My first Publication DISCERNING BIBLICAL TRUTH IN THE 21ST CENTURY CHRI | Page 3

from fulfilling His divine purpose. Satan has to be rebuked sharply by the Lord to
unmask the spirit of falsehood operating through Peter in that moment.
Matthew 16: 22-23
22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said.
“This shall never happen to you!” 23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me,
Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. For you do not have in mind the things of God,
but the things of men.”
As in the case of Apostle Peter, so many have been negatively influenced into
falsehood. This Satanic influence is the result of seducing spirits promoting the
doctrine of demons. The Bible warns believers about the doctrine of demons. Paul
wrote to Timothy about these evil teachings.
1Timothy 4:1-3
But the Spirit says expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak
lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding marrying, and
commanding to abstain from food, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by
them that believe and know the truth.
From this passage, we can make some observations about the doctrines of demons.
Religious Self-Denial
Demons would like people to engage in religious asceticism, or self-denial. This
would include such things as forbidding people to marry, and not to eat certain
foods. By performing such ascetic acts, a person can have the false impression that
they are pleasing God by this attitude of self-denial. In actuality, God has not
commanded people to do any such thing. There is nothing that any of us can do to
earn favor with God. Our responsibility is to believe on Him whom He sent. Jesus
made this clear.
John 6:28- 29
Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered
them, "This is the work of God, and that you believe in Him whom He has sent"
Formalism
One of the things in which demons would like people to be engaged, is mere
religious formalism. The outward form of godliness is there, but no spiritual life
exists. Going through all the motions of religion without any of God's power is a
demonic doctrine.