3.15 Why Waiting Meetings Are Profitable To Evil Spirits

from

Chapter 3. Deception by Evil Spirits in Modern Times

from War On the Saints
by Jesse Penn-Lewis

Scriptures Referenced in This Section:
          (Follow the Scripture links if you want to study the Scriptures for yourself.)
Mt. 3:11 π Lk. 11:13 π Jn. 14:16 π Jn. 20:22 π Eph. 4:11-16 π Eph. 5:18 π 1 Pet. 1:12 π 1 Jn. 2:27

Why "waiting meetings" - that is, "waiting for the Spirit" until He descends in some manifested way - have been so profitable to deceiving spirits, is because they are not in accord with the written Word, where it is set forth that

1) The Holy Spirit is not to be prayed to, or asked to come, as He is the Gift of Another. (see Lk. 11:13 ; Jn. 14:16; top )

2) The Holy Spirit is not to be "waited for," but to be taken, or received from the hand of the Risen Lord ( Jn. 20:22 ; Eph. 5:18 ); of Whom it is written, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." ( Mt. 3:11; top ) This is out of line with the truth of the Scriptures, therefore prayer to the Spirit, "trust in the Spirit," "obeying the Spirit," "expecting the Spirit" to descend, may all become prayer, trust, and obedience to evil spirits, when they counterfeit the working of God, as we shall see later on.

Other mistaken conceptions of spiritual truth, centre around phrases, such as these:

"God can do everything. If I trust Him He must keep me"; not understanding that God works according to laws, and conditions, and that those who trust Him, should seek to know the conditions upon which He can work in response to their trust.

"If I were wrong, God would not use me"; not understanding that if a man is right in his will, God will use him to the fullest extent possible, but this being "used" of God is no guarantee that any man is absolutely right in all that he says and does.

"I have no sin," or "sin has been entirely removed"; not knowing how deeply the sinful life of Adam is ingrained in the fallen creation, and how the assumption that "sin" has been eliminated from the whole being, enables the enemy to keep the life of nature from being dealt with by the continual power of the Cross.

"God, Who is Love, will not allow me to be deceived" is of itself a deception, based on ignorance of the depths of the Fall, and the misconception that God works irrespective of spiritual laws.

"I do not believe it possible for a Christian to be deceived," is a shutting of the eyes to facts around us on every hand.

"I have had too long an experience to need teaching"; "I must be taught of God direct, because it is written, 'Ye need not that any man teach you.'" is another misused passage of Scripture, which some believers interpret as meaning that they are to refuse all spiritual teaching through others. But that the Apostle's words, "Ye need not that any man teach you," ( 1 Jn. 2:27 ) did not preclude God teaching through anointed teachers, is shown in the inclusion of "teachers" in the list of gifted believers to the Church, for the "building up of the Body of Christ" through "that which every joint supplieth." ( Eph. 4:11-16; top ) For God is sometimes able to teach His children more quickly by indirect means - that is, through others - than directly, because men are so slow in understanding the way of direct teaching by the Spirit of God.

Many other similar misconceptions of spiritual things by Christians of to- day, give opportunity to the deception of the enemy, because they cause believers to close their minds to

1) the statements of God's Word;

2) the facts of life;

3) and the help of others who could throw light upon the way.( 1 Pet. 1:12; top )

[3.14] Mistaken Conceptions Concerning "Waiting For The Spirit"
π
[3.16] The Dangers of Coined Phrases to Express Spiritual Truths
3. Deception by Evil Spirits in Modern Times - Table of Contents
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