Standing Firm Against Spiritism: Trusting God's Armor
Summary
In Ephesians 6:10-30, Paul urges believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. This passage highlights the spiritual battle that all Christians face, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. Today, we delve into the topic of spiritism, a practice that has gained popularity, especially during times of crisis when people seek comfort and answers about the afterlife. Spiritism claims to offer guidance, healing, and understanding of the future, even attempting to interpret biblical events like the appearances of angels and the resurrection of Christ through its lens.
However, the Bible unequivocally condemns spiritism. It is seen as an abomination, a practice that is not only evil but also degrading. The Bible warns against consulting mediums or seeking messages from the dead, as it is a denial of God's revelation and His way of salvation. Spiritism sets aside the sufficiency of Scripture, offering an alternative path that contradicts the teachings of the Bible. It denies the deity of Christ, reducing His miracles and resurrection to mere spiritualistic phenomena, and it undermines the biblical doctrine of salvation and eternal life.
The allure of spiritism lies in its promise of comfort and knowledge, but it ultimately leads people away from trusting in God. It is a lack of faith in God's providence and His ability to guide, heal, and comfort. Christians are called to resist these temptations and to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, who is our true comforter and guide. The spiritual battle is real, and we must stand firm in the faith, clothed in the armor of God, to withstand the wiles of the devil.
Key Takeaways:
- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare: Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle against evil forces, not against flesh and blood. This battle requires us to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God to stand firm against the devil's schemes. [00:46]
- The Deception of Spiritism: Spiritism offers false comfort and guidance, claiming to provide insights into the spiritual realm. However, it contradicts the teachings of the Bible and denies the sufficiency of God's revelation. [03:02]
- Biblical Condemnation of Spiritism: The Bible clearly condemns spiritism as an abomination. It is a practice that is not only evil but also degrading, and it is associated with paganism and idolatry. [17:00]
- Trust in God's Providence: Spiritism reflects a lack of trust in God's providence and His ability to guide, heal, and comfort. Christians are called to rely on God's promises and to seek His guidance through prayer and Scripture. [39:47]
- The Sufficiency of Christ and the Holy Spirit: The Christian faith offers all that we need in Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our all-sufficient Savior, and the Holy Spirit is our comforter and guide. We do not need to seek answers from the dead. [45:36]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-30
- [00:29] - The Spiritual Battle
- [01:06] - Understanding Demonology
- [01:39] - General and Special Activities of Evil
- [01:59] - The Rise of Spiritism
- [03:02] - The Allure of Spiritism
- [04:08] - The Christian Response
- [05:14] - Acknowledging Phenomena
- [06:36] - Biblical Warnings Against Deception
- [07:54] - The Value of Spiritual Realms
- [10:56] - Explaining Spiritual Phenomena
- [11:49] - Biblical Condemnation of Spiritism
- [17:00] - The Evil Nature of Spiritism
- [39:47] - Trusting in God's Providence
- [45:36] - The Sufficiency of Christ and the Holy Spirit
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:10-30
- Matthew 24:24
- Isaiah 8:19-20
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he instructs believers to "put on the whole armor of God" in Ephesians 6:10-30? How does this relate to standing against the devil's schemes? [00:11]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the general and special activities associated with spiritual forces of evil? [01:39]
3. How does the sermon describe the rise and allure of spiritism, especially during times of crisis? [03:02]
4. What biblical examples were given in the sermon to illustrate the condemnation of spiritism? [11:49]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-30 challenge the way Christians perceive their daily struggles? [00:29]
2. In what ways does spiritism contradict the sufficiency of God's revelation as presented in the Bible? [19:10]
3. How does the sermon explain the biblical perspective on the reality and value of spiritual phenomena? [07:54]
4. What are the implications of denying the deity of Christ and the biblical doctrine of salvation, as spiritism does according to the sermon? [22:19]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt tempted to seek comfort or guidance outside of God's Word. How can you remind yourself of the sufficiency of Scripture in those moments? [39:47]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's providence. What are some practical ways you can strengthen your trust in God's plan for your life this week? [40:00]
3. How can you actively "put on the whole armor of God" in your daily life to stand firm against spiritual challenges? Consider specific actions or habits you can adopt. [47:00]
4. Spiritism offers false comfort and guidance. How can you ensure that your sources of comfort and guidance align with biblical teachings? [03:02]
5. Identify a situation where you might be tempted to rely on your own understanding rather than seeking God's wisdom. How can you intentionally seek God's guidance in that situation? [41:26]
6. The sermon warns against the deception of spiritism. How can you discern and resist false teachings that may appear comforting or appealing? [06:36]
7. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit as your comforter and guide. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit in your daily walk with Christ? [45:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Standing Firm in Spiritual Warfare
In the spiritual realm, Christians are engaged in a battle not against flesh and blood, but against the forces of evil. This battle requires believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. The armor of God includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. These elements equip Christians to stand firm against the devil's schemes and to resist the temptations and deceptions that come their way. The reality of spiritual warfare calls for vigilance, prayer, and reliance on God's strength. [00:46]
Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
Reflection: What specific piece of the armor of God do you feel you need to strengthen in your life today, and how can you begin to do so?
