a way as to cause a stumbling and become an offence to God thereby bringing to a halt the blessings that nations was receiving.
As you can see King David probably did not realize at the time that he was stepping into sin but he did fall for the temptation of taking it upon himself to get all organized and solidify his control through bureaucracy and the numbering of Gods people. If left unchecked it would have progressed into an absolute totalitarian system with all the oppressions that come with it. That is how Satan tempts and operates. Satan cannot directly oppose Gods people but if he can get the saints to fall into error or sin so that they drop out from under Gods cover of protection then he can have his way with them.
The same situation happened with king Solomon. Reputedly the wisest man in all the earth but alas not the most obedient.
1Ki 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
1Ki 11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
1Ki 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
1Ki 11:5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Now Solomon acquired all these wives through international diplomatic traditions and treaties of his time but the legacy of this was disaster. Upon his death all these foreign woman remained as a part of the royal house of Israel. All future kings of the Holy Nation had mixed blood in them and the traditions of their mothers imposed on the nation through them. The result was the Babylonian captivity so as to purge this adultery out of the nation by the destruction of the Israeli aristocracy in the war and captivity.
This list can go on but the point is to note that the temptations to fall into error are most often applied to those in the ranks of authority so as to achieve the most devastating effect. The larger the area of control by those in authority the more widespread the effect of the devastation brought about through the errors.
Now the Apostles that founded the first churches noticed this situation developing in their own days and warned us about it. In fact even Jesus warned his disciples to be on the lookout for this.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Now in Matthew 7:15 Jesus was warning that false prophets would be coming, that they would be in sheeps clothing which means that they will be dressed as members of the flock. As a general rule I have found that where you find large amounts of religiosity and self righteous claims of protecting the flock and the gathering of lynch mobs to drive out blasphemies etc, then suspect a demonic influence at work. The fruit of this is the creation of wounded bleeding saints lying in a path of destruction as the wolves plough on through. The real prophets of the Lord are normally very down to earth people and although the messages they give are not often well received they themselves are very patient and giving in nature. In other words they display the fruits of the spirit not wrath on all that oppose. Those under the influence of Satan will bully and intimidate and manipulate their way forward while the real shepherd will call and support and encourage as a servant of the Lord. Remember that all the real saints are volunteers who willingly accepted Christ as their saviour. No one is forced into the kingdom of heaven.
Again in Matthew 10; 17 Jesus warned that persecutions would be coming to the saints and he specifically warned about MEN who were attached to religious institutions such as the synagogues. As a general rule a saint can stand against any amount of persecutions that comes against them from the world system but that which comes against them from inside the very churches that they believe they belong to and are a part of destroys their faith far more effectively as it comes from a quarter that is least expected and often totally unprepared for.
In acts 20: 30 this is expanded upon. The warning is that from right out of the congregations themselves shall arise perverse men that will seek to draw and collect disciples to follow them in their delusions and works of self gain. These are the ones that play the religious games and have no real interest in the eternal well being of the flock so long as they can fleece them in the now. The original Apostles knew this was coming and they warned about it so as to prepare the new churches they planted to stand against it when it happened.
Now 1 Timothy chapter six gives some good insight on how this adulteration of the original gospels comes about. It is manipulations and the will of the flesh disputing with the truth of the spirit. The application of earthly values and understanding to try and make it fit with spiritual truths which result in some perverse theology that serves nothing but pacifies the carnal mind while alienating the workers of it from the Lord altogether. It is done by those that want the kingdom of God but do not want to let go of their earthly life styles either. They end up with a gospel of the world with all paths lead to heaven but God is no where in sight either and its all downhill from there. The biggest problem is that they strive for their followings and they do this by destroying all those that speak out against the perversions thus driving out the true saints and alienating them from the general body altogether. Resulting in those left being led down the garden path and into oblivion. Basically an adaptation of the same tactic used in Old Testament times. Hence back then the real prophets were hated by the Kings and the Holy Nation kept going astray and coming under Gods judgments. Only now it is the body of Christ that is the main target.
As you can see this all has to take place with in the ranks of the congregations itself. Now think about this. If a demonic influence wants to corrupt the church so as to counter the authority it has in Christ and render it powerless, where is it going to have to operate. It will achieve nothing out in the world so it has to enter the church as a deceiving angel of light and find someone in the congregation to tempt that it can work through. The person themselves may not always be aware that they are being influenced but the spirit of religiosity will manifest through them and their carnal nature will show through. Hence we are warned over and over to examine the fruit. The fruit being the product that results from the doctrines and presented theology as compared to what the original Apostles taught.
Again the original Apostles made provision for this and left us a simple test that the body of saints could use so as to have a defence against this kind of thing.
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.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Now when a deceiving spirit first starts to infiltrate a body of believers it is normally through the gift of prophecy. This is why we are instructed to actually test the spirit of prophecy so as to prevent the intended damage from being done in the first place. It will start off by saying nice things and then when it has gained a bit of respect it will in small incremental steps start to lead the body into error.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
If we look at that test in the passage from 1John chapter 4 what is happening is that we are asking the spirit of prophecy to confirm basic biblical and spiritual truths. Has Jesus come in the flesh. Does Jesus now sit at the right hand of God on high etc etc. The spirit of prophecy is then required to confirm these basic truths and if it is a demonic spirit pretending to be the real deal then it is caught between a rock and a hard place. It is being asked to affirm the very things that it wishes to denie and confirm that which it has been sent to lead the congregation away from. That test very quickly catches them out but as John also elaborates on, if you know your scriptures you will also pick up when a false word is given as it will contradict the basic tenants of scripture and he also goes on to elaborate on the fruit manifested. The Love of God does not display aggression against the saints doing the testing but a deceiving spirit may at times attempt this so as to discourage the testing. I have seen this in operation after explaining this principle. The wolves that consider themselves something special will chew over this a bit and then the spirit of the anti-christ will start to manifest through them and they will literally start a war to disprove this scriptural instruction and convince all listening to disregard it as ridicules, thus themselves effectively failing the very test themselves.
Now the question is, what do you do when a body of believers have fallen under a deception of this nature? You can try and argue with them but it will lead nowhere because it is a spiritual stronghold that has been formed. Anything you say as correction will be venomantly fought against. You can only fight the spiritual with the spiritual and that means using the authority found in Christ.
2Co 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
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;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
You have to come against and remove the strong hold that has been formed over the people first and only then will you be able to explain things properly to the people once the spiritual influence over them has been bound. This process can take quite a while. But understand this, the real front lines in the battle between good and evil is more often than not to be found right in the church itself because that is the only place that Satan can actually have any real effect in opposing the saints at all.
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