Understanding Spiritual Warfare 2: Know Your Enemy

In this area we will look at discerning satan at work through a knowledge of God's word.

Tongues is one of the most influential gifts in the church. At the same time, it seems to be the gift that the church understands the least and abuses the most. Since it is understood so little, satan likes to use it to create confusion in the church.

1. The Dividing of the Language

GENESIS 11:
     1. And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
     4. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
     6. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
     7. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

     God confounded the people's language at the tower of Babel because he knew that if man was united, he could accomplish whatever he set his mind to do. They were building a tower to ascend into heaven. However, God did not want them to reach heaven in their sinful state. When God confused the language, they lost their vision for ascending into heaven and dispersed themselves all over the world.

2. Reunification of the Language

ACTS 2:
     1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
     2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
     3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
     4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
     5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
     6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
     7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
     8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
     11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

     Here we can see the power of language (tongues). God chose the gift of tongues to unify his church on the day of Pentecost. Let me help set the stage for you. This multitude consisted of Jewish men from EVERY NATION under heaven. They were raised speaking many different languages and had probably been taught Hebrew in the synagogues. Think about it. If we wanted to live in Spain, we would have to learn to speak Spanish or else we wouldn't be understood. These men were also devout meaning that they tried to worship God sincerely. The amazing thing is that these Galilaeans, which they knew to be uneducated, were speaking their native languages wherein they were born (Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Judaea, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, Cretes, and Arabians.) More importantly, the words that they were speaking were glorifying God. Through this miracle, they could see the wonderful works of God. Many accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their Life on that day.

     God gave the church the same language so that it could accomplish all that he has ordained for it to do. He gave us one Spirit that we might be unified (EPHESIANS 4:3-4)

1 CORINTHIANS 12:
     13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

      By being able to speak any language through the Holy Spirit, we can communicate with Christians from any part of the world. We are truly one church in Jesus Christ. God, through the operation of salvation, has made us fit to ascend into heaven. Before, men wanted to build a city with a tower that reached to heaven and make themselves a name. Now, God has built us a city, Jerusalem, which will come down from heaven. He has also given us a new name. (REVELATIONS 3:12, 21:1 thru 22:21)

     I believe that satan has done more to confuse and divide churches using this gift than any other (1 CORINTHIANS, Chapters 12, 13, and 14). This is an attack/deception of satan. God plainly states that he wants tongues in his church. However, he does not want this gift to be allowed to create confusion.

      God does not want us to forbid people to speak with tongues. He wants us to allow it go forth decently and in order.

4. Personal Need for Interpretation

1 CORINTHIANS 14:
     13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
     14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
     15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
     16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
     27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
     28. BUT IF THERE BE NO INTERPRETER, LET HIM KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCH; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
     29. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

     God wants us to pray for an interpretation if we speak in an unknown tongue. This protects us from satan. Satan tries to duplicate this gift. If he is trying to duplicate this gift and God gives us the interpretation, we will recognize satan at work and now God will be able to instruct us in the right way. We need the understanding of what is being said for our own edification and also the edification of the church.

     When tongues go forth in a church and there is no interpretation, we do not know whether those individuals are praising and glorifying God or asking satan to curse and destroy this church (satanist, by the power of satan, can speak many languages. Surprised???.) Let me share with you this example. While I was stationed with the Air Force in Spain, I had a fellow serviceman who spoke Spanish to relate this story to me. He went to a local store and pretended not to speak Spanish but conversed in English. At the same time, there where other Spanish people in the store. He says that the store owner cursed him, called all Americans lazy, and said many other vulgar comments while he was smiling and helping him. When my friend left the store, he said good bye and commented on the store owner's conversation. When the owner recognized that he could speak and understand spanish fluently, he just stood there with his mouth open.

     Notice in the scriptures that God grants us the authority to judge gifts to make sure that they are of God.

     I thought it well to mention this point also. Satan produces a counterfeit of every gift that God has given to the Church. Remember, his christ will be known as the anti-christ. In other words, he is the opposite of everything that God is.

GENESIS 3:
     1. Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
     4. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
     5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

     One thing that most people will probably overlook when they read this scripture is the fact that the serpent spoke. Yes, we know that the serpent represents satan. However, we cannot ignore the fact that this serpent spoke.

     I was listening to a man on the radio who was an evangelist from Africa. He was stating how he was raised in an African village in the back woods of his country and was being taught witchcraft. He commented on how he had seen the power of satan in operation. He mentioned how satan communicated directly with the people. He had seen men speaking with the voices of women, women speaking with the voices of men, and animals speaking with the voice of a human (some that he mentioned were chickens, goats, pigs, etc.....).

     This makes sense to me. See, satan must communicate with his followers to be effective. He uses the gift of tongues to communicate with his followers. The only difference is that his (counterfeits) operate against everything that God stands for.

    The reason I am covering this subject is that many times, Satan tries to imitate the voice of God. I have been in settings where this has been attempted. I shall draw from these experiences and the word of God to try and increase your understanding. Let's start by examining one characteristic of God's (Jesus') voice:

REVELATIONS 1:
15. ........., and his voice as the sound of many waters.

