Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 34 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and four amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has published two books - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles which he has compiled into books in PDF form.

Is Science vs Religion a Real Thing?

When I first published my conviction that the earth is a stationary plane rather than a globe, I met some stiff resistance. I was told that my “flat earth” beliefs were religious in nature because I was not open to contrary evidence. I suppose it was meant to be somehow derogatory, but was interesting that it came from a firm believer in Christ, his resurrection, a six-day creation, and everything else that goes with being a Bible believer.

Some believe that science is not religious, but, in fact, this is not true.

For example, one of the “fathers” of modern astrophysics was Albert Einstein. When he and his contemporaries were confronted with the confounding results of the Michelson-Morley experiment, which indicated that the earth is not in motion, he devised his now famous theory of special relativity to explain away the unwelcome results. In doing so, he remarked that he “knew” that the earth is moving. In other words, he had an a priori belief that the Copernican heliocentric view is correct, complete with the earth’s supposed revolution around the sun, rotation around its axis, the movement of the entire solar system through the Milky Way galaxy, and the movement of our galaxy through the universe. He set about disproving the results of a scientific experiment by “proving” what he assumed to be true, which is a logical fallacy. In so doing, he attempted to use advanced math to demonstrate that a metal container changed shape, thus nullifying the results of the experiment. This seems to be quite absurd, unless one religiously accepts his a priori belief, but it has been accepted by most of the scientific community as proof that the earth indeed moves by “proving” that we cannot experimentally prove whether the sun if moving or the earth, since all such motion is relative. In other words, he asks us to dismiss the results of a solid scientific experiment, which has been repeated many times, in order to hold on to his a priori belief. If I am not mistaken, this is what I was accused of doing.

Some of Einstein’s contemporaries were not fooled by his mathematical magic trick. Nicolai Tesla, whom I consider to be the preeminent scientist of his day, dismissed Einstein’s work as nonsense.

Another group of scientists in Europe signed a document disavowing Einstein’s work as being unscientific.

God created us to be people of faith. The desire to move beyond faith into experimental knowledge apart from divine revelation is what destroyed Adam and Eve’s Edenic existence. Since then, it seems that human beings are in a continual quest to escape the confines of God’s Word. (Click here to read more extensively on this subject.) Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton did not wish to be limited in their understanding by what the Bible says. Instead they invented theories of the nature of the cosmos that contradict biblical testimony. Sadly many so-called “Bible believing” Christians believe what these men say instead of what the Bible says, not realizing that modern astrophysics, like the Bible, rests on a priori beliefs or presuppositions.

We can say we value science over religion, but the truth is that we have simply replaced one religious system of beliefs with another. The way God made us, we cannot escape the requirement to put our faith in something. I choose God and the Bible. How about you?

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Get in the Game

Paul next traveled to Athens, Greece, where…

...he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17  So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. Acts 17:16-17 (NIV)

Paul visited two places where people gathered to look for opportunities to share the gospel. God wants us to be alert for such chances to talk to people about Jesus. A skilled fisherman will go where he believes there will be fish to catch. The skilled angler will know what bait to use, at what depth to fish, etc. God wants us to use our wits to go where we can find people, but, more importantly, to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus advised his disciples to…

Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see [to be reconciled to God].’ Matthew 22:9 (NLT)

I believe this translates to our getting out in our neighborhoods with the intent to talk to people about Jesus, should the opportunity arise. This must be done with wisdom, love, and consideration. We don’t want people running inside every time we go outside. 🙂

I believe it is a great idea for us followers of Christ to make it a practice to be present where people gather with the express purpose of seeing what God might do.

This will require us to be alert, relaxed, and lovingly bold. It will give us an opportunity to hone our conversational skills so that we can easily talk to people about spiritual things without making them feel uncomfortable. If we use conversation to discover more about them, their situations, and needs, we will likely find a way to offer to pray for them or to share how Christ could be the answer they seek. The more we do this, the easier it will get, the more relaxed we will become, and the more we will enjoy it. The Holy Spirit is waiting for us to get in the game, so to speak. We cannot make an impact on anyone by sitting on the sidelines. God is already at work in people’s lives. He is looking for teammates.

So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:38 (NLT)
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Word Games

People love word games. I play Wordle almost every day. Even Bible translators play word games. One of their favorite is called “Translator’s Bias.” The goal of this game is to translate a word in such a fashion that it will obscure its plain meaning in order to guide readers into accepting the translator’s view of things. This happens all the time as translators wrestle with the difficult task of how to best communicate the meaning of scripture. The New Living Translation does this on purpose in an attempt to accurately present larger ideas instead of the literal meaning of specific words. Sometimes they hit a home run. At other times one is forced back to a more literal translation to properly understand a passage.

It is a sad state of affairs, however, when translations that are supposed to be literal engage in obfuscation of the text.

A great example of translator’s bias is how the Hebrew word “raqia” is rendered in English. The people who wrote the Bible and lived at that time understood it to mean a solid dome that enclosed the stationary plane of the earth and the seas. (If you want to read more about the raqia, click here.) The KJV and NKJV give us an honest pre-Copernican rendering of the word in English by using the word “firmament,” which communicates the idea of solidity. Almost every other translation bows the knee to post-Copernican cosmology by using words such as sky or expanse. These words are not “wrong,” per se, but such a translation allows readers to think that biblical cosmology does not differ from modern astrophysics.

As a result, most Christians today believe in the heliocentric lie without realizing that it contradicts the Bible and dishonors God.

(I have written an article that focuses on the occult religion of heliocentrism.)

This morning I read Psalm 104:3 in my daily devotions, which says that God “lays out the beams of his upper chambers in the waters.” (NKJV) The Hebrew word (aliyyah) translated “upper chambers” could be rendered more literally “roof chambers,” which accurately communicates the concept of the firmament being a roof over the earth, above which is God’s throne. (I wrote another article going into more detail about this place called heaven.)

My notation in the margin next to Psalm 104:3 took me to Amos 9:6.

