THE FALL OF THE END-TIME CHURCH – The Source of Divination – article #2
By Paul M Hanssen
If you have not read the first article (The Python Spirit and Deceit), please do so before reading article #2. https://www.sevenpillarschurch.com/post/the-fall-of-the-end-time-church---the-spirit-of-python-deceit-by-pastor-paul-m-hanssen
1. THE SOURCE OF DIVINATION
For years, many have believed that Hollywood would eventually become the demise of the church in the end times. However, Hollywood alone is not what the devil is using to bring down the end-time church. It is true that Hollywood and all that it offers is demonic to the core and provides nothing for the health of the spiritual man. Hollywood has and is indeed captivating and corrupting the minds of this generation at an alarming rate. Even though there needs to be a heightened awareness about what Hollywood is feeding the world, the church should be as concerned, if not more concerned, of the deceitful methods that the devil is using within the very walls of the places of worship.
The things that I am referring to are operations that are “acceptable” to the church, things that are seemingly based on Christian principles and Biblical authority. The sly spirit of deceit is slithering around the very houses of worship throughout the world and is using all manner of platforms and means that are commonly accepted in the church. Naturally, this deceiving spirit has corrupted these means and has twisted them to become vehicles of error.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)
As already mentioned in the previous article, divination is to speak oracles under inspiration. Divination is the counterfeit of speaking the prophetic Truth under the inspiration of the life-giving Spirit of God. The inspired word of God comes only from His holy oracle and is indeed called the oracles of God.
The damsel who screamed out after Paul, and the others with him, was a soothsaying diviner. Yet, she spoke the truth.
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation (Acts 16:16-17)
Even though the damsel’s words were true, her words were not inspired by the Spirit of God. They came from an unclean oracle. Her words therefore, even though true, had an unclean motive and were coming from an unclean place.
The Hebrew word for divination is Kaw-sam which means ORACLE.
ORACLE means a place at which divine advice or prophecy was sought, and a response/message was given from the oracle.
An oracle is the place from which a word is sought. In other words, it is a source. However, it also means the words, or the response that comes from the place that is sought. God’s most Holy Place within the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temples was called The Holy Oracle.
§ THE PLACE OF THE HOLY ORACLE
And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims (1 Kings 8:6).
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle (Psalm 28:2-3).
§ THE WORDS OF THE HOLY ORACLE
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
The law of God, His Divine Word, was given as lively oracles. They were living, inspired words that were full of the breath and life of God. These words came from God’s presence, or from His Holy Oracle (Acts 7:38-39).
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63:64).
Pause for a moment and consider what you have just read. The Oracles of God are both the place from which His word proceeds, and is also the word itself coming from that place!
The words that Jesus spoke were lively, living, inspired, holy oracles from His Father.
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak (John 12:49-50).
The words spoken by Jesus had a clean, holy, pure, living origin and source. They came from the Father. His words were divinely inspired oracles that were full of life. His words were never about promoting, honoring, exalting, or lifting himself up. His words never bore witness of Himself, rather they bore witness of the Father and His Kingdom, and Kingship.
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true (John 5:30-31)
Imagine, the words of Jesus Christ Himself, the Word in flesh, not being true. Yet, Jesus said that if His words were to testify or witness of Himself they would not be true, rather they would be a lie. It is not that His words would have been wrong, or false, but the source would have been wrong and out of order because the words would not have been coming from the Father, rather they would have been proceeding from Himself. Hence, the testimony would have been untrue. What makes truth the truth? The source!! Every word that comes from God is truth. Why? Because He is truth and in Him is no lie.
Speaking of the devil, Jesus said:
…He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)
The devil’s words are a lie because he speaks of his own. The source is wrong. The source is corrupt. The source of his words is not the fountain of truth in God. Hence, his words are lies even though they can, and often do contain truth.
The church world is being led astray for this very reason. Part truth, twisted truth, truth mixed with error, and unbalanced truth is being spoken. But, it is a lie because the source is wrong. The fountain, or oracle from which the words spring is corrupt. It is called deception! Divination, false prophetic words, inspired from an unclean oracle are being spewed out over the church. If God’s people do not remain alert, awake, and standing high on the watchtower, the trap of deception will be the consequence.
This lesson will continue in article #3