     This scripture is a segment of the description that John the Baptist gave of Jesus when he saw him on the isle of Patmos. He describes his voice as one of many waters. In many other places in the scriptures, you can find other words to describe the voice of God. All of them reflect the tremendous magnitude and glory of the wondrous voice of God.

     I have been in a service were I've seen the true tongues of God go forth. There was no stuttering or slurring in the speech. The voice that was coming forth, from both the person speaking in tongues and the one who was interpreting, was powerful, clear, and concise. It was not the individual's normal tone or inflections. Right before it began, I was praising God. Then I got this urge to just be silent. Not only did I get silent, but everyone in the building did so at the same time. The voice was wonderful, melodious, and full of strength, power and authority as it went forth. There was a total feeling of peace and serenity in the room. The glorious feeling was unmistakable.

     I've also had the unfortunate opportunity of being in a setting were satan was speaking forth through an individual. I was conducting a bible study when an individual started shaking, fell out on the floor, and started speaking in an unknown tongue. Since I was young in the Lord, and had no real knowledge of God's word, I didn't know what to do. The voice started our in a slurring manner. After a few minutes of speaking in a fragmented language that I did not understand, the individual started interpreting. There was a lot of stuttering in the voice. The individual spake for almost an hour to different ones, telling and exhorting us to do different things. There was no power or authority in the voice. The room had an atmosphere of confusion, uncertainty, and fear.

     One guideline that God has given me over the years is that the length of the tongues and the length of the interpretation should be about the same. If it's not, most of the time, there is something radically wrong.

     Another point is that God will give the person who is speaking an understanding in their mind of what is being said. This will allow them to certify whether or not the person performing the translation is giving the correct interpretation. In God's kingdom there is a unity that is unmatched in the world.

2 CORINTHIANS 13:
     1. This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

ST MATTHEW 18:
     19. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
     20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

B. Discerning Spirits

1 JOHN 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.
     2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
     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 he world.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:
     3. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

HEBREWS 5:
     14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:
     10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

     These scriptures give us some insight into what we are up against. God says that we should not believe every spirit. I perceive that many times we accept supernatural things too readily without trying it by the Spirit of God. God wants us to try it because the things that are of him are full of truth and will stand the test of scrutiny. The things of satan will not be able to stand this test. GOD DIRECTS YOU AND I, IN HIS WORD, TO TRY EVERY SPIRIT, NOT JUST SOME OF THEM. See, there are many false prophets gone out into the world. The only way for us to be aware of them is for the Holy Spirit to reveal them unto us. This is why I said in the opening chapter that if you are unsure of something, you should just pray and trust God to lead you.

     As we pray and trust God, over a period of time, our senses will be exercised, and we will be able to quickly discern good and evil. This is why true, aged ministers, pastors, teachers, and others who walk closely with the Lord can discern satan's presence so quickly.

     Remember, there are many voices in the world and each voice has its own significance.

     Finally, notice Paul's reaction in the following situation.

ACTS 16:
     16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
     17. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
     18. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

     Paul was grieved by the presence of this evil spirit. The spirit spoke the truth but it drew its power from the wrong source. The Holy Spirit in Paul was grieved by the presence of this evil spirit. This is one way that we can discern evil spirits. The Holy Spirit will turn on the red lights in our mind when we enter a situation where something is not right. Have you ever felt that you shouldn't trust someone and later found out that the individual was involved in evil activities of one nature or another. God, through the guidance of His Holy Spirit, was protecting you from a possibly dangerous situation.

     As you can see in the scriptures above, the lady had a foreknowledge of what was going on. This is how satan will deceive people. He will be able to reveal truths and shows signs and wonders. These will be very convincing. People may even walk up to you and tell you things about your past that no one knows but you. They will be very convincing. However, before we start believing in them and trusting them, there is one question I believe that every born again believer should ask:

     FROM WHICH POWER SOURCE, GOD OR SATAN, ARE THEY DRAWING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND POWER ?? !!!!!!!!

VII. The Bible's View of Satanism

     I could write a book on satanism using just the bible and never be able to cover it to sufficient depth. But then at the same time, I don't ever want to spend that much time studying satan. ALL we need is a good BASIC understanding of him. What we will attempt to do in this chapter is to go into the basics and show you what the scriptures has to say about different chosen areas of satanism.

A. Contact Forbidden

DEUTERONOMY 18:
     9. When thou are come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
     10. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
     11. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
     12. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
     13. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.

     We have already given you definitions in chapter one that you may want to refer back to. God says that He doesn't want us to learn to do after the evil nations (people) that are around us. He gives them a short concise listing here in the book of Deuteronomy of things to watch out for. I think God's directions are plain and simple, don't you.

GALATIANS 5:
     19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
     20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
     21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul, in writing to the church at Galatia, shows the church that those believers that continue to operate in the flesh (outside of God's will) WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

B. Witchcraft

Let's look at a few scriptures on witchcraft.