He who builds His layers [Hebrew: maalah] in the sky, And has founded His strata [Hebrew: aguddah] in the earth; Who calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out on the face of the earth— The LORD is His name. Amos 9:6 (NKJV)

I have numerous Bible translations, but for my daily reading and study I use the NKJV. I switched to this version because it accurately translates raqia as the firmament. It is a fairly good translation, but I like the NASB the best. In this instance, the NKJV let me down. The Hebrew word it renders as “layers” (maalah) communicates little of the literal meaning, which the NASB better translates “upper chambers,” which corresponds to Psalm 104:3.

Below is the NASB rendering of the verse in Amos.

The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome [aguddah] over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name. Amos 9:6 (NASB95)

I suppose you noticed how differently the NASB translated the Hebrew word  “aguddah.” The literal meaning is bands, thongs, slavery fetters, or bunch (as a bunch of hyssop). Why then did the NASB translate this “vaulted dome?”

We are told in Genesis that another term for firmament is heaven. (Genesis 1:8) We are also told that heaven has multiple layers called “the heavens.” God apparently dwells in the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2) We know so little about the heavens that it is quite probable that the first heaven, our atmos has multiple layers. We are still discovering what has been deliberately obfuscated for centuries. So, we see that translating aguddah as vaulted dome is consistent with other scriptures, but is not a literal rendering. Here we seem to have translator’s bias in support of biblical cosmology, instead of against it as usually happens.

When we interpret the Word of God, it is important that we allow it to speak for itself instead of twisting its meaning to fit a preferred paradigm. Let us not resort to word games as we search for truth, even if that search leads us away from long cherished presuppositions.

 

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Where Is Jesus?

Jesus rose bodily from the dead and after forty days ascended into heaven.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10–11 (NKJV)

This indicates that heaven is an actual place above the earth, not just a spiritual dimension. (I have written more about this in another article.) Jesus’ physical body has to be somewhere. It did not de-materialize. 

Those who believe that the Bible’s description of the earth and heavens is true understand that God’s throne is located above the dome of the firmament. 

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22 (NKJV)

The Bible gives us descriptions of this place called heaven.

And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:26–28 (NKJV)

This sure does resemble the description of Jesus in the Book of Revelation.

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Revelation 1:12–18 (NKJV)

Jesus identified himself as the Son of Man prophesied by Daniel when he stood before the Sanhedrin. According to our Lord, he will return in glory to the earth coming down from heaven in the clouds.

Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:64 (NKJV)

Putting all of this together, Jesus ascended into a real place called heaven, which is located atop the firmament. There he sits on God’s throne, waiting for the day of his return, from where he will descend in the clouds to the earth in judgment on all who ever lived. If we believe the Bible, we know these things. If we believe the heliocentric lie, we must spiritualize heaven into some unknown mystical place out there in the infinite void of the ever-expanding universe. I believe the Bible and believe that I will one day see what Ezekiel and John saw.

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Look for Open-Minded People

Paul and Silas made it to the city of Berea where they encountered people who were open to truth.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12  As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:11-12 (NLT)

Most of the Jewish leaders had already made up their minds to reject Jesus and his teachings. Such closed mindedness blinded them to the beauty and truth of his words and the testimony of his many miracles. They imagined that they were the custodians of truth whose job was to root out those who had veered away from their teachings, not realizing that their teachings had long since departed from God’s heart.

And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ Mark 7:6–7 (NASB95)

Humble open-minded people are willing to consider an idea and check out its validity for themselves. Instead of being manipulated by those who hated Paul and the gospel, the Bereans examined the Scriptures to see if the gospel’s claims were true.

Jesus described this sort of people in his famous parable of the sower.

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Luke 8:15 (NLT)

Rather than wasting time with those who steadfastly resist the gospel, look for those who are open-minded.

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What’s Up?

What is in a word? The meaning of “up” should be quite simple, but if one believes that we live on a globe, it is only a relative term.

Those who ascribe to a biblical cosmology understand “up” to be an absolute term that is the same for all people on earth.

Those who believe they live on a globe understand “up” to be a relative term, since up for someone at the north pole is the very opposite for someone living on the other side of the sphere. Why is this important?

The Bible tells us that God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth. (Isaiah 40:22) Biblical cosmologists, therefore, place God’s throne above the dome of the firmament, which means it is “up” for everyone on earth. Globe believers cannot conceive of God’s throne in this way, since the word “above,” like “up,” has only a relative meaning and would require God to be seated simultaneously in an infinite number of locations in order to be above everyone living on the spherical earth. In addition, it requires that we reinterpret “circle” to mean “sphere” to make it fit our presuppositions about the shape of the world in which we live.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he went “up.”

While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. Luke 24:51 (NASB95)

This means heaven is “up,” just as is God’s throne. The angels told the disciples that he would come again one day in like manner, which means he will descend “down” out of heaven. This is called the Second Coming, which will be seen simultaneously by everyone living on earth.

BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7–8 (NASB95)

This of course could only happen if the earth is a stationary plane covered by the dome called the firmament, just as the Bible teaches.

If the earth is a sphere, with no absolute “up,” Jesus’ resurrected physical body could not possible be seen by everyone at once. Since we dare not nullify God’s Word to suit a pagan notion of the nature of the cosmos, we accept that up means up for everyone at the same time. This requires us to accept the Bible’s teaching about the nature of the world in which we live.

And this is why it is so important for us to know what’s up.

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Chapter 103: Release from Demonic Oppression

Introduction

In the New Testament, there is no word for being “possessed” by a demon. The Greek word used is daimonizomai, which, as is easy to see, simply means to be demonized. Regrettably, most Bible translations refer to demonization as possession, but a better English word is oppression.

All sorts of arguments have arisen as a result of using the inaccurate translation of demon “possession.” Bible teachers argue that believers in Christ cannot possibly be “owned” by an evil spirit because God owns and inhabits every believer.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NASB)

I fully agree that God does not share ownership of his children with the devil. However, if we approach this issue by translating the Greek word daimonizomai  as oppression, the problem disappears. Everyone knows that even Christians suffer from being oppressed at times.

Jesus taught us that the devil’s agenda is to kill, steal, and destroy. He does this work primarily through deception and fear.

When Jesus walked the earth during his itinerant ministry, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1 to describe his ministry. (Luke 4:18) The apostle Peter summarized our Lord’s ministry in one sentence.

