The apostle Peter indicated that many would come in the name of Christ, yet deny Him as both Lord and Savior. The apostle also said that these same apostates would make merchandise of the members of the churches. In other words, like the Nicolatians, they would use the money to gain advantage, (Rev. 2).
The Scripture warns us to be careful about companionship with the people of the world. In (2 Jn.7), “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist.” And then in (2 Jn. 9), we see a separation is to be established between the believer and unbeliever. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
We are seeing people fall away from Christ left and right. They are in church one night and the next night back into world. It is terrifying to see a Christian backslide because they usually become spiritual monsters. One pastor fell away from the pulpit several years ago, today he sits on a bar stool drinking. When the bar closes each night,this Pastor takes people to his house continuing to drink, then they watch his old sermons and laugh and mock Jesus together! He became an evangelist for Satan!
Another preacher turned his back on God through adultery and takes crack and wallows in sin. A brother went to him to try to restore him and told the preacher that he could get free if he would come to see Dr. Holliday. The preacher said, “Oh no, she’ll cast my sex demons out! Don’t let that woman come near me.” These are truly perilous times.
The Apostle Paul challenges the believer in (Gal. 5:1-8), to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul, say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.”
Get on the attack! A typical manifestation of demonic control is the passivity that is induced; the person’s will is inactive, the mind is insensible and the spirit is sleepy or dead. From the natural man’s perspective, everything is undisturbed and is at peace. When we attack we stop the initiative from the enemy, dictates the terms of battle and choose the ground on which it will be fought. The grounds of victory are the grounds of Calvary.