The above text, which we have addressed in the previous postings, tells us to be on guard as to what kind of spirit, attitude, frame of mind, or disposition, we are being influenced by. It is also true that we must be on guard as to whether we are being led by the Spirit of God or by some evil spirit. So the Lord said through the prophet Malachi: "Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth." (Mal. 2: 15 nkjv) We have seen where the apostle John has exhorted Christians to "test the spirits whether they be of God" or whether they be not of God. This testing should also include testing ourselves and not be limited to testing the spirits of others.
We are responsible for ruling over our own spirits and insuring that they are ruled by the word and Spirit of God. This is what the Lord commanded in the wisdom of Solomon, who wrote: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." (Prov. 16: 32 kjv) The apostle Paul also said -- "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." (I Cor. 14: 32 nkjv) Though none has power over his spirit in death, he ought to have power over his spirit in life. Wrote Solomon again:
"No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it." (Eccl. 8: 8 nkjv)
We must protect our minds, hearts, and spirits. So Solomon said further: "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach (or break) in the spirit." (Prov. 15: 4 kjv) Which simply means that words can either heal or harm the spirit, whether by "spirit" is meant one's inner self or one's inner emotional or mental state. Solomon also said: "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly." (Prov. 20: 27 kjv) We need to make sure this spirit remains a good one. So David prayed -- "Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me." (Psa. 51: 10 kjv) This is a prayer that ought to be prayed regularly because it is easy for anyone, even Christians, to get in the wrong spirit.
Deception Via Evil Spirits
In preceding chapters we referred to the apostle Paul's warning about those who give "heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (I Tim. 4: 1-2). He also wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, saying:
"That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." (II Thess 2: 2)
What does he mean by being shaken and troubled in mind "by spirit"? Many commentators suggest that Paul alludes to false teachers who claim to be speaking from a divine spirit. We should see the words as saying "neither by a spirit as from us." People, especially religious teachers, speak from a certain spirit. Of the martyr Stephen we read: "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke." (Acts 6: 10 nkjv) False teachers and deceivers, however, speak from an evil spirit, as we have seen.
Paul spoke of his "spirit" being with the Corinthian church as they acted in excluding an immoral member, writing:
"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (I Cor. 5: 4-5 kjv)
Here, I think, by "my spirit" Paul means his mind, state of mind, his attitude, belief about things, his manner, and his way of seeing and judging things. People today sometimes say "though I won't be there, I will be with you in spirit," by which they mean their thoughts will be on the place and is a way to give moral support to what will be occurring to those in that place.
In cults we see how they likewise have their own unique or peculiar spirits. Nazis, for example, have Hitler's spirit, his influence, his beliefs, his attitude and state of mind, and this spirit is with them when they gather together. Many religious cults often exude the spirit or spirits of their leaders or founders, the social atmosphere in their gatherings, the air of the setting, giving emotional sensations and initiating moods and mental images.
Recognizing False Spirits
"For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him." (II Cor. 11: 4)
How do you discern a counterfeit? Is it not by knowing the real thing? If one knows and discerns the presence of the Holy Spirit, then he can spot false spirits. But, it is not always easy to judge spirit, such as sincerity or honesty. Jurors in court are often trying to ascertain whether a witness is speaking sincerely or honestly, or the spirit by which they speak.
Some of the Jews rejected Jesus and said of him -- "he has a demon." (John 7:20; 8:48: 10:20) Obviously they had no discernment of spirits nor were able to try spirits so as to know whether they were of God or some other source. How do we know if someone has a demonic spirit? Personally, I believe I have seen demons in the eyes of many people in my lifetime. If demons only manifested themselves as did the demon in the well-known film "The Exorcist," then it would be easy to identify them, for that possessed girl vomited green slime, spoke in tongues, moved physical objects with her mind, etc.
There is mention in the Bible of the "evil eye." So in Mark 7: 22 we have “ophthalmos ponēros” (literally, “evil eye”). Though "evil eye" does not always mean demonic eyes, yet it may at times. It is true that "the eyes are the windows of the soul." Matthew 6:22 describes the eye as the "lamp of the body." Eyes reveal a lot. Judges, detectives, prosecutors, parents, etc., often intently look into the eyes when questioning a witness, or children when they lie, because the eye can often indicate truth or deception.
The demons Christ encountered in one man were named "Legion" because there were many in that one man. It was not hard to see he was possessed because the man made his home in the tombs, broke his shackles and chains from extraordinary strength, spent his time screaming and cutting himself, and could not be tamed. (Mark 5: 1-20) In Acts chapter sixteen Paul recognized that a slave girl was possessed with a "spirit of python." In our original text, the apostle John, in exhorting Christians to try or test spirits to ascertain whether they are of God or not of God, mentions the "spirit" of Antichrist, which he says resides in everyone who confesses not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, such as the early Gnostic sects. One of the ways to detect whether a person is possessed or influenced by this spirit is to see what they have to say about the Lord Jesus Christ. Recall that we have previously cited the words of the apostle Paul who said: "no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus Christ accursed" (I Cor. 12: 3).
Hypocrite or True Believer?