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 (NASB)

In this verse the word translated “oppressed” literally means “being under the power of.” This is a good way to describe demonization; although, not everyone Jesus healed had a evil spirit of infirmity. Some were just physically sick, but all sickness is a manifestation of sin’s curse and the devil’s dominion. (Click here to see what I have written about Jesus’ victory over sickness.)

The devil seeks to use people to accomplish his purposes. He works to deceive us into aligning with his God dishonoring quest. Interestingly to me, demons have a desire to inhabit people. In my opinion, this is most likely due to two reasons. First, God created us to be temples for his Spirit. Demons wish to spoil what belongs to God. Secondly, human bodies are pleasant and useful habitations for demons, giving them a place of “rest” and providing them with the means to act out their destructive desires.

Demonization can take many forms, anything from a person crawling around on the ground as a snake to being harassed in the mind by oppressive sinful thoughts and temptations. It can also include a vast array of physical problems, which Jesus commonly addressed during his public ministry – deafness, inability to speak, crippling arthritis, and epilepsy, to name a few. Demonization can also manifest itself as it did in the Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20), who lived in constant agony, alone among the tombs, cutting and generally hating himself and his condition. His pain was so great that, when he saw Jesus, knowing our Lord could set him free, ran to him and begged for help. Paul encountered and set free a young woman who had psychic abilities that came from being demonized by a spirit of “python,” which used her as its mouthpiece.

During Jesus’ day, it was not uncommon to encounter obviously demonized people. Today we generally lock such persons away in institutions and heavily medicate them into a stupor. Many others suffer in less obvious ways.

One of the devil’s chief weapons is deception. He has managed to convince a great many people that evil spirits are not even real, but were an attempt by primitive peoples to explain medical and mental problems they did not understand.

Believers who hold that the Bible is the inspired Word of God cannot dismiss the reality of demons.

In addition, if we wish to help people experience freedom, we should not quickly conclude that Christians cannot be oppressed by demons. I have seen evidence of such oppression far too often to pretend it does not exist.

When our theology does not match reality, something is wrong with our doctrine.

My goal in these articles is to help us to properly understand the scriptures regarding demonization in order to help people find freedom in Christ.

How People Become Demonized

How do demons gain access to people? Can they simply “jump on” someone? Are we helpless before them? Is there anything we can do to protect ourselves? Can we free ourselves from their oppression? These are all good questions that I will attempt to answer in this teaching.

Thankfully demons cannot randomly oppress anyone they choose.

God is sovereign, and the devil can only operate with God’s permission within the parameters set for him. (Read the Book of Job.) If demons could oppress us at will, we would see significant demonization everywhere. In general, God protects us from Satan and his servants, but certain things can open the door to demonic oppression.

Demons are all around us for sure, but for them to be able to significantly oppress us, they must somehow gain access to us. God’s protective barrier must be breached.

Solomon gave us insight into how this can happen.

He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. Ecclesiastes 10:8 (NASB)

In general, we or someone who has protective authority over us must break through God’s protective wall by sinning in a way that opens the door to demonization.

Adam took the lead in this, but our ancestors and living members of our families, along with other authority figures, whom God gave to protect us, sometimes fail miserably at their responsibility and actually facilitate those under their care to suffer oppression.

Demons harass people several ways. It can be helpful to think of them as flies. (Interestingly, one of the devil’s names is Lord of the Flies or Beelzebub.) Flies are attracted to putrefaction and wounds. Where these two things are present, flies usually will be on hand.

One can spend his time swatting flies or removing or treating what attracted them in the first place. Over the long haul, the latter course of action will be the most effective.

Demons look for a wound, a “nest,” or a “hook” in people to set up shop. Because unhealed traumatic inner pain is so devastating, it cries out to be resolved. If we do not find healing in Christ, demons often come knocking to offer their version of assistance.

In addition to trauma, certain personal sins can be gateways to demonization.

Involvement in the occult is especially sinister. This can be something seemingly innocuous such as children experimenting with a Ouija Board. Likewise, sexual activity with demonized people can open the door to oppression.

In general, I believe that if we abandon ourselves to sins, we run the risk of demonization.

Unfortunately, we can also be demonized when others sin against us. Sexual and other forms of abuse by adults may open the door to demonic oppression in its victims. I know this does not seem “fair,” but the devil does not care a bit. He is what may be called an equal opportunity oppressor. When parents and other trusted adults fail to be protectors of those under their care, but instead open a doorway to evil in their homes, children may be scarred for life. After all, the entire human race came under the devil’s “thumb” because of the sin of Adam. Conversely, we experience freedom because of the obedience of Christ.

Sometimes demons are passed down from generation to generation.

I remember working with a woman who was experiencing recurring nightmares. During ministry, I discovered that her grandmother was trying to recruit her to take up the family tradition of witchcraft. She renounced any such involvement and claimed her freedom in Christ from this torment. The nightmares stopped immediately.

A great first step in getting rid of demons is to remove what gave them access in the first place.

A way to look at this is to imagine that we have a front and a back door to our hearts. If we kick demons out of the front door without locking the back door, what good have we done? (Matthew 12:43-45)

The first step toward gaining freedom is to close and lock the back door, the place where demons gained access to our lives in the first place. This means we must first deal with bitterness, personal sins, generational sins, lie-based strongholds, and traumatic pain. Then we will be ready to be set free.

Diagnosis Demons

Have you ever sensed the presence of an evil spirit? How did you do it? Was it a feeling? Something said? Something you saw? Were you sure about what you discerned, or did you merely have a suspicion?

Being able to accurately discern the presence and activity of the demonic in people’s lives is a very important aspect of helping them find freedom.

Trying to cast out what is not there is an exercise in frustration and confusion. Failing to discern a demon can leave it in place to continue its harassment of the individual.

Demons in general prefer to be hidden. They also sometimes can be quite bold. I remember once when a young man looked me in the eye and said that the demon in him was going to jump on me. I suppose the evil spirit did this to try to intimidate me in some way, but it didn’t work because I know who I am in Christ.

Demons use fear and intimidation when they can no longer hide.

There are two general approaches to diagnosing the presence of demons.  The first is to assume that demons should be the first thing we look for as a cause of sinful behavior or oppression. The opposing view, which I prefer, is to look for demons last of all, unless there is some reason to think otherwise. In my experience in counseling, demons are rarely the main event. They may seek to block or distract us from continuing along the road to genuine healing and deliverance. I also believe that demons get blamed for things that are more rightly attributed to the “flesh,” a lack of proper repentance and teaching, embedded lies, unhealed pain, and generational issues.

