One of the most humbling and important books I am presently reading is War on the Saints. This book has forced me to take an even closer look at testing the deceiving spirits that are ever-present in this world.
One very important previous lesson that I have learned is that as my faith in the Lord grows so does the attacks from the enemy. Every time I learn a spiritual truth from the Lord, Satan pounds back with discouragement, fear or temptation. When the Lord called me into the discernment ministry, I was filled with excitement at His calling…but I also was at first worried about the opposition I would face. When the Lord called me to teach Bible study, I was willing but afraid at my lack of experience. The enemy whispered to me…You can’t do this….This is too hard…This takes up too much time…
I only share this because the deceiving spirits are very determined to undermine our walk with the Lord in these end-times. But with the help of the Lord and the other teachers who are forever encouraging me with their training…I trust the Lord will equip me with all I need to do his His will….and He has. What a wonderful God we have!
Not only do we have to face the evil strategies Satan throws at us personally, we have to determine whether or not our spiritual leaders have been deceived themselves. All throughout the Bible we are warned of false teachers who will attempt to lead us astray. Some of these teachers will be deceived by the seducing spirits and may truly believe they are in the truth. But they are themselves deceived by giving into greed, seeking honor, and enticed by the spotlight that surrounds them. Others are truly wolves in sheep’s clothing. They know the truth, yet bury it deep into their conscience so that the truth no longer sears them. Both are dangerous and will mislead the masses into the kingdom Satan is building here on earth.
“There are many deceived ones among the most able teachers today because they do not recognize that an army of teaching spirits have come forth to deceive the people of God and that the special peril of the earnest section of the professing Church lies in the supernatural realm, from whence the deceiving spirits with “teachings” are whispering their lies to all who are “spiritual,” i.e., open to spiritual things. These “teaching spirits” with “doctrines” will make a special effort to deceive those who have to transmit doctrine and seek to mingle their teachings with truth so as to get them accepted. Every believer must test all teachers today for himself, by the Word of God and by their attitude to the atoning cross of Christ and other fundamental truths of the Gospel, and not be misled into testing “teaching” by the character of the teacher. Good men can be deceived, and Satan needs good men to float his lies inder the guise of truth.” [1] emphasis mine
So one has to ask…Self, do I know the Word of God thoroughly enough to recognize a false teaching? Self, when a teacher gives scripture do I check to see if it is given in context with the passage? Self, do I support a false teacher and mislead others because of this lack of knowledge? Self….am I deceived? What tough and humbling questions these can be.
How we hate to admit that we are vulnerable to deception. But we must!
The man is deceived if he is a hearer but not a doer of the Word of God ( James 1:22).
He is deceived if he says he has no sin ( 1 John 1:8).
He is deceived when he thinks himself to be “something” when he is nothing (Gal. 6:3).
He is deceived when he thinks himself to be wise with the wisdom of this world (1 Cor. 3:18).
He is deceived by seeming to be religious when an unbridled tongue reveals his true condition (James 1:26).
He is deceived if he thinks he can sow and not reap what he sows (Gal. 6:7).
He is deceived if he thinks the unrighteous willl inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9).
He is deceived if he thinks that contact with sin will not have its effect upon him (1 Cor. 15:33). [2]
Doubt is actually a tool that can be used to question the experiences in our spiritual life. It is this doubt that leads us to question the spirits and to see if they are from God or Satan. Too often we quickly snuff out the light we would receive by turning our back to the fear of discovering a truth we have ignored. We are clearly instructed to test the spirits in 1 John 4:1-3.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
Next in 1 Timothy 4:1-2
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
Teaching deceptions will abound. Verses from the Bible will be plucked and regrouped to create false theologies. Words will be twisted from their historical meanings to create “new”, “fresh”, teachings. I was taught not long ago to read the Bible from beginning to end. When done…read it again in this way. There are no “secret teachings.”