Many pastors agree that there are many people who profess the name of Christ but who are not true believers, not really saved. These are called hypocrites, fakes (Greek pseudo, "false brethren"; Gal. 2:4), frauds, wolves in sheep's clothing, nominal Christians, etc. So, how can we know who is really saved or not? How can we test or try the profession of a professing Christian? Jesus told us how when he said:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." (Matt. 7: 15-20 nkjv)
Though these words address "false prophets" (or false teachers) yet they are applicable to false brethren. We are able to discern their real condition by examining "their fruits." In this way pastors especially are fruit inspectors. There are some things that saved people cannot do. Jesus said his sheep hear only his voice and will not follow the voice of strangers. (John 10: 5) Sheep will not deny that Christ came in the flesh. Sheep will follow Christ their shepherd. True Christians will hold fast to the faith. (I John 2: 19) True believers only recognize Christ as Savior and Lord. Etc. Are we a true sheep of Christ or a wolf in sheep's clothing? On this text John Gill wrote the following on verse 20 (emphasis mine):
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. This is the conclusion of the whole, and a repetition of what is before said, the more to fix the rule of judgment upon their minds, and engage them to try men by their doctrines, and their doctrines by the standard of the Scriptures, and not believe every spirit; for with some care and diligence such persons may be detected, and the malignant influence of their ministry be prevented."
The Lord calls us to make visible to everyone what is invisible, secretive, and sinister, in false teachers. So Jude, the Lord's brother, warned of those false teachers who "crept in unawares" (Jude 1: 4). Paul likewise spoke of those who entered the church for the purpose to "spy" on the apostle and his followers and who also came in "unawares" or by subterfuge. He also wrote: "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage." (Gal. 2: 4 kjv) These infiltrators into the Christian community need to have their sins and evil intentions revealed, or uncloaked, uncovered so as to show what it is that motivates them and their sinister designs. To take the cloak off them and to uncover their pretensions, smokescreens, veneers, semblances, exterior, is our duty. Jesus did this and he is our example. He uncloaked sin. He revealed what people really were. He uncovered their hypocrisy and pretensions.
Uncloaking Sin
"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." (John 15: 22 kjv)
Through a cloak you can easily conceal something, such as a dagger. This has given rise to the expression "cloak and dagger," a figure of speech that refers to espionage. To cloak something is to hide it. Star Trek fans will remember that Klingon and Romulan vessels were equipped with cloaking devices that made it so that you couldn’t see their ships coming. It is common for sinners, saved and unsaved, to cloak their sins, so we read where Paul spoke of a "cloak of covetousness."
"For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness." (I Thess 2: 5 kjv)
Know that Paul says that "covetousness is idolatry." (Col. 3: 5) People cloak covetousness in several ways. One way is by the facade of frugality, by claiming that their unchecked desire to acquire wealth is being prudent, a way to save, or to be financially responsible. While true frugality focuses on minimizing waste to live according to one’s core values, the counterfeit version weaponizes thrift to justify extreme hoarding, ruthlessness, or the exploitation of others. This sin needs to be uncloaked.
The apostle Peter speaks of another sin that wears a cloak, writing these words:
"As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God." (I Peter 2: 16 kjv)
On this text Dr. Albert Barnes wrote the following (emphasis mine):
"And not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness - Margin, as in Greek, "having." Not making your freedom a mere pretext under which to practice all kinds of evil. The word rendered "maliciousness" - κακία kakia - means more than our word maliciousness does; for it denotes evil of any kind, or all kinds. The word maliciousness refers rather to enmity of heart, ill-will, an intention to injure. The apostle has reference to an abuse of freedom, which has often occurred. The pretence of these who have acted in this manner has been, that the freedom of the gospel implied deliverance from all kinds of restraint; that they were under no yoke, and bound by no laws; that, being the children of God, they had a right to all kinds of enjoyment and indulgence; that even the moral law ceased to bind them, and that they had a right to make the most of liberty in all respects. Hence, they have given themselves up to all sorts of sensual indulgence, claiming exemption from the restraints of morality as well as of civil law, and sinking into the deepest abyss of vice. Not a few have done this who have professed to be Christians..."
The Pharisees and Sadducees and other Jewish sects that Christ encountered cloaked their sins, especially their hypocrisy. Matthew chapter twenty three gives a discourse of Christ wherein he fully unmasks the hypocrisy and enmity of these groups. He says to them -- “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" (vs. 15, 23, 25, 27, 29); "fools and blind!" (vs. 17, 19); "blind guides" (vs. 24); "serpents, brood of vipers!" (vs. 33). He says this unto them to uncloak their real natures:
"For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (vs. 27-28)
A cloak is simply a covering. Solomon spoke of those who "conceal their sins" rather than confessing them (Prov. 28: 13). Jesus warned: "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known." (Luke 12: 2) Some sins will be uncovered in life, but all will be uncovered in the day of judgment. How did Jesus remove the cloaks from the pretensions of false teachers?
How wisely did Jesus test the spirit of the young ruler who said that he was without sin! We read of this interaction in all three synoptic gospels. He came to Christ with this question: "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" (Matt. 19: 16) Jesus told him to "keep the commandments," but not because he thought that anyone could be saved that way, but this was Christ's way to uncover the man's covetousness and his erroneous opinion of himself. The ruler responds -- "all these have I kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said -- “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (vs. 21) The result of this instruction is that "the young man...went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (vs. 23) Jesus tested this man's spirit and showed that it was not right.
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