ALONE WITH GOD     

  As I associate with people in the daily pursuits of life, I find the general idea prevailing among them is that every individual has the privilege of choosing any kind or brand of religion he chooses, they are all right and will take us to heaven. This idea prevailing creates a sad condition in regard to the welfare of the souls of men. It does not harmonize with the teachings of the Bible and will be the cause of many souls being lost in eternity. Beloved, if every individual has the privilege of choosing one of a multiplicity of religions how can we interpret the warning issued by the Spirit in our text? The Spirit said, "Some shall depart from the faith." He designates something definite when he says, "the faith." So often we hear of, or read about, the different faiths in the religious world, but according to God's word there is only one faith. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:4-6). In this scripture we are definitely there is only one faith, and it is by and through this faith that all men are saved. There is no such thing as different faiths in the eyes of God. If we are saved, we are saved by and through the same faith other people are saved, because there is only one faith. The Spirit warns in our text that some shall depart from the faith. When a person departs from this ONE FAITH and chooses another religion, he has been seduced by a false spirit from Satan and is lost. I would to God the great multitudes could grasp the truth concerning this very high thing and realize that God only has one kind of religion, and all others are false.' If we fail to take heed to this warning of the Spirit and depart from the faith of the gospel, we will lose our soul in eternity.

  Man is a two-fold being and has somewhat to do with two worlds. He possesses a natural body and has to with the natural world. He exists on natural food a performs manual labor which pertains to things natural. Also he possesses a spirit and has to do with the Spirit world. "But there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding" (Job .32:8). "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Eccl. 12:7). So we see man is a dual being and deals with the natural world and also the spirit world. Of course, it overlaps into the natural man, or shall I say, it has its demonstration in the physical man. The kind of spirit within a man will determine the quality of conduct. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what kind of religion we associate with lest we be led astray by a seducing spirit.

  Sin has defiled and contaminated the spirit which was placed in man in the beginning. God created Adam and Eve in his own image. This does not refer to the physical man but the spirit which is within him, for God is a spirit. The spirit which was placed in Adam and Eve was pure, holy, upright, insomuch that they could associate with and fellowship God, who is a spirit, and who is holy and pure. But when sin came into their hearts through eating of the forbidden fruit, their spirits became defiled and contaminated, and they could no longer fellowship God, but were driven from the garden. God will not fellowship those who live in sin because their spirits are defiled, and he cannot fellowship that which is unclean in spirit. In the 51st Psalm we hear David praying for forgiveness. He has committed sin, and now it's before his face continually. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me." It is with this attitude only that a sinner may approach God and find deliverance from his transgressions. David prays on, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me and I shall be whiter than snow Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." What has happened to David? He has sinned and is praying to God to blot out all his iniquities, and to create within him a clean heart and renew a right spirit within. The sin he has committed has defiled his heart and the spirit within and only the God of heaven can cleanse the heart and purify the spirit. The very same condition exists in every sinner. Sin defiles and contaminates the heart and spirit within man and not just any religion of his choosing can cleanse the heart and renew a right spirit within him. There is only one religion in the world that can do it, and that's the religion of Jesus Christ. The true for every religion is the basic test of experience. A religion that cannot cleanse the heart and renew a right spirit within man and produce a holy life is not worthy name religion. We must confess that most religions break down on this point and must be classified as inadequate. How grateful we should be that God has provided a religion through the death of his dear Son that does cleanse the heart and renew the right spirit us. He made a promise back in Ezek. 36:25-27. ÒThen will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." God says here that he will cleanse us from all our filthiness, all our idols, a put a new heart and a new spirit within. There is only one way for God to perform this divine operation on you, sinner friend, and that is for you to forsake your sin and confess them before God and ask forgiveness and Òbe born of the Spirit of God." This is THE FAITH from which many are departing today. This is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ from which so many have erred and been led by seducing spirits. The price seems too great to pay. Men love their filthiness, they love their sins, their hearts are attached to their idols; and they're not willing to forsake them and confess them before God and live holy in this life. But it's holiness in this life or hell in next one. When men hear the gospel preached and the requirements of God, then comes along a seducing spirit and says, "You can get religion cheaper than that.Ó They are more than glad to hear that voice, so they immediately give heed to that seducing spirit and choose a religion that doesn't demand anything of them. This is where many are departing from THE FAITH and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

In John the fourth chapter we have an account of Jesus' conversation with the woman of Samaria at the well. In verses 23 and 24 we read these words, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Jesus states that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth, and that the Father seeketh such to worship him. Notice he said the TRUE worshipers. There are multitudes who worship God in vain. They worship him with their lips but their hearts are far from him; they have given heed to a seducing spirit , yet they have their religion. Beloved, you can have any kind of religion you want, but you cannot be a true worshiper of God unless you worship him in spirit and in truth until your heart has been cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus and a right spirit renewed within you. People who have decided to choose a cheap religion still have the defilement of sin in their hearts; their spirits still defiled and contaminated with that sin and unfit for fellowship with God; therefore all their worship is in vain. You cannot worship God acceptably unless you have had a change of heart. This modern hand-shaking, church joining pledge-making religion does not and cannot produce changed hearts and lives; therefore it is worthless. Unless you have forsaken your sins and repented of them before God and been born of the Spirit, you are still defiled in heart and spirit and in the kingdom of darkness— a lost soul, bewitched, deceived-and misled by seducing spirits. A religion that teaches you can worship God acceptably without being born of the Spirit is motivated and kept alive by a seducing spirit of Satan. The warning issued by the Spirit in our text needs to be reckoned with and caution needs to be taken lest we be led away from the plain teachings of God's word. Dear ones, God is anxious to save everyone who will come unto him by Jesus Christ. He is able to save you to the most and give you power to live a righteous and holy life while here on this earth and be received up into heaven in the end. This he will require of all men. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8). Many false prophets have gone out deceiving the multitudes, and many seducing spirits are lurking along the way of life to lead you astray. Beware! Simply trust in God and obey his word and give no heed to anyone or any spirit that would lead you away.