“All genuine ‘truth’ is in harmony with the only channel of revealed truth in the world–the written Word of God. On the other hand, all teachings originating from deceiving spirits:
1. Weaken the authority of the Scriptures;
2. Distort the teaching in the Scriptures;
3. Add to the Scriptures the thoughts of men; or
4. Put the Scriptures entirely aside.
The ultimate object of the forces of falsehood is to hide, distort, misuse or put aside the revelation of God concerning the cross of Calvary, where Satan was overthrown by the God-Man and where freedom was obtained for all his captives.
Countless concepts and beliefs which are opposed to the truth of God are injected into the minds of ‘Christians’ by teaching spirits, rendering them ineffective in the warfare with sin and Satan and subject to the power of evil spirits. All new insights and systems of beliefs should be therefore tested by the truth of God revealed in the Scripture, not merely by texts or portions of the Word but by the principles of truth revealed in the Word. Since Satan will endorse his teachings by ‘signs and wonders’, ‘fire from heaven’ and other supernatural signs are no proof of a teaching being from God…” [3] emphasis mine
The end-times will be filled with spiritual deceptions that will deceive many. Signs and wonders, supernatural manifestations, prophetic visions, prophetic words, inner voices, physical manifestations (jerking, shaking, falling, undulating, head wagging, slaying) will all have to questioned by the discerner. Do not let your doubts go unchecked by searing them with a hot iron or by simply dismissing them. If you do this you will open yourself up to deception. You will not be able to discern the lies of Satan.
You may want to pray something like this.
Lord, show me the truth even though I may not want to hear it. Close any doors that I have allowed to be opened that deceives my heart and mind. If I have believed any of Satan’s deceptions… immediately remove them from my life. Amen
“War on the Saints” by Jesse Penn-Lewis
[1] pg. 29
[2] pg. 22
[3] pp. 32-33
DiscernIt 
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March 24, 2008 at 12:49 pm
TJSmith
1 John 4:1-3.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
Q: Who are the spirits? Man or a person possesed? or both
Why I ask: I believe there are many who will be able to say that Jesus is Lord and that He came in the flesh but are still false teachers. I think this is evidenced in the one topic you had about testing of tongues. Those people stated that the flesh man/women did say that Jesus was Lord but then when they would not be able to after they prayed and spoke to the “spirit of the tongue”.
Q: Does this have to do with false teachers or False prophets or both?
March 24, 2008 at 2:16 pm
NWProdigal
That’s a great recommended prayer Kim! I am confident that I know the truth and have had much of it revealed to me through personal study of God’s Word and not relying excessively on man. But, I still ask God to not let me be deceived and especially not deceive others if I am wrong.
I find it quite synchronous that you are reading “War on the Saints” just as I have discovered it myself. I was always impressed with the Wales revival, but wasn’t convinced it wasn’t a lot of emotional crowd hysteria, as well. I think the author makes it plain that Satan will use any opportunity and take advantage of even God-blessed events to try and deceive. But, I am also comforted by Christ’s adamant statement that “When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
(John 10:4-5 ASV)
March 24, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Kim
I believe the reference to the spirits are not man but the spirit within the man. Some of the different accounts i have read about indicate the person, whether it is self or another, asks the spirit to acknowledge Jesus as coming in the flesh.
Johanna Michaelson in her book “The Beautiful side of Evil, states that she finally approached her “spirit guides” and asked one who appeared to be Jesus….”You are not the Jesus in the Bible, are you'” No answer. “Then I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, tell me: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God uniquely incarnate in human flesh?” It was at this point that the spirits vanished. They did not stand up to the test. She also says that she later tested her tongue the same way, and it stood up under the test.
Other accounts like from Brian Flynn, said that after he received the Lord the spirits he was in contact with vanished. He did not have to address the spirits with the test.
Marcia Montenegro at one point told a remaining spirit that she “now belonged to Christ” and that there was nothing it could do about it. She also said she addressed the spirit as Satan but that she no longer would address the spirit using this as spiritual warfare.
Often there seems to be a lingering effect from the evil spirits that does fade away with time. Depends on the stronghold i guess.
So i guess the spirit has to be addressed directly and not the person it inhabits.
