Mark T Barclay - Beware of seducing spirits

CONTENTS

A Word From the Author

"The Uprising and Insolent Spirit"

"The Spirit of Hatred and Seduction"

"The Jealous Spirit of Conspiracy"

"The Religious and Prideful Spirit"

"The Spirit of Sneaky Betrayal and Confused Repentance"

"The Contagious Spirit of Unbelief and Quitting"

"The Spirit of the World"

"The Spirit of Greed and Self-seeking"

"Holding Back a Little for Yourself and Lying to the Holy Ghost"

"Interested but Not Hungry"

"The Vicious Assaulting Spirit"

INTRODUCTION

Believe me, folks, as you read this book, many things will go through your mind. Some of you will think of yourselves and how these seducing spirits have tried to minister to you. Others will think of friends and family members who once served the Lord so well and fervently but now have been turned over to gossip, talebearing , malice, strife, and jealousy and are always accusing the church leaders.

Please beware! Let this book be a warning to you. I pray that the devil and demons will be exposed through this writing.

There really are seducing, deceiving spirits roaming the earth wanting to minister to you. Don't let the religion and pride of Saul get on you. Don't let the uprising and insolent spirit of Korah get on you. Don't let the hatred and seduction of Jezebel work against your leaders. Don't let the jealous conspiracy spirit of Absalom get on you. Shake them off and commune only with the Holy Spirit.

I hope you will enjoy this book. I have spent many hours meditating and searching out the truths that you'll find on these pages. I have combined my study notes with the administrative notes I have kept through the years serving as a pastor.

I must say that I have personally encountered each of these spirits as I have dealt with leaders and members of local churches. Though I've found that the name and blood of Jesus are most sovereign, it surprises me that so many people cannot be helped because they give in to demonic seduction.

I pray this book will be a great strength to your life and ministry in Christ. I write it by my own hand in obedience to the Lord Jesus. Let these words run around in your heart and either be a warning to you or set you free.

A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

The heart of the author is one of humility, yet the presentation herein is quite bold. It is not the intention of the author to hurt anyone in any way with this writing but to stir up those who have been attacked by these spirits so they can free themselves.

Not one person anywhere in the body of Christ has to give heed to these spirits or their style of life. Nonot one!

The author plans to warn some readers, inform others, and even set some free.

This book is by far best read if one is like Jesushumble, holy, and not a reviler .

This is not a book on demonology.

It is a book about people who are close to being in trouble with God because of demon activity or fleshly bad attitudes.

CHAPTER 1

THE DEVILS SLY TECHNIQUES

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron ..."

1 Timothy 4:1-2

Listen, my friend, before you read any further into this book, look at what verse 6 of this same chapter says. Many people say, "Let's talk about all positive things; let's not talk about [face] our problems. Let's not listen to any preacher who is being at all negative or corrective." It's sad to say, but many people only want their fancy tickled or their itchy ears scratched. I've quoted verse 6 below:

"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."

1 Timothy 4:6

Did you read that carefully? Did you pick out what the Holy Spirit is saying? He said I was a good minister of Jesus Christ. That's right. Because I will deal with the brethren and remind you about these seducing spirits and those who listen to them, I am considered by God to be a good minister. Praise God! He also says that my doctrine is good and I have been nourished up in the words of faith. Actually, we all know this isn't Brother Barclay's scripture, but it refers to any minister who deals with God's people according to these scriptures.

Regarding the devil's trickery and schemes, the first verse we read was dealing with seduction. Some versions use the word deception. Either way, you are in trouble if you give in to these voices.

The devil has always had a plan to hurt and demobilize God's people. He will use anything or anyone he can. For example, just before God began to restore some true Joshuas and Calebs to our modern-day pulpits, the devil totally influenced a preacher who drew people away to South America, and it turned out to be a big scandal. The whole body of Christ made the thing famous through their fear. That's right!

Nowadays, years later, people yell "cult" at every preacher around who walks in authority. Even so, God moves on with His remnant, and pastoral-ruled church government has seized almost all of the independent churches as well as a large portion of the others. Somehow God always gets His way. Thank Him for it!

The word "cult" is a very well-spread, commonly-used word among Christian and religious people. The problem, however, is that most people who are yelling "cult" or "cultish" don't have the slightest idea what it means. It just seems to be the popular slang word of the hour. (The teens have their slang, the street has its slang, and the Church has theirs.)

It does not surprise me that the devil has recently stuck his head up again to pollute, slander, and defame. God's people are about to enter into the greatest, most awesome revival that has ever touched planet earth. That's right! It's going to happen in the midst of the local church. We are going to enjoy a great fear of God, and we'll begin to show a real reverence for His holy presence. (I suppose there will be enough rebels and pretenders that we will also get to see the fireworks of God's judgment as well.) Don't you see what's been happening? The devil has already made some of his best preventive moves against this revival. He has really produced another masterpiece that will once again thrust fear into the midst of God's people. The result: A people that will be overly cautious and suspicious of preachers, teachers, and church leaders. It's a shame that so many Christians listen to him (the devil). This is the hour for us to grow deep roots in our local churches and put trust in our leaders. So what happens? The devil drags out all the sin, sadness, and shame that he can about every preacher he can find.

Also, in the midst of this, the gospel publishing market is flooded with all kinds of literature and printed material warning us to beware of the preachers and teachers. What a slick move for the devil. I wonder why so many Christians consistently fall for his trickery. Listen, friends, in the day you need your leaders the most, Satan is polluting your minds about their integrity by causing you to look at and wrestle with their flesh and blood (men). Don't Christians know better than this? We read in the Bible already that we are being warned to watch out for seducing spiritsnot preachers. Now listen, I know we should be wise and alerted to false prophets and teachers who will be piled up by those who only want to hear what they desire (read 2 Tim. 4:3-4). Even so, we must learn to look through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and be led by Him.

Most Christians do not try the spirits. Instead, they put the preacher on trial. They have a trial and rip apart a man's life, ministry, family, and reputation just to bring indictment against him. Do you know how people judge a minister? By his fruit? They say they do, but really they don't. Most of them do not really care about his longevity or his productivity. The way modern Christians judge leaders is by their belongings. They don't know them by their fruit or by their spirit but by the car they drive, home they own, ring they are wearing, or clothes they have. Come on, folks! You and I know that it's wrong to judge this way. Not only is it wrong to judge this way, but the whole perspective has shifted from demon activity to preacher activity. How sad. I wonder how the Lord puts up with such immaturity. You know, don't you, that the devil and his demons love Christians to be this way? Sure they do. While Christians are watching all the smut and slander reports about different ministers, the devil is gardening in their backyard.