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Believe not every spirit Dr. William B. Smith
SRDecember 19, 2001
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I. The Apostle John is putting the church on
alert concerning spiritual espionage within the
body of Jesus Christ.

• The church belongs to Jesus.
• Matthew 1618 (KJV)
• 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
  and upon this rock I will build my church and
  the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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1 John 41-3 (KJV)

• 1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
  spirits whether they are of God because many
  false prophets are gone out into the world.
• 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God Every spirit
  that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
  flesh is of God
• 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
  Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and
  this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye
  have heard that it should come and even now
  already is it in the world.

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1 John 44-6 (KJV)

• 4Ye are of God, little children, and have
  overcome them because greater is he that is in
  you, than he that is in the world.
• 5They are of the world therefore speak they of
  the world, and the world heareth them.
• 6We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us
  he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know
  we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

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II. What is a spirit?

• A. The natural definition
• spirit (spirit)
• 1. the life principle, esp. in man, orig.
  regarded as inherent in the breath or as infused
  by a deity b) soul (sense 1)
• 2. the thinking, motivating, feeling part of man,
  often as distinguished from the body mind
  intelligence.
• 3. a supernatural being, esp. one thought of as
  haunting or possessing a person, house, etc., as
  a ghost, or as inhabiting a certain region, being
  of a certain (good or evil) character, etc., as
  an angel, demon, fairy, or elf.
• 4. Frame of mind disposition mood temper in
  high spirits
• 5. a divine animating influence or inspiration

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II. What is a spirit cont.?

• B. The biblical definition
• spirit (spirit) pneuma pnyoo'-mah
• A current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a
  breeze or figuratively a spirit, that is,
  (human) the rational soul, mental disposition or
  (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine). God,
  Christs spirit, the Holy spiritghost, life,
  spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.

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III. John teaches the saints how to test the
spirit of false teachings.

• A. Test the spirit by the content of the teaching
• 1 John 42-3 (KJV)
• 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God Every spirit
  that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
  flesh is of God
• 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
  Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and
  this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye
  have heard that it should come and even now
  already is it in the world.

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III. John teaches to test the spirit cont.

• B. We can also test the spirit by the character
  of the ones being taught.
• 1 John 45-6 (KJV)
• 5They are of the world therefore speak they of
  the world, and the world heareth them.
• 6We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us
  he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know
  we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

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IV. So it seems we can tell what spirit is
working by its fruit.

• A. Jesus told us to examine the fruit.
• Matthew 717-20 (KJV)
• 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good
  fruit but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
  fruit.
• 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
  neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good
  fruit.
• 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
  is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
• 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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V. It is true you will take on the spirit of
those you associate with.

• A. The Word of God warns us about the
  company we keep.
• Psalm 11 (KJV)
• 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
  counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way
  of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
  scornful.

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B. It is impossible to have close fellowship with
people who have corrupt spirits and not be
affected.

• 1 Corinthians 511 (KJV)
• 11But now I have written unto you not to keep
  company, if any man that is called a brother be a
  fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
  railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner with
  such an one no not to eat.
• 1 Corinthians 1533 (KJV)
• 33Be not deceived evil communications corrupt
  good manners.

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C. How many times have we been warned about
getting close to the wrong person?

• 2 Corinthians 614 (KJV)
• 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with
  unbelievers for what fellowship hath
  righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
  communion hath light with darkness?

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D. Didnt you know a spirit can be
transferred from one person to another?

• 1 Corinthians 615-18 (KJV)
• 15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of
  Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ,
  and make them the members of an harlot? God
  forbid.
• 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an
  harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be
  one flesh.
• 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one
  spirit.
• 18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is
  without the body but he that committeth
  fornication sinneth against his own body.

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E. Just as in the natural realm like father
like son you can have your fathers spirit!

• John 841 (KJV)
• 41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they
  to him, We be not born of fornication we have
  one Father, even God.
• John 844 (KJV)
• 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts
  of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from
  the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
  because there is no truth in him. When he
  speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own for he is
  a liar, and the father of it.

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• IV. Spirits are identified by their operations
  or activities. There are basically two
  kingdoms the kingdoms of light and
  darkness. Good spirits operate from the
  kingdom of light while evil spirits operate
  from the kingdom of darkness.

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A. Examples of Evil Spirits

• Familiar Spirits Leviticus 2027
• Evil Spirits Judges 923, I Samuel 1614,
  Acts 1915
• Lying Spirit I Kings 2222, II Chronicles 1821
• Perverse Spirit Isaiah 1914
• Haughty Spirit Proverbs 1618
• Seducing Spirit I Timothy 41

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Examples of Evil Spirits (cont)

• Unclean Spirit Zechariah 132, Matthew
  1243
• Dumb and Deaf Spirit Mark 925
• Spirit of Jealousy Numbers 514,30
• Spirit of Error I John 46
• Spirit of Fear II Timothy 17
• Spirit of Bondage Romans 815

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Examples of Evil Spirits (cont)

• Spirit of Infirmity Luke 1311
• Spirit of Divination Acts 1616
• Spirit of Slumber Romans 118
• Spirit of Deep Sleep Isaiah 2910
• Spirit of Heaviness Isaiah 613
• Spirit of Whoredom Hosea 412
• Spirit of Devils Revelations 1614

