WELCOME to Pastor Dr. Carlotta's Counseling Center.

In seeking to deceive us, the first effort of evil spirits is directed toward getting us to accept their suggestions and workings as if they are speaking, working, or leading of God. Their initial device is to counterfeit a divine presence, described by some as "goose bumps" under cover of which they can mislead their victim. The word counterfeit means simply the substitution of the false for the truth.

The believer gives the deceiving spirits their opportunity in that sometimes they have a mistaken belief regarding the location of God. God is present in them (Consciously), and around them (unconsciously). When they pray, they think of and pray to God in themselves, or else to God around them, that is in the room or atmosphere. They use their imaginations, trying to "realize" His presence. Their desire to "feel" His presence in them or upon them is contrary to God residing in heaven. We may feel Him, but not necessairly and certainly not every time, else where would faith be?

This desire to locate God in or around the believer usually comes about when there is some special crisis in one's life. Probably before this time, they lived more by the acceptance of facts declared in the Scriptures, as understood by his intelligence. Jn. 8:32 notice especially the word "know". But then they become more "conscious" of the presence of God by the Spirit and in the spirit, and so begins to locate the person of God as in, around, or upon him. Thus he turns inward, beginning to pray to Gad as within him which in time can result in prayer tro evil spirits!

THERE IS A COUNTERFEIT PRESENCE OF GOD

The powers of darkness counterfeit the presence of God to those ignorant of their devices, possibly as follows. At some moment when the believer is desiring the presence of God, and certain conditions are fulfilled, the foe approaches, wrapping the senses with a soothing feeling, sometimes filling the room with light or a "breath from God" by a movement of the air, and then whispers, "This is the presence you have long for," or leads them to believe that this is what they has desired.

While off guard, lulled into security that Satan is far away, some thoughts are suggested to the mind. These will usually be accompanied by manifestations which appear to be Divine. A voice speaks, or a vision is given, which is usually received as Divine guidance, and hence beyond question as from God. If accepted as from God when actually from the spirits of the evil one, the foothold is gained.

The man is now sure that God has bidden him do a special work. He is filled with thoughts of being highly favored of God, chosen for some high place in His Kingdom. The hidden self -love is nurtured and fed by this, and he is able he thinks, to endure all things by the power of this secret strength. God has spoken! He is in the class of Moses and Joshua and Paul. He has been singled out for special favor! His strength is now within, based upon his experience rather than based upon God and the written Word. Through this confidence that God has specially spoken to him, the man has a tendency to become unteachable and unyielding, with a positiveness that borders on infallibility. He will not listen to others, for they have not had "direct" revelation. He feels he must obey, though the direction he feels he is given is contrary to all enlightened judgment and the actions he is directed to is opposed to the spirit of the Word of God. In brief, when the man believes he has given, intellectual ability to interpret the truth. "Common sense" is lack of faith, he feels, and therefore sin. "Conscience," for the time being has ceased to speak.

Some of the suggestions made to believer by deceiving spirits at this time may be:

a) "You are a special instrument for God," working to feed self-love.

b) "You are more advance than others," working to blind the soul to sober knowledge of itself.

c) "You are different from others," working to make you think you needs special dealing by God.

d) "You must take a separate path," a suggestion made to feed the superior feeling of the independent spirit.

e) "You must give up your job and live by faith," aiming at causing the believer to cause their own shipwreck, through launching out on false guidance, which may result in the ruin of his or her home, and sometimes the work for God in which he is engaged.

These suggestions from demonic spirits are made to give the man a false concept of his spiritual state; causing him to believe he or she is more spiritually advanced than is true. This is designed to get him or her to act beyond his measure of faith and knowledge Rom. 12:3, and consequently be open to the increasingly deceptive lies of his or her foe.

The greatest method of deception is to counterfeit. And the master of counterfeit and deception is Satan.

The Bible in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 warns of Satan's counterfeit: "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;. . ." Isaiah 14: 14 tells of Satan's ultimate counterfeit: ". . . I will BE LIKE the most High."

If you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior simply say in an audible voice, in all sincerity from the depths of your heart, "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sins and accept me as Your child. I accept You as my personal Savior and I promise to follow the instructions of Your Word from this day on. If I fail because I am human, please help pick me up so I can try again! Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from all my sins. AMEN."