Demons, however, often lurk in the midst of the snarls of interconnected bondage issues, and we should not be surprised to find them there.

In fact, I have had more dealings with demons while engaging in Spirit-led Counseling than at any other time. This is because going deeper into people’s issues gets to roots of bondage, where demons try to hide.

But how do we know when we are dealing with a demon? Some people believe demons are behind nearly every affliction known to man. I reject this notion, preferring to limit myself to those evil spirits identified in the New Testament. However, I must admit that once when ministering to a woman who had been unable to quit smoking, I asked her if it would be okay to check out the possibility of a demon being behind her addiction. I did not think it was, but recently someone had encouraged me to consider the possibility, and I thought it would be worth a try. She agreed; so, I asked Jesus to reveal to us if a demon was involved. My wife and I commanded any evil spirit present to manifest itself somehow so we would know. Amazingly the woman immediately had a terrible taste in her throat. We concluded that this was God answering our prayer. We cast it out, and she stopped smoking immediately. I suppose God had a good laugh at my expense, but I still don’t go looking for demons behind every affliction and addiction.

I always depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal to me whatever I need to know, since I am not clever enough to figure it out on my own. This has been the secret to whatever success I have experienced doing Spirit-led Counseling over the years. I know it is his ministry, not mine.

I try to be alert for clues pointing to demonization, and, if I find any, I then ask the Holy Spirit to show me clearly what is going on. We don’t want to make a mistake. If we try to cast out a non-present demon, the person will get no relief. This may cause the person to draw one of a couple of wrong conclusions. They may think the demon is too strong for Jesus, or they may think deliverance in general does not work. Lastly they may lose confidence in our ministry to them. None of these is good. We also should never offer anyone the false hope that simply casting out a spirit will solve all their problems. The “flesh,” which is a much greater problem, remains, and it cannot be cast out.

As a matter of covering all the bases, it is good to routinely ask if the person we are counseling has ever dabbled or practiced the occult. In fact, before engaging in Spirit-led Counseling, I ask those who will be receiving ministry to complete an extensive application which asks these sorts of questions up front. There is no sense waiting until you are far into ministry before finding out crucial details.

Occult involvement will often open the door to demonization. It is the devil’s realm powered by the demonic.

My advice is to always suspect demonization when there has been occult involvement, which includes a vast array of things from Ouija boards to palm reading, from tarot cards to seances, from witchcraft to Satanic worship, and the list goes on. The application form I use covers most everything.

Discerning spirits is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10) and part of the ministry of Christ. It is intuitive and works differently in individuals.

I know a minister who says she can “smell” demons. Some “see” them by the Spirit. You may simply be able to know that they are there intuitively. Sometimes I am able put the puzzle pieces together to ferret out one. When I believe I have discerned the presence of a demon, I usually ask the Holy Spirit to confirm it. I sometimes command the evil spirit, if it is there, to manifest itself in some clear way under Christ’s authority and oversight, without making a scene; so that I will know. Demons must obey our commands given in Christ’s name. Sometimes I know for sure that I am dealing with a demon, but at other times I move forward on the reasoned assumption that we are dealing with one, asking for Holy Spirit confirmation. Each person must gain experience by doing the ministry. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

In summary, we trust the Lord to show us when we are up against demonic oppression and to give us his strategy for getting rid of it.

Remember, it is God’s ministry not ours. He is the one with the wisdom, authority, and power to get the job done. We are his representatives or ambassadors.

Biblical Names for Common Demons

A once popular book, Pigs in the Parlor, presented a model which taught ministers to look for demons behind almost every resistant spiritual problem people might experience. In contrast, the Bible only acknowledges a relatively small group of demon names.

If we are going to be properly cautious and biblical, I believe we would do well limit ourselves to calling demons by biblical names.

For example, there is no biblical precedent for calling an evil spirit a demon of nicotine addiction. This does not mean that demons cannot contribute to such an addiction. I am sure they do, but being so specific is not found in the Bible.

As mentioned before, demons oppress people in a variety of ways, using fear, intimidation, and deception. Below are the names given to these spirits by the Bible.

  • Demon (daimonion) – Matthew 7:22. This is the general term.
  • Evil Spirit (pneuma poneros) – Matthew 12:45. This is also a general term. All demons are evil. This goes for ghosts, poltergeists, etc. There is no Casper the friendly ghost. Don’t be deceived by the current fad of ghost busting. To learn more about this, consider reading Seeing Ghosts through God’s Eyes by Mark Hunnemann.
  • Unclean Spirit (pneuma akathartos) – Matthew 10:1. This is another general term, but one we in the West do not often use. The opposite of clean or holy is unclean or defiled. Unclean spirits defile what they touch. Jesus, the Clean One, cleanses unclean people with a touch. Part of his ministry was and is to drive out spirits of uncleanness.
  • Spirit of Infirmity, Weakness, or Sickness (pneuma astheneia) – Luke 13:11. Some sicknesses and diseases are caused by evil spirits. We must discern whether we are dealing with a “simple” sickness or one that is demonically induced. One requires healing. The other, deliverance.
  • Spirit of Fear, Timidity, or Cowardice (pneuma deilia) – 2 Timothy 1:7. Some spirits inspire fear in those they oppress. Spirits can only minister to others who they are and what they have. Perfect love (Jesus) drives out all fear.
  • Spirit of Python, Fortune Telling, Divination (pneuma puthon) – Acts 16:16. Evil spirits inspire false prophecy and other forms of divination (knowing things by means of an evil source). This is one reason why we must steer clear of demonically inspired sources of information, which include Ouija boards, fortune telling tarot cards, astrology, etc.. Satan always desires to bring people into bondage through false knowledge. He will reveal just enough truth to hook people, but his ultimate desire is to enslave and destroy us by means of clever lies.
  • Spirit of Slavery (pneuma douleia) – Romans 8:15. This spirit keeps people in bondage, often through fear and intimidation. Addictions may be at least partly caused by such a spirit. I believe these spirits are also at work in false religions and legalism.
  • Spirit of Antichrist (pneuma antichristos) – 1 John 4:3. This is the spirit behind false worship and false messiahs. It denies Christ and inspires others to do the same.
  • Spirit of Stupor (pneuma katanuxis) – Romans 11:8. This spirit seeks to dull people’s ability to hear and respond to God and the Gospel. When people start nodding off when anything spiritual is happening, it might be because of this spirit. Of course, they might be suffering from a lack of sleep, too.
  • Lying Spirit (ruach sheqer) – 2 Chronicles 18:22. This spirit works to keep people deceived. Some people are motivated by this spirit to lie. Others are lied to by this spirit. In the biblical example cited, lying spirits inspired false prophets to lie to the king to induce him to take a course of action that would result in his death. Today perhaps the legacy media is the closest parallel.

