The Great Imitator of God

To Be Like the Most High
For 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:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.
Isaiah 14:13,14


Part II
A Spirit
Like the Most High


II Corinthians 11:4 - For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Ephesians 6:12 - 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.

All true Christians understand that the Holy Spirit is God, even as the Lord Jesus Christ is God, and as the Father is God.  To neglect the Holy Spirit is a grave and dangerous mistake.  A Christian needs to learn and appreciate Him, if he is going to be all that he should be as a Christian.  It is true that the Spirit of God was not sent to exalt Himself.  A spirit-filled Christian will testify of Christ rather than the Holy Spirit.

Note the simple statement in II Cor 11:4 about RECEIVING another spirit!  Apparently it can be done or Paul wouldn't be warning about it, amen?

We receive the Holy Spirit at our salvation Romans 8:9 and it is the Holy Spirit that performs the spiritual circumcision operation with the word of God in Heb 4:12 and in Col 2:11-13.

I have notes on at least 30+ things that the true Holy Spirit does to us, with us and for us.  That in itself is worthy of a great study.

But this particular part of the series will deal directly with the counterfeit spirit of the devil!


I.  This spirit is a Devilish Spirit
I John 4:3
And 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.
Luke 4:33
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil...
Ephesians 2:1,2
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience:
Mark 5:8,9
For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying,
My name is Legion: for we are many.
Matthew 12:45
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself,
and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

II. This spirit is a Disgusting Spirit

Revelation 18:2
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit,
and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
(When somebody 'flips you the bird', it is considered disgusting - must be from the devil, eh?)
A.  It is Ungodly
Matthew  23:28
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men,
but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mark 4:3,4
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side,
and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
Mark 4:14-15
The sower soweth the word.
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown;
but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately,
and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
B.  It is Unclean
Matthew 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye are like unto whited sepulchres,
which indeed appear beautiful outward,
but are within full of dead men's bones,
and of all uncleanness.
Luke 4:33
 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil...
C.  It is Unhealthy
I Peter 5:8
 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:


III. This spirit is a Dynamic Spirit
Revelation 16:14
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
A.  It has Supernatural Strength
Mark 5:2-4
And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
B.  It has Supernatural Signs
II Thess 2:8-10
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
C.  It has Supernatural Secrets
Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

IV.  This spirit is a Directing Spirit
The Holy Spirit leads, guides and directs...
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Romans 8:14
 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
vs
This spirit of the devil also leads, guides and directs...
Eph 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do....
I Corinthians 12:2
 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols,
even as ye were led.
Galatians 1:6-8
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him
that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you,
and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you,
let him be accursed.

This spirit leads people away from truth
toward the Counterfeit...
II Timothy 3:7
 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Bibles, Shepherds, Works and Wonders, Saviour,Salvation & Brethren


V.  This spirit is a Doctrinal Spirit
The Holy Spirit will guide you to doctrinal truth!
John 16:13
 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 2:20
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
vs
This spirit of the devil has its own doctrine!
I Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;...

This spirit is leads people to counterfiet Bibles
II Corinthians 2:17
 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity,
but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
This spirit leads to counterfeit walks!

A misguided walk mistakes good for evil, etc.!
Isaiah 5:20-23
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight!
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine,
and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Which justify the wicked for reward,
and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

The wicked enjoy what they do - as it is not considered wrong by them!
It is a misguided walk!
Romans 1 (vs 32)
Who knowing the judgment of God,
that they which commit such things are worthy of death,
not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

People without scriptural authority in their life can do anything they want
because they think God loves them when He truly does not!   A misguided walk!
Romans 6:15
  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law,
but under grace? God forbid.

Wrongly dividing the scriptures produces a misguided walk!
II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.

Not knowing the scriptures causes people to have a misguided walk!
II Timothy 3:16,17
 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

People who don't know God promised to preserve His words will walk a misguided walk!
Psalm 12:6,7
The words of the LORD are pure words:
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,
thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

People who have this verse 'changed' (NIV) will walk a misguided walk!
Luke 4:4
 And Jesus answered him, saying,
It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

People will have a misguided walk with the world's love because 'him' is missing in an NIV!
I John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.

Women will have a misguided walk with their husbands because this verse
changes 'love' their husbands to 'encourage' their husbands in newer versions!
Titus 2:4
That they may teach the young women to be sober,
to love their husbands, to love their children...

According to other versions, a son of the gods will be in the fire with us - in other words,
whoever you want in your fiery trials can be there - not Jesus Christ.
Daniel 3:25

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.  Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

VI.  A Distressing Spirit
A.  This spirit produces Disturbances in the Soul
Isaiah 48:22
There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
Mark 5:2-5
 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
Matthew 17:15
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed:
for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Luke 11:24
 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest;
and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
B.  This spirit produces Distrust in the Scriptures
Psalm 119:165
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
C. This spirit produces Doubt About Salvation
I John 5:10-13
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
I Thessalonians 1:5
 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
I Peter 5:8
 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Psalm 119:130
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

VII.  This spirit is a Deceiving Spirit
I John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
John 8:44
Ye 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.
A.  This spirit lies about Judgment
Numbers 32:23
...and be sure your sin will find you out.
Galatians 6:7,8
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
B.  This spirit lies about Jesus Christ
See False Saviour


Return to The Great Imitator Preface & Contents
Return to Touchet Baptist Church
Return to Satan's Garage
Return to Written Bible Studies
Return to  Bible Studies of Baptist Interest