Counterfeit spirit:

1. Counterfeit God's voice, presence or guidance;

How do the forces of darkness pretend to be God's presence? Sometimes we long to feel God's presence, whether we are alone or in a gathering. At this time, the cunning enemy may come quietly, wrapping people's consciousness with a comfortable and attractive feeling, sometimes with light, or causing vibrations in the air.

The person who is disturbed and harassed usually has a breach of pride and self-righteousness, and has a thought that he is particularly pleasing to God or extremely special. God has chosen him and given him a high position in the kingdom, so this person cannot be humble.

Because of this hidden self-confidence, he becomes difficult to teach and obey; he cannot listen to others because others have not received revelation directly from God. In fact, he cannot listen to the exhortations and discernment of other members except God (of course, sometimes he will pretend and respond with a false humble attitude). This person has a special communication "directly with God", and anyone who doubts the "instructions" he has received is guilty.

Although this "instruction" may be contrary to all enlightened judgment, and even contradicts God's Word and biblical truth, the person must still obey; that is, when a person is at this stage and thinks he has a command from God, he no longer uses reason because he thinks it is fleshly to do so. "Common sense" is a manifestation of lack of faith, and therefore a sin. At this stage, even "conscience" dare not speak.

The counterfeit presence of God is often disguised as love. Believers often take no precautions against it and find that it quickly fills their inner being, but they do not know that the deepest part of their inner life is opening the door to the attacks of evil spirits. These give people a wrong concept of their spiritual condition because they think of themselves more than they should (Romans 12:3), and as a result, they open the door to the devil.

2. Counterfeiting God;

Evil spirits sometimes use special ways to counterfeit the Lord Jesus to appear to people, such as the king sitting on the throne, or the image of "bridegroom". They will also pretend to be dead people and appear to their relatives. Since they have observed the person before he died and know him well, they can use some "evidence" to prove their deception.

3. Impersonating others;

The souls of God's children are willing to obey God's will, but the goal of evil spirits is to impersonate God's guidance and induce people's souls to slip away from God's will.

Satan not only impersonates God and God's things, but also impersonates people and human things; for example, impersonating others or saints, and even believers themselves. The "others" it impersonates may be different from themselves, usually jealous, angry, picky, and cold. It also presents "self" in another way, which is completely opposite to the true self-sacrifice and kindness.

When evil spirits impersonate someone or a saint, they may act within the scope of lust or emotion, trying to excite people; they imitate other people's expressions and voices, as if they themselves are also excited. It is usually accompanied by fake love and a desire for the other person's company, which often makes the victim fall into it and cannot extricate themselves.

4. False Visions

If the evil spirit can give a person a false vision, it proves that it has deeply deceived the person, whether the person is a Christian or a non-believer. It is not based on the person's sin, but on a passive state of the person, such as an inactive mind, imagination, a certain mode of spiritualism and other functions.

This passive state is the best way to obtain supernatural manifestations. Many mediums, psychics, and crystal ball observers know this very well. They know that as long as the mind becomes slightly active, it will immediately destroy the spiritual state.

Believers who do not know these principles can easily provide conditions for evil spirits to work in their lives unknowingly. Because of their wrong views on God's truth, they can easily fall into the following passive states.

1. Giving up free will in prayer and falling into a passive state of mind, mistaking it for waiting for God;
2. Deliberately stopping the action of the mind, emptying it, not using the imagination under the covering of God or operating under the unsanctified imagination, in order to obtain some supernatural manifestations that they think are from God;
3. Practicing a passive attitude in daily life, not a choice of free will, thinking that this is obedience to God's will;
4. Deliberately maintaining a state of self-denial, completely giving up their own will or all wishes, needs, hopes, and plans, thinking that this is complete submission to God, and their "free will" completely disappears in God.
5. False dreams

The invasion of evil spirits at night can lead to a dark mind and heaviness in the spirit in the morning. Sleep does not bring refreshment because the power of evil spirits affects the whole person through the passive mind of the sleeping person. "Natural" sleep can renew and revive the whole system and function of a person. Insomnia may sometimes be the work of evil spirits, which makes a person exhausted and covers Satan's attack.

Believers who are very open to the supernatural world should especially use prayer to protect their nights. Once they find that evil spirits are trying to operate in this area, they should reject them outright.

The Bible has clear records about God's true location. We can refer to Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3, chapter 2 verse 9, chapter 4 verses 14-16, and chapter 9 verse 24.

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had ^[a]by Himself ^[b]purged ^[c]our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.(Heb 1:3)

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with honor and glory, that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Heb 2:9)

The God whom we worship and the Christ whom we love are in heaven; but the Holy Spirit is both in heaven and on earth; there we have access to him, being united to him by faith, and there we sit with him, far above all principalities and powers, where all things are under his feet (Eph 1:20-23; 2:6).

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (Heb 4:14)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15)

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)

In John 14, 15, and 16, the Lord clearly taught the truth about His abiding in His disciples. “In Me” means to be with Him, in His heavenly place (Jn. 14:20). He said to His disciples and all Christians, “I am in you.” As people were united with His glory, His Spirit and life flowed out through His disciples.

Source: Pastoral Ministry Department of End-Time Ministry (Please notify us promptly if any copyright infringement is involved.)