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The spirit of error is a real demonic entity that weasels its way into the lives of people and causes emotional and spiritual damage. The spirit of error and lying spirits work together to keep people in bondage.
What’s the difference in a lie and error?
- Someone telling a lie tells it with the intent to deceive.
- Someone who believes the lie is in Error and is deceived
It’s been almost 30 years since I believed so many lies about God that I went into error. My mistakes cost me friendships, family relationships, and caused o much pain. The lessons I learned have turned out to be invaluable and keep me balanced now, however, I do not want others to have to go through what I did to learn how to avoid error. In this article, I will share my best advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of the spirit of error.
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:6 NKJV
What is the Spirit of Error
Living with a spirit of error is like living in a state of delusion. When a person has a delusion, they think what they are seeing, hearing, and processing is right. People who believe lies are in error. Organizations who embrace ways that are not in line with the Word of God are in error.
It’s not that difficult to fall into error. When I was a little girl, I misinterpreted Revelations 22:18. I thought that if I wrote in my Bible that I was changing the Word of God and the plagues listed in verse 18 would come upon me! To make matters worse, I was influenced by people who thought if we misread a word in the Bible on accident that it was sin. Ridiculous? Yes, but I fell for it!
There are whole denominations built around doctrine born out of the spirit of error. One church I know of teaches that women are not to wear red shoes. Another church teaches that God does not heal. One family that I know thinks it is not a sin to commit adultery. There is no scripture to back up these lies, but the spirit of error works with the spirit of seduction and turns what is ridiculous into something believable!
6 Safeguards Against the Spirit of Error
1. Know the Word
I have a family member who is both allergic to fish and hates a thief. If a woman came up to me and told me that my family member stole her fish and ate it, I would say, “You, my dear, are a liar.” I know the truth because I know the person! In the same way, if we commit ourselves to knowing God and knowing the Word, it will be much easier to detect lies and not fall into error.
Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. Matthew 22:29 NKJV
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 NKJV
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV
2. Get Close to God!
When I went into error, it was because I did not know my creator! I believed in Him, but I did not yet know His character or personality! When He began to increase me in the gifts of the spirit, I was so excited with the joy of finding out He had gifts for me! However, because of my inexperience, I could hardly tell between a word of knowledge, my own thoughts, and what the enemy was sowing into my mind.
Before long, I had it in my head that if I thought I had a word of knowledge and did not speak it out, He would strike me with lightening or with stern disapproval. This fear caused me to say and do things that had not been filtered through the Word and Truth. I quickly went into error.
There are good hearted and well meaning people who fall into error because they do not yet know His goodness.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:8 KJV
3. Walk in the Spirit and Avoid the Spirit of Error!
Sometimes error sounds so good that people want to believe it! Eve fell for error when she swallowed the lie that God was trying to trick her so she wouldn’t be as wise as her maker. History is full of whacked out lies that intelligent people who should have known better believed! How are we to know what is truth?
Holy Spirit is our comforter, but He also leads us into truth. We cannot rely on our natural mind, experience, and savvy. We must be able to hear Him give us the inner nudge that something is not right!
14 But a person who denies spiritual realities will not accept the things that come through the Spirit of God; they all sound like foolishness to him. He is incapable of grasping them because they are disseminated, discerned, and valued by the Spirit. 15 A person who walks by the Spirit examines everything, sizing it up and seeking out truth. But no one is able to examine or size up that kind of spiritual person,
1 Corinthians 2:14-15 (Voice)
All born again believers start out with a faith that is not carnal but is in the spirit! I remember the first time I started to do something that was wrong and got an instant awareness in my spirit to not do that thing! The more that we listen to Him, the better our hearing gets to His voice. The more we walk after our own mindset, and not His, the more dull our hearing in the spirit becomes. This deafening leaves us wide open for the spirit of error to come in and deceive us!
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16 NKJV
4. Be Teachable and Correctible
When I went into error, I really believed I had the corner on truth. Because of this, there was no one whom I believed was able to teach or correct me. Being unteachable is one of the first signs of pride. Pride and Error are housemates! Show me someone who will not receive correction and you’ll see how that person is also bound in error!
5. Beware of Doublemindedness
Once you know the truth, hang on! Find out what you believe and make sure it is both backed by the Word and His peace! Pray about the foundations of your faith. Some people choose their faith by what sounds good and fits in with their culture.
A man I used to know was an amazing man of prayer. When he began to hang around a group that was in error, he began to sway. They twisted scriptures and mocked the truth. The last time I saw him, he was walking out of the church shaking his head. There is no longer any power in his life, but he sits back with the scoffers believing themselves superior to those who do walk in power and truth.
God can correct lies you believe, but He will do it with compassion and revelation.
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
Galatians 1:6 NKJV
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:7-8 NKJV
6. Stay in the Protection of the Authority God has Placed Over You
When I came out of error, there were few people who wanted to associate with me. I am very thankful for a leader, Pastor Steve, who helped bandage up my wounds. He and his people loved me and taught me truth. It’s not easy shepherding a confused sheep. I feel sorry for those who are confused and get involved with heavy handed controlling people who want to manipulate instead of teach and guide. I am very thankful for the ones who came and loved me to health after a horrible encounter with the spirit of error.
Pray and God will send to you men and women of faith who can share truth and give wise counsel. I stayed with Pastor Steve for several years. Later, the Lord led us into another “flock” where I continued healing and learning about God.
I remember the day I approached Pastor Jones with the truth of my past. I told him about the error and how it at wounded me and others. He was kind and not afraid of my mistakes. Since then, he and his wife have been valuable in helping my family navigate our walk with the Lord.
Because I am in the ministry of deliverance, I found it even more important to stay in line with authority and make sure I am not prideful, walking in error, or unteachable.
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17 NKJV
Error Proof Your Life
We do not have to walk in fear that we are going to miss it! We do need to be aware it is possible and do the things outlined above to help keep us from straying from the truth.
Going into error was one of the most painful things that ever happened to me. It is humiliating, disappointment, and it has tried many times to become a part of my identity. However, rolling around in the mistakes of the past won’t help the future. Satan is a deceiver. It is what he does. The error doesn’t have to define a person. The knowledge of error can just as easily rocket a person into many successes. While I hate the fact I went into error, the education I received has kept me and others out of more trouble than I could have imagined. Error-proof your life by seeking the Truth Giver! Every moment you spend seeking Him will never be wasted.
