Learn to Discern Between what God Creates and Satan Counterfeits

God Creates, Satan Counterfeits

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 [NLT] the work of Satan…counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception

God Creates             Satan Counterfeits

angels/demons    obedience/ rebellion     truth/lies     Spirit-filled/demon-possessed

cleansing/ defilement      humility/pride    forgiveness/bitterness

worship/idolatry        contentment/coveting   peace/fear   unity/ division

shepherds/wolves    God-esteem/self-esteem    covenant with God/inner vow with self

Spirit/flesh     freedom/slavery    revival/riot    life/death   church/ world     kingdom/hell

You Need Discernment

1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist…Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world…We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1. Message – John 8 Pharisees said Jesus was the demonic counterfeit
2. Messenger – Spirit of God in them?

Subverting Satan’s Battleplan

• Demonic process In heaven, Eden, OT, Jesus ministry, church

1. Defeat pride with humility

Ezekiel 28:2 [ESV?] “Thus says the Lord God…your heart is proud and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods”

• I know what’s best and

2. Defeat rebellion with honor

1 Samuel 15:23 [NLT] Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

• Because I’m right and they are wrong, it’s time to force my change

3. Defeat division with unity 

Romans 16:17-20 watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ…I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

• I am recruiting people to join my side – troop buildup

4. Defeat mob mentality with loving family

John 13:16-17 Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot….Satan entered into him.

John 18:2-3 Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

• Now that I’ve got my army assembled, it’s time to war

5. Defeat war by choosing peace

Revelation 12:7-9 [ESV] Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

= Church battles are part of the Big War

Satan Sends Counterfeits into the Church

Happened in heaven, OT, Jesus ministry, early church, today

1. False Apostles – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Revelation 2:2-5
2. False Prophets – Ezekiel 13:8-9; Matthew 24:1
3. False Teachers – 2 Peter 2:1-9
4. False Doctrines – 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Galatians 1:8, 3:1

• (Legalism/Galatia and Liberalism/Corinth)

5. False Brothers – 2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4
6. False Elders – Acts 20:17-38

= causes church hurt, most likely are leaders

1). Wise – Spirit = win/win

2). Foolish – Flesh = win/lose

3). Evil – Demonic = lose/lose

Healing from Church Hurt

1. Hurt

• Decision pull hell up or invite heaven down

2. Bitterness is defeated by forgiveness
3. Lies are cast out by the truth
4. Inner vow is broken by covenant with God
5. Fight or flight is replaced by faith

• Fight – declare war
• Flight – isolation (vs solitude)