PROF.
BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons)
MA, PhD.
OVERCOMING THE
SPIRITS OF LAST DAYS
Devotional
Text: I TIM. 4:1-7; II Tim. 3:1-9
Introduction:
The spirits
of last days are character damaging spirits that enforce a great deal of
backsliding and abandonment of the true faith. These spirits strategically
engage dishonest persons in the service(s) of the church and inspire them to
teach heresies through which they deceive many. Therefore, it is no gainsaying
the fact that the activities and teachings of these demon spirits are
responsible for the high level of social vices in the society of today.
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1)
The spirits
of last days are deceiving spirits (I Tim. 4:1).
(2)
The spirits
of last days teach through hypocritical teachers, (vs. 2).
(3)
The spirits
of last days damage the consciences of their teachers, (vs. 2).
(4)
The spirits
of last days are responsible for the high level of social vices, in the society
of today, (II Tim. 3:1-4).
(5)
The spirits
of last days are responsible for the powerlessness in some religious quarters,
(vs. 5).
THE SPIRITS OF LAST DAYS AND DEMONIC
TEACHINGS (ITIM. 4:1-3).
The last days are
characterized by every wind of doctrine/teaching which stems from the
craftiness of evil men who through deceitful scheming deceive many. Evidently, many church
leaders have been hypnotized into error and as a result compromise the
message(s) of the kingdom. Therefore, to distinguish between the demonic
teachings and that of the kingdom, the Bible tells us that;
(i)
The
teachings of the kingdom are righteous teachings, (Heb. 5:13).
(ii)
The
teachings of the kingdom are godly teachings, (I Tim. 6:3-5).
(iii)
The teachers
of the kingdom show integrity in what they teach, (Titus 2:7-8).
THE SPIRITS OF LAST DAYS AND SOCIAL VICES (II
Tim. 3:1-4).
The modern
society, as we can notice, is laden with a very high rate of social ills. As
part of our human efforts in combating these undesirable elements, governments
and non-governmental organizations (NGO’S) make concerted efforts in trying to
reduce or get rid of these social monsters. For instance, in Nigeria, the
federal government has put in place, what is known as Anti-corruption law.
Similarly, in Imo State, the state government is charting the course of social
reforms. As well-intended as these programmes may have been, and the level of
commitment in combating these social problems in Nigeria and other parts of the
world, one notices that social ills increase instead of reducing. This informs
the fact of the presence of demonic combatant spirits which make every human
effort in this direction fruitless. By this therefore, the writer biblically
asserts that no human effort can save the world from;
(i)
the love of
money, boasting, pride, abuses, disobedience, (vs. 2).
(ii)
ungratefulness,
unholy living, hate, unforgiveness, slanderous behaviours, lack of
self-control, brutality etc.
(iii)
treacherousness,
rash, conceit, love of pleasure, etc (vs. 4).
HOW TO OVERCOME THE SPIRITS OF LAST DAYS
(JAMES 4:7-8)
The spirits of
last days are formidable network of demons that drag a lot of people to the
damnation of hell. This marks the importance of overcoming these condemnable
spirits. What shall it profit one, if one gains the whole world and loses one’s
soul? (Mark 8:36). Therefore, one who loves one’s soul and wants to overcome
the spirits of last days for better days in heaven must;
(i)
submit
oneself to God before one can resist the spirits of the last days, (see James
4:2).
(ii)
have nothing
to do with religious groups that have forms of godliness but deny the power,
(II Tim. 3:5).
(iii)
not relent
in testing every spirit to ascertain if they are of God (see John 4:1-6).
In conclusion, one should endeavour to hold unto the word
of God, as well as keep away from evil friends and demonic associations as a
way of overcoming every evil force of the kingdom of darkness.
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