doctrine of devils

​For the past seven weeks we have been studying spirit, soul and body on Wednesday nights.  I planned to teach on the subject one night but the Lord continues to add more and more.  We have keyed in on “spirits”, how they operate and how to identify them. 
 
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Holy Spirit speaks clearly, that in the last days many shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
 
We need to understand what the goal of the devil is so we can be equipped to resist him.  The objective of the devil is to talk Christians into departing from the “faith” where by they are saved.  The devils have their own doctrine and ignorant people are drawn to it.  Jehovah’s witnesses do not believe that there is a hell, this appeals to Christians who like to dabble in sin.  Recently the Lord spoke this to me:
 
The thing that makes the devil so dangerous, he has nothing to lose.
 
The devil does not have even one drop of sympathy for anyone, he has no idea what compassion is.  The devil has already been judged, the only thing he has to look forward to is eternal torment in hell.  His idea of the good life is to get between God and His people.  So how does the devil get his doctrine published, how does a spirit commune with flesh and blood?
 
Mark 5:7 The devil cried with a loud voice, what have I to do with you, Jesus the Son of God, I adjure you by God, you torment me not.
 
The devil used the man’s vocal chords to speak to Jesus.  The devil has no problem finding someone he can speak through, this is how men hear the doctrines of devils.  If you study the major cults and religions of the world, you will identify the doctrines of the devil.  But you must first know what the Holy Spirit said or you will be duped just like the rest of these ignorant souls.  One of the old doctrines I was convinced of is purgatory, I believed that if I did certain things I would burn in purgatory for a short time.  If I gave up candy for lent, if I bought and lit candles and said “special prayers” I could shorten my time in purgatory.
 
Acts 17:11 These men were noble because the received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
 
After I was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost I learned to use the concordance.  I looked up the word purgatory but I could not find it, I spent nearly thirty years believing in a doctrine of devils!  So how do we judge doctrine?  By comparing it to the Word of God, if it isn’t in the Bible then it doesn’t belong in your heart.
 
John 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: Your Word is truth.
 
As I studied the Word I became more confident, I drew closer to the Lord and all my fears began to leave.  I was being sanctified, cleansed from all the doctrines that held me back, I became a new creature in Christ Jesus.

---