What evil spirits do according to the Bible.

  • Afflict – to apply pressure
  • Harass – to distress or trouble
  • Dispirit – to throw down
  • Oppress – to exercise power over
  • Torment – to make a person hurt himself and cry out
  • Inflict physical problems – such as sickness, deafness, blindness, muteness, seizures
  • Try to destroy – such as throw someone into a fire
  • Make insane – such as the Gerasene demoniac
  • Unclean spirit – Afflicts with impurity, sexual or otherwise
  • Terrify – to fall upon, startle, terrify (Saul)

When we minister, one of our responsibilities is to accurately discern and diagnose what are the sources of the bondage being experienced by the people we seek to help.

If we discern the operation of an evil spirit, it is very helpful to comprehend the nature and scope of that spirit’s oppressive influence. Some believe it is necessary to name spirits by an exact name, such as when Jesus cast “Legion” out of the demoniac. This however was the exception, not the rule. Usually Jesus simply commanded the spirit using a generic name, such as unclean spirit.

We can depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what we need to know and do.

Remember, demons by nature are liars and manipulators; so, we should be extremely careful when extracting information from them in a ministry session. Once we know exactly what spirits we are dealing with and how they gained access to the person, we are ready to lead him or her through the deliverance process.

How to Cast Out Evil Spirits

Evil spirits are master intimidators and inveterate liars. They will use every trick in the book to convince us that we have no ability or right to get rid of them. The usual shenanigans include telling us that they are too strong for us, are not going to do what we tell them, have a right to be there, or to try to convince us that we have some area of personal sin that disqualifies us from ministry. For this reason, before every ministry session I spend time declaring aloud and reminding myself, the person(s) with whom I am working, the Lord, and any demons present that my righteousness is derived solely from Christ, not my own performance; my authority is Christ’s authority, I am his personal representative, and Jesus is Lord over the ministry session (and everything else). I also invite the Holy Spirit to oversee everything and ask him to work in and through me to help the other person.

If setting people free from demonic oppression depended on my righteousness or my authority, I would fail, but since it solely depends on Christ, I will succeed, and so will you.

This means that evil spirits must do what we command them to do in Christ’s name. We don’t have to raise our voices or struggle in any fashion. We don’t need a band of strong men to hold down a demonized person. If we resort to such tactics, it reveals that we think that the battle is ours instead of the Lord’s and have been deceived from the very start.

The Theology of Deliverance

The theology of deliverance is simple. When Jesus died and rose again, he stripped Satan of his authority and right rule over those who are submitted to Christ.

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14  having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Colossians 2:13-15 (NASB)  

And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Luke 9:1 (NASB) 

These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17 (NASB)

Jesus defeated Satan when he died and rose again. Drawing upon that future victory, Jesus empowered his disciples to minister in his name even before he went to the cross. How much more can we who live in the aftermath of the resurrection do the same!

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18  And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19  "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20  "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." Luke 10:17-20 (NASB) 

Today, post-resurrection, we are in “mopping up” operations in which we are enforcing the victorious reality of Christ’s lordship. As representatives of Christ, we speak and minister in his name, releasing his authority. It is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to back up our words with God’s power. Let me repeat this essential point.

We proclaim Christ’s victory over demonic oppression, thereby releasing his authority to set captives free. The Holy Spirit then enforces what we say and makes it happen. He is the power behind the authority.

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28 (NASB)

Casting out demons is a clear sign of the presence of God’s kingdom. Unless we understand that the Spirit is the power behind Christ’s authority, we may resort to using fleshly means to try to cast out spirits, much to the devil’s delight.

Getting Ready

During a ministry session, we should depend on the Holy Spirit to give us insight, wisdom, discernment, and whatever else may be needed. I recommend asking him to be in charge of the session. Next, bind any evil spirits in Christ’s name, commanding them aloud not to act out in any way that might hinder or distract from Christ’s work. I tell them to keep quiet and not manifest in any way, unless by permission of Christ. If we do this, we will eliminate any showy demonic displays that are intended to provoke fear and confusion. In addition, having prayed in such a way, if a demon manifests or is otherwise discerned or detected, I assume that it is God revealing to us that it is time to deal with it. Remember, demons are never the main attraction. Instead, we should be far more interested in discerning how they got there, what has kept them there, and in helping the people to whom we minister repent and renounce whatever opened the door to demonization in the first place.

Depending on the Spirit’s Guidance

Once a demon and its entry point have been discerned with the Holy Spirit’s help and any sinful behavior or beliefs renounced, it is time to cast out the evil spirit.

Jesus and Paul cast out spirits without going through these steps, but I am not usually in the marketplace when this ministry happens, as they were. I have the luxury of being able to take the necessary time to get to the root of the matter. I suppose this is another example of what the Bible calls a “variety” of ministries in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians12:5) Once again, I believe we should never simply assume that we know what to do.

Always ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Thinking we know what to do, simply because our doctrine is correct or we have ministry experience is potentially harmful.

King David knew how to fight battles, but when he went up against the Philistine armies, he asked God for a specific strategy. (2 Samuel 5:22-25) We should do the same.

