“Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (HCSB)
This should be the headline news… THE DEVIL HAS INFILTRATED THE CHURCH! The enemy is always trying to infiltrate! Jesus cast out demons in the synagogue (Luke 4:31-37). They had been allowed to dwell there! Nehemiah found the enemy living in a room in the courts of the house of the Lord (Nehemiah 13:4-9). He kicked Tobiah out and purified the room!
We shouldn’t be shocked or taken by surprise! The devil masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Jesus warned us of false prophets and teachers as ferocious wolves dressed in sheep clothing (Matthew 7:15). The Old Testament prophets constantly warned us of false shepherds and false prophets (Ezekiel 34, Jeremiah 23:9-12). Paul warned of ear tickling teachers in the church (2 Timothy 4:3-4) as well as ones sounding enticing and attractive yet are full of empty words (1 Timothy 6:3-5). Luke warned of sheep being decimated by false shepherds who were actually savage wolves (Acts 20:28-30). Peter warned that false teachers and false prophets would infiltrate the church (2 Peter 2:1). So, yes today, this wickedness, that has been hidden in the church for a long time, is being exposed! I was recently at a church and had an encounter with a child who manifested a demon! That happened here in Athens, not in some remote jungle on the other side of the world. Let me reiterate, that happened in a church in our city!!! The enemy has infiltrated the church, but is being exposed!
Cry out for discernment, for the gift of distinguishing spirits, for wisdom and the fear of God to flood His church, starting with you! Ask the Lord to show you what is good and what is evil. Ask the Lord to show you any place the enemy has infiltrated your life and/or your home. Remember, he operates in deception, in stealth and wants to stay hidden. Ask the Lord to allow His light to penetrate every place in your life, family and home! Pray that for your pastor, his home and your church. May there be no place for the enemy to hide any longer in our homes, our churches nor our city! Pray that the church in Athens would truly be holy unto the Lord!
