Many times when listening to preachers in the charismatic church, I saw a strong neglect of the Old Testament. One popular healing evangelist went so far as to say you could pretty much throw out the whole Old Testament if it wasn’t for a couple of the books in it. Throw out God’s word?? I remember thinking what a strong statement that was but at that time I was blinded by the powerful grip evil had on me. Interestingly, it was my wife’s mention of the people in the Old Testament that freed me from the grip evil had on me.
The other day God directed me to a few verses in Deuteronomy. I randomly opened the Bible and the words I read hit me hard. Those words couldn’t be more clear about modern healings and miracles done by the hands of men. The verses clearly say that demons can and will perform signs and wonders to get you to follow after them. This is exactly what we see in many of today’s religions that do not point to the one true God. That is not to say that God doesn’t still produce miracles today. God is God and He has been and always will be in control of everything. Like a good earthly father, God often gives good gifts to the humble and meek that seek Him.
If I remember correctly, my wife had pointed out these verses to me as I wrote my book on demonic deception but somehow I forgot to include the powerful words: Deuteronomy 13:1-3 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
There is no doubt when looking at populations of different religions around the world, that billions and billions of people have been fooled by demonic deception. In just one religion today, there is an estimated 1.5 Billion people that are being led astray by a false God. It’s truly sad that many of these deceived people think they are following after the one true God. Demons will lead many to their eternal torment. Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
So how do we pass God’s test? What does it mean to love God with all our soul? To know and to love God is to know and love His word and His people. If we are truly seeking Him, He will draw near to us. His word will become clear to us as His spirit that lives in us will reveal truth to us that the world cannot see. We will see the world clearly from a heavenly perspective rather than from a clouded earthly perspective. We will have the fruits of the spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those with the Holy Spirit can and will make mistakes because they are not perfect, but they will know deep in their hearts what is truth and what is a lie. It is impossible for someone with the Holy Spirit to not feel a tugging at their heart when they do wrong. I didn’t feel this tugging when I first started commanding miracles, but I did feel it a few times before it finally became too much to bear.
The time is coming; the time is already near, when Jesus will return to this earth. We must draw near to Him so we can withstand all the attacks of the enemy in this ever increasing evil world. Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
The other day God directed me to a few verses in Deuteronomy. I randomly opened the Bible and the words I read hit me hard. Those words couldn’t be more clear about modern healings and miracles done by the hands of men. The verses clearly say that demons can and will perform signs and wonders to get you to follow after them. This is exactly what we see in many of today’s religions that do not point to the one true God. That is not to say that God doesn’t still produce miracles today. God is God and He has been and always will be in control of everything. Like a good earthly father, God often gives good gifts to the humble and meek that seek Him.
If I remember correctly, my wife had pointed out these verses to me as I wrote my book on demonic deception but somehow I forgot to include the powerful words: Deuteronomy 13:1-3 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
There is no doubt when looking at populations of different religions around the world, that billions and billions of people have been fooled by demonic deception. In just one religion today, there is an estimated 1.5 Billion people that are being led astray by a false God. It’s truly sad that many of these deceived people think they are following after the one true God. Demons will lead many to their eternal torment. Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
So how do we pass God’s test? What does it mean to love God with all our soul? To know and to love God is to know and love His word and His people. If we are truly seeking Him, He will draw near to us. His word will become clear to us as His spirit that lives in us will reveal truth to us that the world cannot see. We will see the world clearly from a heavenly perspective rather than from a clouded earthly perspective. We will have the fruits of the spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those with the Holy Spirit can and will make mistakes because they are not perfect, but they will know deep in their hearts what is truth and what is a lie. It is impossible for someone with the Holy Spirit to not feel a tugging at their heart when they do wrong. I didn’t feel this tugging when I first started commanding miracles, but I did feel it a few times before it finally became too much to bear.
The time is coming; the time is already near, when Jesus will return to this earth. We must draw near to Him so we can withstand all the attacks of the enemy in this ever increasing evil world. Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”