Beware Seducing Spirits!

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (KJV)

“Seducing” is to lead astray, to corrupt or to draw away, from principles, faith, or allegiance. It means to attract, especially with the promise of pleasure or reward.

Seducing spirits strive to influence Christians to depart from the faith, become hypocrites and sear their consciences…and they come hosted by flesh and blood people.

One day, a young man walked up to Julie, an ardent believer and lover of Christ. He explained to her how he had noticed her several times in the same place. Thus began a relationship that Julie had no business being in. She had just encountered a seducing spirit who unleashed all the tools at his disposal to lead her astray.

Tool #1. Deception

Julie would ordinarily have walked away after that first meeting but she was intrigued. She chose to believe, as the young man insisted, that it was God’s will that they meet. She choose to accept that, as the young man said, God had ordained the relationship.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 3:1-5 (KJV).

Seducing spirits will invert the truth. They do not tell you the full story or tell a truth wrapped in a lie. They create doubt and uncertainty concerning God’s truthfulness and motives. They undermine your confidence in the trustworthiness of God’s Word. They exaggerate. They make you think you are better off sinning than not sinning.

They intend to get what they want at all costs, but this intention is cleverly disguised.

The young man told Julie many stories. Some were probably true but many were definitely lies.

Tool #2. Isolation

This young man kept Julie all to himself. He did not want to meet anyone she wanted him to meet. He wanted their time together to be exclusive and told her this was supposed to make her feel special. And he asked her to keep the relationship to herself. He said he did not want anyone poisoning her mind about him!

What he was doing was separating her from her support system and people who would possibly see through his deception.

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. Proverbs 18:1 (ESV)

When God said, it is not good for man to be alone, He was not just talking about marriage…He created us to be in various social relationships. A seducing spirit will attempt to subvert your relationships. Seducing spirits are extremely jealous of anyone they perceive to be a threat or who is close to someone they want to control. They are divisive and send separation and strife into the strongest relationships. They can “transmit” jealousy and play one person against another.

Tool #3. Exploitation

He took advantage of her generosity. He was a master of asking without asking – he would complain about situation after situation, and she would offer funds to solve problem after problem.

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalms 82:4 (ESV)

Seducing spirits will focus on your weaknesses and exploit them. They identify your blind spots or hurts and use them to confuse you.

Tool #4. Flattery

The young man was charming, charismatic. He told Julie what she wanted to hear to win her over to his domination.

With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. Proverbs 7:21 (KJV)

Tool #5. Manipulation

He got her to do many things that she normally would never have done. He would ask her to do something and if she refused, he would use emotional blackmail. One moment he was making her feel guilty, and the next he was eliciting her pity.

He would make sexual overtures and innuendos and then he would apologize if it seemed he had gone too far. But then he would be back at it the very next opportunity he got.

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. Judges 16:15 (KJV)

Seducing spirits control you unfairly to their own advantage.

Tool #6. Persistence

He would never take no for an answer. He continued to put pressure on her to violate her conscience. He wanted her to break down her principles.

And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death. Judges 16:16 (KJV)

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. Genesis 39:10 (KJV)

Tool #7. Religion

He was always in one church program or the other. “Fasting” did not prevent him from making sexual overtures.
Seducing spirits replace a genuine relationship with God with works and traditions. Their religious deeds are done for all to see. They have a form of “godliness” but they do not exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts 2 Timothy 3:5-6 (KJV)

So, how did Julie get delivered from the grips of this seducing spirit? Her support system broke through. Thank God for family!

When Julie took stock, she realized she had wasted a few months of her life and parted with quite a bit of money. She also realized that her testimony had been smeared because the young man had a reputation for targeting and taking advantage of gullible people.

My sister, please pay attention! Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5.8 (KJV). Seducing spirits want to destroy you. If they can’t get you, then they will take your time, your money or your testimony. Too many people have fallen prey to the antics of seducing spirits, but you don’t have to be one of them! Keep your spiritual antenna up and know the signs. Remember also to be your brother’s or sister’s keeper.

May God continue to enlighten us, shield us, and indeed strengthen us as we run this Christian race. We will finish strong in Jesus name!