Steps to Deliverance

  1. Lead the person to confess and renounce any sin, wrong belief, generational sin, occult involvement, etc. that opened the door to demonic oppression.
  2. Ask the person to submit to Christ. Salvation is all about lordship. James wrote that the first step toward resisting the devil is to surrender to Christ the Lord. (James 4:7) We should lead the person who needs deliverance to pray a simple prayer of surrender to Jesus the Lord, especially in the area where the evil spirit has been oppressing him or her.
  3. Proclaim Christ’s victory over all the power of the enemy and over the particular spirit and area of oppression in focus. Remember: the gospel is a proclamation of Christ’s victory and Lordship which includes an invitation to be forgiven and set free from everything that has held us captive. (Acts 13:39) Saying it aloud is important. (Isaiah 61:1 and Colossians 2:15) We have no reason to think Satan can read our minds. Using our voice is crucial in gaining freedom. God uses the authority of the spoken word, enforced by the power of the Holy Spirit, to cast out evil spirits.
  4. Command any oppressive spirits to leave in Christ’s name and authority. Expect them to obey because they must.

Dealing with Obstacles

Occasionally we will encounter an obstinate demon, who apparently refuses to bend the knee to our command. There could be a couple of reasons. The first thing to do is ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and go with what he shows us. Secondly, perhaps, there is yet some “hook” that we failed to discern and get the one receiving ministry to renounce, which the Holy Spirit wants us to address. Thirdly, ask the person receiving ministry if there is anything yet not covered. Fourthly, it might be profitable to command the demon to speak the truth and and ask it why it thinks it can stay. The answer might be illuminating for further ministry. Always be aware that whatever a demon says, since there is no truth in the devil, has to be judged in light of God’s Word and the witness of God’s Spirit. If another layer of sin, pain, deception, or generational devastation is uncovered, address it as before. Then go through the deliverance process again. Here is a list of potential obstacles.

  • Unconfessed secret sin or vow
  • Undiscovered generational sin
  • Unconfessed or unrenounced occult involvement
  • Agreement with a lie
  • Pride – “My” demon is so strong that not just anyone can cast it out.

Remember: there is nothing a person may have done that can effectively block deliverance. It is all a smokescreen.

Always be aware that the demon simply is being obstinate and testing our faith and resolve. In this case, let us remember that the battle is the Lord’s, not ours. When I encounter this sort of thing, after going through every process listed above, I may use the approach of turning the evil spirit over to Jesus for him to deal with as he sees fit. I am not going to waste my time arguing or struggling with a disobedient demon.

How do we know when the evil spirit has departed?

The Holy Spirit operates in and through individuals in a variety of ways. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) In my case, I often have an inner confirmation from the Holy Spirit when a spirit leaves. I don’t know how to describe it except that it seems to be a kind of inner “whoosh.” I am sure that this is not helpful to you at all, which is good, because the last thing we need to do is try to copy someone else. God can confirm that a spirit has been cast out in any number of ways.

First of all, remember that we do not even need a confirmation. We operate by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) However, thankfully, God may give us an inner or external confirmation.

Often the person receiving ministry feels deliverance happening or senses the result of a spirit having left, as in a sense of release, joy, freedom, peace, etc. A minister may “see” it leave through spiritual discernment. (1 Corinthians 12:10) The person being delivered might have some sort of physical manifestation, such as coughing, gagging, etc. Regardless, we base our faith in God’s Word, whether we see any evidence or not. Demons must obey our commands given in Christ’s name. Period.

I remember a case when a person who was delivered approached me a few days later to let me know how much “lighter” she felt. In the aftermath of deliverance, she realized how much the spirit had previously affected her, even though she had been oblivious to its presence. If there is no immediate outward or inward confirmation, ask the Holy Spirit if anything more needs to be done. If everything is clear on his end, simply move on, trusting God to confirm the deliverance in whatever way or time he sees fit.

Deliverance requires faith and is usually a partnership between the one receiving ministry, the minister, and the Holy Spirit.

That is why it is very important to do whatever teaching is required up front so that the person receiving ministry has faith in the efficacy of Christ’s triumph, our authority to speak in Christ’s name, and the Holy Spirit’s power. We want to leave no room for doubt or hesitancy.

How to Maintain Spiritual Freedom

When Jesus sets us free from any kind of oppression, we have a responsibility to fight to keep that freedom. Our Lord warned us that demons, which have been cast out, seek to reenter a person to bring them into worse bondage than before, which is the last thing any of us should want.

"Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44  "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45  "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." Matthew 12:43-45 (NASB)

We learn several things from the above passage.

  • Evil spirits find “rest” in human bodies, which motivate them to seek entrance.
  • We should expect “counter attacks” after we are set free.
  • We have a responsibility to fill our hearts and minds with thoughts, words, and songs related to the Lord so that there is no room for a demonic “re-infestation”.

Paul gave us a wonderful way to “inoculate” ourselves against demonization.

...be filled with the Spirit, 19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; Ephesians 5:18-20 (NASB)

In other words, the best defense is often a great offense.

If we fill our minds, hearts, mouths, and activities with God, there will be little room for the devil.

We should be careful to make no place for the devil. (Ephesians 4:27) We cannot afford to coddle sin. It is important for us to develop good habits, which include regular Bible reading and study, prayer, worship, fasting, and speaking God’s promises and truths out loud.

We also have a responsibility to put on the “spiritual armor” provided by God by faith.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15  and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17  And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephesians 6:10-18 (NASB) 

Here are the main points.

  • We can only stand in the power of God’s might, truth, and authority, not our own.
  • Don’t be naive. God has a plan for your life, but the devil has plenty of schemes to bring us down.
  • Even though the weakness of the “flesh” is a real enemy that must be resisted, our ultimate battle is against spiritual wickedness, which requires us to use spiritual weapons.
  • We must know and stand upon the truth of our imputed righteousness in Christ. Condemnation is one of the most insidious weapons of the enemy. He will use it to try to destroy our peace and confidence in God. There is no condemnation in Christ. (Romans 8:1, John 5:24)
  • Being active in sharing our faith is actually one of our best weapons against the enemy.
  • Faith in God and his promises shields us from enemy attacks.
  • God’s truth also guards our minds from deception and fear.
  • The sword of the Spirit is God’s truth found in the Bible. We can do great damage to Satan’s kingdom by proclaiming God’s Word.
  • Prayer is an important defense against Satan’s strategies. As we submit to God in prayer, we can effectively resist the enemy.
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." 7  Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:6-8 (NASB)

God encourages the grace of humility as a defense against the devil. Peter proudly announced his unfailing loyalty to Jesus before denying him three times. Don’t let pride open the door to the devil.