Day 2: The Deceptive Allure of Spiritism
Spiritism presents itself as a source of comfort and guidance, offering insights into the spiritual realm and the afterlife. However, it contradicts the teachings of the Bible and denies the sufficiency of God's revelation. Spiritism often attempts to reinterpret biblical events, such as the resurrection of Christ, through its own lens, reducing them to mere spiritualistic phenomena. This practice leads people away from trusting in God and His Word, offering false promises that ultimately deceive and mislead. Christians are called to discern these deceptions and to hold fast to the truth of Scripture. [03:02]
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV): "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds."
Reflection: Can you identify any areas in your life where you might be seeking comfort or guidance outside of God's Word? How can you redirect your focus back to Him?
Day 3: The Biblical Condemnation of Spiritism
The Bible clearly condemns spiritism as an abomination, associating it with paganism and idolatry. Consulting mediums or seeking messages from the dead is seen as a denial of God's revelation and His way of salvation. Spiritism is not only considered evil but also degrading, as it undermines the biblical doctrine of salvation and eternal life. Christians are warned against engaging in such practices and are encouraged to rely on God's promises and guidance through prayer and Scripture. [17:00]
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (ESV): "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord."
Reflection: Are there any influences or practices in your life that might be leading you away from God's truth? How can you take steps to remove them?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Providence
Spiritism reflects a lack of trust in God's providence and His ability to guide, heal, and comfort. It offers an alternative path that contradicts the teachings of the Bible, leading people away from relying on God's promises. Christians are called to trust in God's providence, seeking His guidance through prayer and Scripture. By doing so, they can find true comfort and assurance in His presence and His plans for their lives. [39:47]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to trust God's providence? What steps can you take to deepen your trust in Him today?
Day 5: The Sufficiency of Christ and the Holy Spirit
The Christian faith offers all that is needed in Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our all-sufficient Savior, and the Holy Spirit is our comforter and guide. Christians do not need to seek answers from the dead or from any other source outside of God's provision. The sufficiency of Christ and the Holy Spirit provides believers with the assurance and guidance they need to navigate life's challenges and to grow in their faith. [45:36]
Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."
Reflection: How can you more fully rely on the sufficiency of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with them?
Quotes
Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might put on the whole armour of God that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. [00:11:00]
Spiritism offers guidance to people it offers healing to people it offers an understanding of the future and as we saw and still more serious most serious of all there are those even within the Christian Church and in the name of Christianity who would they say and plain and argue that all this is of great help in understanding the Scriptures and then understanding the Christian Way of salvation. [00:31:56]
We do not deny the facts and the phenomena in total now I add that in total we know that there are many frauds many frauds have been demonstrated I was referring lusts and the morning to the Society for psychical research and they were throughout the years investigated many of the claims that have been put forward and they've been able to prove very satisfactorily that many of them were quite bogus that they were fraud. [00:47:06]
The Bible itself grants that such facts and phenomena may very well be produced and operatives take for instance our Lord's own statement in Matthew 24:24 he says for there shall arise false Christ's and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect that's a very strong statement our Lord warns us against such possibilities. [00:55:58]
The value then of these facts and phenomena is that they do help to attest a belief in the unseen spiritual realm the realm of spirits but we go on to the third pipe which is again leading us still more directly to the heart of the matter what is the explanation of the facts now here we come to the dividing line. [01:06:40]
The Bible condemns spiritism altogether and in its entirety now we had an illustration of that at the beginning when I read from 1 Samuel chapter 28 let me mention the two important verses the third verse which reads now semi rule was dead and only Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah even in his own City now and so had put away those that had familiar spirits and the Wizards out of the land. [01:11:40]
The biblical attitude towards this whole question of consulting spiritists trying to get a message from the dead going to a medium to a meeting that way you can get this kind of help for your health or for anything else it's all unclean peeping and muttering it's an abomination it's unclean very well the attitude of the Bible and it's teaching towards this it seems to me is perfectly clear. [01:23:20]
Spiritism puts the whole of the biblical revelation on one side for akhira we are given teaching the teaching that is necessary for the soul in every respect that is the business of the Bible to teach us the truth about God and ourselves how to live out a guy in the world and the life beyond it's all here God's given it God's given it for us and our instruction. [01:39:59]
The teaching this cult is you see that all people must know about this other realm and we can be in contact with it and we'll get help from it that's the way they say to come for the problems of life that's the way of salvation well of course that was exactly the way of salvation that was believed in by that men divers. [01:50:42]
The biblical doctrine says that there's a great division heaven and hell with God in glory or else suffering and everlasting destruction there is nothing that's right about this teaching it is altogether a post of God and everything that he has done for mankind in His infinite grace and kindness and compassion it loves people into a false sense of security and of peace and robs them of a true concern about their souls and their final salvation. [02:01:06]
Why do people do this other thing why do they rush to a medium ago to a Spiritist meeting or tried to do these various other things do you know why it is here's the answer it's like of trusting God and in His goodness they are not ready to leave their lives and their destiny in the hands of God they want to take charge they want to know. [02:18:10]
The Christian who turns to this kind of thing is displaying either his total unbelief or LC so ignorant and uninstructed that he knows nothing of the exceeding riches of God's grace and the unsearchable riches arm Christ no now my friends resist it steadfast in the faith this is the work of the principalities and powers the rulers of the darkness of this world spiritual wickedness in high places. [02:46:20]
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