Memory Texts:

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa.8:20
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I Jn.4:1
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Gal.1:8

     History is filled with miracles. Atheists scoff at the concept, believing that because they haven’t experienced anything paranormal, those who do must be mentally deranged. But those who have lived spiritual lives whether practicing witchcraft, Satan worship or following the Christian faith know full well that there are controlling forces outside of our ability to determine our course in life.

     With the long history of miracles, recorded in every culture of Earth they are divided into two classes: GOD-led, and Satan-led. In the days of the Hebrew exodus from slavery, pharaoh witnessed many miracles from his god, Osiris. It was these miracles that hardened pharaoh’s heart against the superior miracles of GOD. And when Moses' brother Aaron laid down the rod and it became a serpent before everyone’s eyes, pharaoh wasn’t impressed! He commanded his sorcerers to do the same with their rods and they likewise became serpents before everyone’s eyes. But GOD was the victor in this contest as He is in every contest!

     All through Israel’s and Judah’s history, miracles of satanic origin deceived the leaders into sin; and because of their sins their nations were destroyed. Even when Jesus Christ was demonstrating the power of GOD to save souls from every threat: "healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people," feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes; and even His restoring life to those who had died, the high priest, Caiaphas had a vision that Jesus was to die for the nation and gather in one all the children of GOD (Jn.11:51,52). One vision, given by GOD, to turn the heart of Caiaphas to "the Christ of God" instead hardened Caiaphas to murder Jesus, while denying his own convictions of conscience by telling himself he was doing GOD’S will. Nearly forty years later, Jerusalem and its temple were decimated, as Jesus gave the prophecy it would be: all because of the prideful hearts of men refusing to yield to truth, "as the truth is in Jesus."

     So here we are today. From the beginning of Earth’s history, Satan has demonstrated his power to deceive the nations' rulers into sin and thus their own destruction. We can safely assume nothing has changed with the leaders of our day. As it was then, so it is today (Eccl.1:9). Those with the wealth and power to steer the course of civilization receive Satan’s instruction to do his bidding. Satan will also provide a degree of ease and success to those he ensnares in his charted course to deceive, and thus, fortify men's hearts to think their course is divinely led. And this includes the long brutal history of the Roman church, with the numerous visions of Satan playing the role of the Virgin Mary, the many answered prayers through the dead saints, etc. Satan's special attention is given to deceive those who desire to serve GOD: to believe lies and to hold false expectations concerning truth and the fate of men. Satan will even miraculously bring people to the Christian faith and evangelize others to follow: through visions, after-death experiences, etc. so long as they stand under his banner and shut out the Spirit of GOD from their hearts.

     And now, mainstream Protestantism is following Satan's counterfeits of the gifts of the Spirit of GOD. From their dishonest relationship with the words of Christ on the Ten Commandments, using Paul's words to contradict Christ's Own Words, this has opened the door for Satan to mislead the church with his version of visions, tongues, and slain in the spirit, of which all of these manifestations stand defiant to the Bible's clear guidelines for each of them. These are the "doctrines of devils" that Paul warned would come to rule the church. Wherever sin is ignored, Satan has gained the upper hand. None seem to ask the question: Why did Peter say the vast majority whose names are on the church books will stand condemned in their sins? (I Pet.4:18). "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jer.17:9.

     I know of many who have experienced some incredible, miraculous demonstrations of paranormal power. I could spend an hour reviewing the testimonies. Some have been Bible/Christ obedient, showing their heavenly origin. But quite often the miracle denies the litmus test of Scripture, whether of prophesying or doctrine. And those who are led to renounce the Bible in favor of the miracle are literally placing their souls in the hands of Satan. And under his jurisdiction none should desire, for he never willingly releases his prey. Only the LORD can deliver those "whom his spirit made willing." And because freewill is paramount to GOD’S gift to mankind, GOD will not lead them in a way they refuse to be led.

     Here is an example from Scripture of Satan playing everyone the fool; and afterwards we will ask a couple questions and let the Bible explain the reason for the outcome.

I Kings 22:1-40: And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? [PLEASE NOTICE: JEHOSHAPHAT WASN'T IMPRESSED WITH THESE PROPHETS. SOMETHING WAS AMISS IN THE SPIRIT] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand. And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. [YOU WILL NOTICE THE COWARDICE OF AHAB WHILE ENTICING JESHOSHAPHAT TO STAND AS THE MOST MARKED MAN OF THE HOST.] And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake. Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Why was Ahab and all of his prophets deceived?

II Thess.2:9-12 …the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I Tim.6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

What could’ve spared their lives and their souls from eternal death?

Prov.16:17-19 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Matt.26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Ja.4:6-10 God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

     For every dilemma we find ourselves, in our personal walk with the LORD or trying to reach those whose determination to deny what is plain to the outcome, GOD has provided the answer. As Jesus said, "But take ye heed: behold I have foretold you all things." Mk.13:23.