God wants us to be ruthless in defending our freedom. We must cut off those things that try to bring us into bondage, rather than be double-minded about it.

If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:30 (NASB)

This is a matter of our choice, as we rely on the motivation and power of the Holy Spirit to help us fight against evil.

Just as political liberty demands constant vigilance, it is a fight of faith to maintain our freedom in the spirit, too.

There are enslaving agents working relentlessly that must be warded off and defeated.

We also have to be vigilant against what the Bible calls the “flesh”. The “flesh” is that part of us still linked to the old creation in Adam because our bodies have not yet been resurrected. It lurks in the background, waiting for us to become tired, discouraged, disillusioned, or maybe overconfident; so, that it can try to rear its ugly head and lead us into sin. The flesh never reforms. It was crucified and rendered powerless to rule us by Christ, but we still can allow it to have power, if we like. This is a battle between flesh and spirit referred to by Paul.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:16-17 (NASB)

This is not to say that we should be afraid that our slightest failure will result in demonization. However, we should not assume that reengaging in old sinful patterns will not result in our going into bondage again, either. We should have a wholesome fear of the Lord.

Maintaining short accounts with the Lord is always a good idea, too. We should make it a practice to quickly repent when we do sin, knowing that, no matter what, we always have access to the throne of grace to find help from God, especially in our time of need. Don’t fall for the lie that we must earn our way back to God.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NASB)

Finding a trusted and loving person with whom we can share our struggles can help immensely. This should be a person who will speak truthfully to us as a loving friend and confidant, with whom we can be honest about our struggles, defeats, and victories. This should be a person who will pray for us, ask us how we are doing, and be unafraid to ask pointed questions, and who will guard our confidences. Obviously, we should avoid using anyone who is a known gossip or who is so merciful that he or she would never confront. Except in the case of spouses, these persons should be of the same gender as we are.

To summarize, we should expect the devil to be a relentless enemy who will not easily give up. Be prepared for the battle and take proactive steps to defend what God has done to set us free. Always rely on God’s strength and power. Never allow condemnation to put a wedge between you and God. Keep short accounts and develop good spiritual habits. Put on God’s armor by faith and go on the offense.

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Chapter 104: The Incommunicable Attributes of God

(The next four lessons are taken largely from Wayne Grudem’s Bible Doctrine published in 1999 by Zondervan.)

God wishes for us to know him, even though sin has dulled or minds and blinded us to God’s existence and glory to a very great extent. Creation itself testifies to God’s nature and power.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,  Psalm 19:1–4 (NKJV)

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  Romans 1:20 (NLT)

Knowing God begins when the Holy Spirit arouses us from our death-like state, causing our hearts to yearn for the One who yearns for us. God awakens our hearts, enlivens our spirits, opens our spiritual eyes, and unstops our deaf ears so that we can perceive him. The Bible calls this being drawn to God.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.  John 6:44 (NLT)

We cannot know God unless the Holy Spirit opens our understanding. When he does this inside us, faith arises in our hearts.

Faith is a spiritual gift which takes us beyond the limitations of the human mind and allows us to connect with God. Jesus called this being born of God, born of heaven, or born again.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”  John 3:3–8 (NLT)

When this happens, our spirits are joined to God’s Spirit, becoming one with him, giving us the “mind of Christ” and allowing us to have thoughts that transcend our natural sinful abilities. As a result, we begin to know God experientially.

But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.  1 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:10–16 (NLT)

The Bible is the gold standard for truth. Everything we learn about God from the Spirit will agree with the written word of God.

Therefore, it is important for us to devote ourselves to reading and studying the Bible under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, if we want to learn more about God.

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.  John 17:17 (NLT) 

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’  John 16:13–15 (NLT)

But we should always remember that knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.

We should not allow ourselves to settle for gaining information about the Lord without experiencing him. This is why worship, prayer, and “waiting” on God are so important.

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  John 17:3 (NASB95)

One area of the knowledge of God concerns his character. Theologians divide his traits or attributes into two categories: incommunicable and communicable. The incommunicable attributes of God are qualities he possesses that we do not share. The communicable attributes are ones we can share with him.

Independence or Self-Existence

God does not need us or any part of creation for any reason.

This attribute is sometimes referred to as his self-existence. Nevertheless, he loves his creatures which glorify and bring him joy.

He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.  Acts 17:24–25 (NLT)

Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is mine.  Job 41:11 (NLT)

Only God is self-existent. Every created thing came from him.

God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.  John 1:3 (NLT)

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.  Psalm 90:2 (NLT)

God’s being is qualitatively different from ours. He is altogether “other,” even though we are created in his image and bear some similarities. He is the great “I am” whose thoughts and mind transcends ours.

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8–9 (NLT)
 Unchangeableness or Immutability
I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.  Malachi 3:6 (NLT)

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?  Numbers 23:19 (NLT)

But you are always the same; you will live forever.  Psalm 102:27 (NLT)

God does not change in his being, character, purposes, or promises.

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.  Psalm 33:11 (NLT)

I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.  Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NKJV)

Because God does not change, we can trust him to keep his promises. He is an anchor in a turbulent world in which everything else is like shifting sand.

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.  Hebrews 6:18–19 (NLT)

God can change his mind in the sense of changing how he responds to us based on our actions. Such a case is found in Jonah 3:10.

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.  Jonah 3:10 (NASB95)

This change of mind merely delayed his judgment of that pagan nation. His eternal purposes did not change, only the timing.

Eternity

God has no beginning or end but exists outside of time while retaining the ability to act inside our historical timeline.

Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.  Psalm 90:2 (NASB95)

All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.  Jude 25 (NLT)

God created the heavens and earth, thus introducing time. He existed before creating these things, outside of time.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  John 1:3 (NASB95)

Because he exists outside of time, he sees all history from beginning to end. He knows and controls everything. This is directly related to his being omniscient or knowing all things.

Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;  Isaiah 46:9–10 (NASB95)

Eventually time will cease (Revelation 10:6 – “delay” is the Greek word chronos meaning time.), but God will continue to exist, as will all those who share in his eternal life.

God intersects time with his divine purposes.

These special moments in time are sometimes referred to as “chairos” moments, rather than simple time or “chronos.” Such “chairos” moments are also referred to as the “fullness of chronos.” An example of this is Galatians 4:4-5.