I also believe that there is a more general interpretation of the 1 John passage that teaches that we have to discern that the teacher is indeed talking about the Jesus of the Bible. The other situation of that day was Gnostism which denied that Jesus was a man and God. Of course Gnostism is alive and well even today.
I think false teachers and false prophets may be used interchangeably although their may be some who disagree with this. Personally i do not officially believe in the office of the prophet or apostle for today. This may be because there is so much false prophesying today. Although we briefly just looked at a prophetess, who is quite amazing and seems very biblical. I am a skeptic in this area though.
March 24, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Tim H
Thanks for the response…. So the fact that Larry Hutch and Paula White both agree and state that Jesus is not the only Begotton Son of God would tend to lead us to believe that they are driven by something other than the Holy Spirit?
Yep!
March 24, 2008 at 2:40 pm
jennypo
Thank you for sharing as you learn. I have been reading for a while, and I am learning from you. Just wanted to let you know.
March 24, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Kim
HI NWP..
Leigh recommended this book to me. He said to get the unabridged edition. Now i thought i was ordering this but when it came it was not. So i turned around and reordered from http://alibris.com my favorite used book store. So i will have both copies.
The abridged book says in the forward that it has removed teachings that a Spirit-filled Christian can at the same time be demon possessed, some teachings concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit and aggressive spiritual warfare that promotes revival or a hastening of the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be interesting to check out the differences.
I am loving this book. It has answered many questions for me. I went through a period of two years where i was growing spiritually and for every true leading from the Lord there was a counterfeit leading. I was already studying discernment sites while this was happening so i questioned everything.
What is strange about my situation, ( i have talked to another person who went through a similar situation) is that it was AFTER i came back to the Lord that i began to have strong leadings from the Lord and Paranormal type experiences at the same time. This is what led me to learn about discernment and if i had opened myself up in ANY way….I know that my situation raised a few eyebrows. But the experiences have pretty much stopped as i learned about all kinds of occult methods and how they have entered the church. I prayed over and over again..why Lord did you put me through this? I got my answer. I was being tested.
Oh…dear, i do not like to talk about myself…..tell me what you think of the book…
March 24, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Mary
Thank You Kim,
It helps to hear others experiences. Three times I have heard someone speaking into my mind with clear words. I thought it was the Lord, but I didn’t have that sense of certainty that it was the Lord and it was very uncharacteristic of my walk with the Lord. Now I am sure it wasn’t the Lord speaking to me. Usually when He does communicate with me it’s when I am coming to him in humility, and am worshiping him.
Funny thing is one off those times where I now doubt it was his voice is after i heard a Kim Clement prophesy. This was at a time when I was steeped in TBN and swallowing everything hook line and sinker.
March 24, 2008 at 7:38 pm
indywatchman
Jesse Penn-Lewis has been helpful to me as well. She is a clear thinker and knows Scripture. Two things that have stuck with me from her book are: If you want to be un-deceived then fill your self with the truth; and the other is her concept of putting the thing you are un-sure of or things that fall into a “gray” area, into a box until you know for sure. To act out of emotion or to be carried by the crowd is sure failure. This is a great idea for those who have a tendency to believe anything anyone says. But, it is truth, that defines real life, and keeps us in the light, and it is truth that will eventually answer all our questions, if we are patient. Our inner man will alert us by throwing up red flags in our mind. Generally undiscerning Christians will pay little or no attention to these red flags and make decisions based on their abilities to reason things out logically. The Bible warns us against ignoring the Spirits leading. Good council and plenty of Bible knowledge and faith to trust what you read, and to slam on the brakes when the red flags pop up is sound advise.
Steve Blackwell
March 25, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Rose
Kim, I would like to obtain this book. I have been reading about it on Amazon -reading the reviews there. Several reviews mentioned that the complete unabridged hardcover version is the best one to read as other edited versions leave out many important parts of her original work. Which edition are you reading and where did you purchase it? The one advertized on Amazon is the abridged paperback. I think this would be an excellent book for me to read and then pass along to family who believe in prophecy, signs, dreams and other manifestations. So glad you suggested it.
