A Man, no Child and Spirits
I painted the Castle Green Hotel (seen above) in Pasadena.
A man stepped up to my easel and admired my painting. We chatted for a while. He said he was homeless, so I gave him a little money. Then he told me he was a prophet. He told me that I was to go to a cemetery where I would meet a child who would give me some money.
I had not told him that I had made arrangements with a group of artists to paint at Forest Lawn Cemetery later that day. How did he know? I’m guessing that a spirit had heard an earlier conversation about my plans and whispered them in his ear.
I gave him my tract, ‘WWJP’ and told him about Jesus.
It was then that he told me that he was a Muslim and that we both believed the same thing about Jesus. I told him we did not believe the same. One example: Christians believe Jesus was the Son of God. Muslims don’t.
I told the Muslim prophet what Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.“ (John 14:6) I told him that Mohammed never made such a bold statement. There was no other way to God but through Jesus.
He grumbled something incoherent, then turned and walked away.
BTW: I didn’t go to the cemetery looking for a child, nor did I meet one. I simply went to enjoy the company of artists and paint some beautiful scenery.
Nothing New
Soon after the baptism of Jesus, He was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He was tempted with (among other things) a promise of world dominion. He countered the devils temptation with scripture. Three times He said, “It is written…“ as He spoke God’s words to Satan. Recorded in Matthew 4:1-11.
In the book of Acts 16:16-18, a girl followed the apostle Paul and his companions for many days. The message she cried might have first sounded like good news; “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” Paul, realizing that she spoke by an unholy spirit, cast it out of her.
The devil and his cohort uses many of the same tricks today as he did thousands of years ago. Evil spirits seem more likely to initially flatter us than threaten us. On the surface, their words might sound good. But beware, it will be a false promise and an empty hope.
I had encountered a deceiving spirit.
