Recovered In Christ

September 21, 2012

GROUND TO EVIL SPIRITS THROUGH MISCONCEPTIONS

“Wrong conceptions of spiritual things give ground to evil spirits, and these conceptions the adversary skillfully cultivates ready for use on later occasions. Imaginations as to how God works in Revival power, and in “Pentecostal” measure, is specially a fruitful ground for evil spirits, i.e., a conception that God moves a meeting, and sways it as the wind sways the corn; and that God moves on the physical man, rather than from the centre of man’s spirit only. These imaginations prepare the believer for Satan’s deceptions in these very forms.

This entry of “thoughts” from any quarter comes from the deeper cause of a passivity of the mind which, as we have pointed out in Chapter 4, is the main object of the adversary to produce, ere he can succeed in his effort to obtain control of the believer’s will. The Lord’s words in Matthew 13: 23, that the good ground hearer is “he that hears the word and understands it,” show that the mind is the vehicle through which the truth of God reaches men to win their affections, and bring back the will into intelligent and loyal co-operation with God. In like manner the mind is the hindrance to Satan’s carrying out his schemes to win back control of the believer. For the success of his plans, the enemy knows that the mind must be lulled into inaction and disuse by some means or other, either by stratagem or attack. The arch-deceiver is well aware that any “teaching” of deceiving spirits accompanied by supernatural signs, may be received by the believer if his mind is lulled into passivity so that he does not question, or intelligently reason, what the teachings are, or what they involve in their ultimate issue.” (Jessie Penn-Lewis; War On The Saints, Chapter 7)

We have for the most part sought out and indulged in “showy” Christian experience…which is what Jessie Penn-Lewis’ book seeks to expose! Most people who are oppressed by the works of Satan, who have unwittingly opened the door to his interference are those who are unlearned and out of touch with the truth of where God really manifests His Spirit – in our spirit. Instead, most Christians have turned to a hedonistic experience because it feels good. And feeling good has become more important than the truth. Only when that reverses…can the works of Satan be truly exposed and ultimately resisted.