March 25, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Kim
Rose…It is my understanding that if you want the unabridged version that you will have to find a used book. I use http://alibris.com for used books. I have always had great success locating books here. I have the unabridged version on order. I am currently reading the abridged edition and finding it most helpful.
March 25, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Kim
Mary…
Isn’t it interesting to have such experiences. I find some of them to be most confusing which usually tells me they are not from God. I like what Steve said …. to put the things we are unsure of in a box till we know for sure.
I think many are tested after they have been exposed to the prophetic mumble. I remember reading the prophecies that are posted on many of the “prophetic” sites and thinking, wow, i could write prophecies that sound just as good as theirs. I wondered if they were “receiving” information with antennae or writing from their own souls. (Or just making it up)
It was when i learned about how many of the occult books were written, by dictation from a spirit, that i saw the connection. A Course in Miracles, the books by Alice A. Bailey and Barbara Marx Hubbard were all telepathically delivered to the writers. Of course they thought they were hearing from Jesus, higher beings and the Ascended Masters. They were deceived. And those who read these books are in danger of deception. Especially A Course in Miracles which Oprah is promoting, and now Tolle’s “A New Earth Awakening to your Life’s Purpose.”
These books use scripture which always gripes me to no end.
I do want to add that many who are involved in questionable practices, do indeed love the Lord. And i pray for them. And remember we can all be vulnerable.
March 27, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Rose
Thank you for responding, Kim. I will check out the site you mentioned for used books. Thanks, too, for this wonderful website. It has been so helpful to me.
March 27, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Kim
Hi Rose,
I just saw your email pop up when i was looking at this site.
http://www.apostasynow.com/wots/Contents.html
From what i can tell it is the unabridged edition on-line. If anyone has the unabridged edition, (mine hasn’t arrived yet) would you please check this on-line edition with the book to see if it is the exact duplicate.
Thank you….
March 28, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Rose
Thank you for directing me to that website where the book can be read on line. This is great!
March 30, 2008 at 11:57 am
TJSmith
Great article…
http://thegreycoats.wordpress.com/
April 3, 2008 at 1:28 pm
carla
Oh, this is such an accurate post. Thank you for it.
Sounds like a very good book.
April 7, 2008 at 2:11 am
Soterios
After almost dying 3 years ago from Narcolepsy which had morphed into chronic depression, I came to God out of desperation and full repentance. I was reading the word each night and saying daily healing prayers. I wasn’t experiencing much improvement.
I asked God to point me to the truth at all costs and I later went down to my local Christian bookstore and bought the final copy of “Secrets of Spiritual Warfare”. I had to read the book about 4 times before it made sense and before I could fully understand teachings such as “grounds”.
I made concise notes and repeatedly asked God to clarify things to me which I didn’t understand. I simplified Penn-Lewis’ refusal strategy into two types and stuck them on my bedside table.
Let me tell you that when I began to resist by “refusal” suddenly I became aware of the Holy Spirits POWER to affect renewal in the spirit. It was incredible, I was awed. Immediately my spirit began to remove items of clothing in the dreams I was having. I came up against incredible snares and deceptions and prayed into truth after waking from each dream sequence to discern which type of refusal to bring into operation.
Now, almost 3 years later I am on the verge of a POWERFUL healing.
When I began this journey, reading the Pauline letters it became clear to me that I had accidentaly stumbled upon THE WAY and I say that very humbly. The way is the way of deliverance and involves a spiritual war waged against ones indwelling demons. What I have experienced from evil spirit forces is shocking and sobering. I have even been urinated and defecated on by these forces during dreams.
Christians are HOPELESSY prepared for warfare because they don’t fully understand the GOAL of the faith and the LABOUR involved to become sanctified. The reward of gifts can only be given when we are truely “in Christ”. We can only be “in him” when our spirits are where he is. He is in heaven and our spirits can only “rise” when they are completely saved.
Salvation = purification = justification = sanctification = deliverance = healing. As the spirit undergoes regeneration it caused vitality and health to flow back into the body. The unregenerate or sin-full cannot see the Lord, but those who have been regenerated will be in the HOLY condition.
