by Jessie Penn-Lewis, with Evan RobertsWorld Wide Web Edition (Based on Unabridged 1912 Edition) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1A Biblical Survey of Satanic DeceptionTruth of every kind makes free, while lies bind up in bonds. Ignorance also binds up, because it gives ground to Satan. Man's ignorance is a primary and essential condition for deception by evil spirits. The ignorance of the people of God concerning the powers of darkness, has made it easy for the devil to carry out his work as deceiver. Unfallen man in his pure state was not perfect in knowledge. Eve was ignorant of "good and evil," and her ignorance was a condition which lent itself to the deception of the serpent.The devil's great purpose, and for which he fights, is to keep the world in ignorance of himself, his ways, and his colleagues, and the Church is taking sides with him when siding with ignorance about him. Every man should keep an attitude of openness to all truth, and shun the false knowledge which has slain its tens of thousands, and kept the nations in the deception of the devil.A SPECIAL ONSLAUGHT OF DECEIVING SPIRITSON THE CHURCHTo-day there is a special onslaught of deceiving spirits upon the Church of Christ, the fulfilment of the prophecy which the Holy Spirit expressly made known to the Church through the Apostle Paul, that a great deceptive onslaught would take place in the "later times." Since the utterance of the prophecy, more than eighteen hundred years have passed by, but the special manifestation of evil spirits in the deception of believers to-day, points unmistakably to the fact that we are at the close of the age.The peril of the church at the close of this dispensation is foreshown to be especially from the supernatural realm, whence Satan would send forth an army of teaching spirits, to deceive all who would be open to teachings by spiritual revelation, and thus draw them away unwittingly from full allegiance to God.Yet in face of this plain forecast of the peril in later times, we find the Church in almost entire ignorance of the workings of this army of evil spirits. The majority of believers too readily accept everything "supernatural" as of God, and supernatural experiences are indiscriminately accepted because all such experiences are thought to be Divine.Through lack of knowledge, the majority of even the most spiritual people, do not carry out a full and perpetual war upon this army of wicked spirits; and many are shrinking from the subject, and the call to war against them, saying that if Christ is preached it is not necessary to give prominence to the existence of the devil, nor to enter into direct conflict with him, and his hosts. Yet large numbers of the children of God are becoming a prey to the enemy for lack of this very knowledge, and through the silence of teachers on this vital truth, the Church of Christ is passing on into the peril of the closing days of the age, unprepared to meet the onslaught of the foe. On account of this, and in view of the plainly given prophetic warnings in the Scriptures; the already manifest influx of the evil hosts of Satan among the children of God; and the many signs that we are actually in the "later times" referred to by the Apostle; all believers should welcome such knowledge about the powers of darkness, as will enable them to pass through the fiery trial of these days, without being ensnared by the foe.Apart from such knowledge, when thinking he is "fighting for truth," it is possible for a believer to fight for, defend, and protect evil spirits, and their works, believing he is thereby "defending" God, and His works; for if he thinks a thing Divine, he will protect and stand for it. It is possible for a man through ignorance to stand against God and to attack the very truth of God, and also defend the devil, and oppose God, unless he has knowledge.KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY LETTER OF SCRIPTURE,AND BY EXPERIENCEThe Bible throws much light upon the Satanic powers, which cannot fail to be discerned by all who search the Scriptures with open minds, but these will not obtain as much knowledge of the subject from the sacred record, as will those who have understanding by experience, interpreted by the Holy Spirit, and shown to be in line with the truth of the Word of God. The believer may have a direct witness in his spirit to the truth of the Divine Word, but through experience he gets a personal witness to the inspiration of Scripture, to its testimony concerning the existence of supernatural beings, and their works, and the way they deceive, and mislead the children of men.Continued: http://www.apostasynow.com/wots/Chap01.html
War On The Saints
- Thread starter Christina
- Start date
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I think people take one of two incorrect views about the devil (or evil spirits). One, they doesn't exist. Which is clearly untrue. Or second, every evil is a consequence of the evil spirits meddling in human affairs. Which is also untrue. Since most of the wrongs in the world are caused by our own poor choices & imperfect natures.I didn't click the link, so I didn't finish the article. But I want to offer one caution. It is unwise to set out with a goal of fighting evil spirits. A better approach, is to do God's work on earth, and address evil spirits if & when you run into them. On the surface these may seem the same, but they aren't.