But when the fullness of the time [chronos] came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Galatians 4:4–5 (NASB95)

God created time, rules over it, and uses it for his own purposes. (Bible Doctrine, Wayne Grudem, p. 78.)

 Omnipresence

God does not have size or spacial dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being, yet God acts differently in different places. (Grudem, p.78.)

Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? 24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.  Jeremiah 23:23–24 (NASB95)

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.  Psalm 139:7–12 (NASB95)

God’s presence cannot be contained or limited.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!  1 Kings 8:27 (NASB95)

God is “other,” and we cannot define him using our human limitations. We do not believe that God is his creation as do pantheists. Instead, we believe that the Creator is distinct from what he made.

The Creator is also our Sustainer, holding the entire creation together through the Word of his power.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power… Hebrews 1:3a (NASB95)

Although God is everywhere, he is also said to “far” from the wicked and “near” to the humble. This is a reference to how we can enjoy his presence because of the relationship we have or do not have with him. God is present in hell (Psalm 139:8), but his presence in that regard relates to his being there for judgment. Experientially, those in hell are not able to enjoy his presence.

These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,  2 Thessalonians 1:9 (NASB95)
Unity

God is not divided into parts, yet we see different attributes of God emphasized at different times. (Grudem, p.81)

All of God’s attributes are always equally present. God is both merciful and just. One attribute cannot be divorced from the other. Therefore, each attribute helps us better understand the others. This means that God is always the same. He is not wrathful in the Old Testament but loving in the New. He is always the same.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Hebrews 13:8 (NASB95)

Some of his attributes are emphasized at various times, but the others are still present. For example, the creation emphasizes God’s unlimited power and wisdom, but the other attributes are present, too.

We should never single out one attribute of God as being more important than the others.

For example, love should never be emphasized to the exclusion of recognizing his justice. He never acts contrary to his attributes; so, if it appears to us that he did, we simply do not have the correct perspective. We should strive to know him in his entire being as the Holy Spirit reveals him to us.

God revealed to Moses that he is who he is, not necessarily who we want him to be.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”  Exodus 3:14 (NASB95)

Idols are false representations of God that cater to what we want God to be like and wish him to allow. The true God is holy and demands holiness from his people.

Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.  Leviticus 19:2 (NASB95)

 

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The grass always looks greener… on the other side of the firmament.

One of the terrible weaknesses humans have is the innate tendency to despise or minimize what we have and view what we do not (or cannot) have as being more wonderful. The adage is that the grass always looks greener (to cows) on the other side of the fence. 

When we are told that we cannot have something, our inborn rebellion, which the Bible call sin, automatically desires it and sets about to obtain it.

Paul wrote about this sad state of affairs in Romans Chapter Seven.

When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. Romans 7:5 (NLT)

This is the universal condition of man and a big reason why we so desperately need a Savior.

When God created the earth and the heavens, he gave the earth to us for our habitation, but he reserved the heavens for himself and the angels. The Bible says we live on a stationary plane enclosed by a solid dome called the firmament, in which God placed the sun, moon, and stars. There are multiple levels to the firmament, also called the heavens. We are not told very much about this solid enclosure, except that is a solid crystalline-like structure having multiple layers which separate the waters above from the waters below. (You can read more about this in another article.) We are told that God himself has his throne in the third heaven, which seems to be atop this structure.

And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:26–28 (NKJV)

Apparently beyond that is what Jesus called “outer darkness,” which will be a terrible place where those who are rejected at the judgment must dwell.

Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 22:13 (NASB95)

The lure of “outer space” is a grand deception whereby Satan has convinced us that the place of judgment is somewhere we need to go and conquer.

God never told us that we can inhabit the moon or any other heavenly body. Trying to do so is clearly looking over the fence at grass we cannot have. Satan tried move beyond his assigned area to wrest God’s throne from him. Not surprisingly, he was utterly defeated.

How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit. Isaiah 14:12–15 (NASB95)

Satan was cast down to the earth (Revelation 12:9), where he enlists rebellious people to join him in his quest to overthrow God.

Men have tried to reach God’s throne for a long time, beginning at the tower of Babel. More recently, NASA has joined the rebellion by using rockets in an attempt to pierce the firmament and go beyond our assigned domain. 

God’s throne resides atop the firmament, and only the privileged are granted access.

Jesus ascended there after his resurrection, where he sits enthroned, waiting for his Abba Father to roll back the firmament on the Last Day. Over the years, prophets have been allowed to see the wonders of this real place. (I have written elsewhere more extensively about heaven being an actual place, not just a spiritual dimension.) All those who proclaim allegiance to Christ will also be given access, but no rocket or any other device will ever penetrate its environs illegitimately.

The moral of the story is this. If we want to see and experience this amazing realm, we must join the winning side by proclaiming faith and allegiance to our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

It is time for us to leave the rebellion and choose to be satisfied with living on the earth until God transports us to heaven to be with him forever.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive me for being part of Satan’s rebellion. Now I see the error of my ways and choose to join you. I believe that you rose from the dead and now reign in heaven as Lord. Thank you for giving me eternal life and the promise of reigning with you forever. Holy Spirit, I welcome you into my life and ask you to transform me on the inside and empower me to tell others about this marvelous good news that we can be reconciled to God. Amen.

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Preaching vs Discussing

As Paul and Silas continued on their second missionary journey, they arrived in the city of Thessalonica in Greece.

Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2  As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3  He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Acts 17:1-3 (NLT)

The Greek word translated “to reason with” in verse 2 above is dialegomai, which can also mean to discuss with, preach, or address. There is quite a difference between talking to an audience and holding a discussing with a group. It is the kind of difference in experience between listening to a “talking head” in a large auditorium and sitting in a living room talking with a group of people.

When people are open to engage the scriptures, it is important for us to present the gospel in a way that enlists our hearers to think through the its claims and hopefully arrive at the desired conclusion.

Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to see truth, however. Our part is to reason with people. His part is to open their understanding and reveal Christ to them, causing faith to spring up in their hearts. 

There is a divine logic to the gospel, but only those whose eyes and hearts have been opened by the Holy Spirit can perceive it.

You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5–6 (NLT)
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