  It is a true fact that many are departing from the faith once delivered to the saints. Now I want to deal with part of our text: "giving heed to seducing spirits." As I think seriously on this statement, it almost makes me tremble with fear. The danger is always present of giving heed to a false spirit that will mislead you. Therefore, it's no wonder the Spirit spoke expressly concerning it. I meet many folks along the way of life who seemingly never give any earnest heed to this warning. They are willing to listen to and even fellowship any spirit which comes within their presence. We must be very cautious of the spirit we embrace and fellowship, knowing that there is one true Spirit of God, and all others will seduce you. They are set for the destruction of souls.

  If it were possible to pull the curtain back and look the spirit world with our natural eyes, we would see practically every deceiving, unclean spirit imaginable. These spirits are lurking along the way of life, seeking souls who will listen to them that they may seduce them and drag them to destruction. The Apostle Peter says, ÒBut there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of Ò (II Peter 2:1-2). And with every false prophet that goes out there is a false spirit accompanying him. All religious organizations who have erred from the faith of the gospel have a false spirit accompanying them , and people who embrace that religion will eventually imbibe the same spirit. It's the work of Satan to send out false spirits in the name of relegion to seduce people, and the human ecclesiastical organizations are the products of these spirits. It behooves every one of us to be on our guard against any spirit that would seduce or lead away from the gospel. We must take john's advice on this matter. He said, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I john 4: 1). It becomes all-important that we be able to distinguish between a true prophet of God and a false one. You are safe to use the Word of God as a test for any prophet or any spirit. A false prophet and a false spirit will not agree with the Word: whereas, the true Spirit is the spirit of truth and will guide you into ALL truth (John 16:13). It will agree with the Word on all points of doctrine.

  Satan is a deceiver, and he works through the medium of false spirits, visiting the heart, pretending to be right spirit. Paul says, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness" (II Cor. 11: 14-15). Satan sends his ministers out just as God sends some. He has his religions just as God has one. The minister of Satan will be accompanied by a false spirit; and the two will work havoc among the people who think any kind or brand of religion will suffice. These people become easy victims to a false spirit because it can pawn anything off on them. Satan is definitely working through the reliigions of the earth in seducing millions.

  Today we have certain forms of worship and certain religions that are based on ancient witchcraft, idol worship, heathenism, and are motivated and kept alive by false spirits transformed into angels of light. Satan has dressed it up in a religious garb, and multitudes accept it without question. Modern spiritualism is nothing more revival of ancient sorcery or necromancy. It is a religion built upon the practice of communicating with beings claming to be the spirits of departed ones. The present day "faith doctors", who mumble a few words and make a pass or two with the hands over the sick and they're supposed to be healed, are nothing but witchery. The fakers or quacks, such as the so-called Christian science healers with their "hocus pocus" maneuvers, are but a revival of the ancient enchanter. It is neither Christian nor science. It has nothing in common with the Bible concerning divine healing. The Bible teaches that we should anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over them, and the Lord will heal them by his power. There are still other groups and practitioners who are supposed to be able to heal the sick with their magic formulas but are nothing short of the work of Satan. The Roman Catholic Church with her deification of the dead and worshipping of the virgin Mary is nothing but a continuation of heathenism and idolatry. This very form of teaching and form of worship forms the cornerstone of ancient heathenism. The gods of the heathen were believed to be deified spirits of departed heroes. Thus the religion of the heathen was a worship, of the dead, and so is much of our present day religion and is contrary to the word of God. There are great bodies of religious people today whose entire religious belief is based upon the fact that some years ago some man had a vision or dream that is supposed to have been from the Lord but in reality was the work of a seducing spirit from Satan. That religious body will stake confidence in the words of the founder of that religion, than they will in God's word. This is conclusive proof that they have been seduced by a false spirit. Beloved, God's word is final authority on any subject, and if our religious beliefs do not harmonize with it, we must conclude the devil has pawned something counterfeit on us. Satan has been able to put such an attractive religious garb on many of these things, sending such deception with it, that it has and is deceiving millions. Perhaps you will say, ÒWhy mention other religions?" How can we hold our peace when the Spirit is crying out in our soul to warn men against the thing that is seducing them a dragging their souls to hell? When people have adopt a form of worship or teachings which are contrary to the word of God, it is evident they have been seduced by a false spirit. The danger is ever near each of us; therefore, we should cling close to the Word and to God with a willingness in our hearts to be led by the Holy Spirit. Millions of earth have what they term "their religion" will go on through life with it and be lost in eternity.

  Also there are many other people who do not bother with any kind of religion but go to visit the palmist, the spirit medium, or the fortune teller. And some suppose-to-be Christians visit these devil-dens too. The people who practice this fortune telling and conferring with familiar spirits are definitely of the devil, and those who patronize them are subject to receive a devilish spirit from them. Are you not aware of the fact that this is one of the reasons King Saul was destroyed of God and lost soul? "So Saul died for his transgressions which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse" (I Chron. 10: 13-14). God outlawed such things as these centuries ago. Even in Israel's day he forbade them to have any dealings with such persons but that they were to be destroyed from their midst. "There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord,.." (Deut. 18:10-12). So many people do not realize the grave danger of trifling with such persons. You are not only dealing with an individual but also with a devilish spirit that may take hold of your heart, and you may never be able to be freed from it. It's a terrible thing to come under the power of an unclean spirit. God has warned us in his Word, lest we be taken unawares, but if we ignore his warnings we may be seduced by any kind of a spirit.