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• The nature of spirits are manifested through
  their operations

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A1. Satanic invasion of body and mind. Isaiah
143-6 (KJV)

• 3And it shall come to pass in the day that the
  LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and
  from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein
  thou wast made to serve,
• 4That thou shalt take up this proverb against the
  king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor
  ceased! the golden city ceased!
• 5The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked,
  and the sceptre of the rulers.
• 6He who smote the people in wrath with a
  continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in
  anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

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A2. Satanic invasion of body and mind.
Isaiah 1412-16 (KJV)

• 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son
  of the morning! how art thou cut down to the
  ground, which didst weaken the nations!
• 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will
  ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above
  the stars of God I will sit also upon the mount
  of the congregation, in the sides of the north
• 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
  I will be like the most High.
• 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the
  sides of the pit.
• 16They that see thee shall narrowly look upon
  thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man
  that made the earth to tremble, that did shake
  kingdoms , and the sceptre of the rulers.

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A3. Satanic invasion of body and mind. Ezekiel
2811-14 (KJV)

• 11Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me,
  saying,
• 12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king
  of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord
  GOD Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and
  perfect in beauty.
• 13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God every
  precious stone was thy covering, the sardius,
  topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and
  the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the
  carbuncle, and gold the workmanship of thy
  tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in
  the day that thou wast created.
• 14Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth and
  I have set thee so thou wast upon the holy
  mountain of God thou hast walked up and down in
  the midst of the stones of fire.

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A4. Satanic invasion of body and mind. Ezekiel
2815-17 (KJV)

• 15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that
  thou wast created, till iniquity was found in
  thee.
• 16By the multitude of thy merchandise they have
  filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou
  hast sinned therefore I will cast thee as
  profane out of the mountain of God and I will
  destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst
  of the stones of fire.
• 17Thine heart was lifted up because of thy
  beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason
  of thy brightness I will cast thee to the
  ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they
  may behold thee.

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A5. Satanic invasion of body and mind. Matthew
1613-17 (KJV)

• 13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea
  Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do
  men say that I the Son of man am?
• 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the
  Baptist some, Elias and others, Jeremias, or
  one of the prophets.
• 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
• 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the
  Christ, the Son of the living God.
• 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
  art thou, Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath
  not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is
  in heaven.

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A6. Satanic invasion of body and mind. Matthew
1618-20 (KJV)

• 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
  and upon this rock I will build my church and
  the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
• 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the
  kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind
  on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever
  thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in
  heaven.
• 20Then charged he his disciples that they should
  tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

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A7. Satanic invasion of body and mind. Matthew
1621-23 (KJV)

• 21From that time forth began Jesus to show unto
  his disciples, how that he must go unto
  Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders
  and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and
  be raised again the third day.
• 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him,
  saying, Be it far from thee, Lord this shall not
  be unto thee.
• 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee
  behind me, Satan thou art an offence unto me
  for thou savourest not the things that be of God,
  but those that be of men.

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A8. Satanic invasion of body and mind. Luke
221-3 (KJV)

• 1Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh,
  which is called the Passover.
• 2And the chief priests and scribes sought how
  they might kill him for they feared the people.
• 3Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot,
  being of the number of the twelve.

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A9. How to resist Satanic invasion of body and
mind. 1 Peter 55-8 (KJV)

• 5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the
  elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
  and be clothed with humility for God resisteth
  the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
• 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty
  hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
• 7Casting all your care upon him for he careth
  for you.
• 8Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary
  the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
  seeking whom he may devour

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B. Examples of Good Spirits

• The Spirit of Wisdom Isaiah 112, Deuteronomy
  344, Ephesians 117
• The Spirit of Understanding Isaiah 112
• The Spirit of Counsel Isaiah 112
• The Spirit of Might Isaiah 112
• The Spirit of Knowledge Isaiah 112
• The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord Isaiah 112

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Examples of Good Spirits (cont)

• Good Spirit Nehemiah 920
• Contrite Spirit Psalms 3418
• Broken Spirit Psalms 5117
• Faithful Spirit Proverbs 1113
• Humble Spirit Proverbs 1619
• Excellent Spirit Daniel 512, Proverbs 1727
• Patient Spirit Ecclesiastes 78

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Examples of Good Spirits (cont)

• Quickening Spirit I Corinthians 1545
• Spirit of Truth John 1417, I John 46
• Spirit of Holiness Romans 14
• Spirit of Life Romans 82
• Spirit of Adoption Romans 815
• Spirit of Meekness I Corinthians 421,
  Galatians 61

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Examples of Good Spirits (cont)

• Spirit of Faith II Corinthians 413
• Spirit of Grace Zechariah 1210, Hebrews
  1024
• Spirit of Glory I Peter 414
• Spirit of Prophecy Revelations 1910
• Spirit of Christ Romans 89

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C. The Selfsame Spirit

• Paul explaining the diversity of operations and
  manifestations of the Holy Spirit wrote
• But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
  Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
  will.
• I Corinthians 1211