Exodus 22:
     18. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

1 SAMUEL 15:
     23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

2 KINGS 9:
     22. And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

MICAH 5:
     12. And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
     13. Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.

     These scriptures speak clearly on their own behalf. God is directly against witchcraft. He told the children of Israel not to suffer a witch to live. God also shows us the relationship between witchcraft and rebellion. God says that he will cut off witchcraft out of His land. So therefore, if we get involved in witchcraft, God will cut us out of His kingdom (GALATIANS 5:19-22).

C. Familiar Spirits

LEVITICUS 19:
     31. Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

     God says that we should not be worried about those that have familiar spirits. They are no threat to us because greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world (1 JOHN 4:4).

LEVITICUS 20:
     6. And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
     7. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.

     God says that he will set his face against the soul that follows after people that have familiar spirits and cut them off from among his people.

1 SAMUEL 28:
     6. And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
     7. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor.

1 CHRONICLES 10:
     13. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
     14. And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

     Saul died because he broke the Lord's commandments. He sought after a person who had a familiar spirit because the Lord was not speaking to him. God had stopped speaking to him because of an earlier sin. He still hadn't learned from this lesson but continued to disobey God's word. God punished him for his transgression (sin) with death.

2 KINGS 23:
     24. Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.

     Josiah followed the Lord's commandments and put away all the abominations that were in the land of Judah. We should follow his example.

D. Divination

Here are scriptures on divination for your own reading pleasure.

GENESIS 44:15, NUMBERS 22:7, DEUTERONOMY 18:14, 1 SAMUEL 6:2, JEREMIAH 27:9, EZEKIEL 13:23, 21:21, ZECHARIAH 10:2, ACTS 16:16

JEREMIAH 27:
     9. Therefore harken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, not to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:
     10. For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

EZEKIEL 13:
     31. Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

E. Magicians

EXODUS 7:
     11. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments [turn a rod into a serpent].

EXODUS 8:
     7. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
     18. And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there was lice upon man, and upon beast.
     19. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

EXODUS 9.
     11. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

DANIEL 2:
     2. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

DANIEL 4:
     7. Then came the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

     There are real magicians and they do have a limited amount of power. They duplicated the first two feats of Moses but were astounded by the last eight feats. As I said before, God gives satan a limited amount of power but we must remember one thing about it: IT IS LIMITED. GOD HAS ALL POWER IN HIS HAND.

     Even today, there are real magicians. Some do their tricks by slight of hand, but some of them actually practice the real art. I leave this area to your own wisdom and the guidance that the Holy Ghost will give you.

     Also, isn't it amazing how satanist know that there is a real God:

JAMES 2:
     19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.
     20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

     When the magicians reached the limit of their power, they finally acknowledged to the king that this was the hand of God and that they were powerless against him.

     Satanist practice deception. They know about God and that he is more powerful. But, they will not acknowledge it to the world until they reach the point where circumstances force them to admit it.

F. Necromancy

1 SAMUEL 28:
     11. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
     12. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
     13. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
     14. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
     15. And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
     16. Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
     17. And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
     18. Because thy obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.
     19. Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

PSALMS 115:
     17. The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.

ECCLESIASTES 9:
     5. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

     I felt it needful to put this whole story in this booklet. The woman (necromancy) was amazed that Samuel actually came back and spoke to her. God allowed this to take place to give Saul a final message. It appears as though she was going to have an evil spirit manifest itself and masquerade as Samuel to tell the king what he wanted to hear. She was shocked when God allowed Samuel's spirit to come forth to communicate with Saul. This is the only record of a spirit coming back from the dead to communicate in the bible under these circumstances. Remember, the Lord would not let the rich man come back and warn his brothers (ST LUKE 16:25-31).

     I personally believe that what happens in seances today is that the person in charge has contact with satanic spirits and gets them to present themselves as people that are dead. I believe that many of the ghosts reported to be seen today are just evil spirits manifesting themselves in human forms.

     The scriptures point out clearly that the dead praise not God neither know they anything. They are in whatever state/place that God has deemed they remain in until he comes back again.

     In other words, the spirits of people who are dead will never communicate with this world unless God allows it. In the bible, we have only this one occasion that he allowed it.

G. Soothsayers

     Here are scriptures on soothsayers for your own personal study.

ISAIAH 2:6, DANIEL 2:27, 5:7, MICAH 5:12, ACTS 16:16

H. Sorcery

Here are scriptures on sorcery for your own personal study.

DEUTERONOMY 18:10, 2 KINGS 17:17, 21:6, ISAIAH 47:9, MALACHI 3:5, ACTS 8:11; 13:6, REVELATIONS 18:23.

REVELATIONS 21:
     8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

REVELATIONS 22:
     14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
     15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

     I guess this sums the whole issue up. There will be no sorcerers in Heaven. It's just that simple. Remember how I highlighted the word sorcery in the definition table. You may want to go back and read it to see who is not going to be allowed into heaven. It may change your mind on a lot of things.

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