Beware of spiritists, charlatans

As Christians, we need not be easy to fool because we are spiritually capacitated to test every spirit, to separate the real from the counterfeit and to hold on to the good.
But why are so many of us falling prey to the works of false prophets, false teachers, spiritists and con artists today? The reasons are many.
Firstly, people are deceived by false prophets and teachers within the church because of their desire for esoteric knowledge. Esoteric knowledge is knowledge not gained from disciplined study or research. It is not picked up by our five natural senses, but it is perceived through the sixth sense, the spiritual sense intended only for the anointed ones. The lure of esoteric knowledge or secret information always catches the fancy of those who think there is something out there which their natural senses cannot pick up.
Most Christians readily incline their ears to the supposedly anointed one who says, “The Lord told me to tell you…” or “The spirit has just revealed to me that you …”
Because of the desire to know what is hidden about their lives, they fall easy prey to such false prophets and teachers who disguise themselves as workers of righteousness within the church.
Secondly, people become gullible because of their need for power. Of all the spiritual gifts in the Bible, prophecy is much sought after and yet most misunderstood and mistaken by many people. Such people mistakenly rank it as the greatest gift because it foretells the future and is linked to revelation of secret information.
They feel powerful, highly honoured and great when they can see into one’s future. A close analysis of the motives behind the desire to prophesy in many people reveals that there is a deep-seated  desire in such people to control other people’s lives through the gift of prophecy.
Of course, the Bible does say there is a gift of prophecy. But Satan can counterfeit spiritual gifts and deceive us into believing they are from God. Such people end up paying attention to deceiving spirits and demon spirits. They become spiritists and mediums. This subtle deception is the basic reason why the scriptures instruct us to put everything to the test.       
Thirdly, there is the acute need for kushandirwa (deliverance from evil spirits). It is natural for unbelievers to visit witchdoctors, prophets and spirit mediums for the resolution of their spiritual conflicts.
But, it is also characteristic of Christians to go by night to these powers that be in search for deliverance from misfortune and curses. Such Christians are generally lazy and carnal.
The power to discern the root causes of their problems and curses is available to them if only they could pray and fast, seeking divine guidance or going to real Christian counsellors.
However, the desire to be delivered easily and quickly without their effort causes them to be at the mercy of mediums and charlatans. Mediums and spiritists possess and pass on knowledge which did not come through the natural channels of perception.
They have opened themselves up to the spirit world and have become spiritual channels and the devil gives them some counterfeit power to cause signs and wonders.
Beware deliverance-seeker, false knowledge and direction which comes from Satan through a medium is intended to deceive you of spiritual vitality and freedom.
On the other hand, charlatans or con artists intend to deceive you of your money. Charlatans’ methods are not demonic but just clever illusion. They ask the naïve client a few simple, leading questions. They also observe their clients’ speech, mannerisms, appearance and dress.
Based on those answers and personal observation, they make general statements which are probably fairly accurate. And the gullible are so impressed with the accuracies of their “revelations” that they start giving more information, which these charlatans fabricate into a “reading”. In the end, they are paid large sums of money for clever illusion.
-Feedback call 011877180 or email mairos78@yahoo.co.uk