The Spirit Called It

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1Tim 4:1).

Babe Ruth pointed to centerfield and called his shot in the World Series. Broadway Joe Namath guaranteed the Jets would pull the unthinkable upset and win the Super Bowl. Don’t say they didn’t tell you ahead of time. 

But that’s nothing compared to the Holy Spirit’s bold stone cold prediction of religious con artists duping folks into walking away from Jesus. In a letter to the pastor of Ephesus Community Church, Paul reminds him that the Third Person of the Trinity saw this coming. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (v1). Members of the Ephesian church have bought their spiritual snake oil and turned their back on Christ. As heartbreaking as it is, the Spirit called it.

It wasn’t that long ago that the church in Ephesus was a shining city on a hill for God’s glorious Gospel. The Apostle Paul personally planted this congregation during his third international tour with the message of Jesus (Acts 19:1-41). He worked his tail off in the town, building into the lives of believers there for three years (Acts 20:31) before moving on to Europe. 

Oh, how things have changed in less than ten years. False teachers weaseled their way into leadership positions in the Ephesian church. They suckered the gullible with a false gospel that has nothing to do with God’s grace. Paul begins the massive reform of the fellowship by kicking out the despicable duo of Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim 1:20). 

Before he could complete the cleanup, the Lord sends the apostle on his next assignment in Macedonia. He passes the baton and the broom to his protege Timothy as the new lead pastor in Ephesus. Tim’s to-do list has just two items. Two incredibly important items. First, stuff a sock in anyone who continues to distract folks from following Jesus (1Tim 1:3-7). Second, find godly people to fill the immediate leadership void (1Tim 3:1-13). 

The sad thing is that Paul saw it coming a few years back. As he was swinging through the area on his way back to Jerusalem, he met with elders of the church to warn them. “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away disciples” (Acts 20:29-30). Read those words again: “from your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things” (emphasis added). He knew he was face-to-face with some of the very men who would one day tear down all that God had used him to build. This was going to be an inside job!

So how did Paul know way back when this was going to go down? The Holy Spirit tipped him off. “Now the Spirit expressly says” (v1) this would happen. If you’re not familiar with the Spirit, or as some people call Him the “Holy Ghost,” you may be a little freaked out right about now. Don’t worry. We’re not headed into weird world of seances and spirit guides. The writers of the New Testament make it clear the Holy Spirit isn’t a heaven sent poltergeist. 

A few VERY important points about the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is a Who, not a what. He is a person. He’s not an impersonal Force that needs to be awakened, my young padawan. He’s fully God. Just as much God as the Father and the Son. Once Jesus returned to heaven, the Spirit comes to each live in each and every person who places their trust in Christ (Rom 8:11). 

The Spirit on a personal mission to empower God’s people and shine the spotlight on our Savior. The Apostle John says there’s one unmistakeable litmus test of God’s Spirit at work. “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” (1Jn 4:2-3). So if someone tries to convince you the Son of God never became human, run away. Run away FAST!

The Third Person of the Trinity is all about making the Second Person universally famous. Jesus knew the Spirit of God would be a game changer when it comes to His teaching. He told His posse how the Spirit will “bring to remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn 14:26). And the Spirit is still reminding followers of Jesus about God’s truth two thousand years later.

But can we really believe the Holy Spirit? Jesus personally attests that He’s totally trustworthy. As a matter of fact, He gives the Third Person a little nickname. “The Spirit of truth” (Jn 14:17). According to Christ, the Spirit of God is just passing along to you and me what He hears the Trinity chatting about. “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you” (Jn 16:13-14).

God’s Word has tons more to say about God’s Spirit but hopefully that will give you a better perspective on the One who’s called the shot in Paul’s letter to Pastor Tim. In this particular case, the Spirit has tipped the apostle off about how “some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (v1). If there’s any good news in all this, it’s the fact that only “some” will give the Heisman to the Gospel, not all. Work with me. I’m trying to find a shred of hope here. 

Some percentage of folks “will depart the faith” (v1). The verb here is aphistemi, which is to fall away, stand off, stand aloof, go away, or withdraw from. It’s a compound word that literally means to be separated (ap-) and firmly established (-histemi). We get the word “apostasy” from it. Think of someone who’s tossed in the towel for good. They’ve quit. Punked out. They’ve made up their mind and they’re not coming back, no matter what you tell them.

Paul personally knew all it. Remember when John Mark bailed on the apostle and Barnabas when he “had withdrawn (Gr. aphistemi) from them in Pamphylia” (Acts 15:38). We find out later that John Mark may have gone AWOL on the mission trip but never turned away from Jesus. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been around to write the Gospel of Mark! The man from Tarsus begged Jesus to take away a painful thorn. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave (Gr. aphistemi) me” (2Cor 12:8). He prays that it’s gone and never coming back! 

The writer of Hebrews actually warns us about the possibility of similar apostasy as the Spirit predicted to Paul. We’re alerted to the danger of “an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away (Gr. aphistemi) from the living God” (Heb 3:12). These are not people who simply have doubts. Let’s face it. We ALL have questions. Don’t pretend you don’t. So relax. Every believer has some bit of unbelief on this side of eternity. That’s why we need to preach the Gospel to ourselves every single day. But we’re warned about folks who’ve tossed in the towel for good. They’ve quit. Punked out. They’ve made up their mind and they’re not coming back, no matter what you tell them.

This all happened when folks were “devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (v1). Lying spirits. Demon doctrine. In case you’re wondering, these are NOT the kind of voices you want whispering in your ear. What makes this garbage so dangerous is that they sprinkle just enough Jesus on it to make it seem biblical. Sadly you can find some of this tripe at your local Christian bookstore. Anything that ultimately takes the focus off of what Jesus has done and tells you what you have to do is demon doctrine. 

Jesus Himself saw these con artists coming. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Mt 7:15). Hmm. Let’s see. Who wears “sheep’s clothing?” Shepherds! They’re infiltrating the church and licking their chops like bloodthirsty wolves. These phony pastors draw you in with their nifty slight of hand and draw you away from Jesus. If we don’t have a clear view of who Jesus is and what He’s done, these false teachers can sucker you and me as well. 

But that’s part of the genius of the Holy Spirit. He saw it coming from a mile away. He tells Paul who tells Pastor Tim and every reader of this letter. The Spirit totally called this one.