FORMATTED to be able to read :
by Jessie Penn-Lewis, with Evan RobertsWorld Wide Web Edition (Based on Unabridged 1912 Edition) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1A Biblical Survey of Satanic Deception Truth
of every kind makes free, while lies bind up in bonds. Ignorance also binds up, because it gives ground to Satan.
Man's ignorance is a primary and essential condition for deception by evil spirits.
The ignorance of the people of God concerning the powers of darkness,
has made it easy for the devil to carry out his work as deceiver.
Unfallen man in his pure state was not perfect in knowledge.
Eve was ignorant of "good and evil," and her ignorance was a condition which lent itself to the deception of the serpent.
The devil's great purpose, and for which he fights,
is to keep the world in ignorance of himself, his ways, and his colleagues,
and the Church is taking sides with him when siding with ignorance about him.
Every man should keep an attitude of openness to all truth,
and shun the false knowledge which has slain its tens of thousands, and kept the nations in the deception of the devil.
A SPECIAL ONSLAUGHT OF DECEIVING SPIRITS ON THE CHURCH To-day
there is a special onslaught of deceiving spirits upon the Church of Christ,
the fulfilment of the prophecy which the Holy Spirit expressly made known
to the Church through the Apostle Paul, that a great deceptive onslaught would take place in the "later times."
Since the utterance of the prophecy, more than eighteen hundred years have passed by, but the special manifestation of evil spirits in the deception of believers to-day, points unmistakably to the fact that we are at the close of the age.
The peril of the church at the close of this dispensation is foreshown to be especially from the supernatural realm,
whence Satan would send forth an army of teaching spirits,
to deceive all who would be open to teachings by spiritual revelation,
and thus draw them away unwittingly from full allegiance to God.
Yet in face of this plain forecast of the peril in later times,
we find the Church in almost entire ignorance of the workings of this army of evil spirits.
...... continued ..... (later)
by Jessie Penn-Lewis, with Evan RobertsWorld Wide Web Edition (Based on Unabridged 1912 Edition) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1A Biblical Survey of Satanic Deception Truth
of every kind makes free, while lies bind up in bonds. Ignorance also binds up, because it gives ground to Satan.
Man's ignorance is a primary and essential condition for deception by evil spirits.
The ignorance of the people of God concerning the powers of darkness,
has made it easy for the devil to carry out his work as deceiver.
Unfallen man in his pure state was not perfect in knowledge.
Eve was ignorant of "good and evil," and her ignorance was a condition which lent itself to the deception of the serpent.
The devil's great purpose, and for which he fights,
is to keep the world in ignorance of himself, his ways, and his colleagues,
and the Church is taking sides with him when siding with ignorance about him.
Every man should keep an attitude of openness to all truth,
and shun the false knowledge which has slain its tens of thousands, and kept the nations in the deception of the devil.
A SPECIAL ONSLAUGHT OF DECEIVING SPIRITS ON THE CHURCH To-day
there is a special onslaught of deceiving spirits upon the Church of Christ,
the fulfilment of the prophecy which the Holy Spirit expressly made known
to the Church through the Apostle Paul, that a great deceptive onslaught would take place in the "later times."
Since the utterance of the prophecy, more than eighteen hundred years have passed by, but the special manifestation of evil spirits in the deception of believers to-day, points unmistakably to the fact that we are at the close of the age.
The peril of the church at the close of this dispensation is foreshown to be especially from the supernatural realm,
whence Satan would send forth an army of teaching spirits,
to deceive all who would be open to teachings by spiritual revelation,
and thus draw them away unwittingly from full allegiance to God.
Yet in face of this plain forecast of the peril in later times,
we find the Church in almost entire ignorance of the workings of this army of evil spirits.
...... continued ..... (later)
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