I recently obtained the following transcript of a Bible Study/preaching outline authored by Mark T. Barclay. The subject is clear from its title: Are You Being Seduced or Deceived? What better way to evaluate the doctrine of a minister than to study their own writings and teachings. This outline/Bible study remains unedited except for some minor formatting tweaks I have performed in order to accommodate this blog. Judge for yourself, but once again, Barclay seems intent on teaching others how to avoid sin and deception.
Are You Being Seduced or Deceived?
by Dr. Mark T. Barclay
1 Timothy 4:1-2:
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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron . . .
This set of verses tells us there will be this kind of activity throughout the end times and that many will fall prey to it. Why would anyone depart from Christianity? Because they give heed to these seducing spirits.
Are you being seduced or deceived? I suppose every Christian would answer no—emphatically no! No, I am not deceived, and no, I am not being seduced. No one has to give heed to seducing and deceiving spirits.
Matthew 24:4:
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Matthew 24:11:
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24:
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Deception vs. Seduction
There is a difference between seduction and deception, but both lead to the same place—disaster.
Deception is when an outside force tricks you or fools you into thinking you are right. When you act, you are wrong; but you are convinced you are right. Once you realize the truth about the matter, you fix yourself and don’t allow it to repeat in your life. You were fooled—but not anymore.
Seduction is when an outside force persuades you into activity that you know is wrong at the time, but you fall prey to this influence anyway. You are being seduced. You know all the time you are doing something that it is wrong. You are not fooled or tricked. You simply give in to the influence and act upon it.
These spirits are demons, but they are also humans. What do I mean by that? Humans are a spirit, though they have a soul and live in a body. Many people will not give heed to demon spirits but will give in to a human with the same spirit. They say no to demons, but they seldom say no to humans. If the devil can’t get you to be indoctrinated by a demon, he will send a human into your life who has the same demonic influence.
Check out these verses:
2 Timothy 4:4:
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Timothy 2:24-26:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
If we will give heed to the Holy Spirit and follow Him, we will not be prone to follow the voice of evil spirits. Be led by the Spirit.
The Lying Spirit
2 Corinthians 11:14:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
The number one thing to remember about a lying spirit is its deception to not only cause you to tell a lie but to also believe a lie. That’s right. To believe a lie is extremely dangerous. If this seducing spirit can get you to believe lies easily, he can totally control your life without ever possessing you. Many people (including many Christians) do not feel at all bad about lying. It is a shame when Christians don’t feel convicted about this lifestyle of telling falsehoods.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12:
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Study the following verses to see other truths about this lying spirit and how it works:
1 Kings 22:21-22
1 Kings 22:8: Rejected the truth
2 Timothy 4:4: Fables
John 10:4-5: Stranger’s voice
1 John 4:1: Try the spirits
The Spirit of Lust
Exodus 15:9:
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Lust is diabolical. It is applied by demons and becomes intertwined with the flesh until they seem as one. The devil’s maneuver has always been to hurt people and then get them to take the blame for it. God gave you a sex drive, and the devil knows it. He will provide all kinds of things to arouse it. He will do anything to get you to follow it until your lust for sensual and sexual things overrides your submission to Jesus and His Word.
1 Thessalonians 4:4-5:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God . . .
The word “concupiscence” is from the same root word from which we get the word “cupid.” Cupid was an ancient Greek god of love (Eros). He is always pictured as a naked, winged cherub (spirit). Cupid’s arrows are supposed to inflict love upon you and cause you to want to be in love with and make love to the person in your sight. Some say this is ridiculous, but is it really? I don’t know why so many people give heed to this demon. Lust and concupiscence are real and really do work this way, destroying lives every day.
Mark 7:21-22: Lasciviousness
The NAS Bible actually uses the Word “licentious.” The word licentious actually means “a license to sin.” License to sin allows people to act perverted and morally unrestricted. Please study the following verses:
1 John 2:16-17: Lust of the Eyes, Lust of the Flesh
Romans 1:24-32: Reprobates
This is “for real.” In Sodom, the sodomites beat against the door to have the two men (angels) sexually and totally turned down Lot’s two virgins daughters. May I add that this was after the angels blinded them.
James 1:14-15
Protect yourself from the process of sin. It isn’t so hard. Realize that sin works in progression. One step leads to another. First it’s lust, then one is enticed, and finally sin is conceived. The next step is the sin act, and then death begins. It doesn’t matter if it is one of the following vices or not—tobacco, alcohol, food, drugs, pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, or gender blending.
Here is a verse that will help you the next time you are in lust or being tempted:
1 Corinthians 10:13:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The Spirit of Jealousy
Job 5:2: Envy slayeth the silly one
Proverbs 6:34: The rage of man
Song of Solomon 8:6: Jealousy cruel as the grave
Matthew 27:1: For envy they delivered up Jesus
Jealousy
- Resentfully suspicious of a rival
- Resentfully envious
- A feeling of discontent or ill will because of another’s advantages of possessions or favor
- Doesn’t necessarily want what you have—just doesn’t want you to have it!
Genesis 4:5-8: Cain / Abel
1 Samuel 18:6-15: Saul / David
Acts 5:1-5: Ananias / Sapphira
Acts 17:5-9: Lewd fellows of the baser sort
The Spirit of Pride
1 John 2:16
Pride of Face: I am better
Pride of Place: High position
Pride of Race: Mine is the best; others are inferior
Pride of Pace: Look at me go; I am the best
Pride of Grace: My denomination, my beliefs are the only ones that are right, etc.
The Familiar Spirits
Familiar spirits are real. Study the following notes and verses to get a clearer understanding of what these familiar spirits are and what to do about them.
1 Timothy 4:1
Leviticus 19:30-31
Leviticus 20:6-7
Deuteronomy 18:9-13
Acts 16:16
2 Corinthians 7:1
“Familiar”—from Latin word “family”
Two kinds of familiar spirits:
- Familiar with man
- Familiar with how God works with man
God assigns angels.
Devil assigns spirits:
- Builds a case-history file on you
- Passes it on to medium, etc.
Divination—act or practice of trying to predict the future
Horoscope—position of the stars at one’s birth
Psychic—especially sensitive to the influence of supernatural forces and agencies
Spirit of Treason
1 Timothy 4:1-6:
Genesis 3:1-6: “Did God really say . . . ?” Always tells you things against God’s will
Genesis 4:1-16: Cain / Abel. Cain served God the way he wanted to.
Acts 5:1-4: Ananias / Sapphira. Kept back a little for themselves.
This is your year to be free from these things. Say no to the devil and to people who live and act like him. Say yes to God, and spend more time than ever in His house and in His Word.
2 Timothy 2:21-22
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Purge yourself from these, and you will be a vessel of honor, meet for the Master’s use.