This is an inner state of wholeness without any darkness and is the state of circumcision spoken about by Paul. Those who attain complete salvation are the true JEWS.
We need to walk in faith for a very long time. During this time spiritual qualities are instilled in the person walking. Love of God, faith, humility, patience, diligence, sinlessness, discipline, perseverance, endurance. This is what is meant by working out your salvation with fear and trembling. All the saints had to undergo deliverance resulting in final salvation brought about on the Lord’s day. Only those who persevere to the very end of this walk will be saved and deemed overcomers. This period is called the fiery trial because it acts to seperate the faithful from the faithless who will fall away because of the suffering involved. Those who make it through the fiery furnace are the good sons from the parable of the sower. The good sons are NOBLE implying that they are metal which has had the dross removed from it.
I am so thrilled to have found your site, please link to mine
http://truthofspiritualwarfare.blogspot.com
April 7, 2008 at 10:35 am
Kim
Soterios..
I am so pleased to meet you. I just got back from vacation and i took “The War on the Saints” unabridged, with me. This book makes interesting small talk at the pool.
There is so much information in this book that you are right, it needs to be read through more than once. Taking notes and simplifying is an excellent idea.
The book counters the idea that Christians cannot be demonized. It says that Christians can give “ground” to deceiving spirits therefore allowing a degree of possession. Possession is defined as a yielding or obtaining a footing, no matter what degree it is. Any access to a deceving spirit is a degree of possession. When you look at it this way, it makes more sense how the evil spirits can influence even the Christian.
War on the Saints brings home the point of the satanic deception that is occuring today and has always occurred. The manifestations we are seeing today are clearly explained in this book. For instance those who believe they are “feeling” or “seeing” the Holy Spirit, maybe are not. If you are receiving anything that is of the senses, or sensual as heat, warmth, wind, waves of power, etc. this would CERTAINLY be a deceiving spirit. Likewise other manifestations, would be dreams, visions, etc. These have to be carefully prayed about. If the sensual occurs at the same time they are suspect. Then there is the counterfeit inward senses… like the craving for power, overwhelming joy, anything felt by the spirit can be easily counterfeited by unclean spirits. The deceiver is an expert and we have to constantly pray for the truth. If one is deceived the only way out is to become UNDECEIVED.
Yes, those who make it through the fiery furnace are those who are the good sons of the sower, the wheat. This parable was important to me because of how it indicates that there will be much counterfeiting right along the side of us…..i am seeing end-time scenarios in the parables.
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/secrets-of-the-kingdom-of-heaven-parable-of-the-sower/
I am not sure how to explain this but i feel i am being refined for the Lord’s service. I was pounded with manifestations when I came back to the Lord. Separating the true from the false has been a constant prayer and a journey that led me into the discernment ministry.
Dan 11:35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
Thank you for sharing your experience and i will pray for your restored health.
April 7, 2008 at 11:31 am
Tim H
Thanks for deleting SOG
April 7, 2008 at 11:55 am
Soterios
Kim the one other book which has been inspirational & instrumental in my deliverance is a book “Remarkable Healings” written by US psychiatrist turned hypnotherapist Shakuntala Modi. While interviewing the souls of her patients she by accident discovers the root cause of their illnesses. Can you guess?…indwelling demons and earthbound spirits, which enter the body and layer up around the human spirit. They are not exclusively from sins, but also due to lifelong spiritual apathy and neglect. The biggest sin of all in our generation is Godlessness. She also states that Christians are at greater risk from spiritually inflicted illnesses as they are preferred target for Satan.
What you read in this book will give you more astounding insight into how demons use actual spiritual contraptions (devices) black cords and black shield to hinder the soul, sap vitality and to keep it separated from the light (heaven) and love of God. Your eyes will be opened wider to the scourge afflicting us and you will also see how it links into Penn-Lewis’ work. Everything this woman has discovered via her patients I have experienced in my own walk with the Lord. Indeed this womans work has deepened my faith and I consider her to be of the same pioneering spirit as Penn-Lewis.