Page 61 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

We can do little in the way of review of what was covered in last month’s
newsletter, you need to read it. We looked at the fruit that the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil produces in the life of a Christian whom Satan
deceives today as he did with Eve in the garden. Here is what “knowledge”
Satan, the father of lies, promised Eve that this tree could produce:

1. 2. 3.

Paul gives ample warning to the church that this type of man-centered THE LIE
knowledge was still available in his day:

“…WE KNOW “GUARD WHAT WAS
THAT WE ALL HAVE COMMITTED TO YOUR TRUST,
KNOWLEDGE. AVOIDING THE PROFANE AND
KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP… VAIN BABBLINGS AND
IF ANYONE THINKS THAT CONTRADICTIONS OF WHAT IS MAN-CENTERED
FALSELY CALLED KNOWLEDGE – KNOWLEDGE
HE KNOWS ANYTHING,
HE KNOWS NOTHING BY PROFESSING IT, MAN’S IMAGE
SOME HAVE STRAYED IN HIS OWN EYES
YET AS HE OUGHT CONCERNING THE FAITH…”
TO KNOW.”
1 Cor. 8:1-2 1 Timothy 6:20-21

“…SOME DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. (PROMOTES PRIDE IN MAN)
I SPEAK THIS TO YOUR SHAME.”
1 Cor. 15:34

“BEWARE LEST ANYONE CHEAT YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEIT, ACCORDING TO THE TRADITION
OF MEN, ACCORDING TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST.” Col. 2:8

In our last newsletter, I sought to give definition and insight into these four satanic subtle substitutes for
what is true knowledge – the knowledge of God. The church today lives in the prophesied time in which
“knowledge will increase” (Dan. 12:4). I greatly fear that the kind of knowledge circulating in the church
(especially here in America) is what Paul labels as “…what is falsely called knowledge” which causes
God’s people to stray from what the Bible presents as “the faith which was once for all delivered to the
saints” (Jude 3). We are inundated with unbiblical self-help, self-esteem, feel-good philosophies that are
totally man-centered and devoid of the power of God. Man-made traditions have made much of the Word
of God of no effect in our day just as it did in the time of Jesus (see Mark 7:6-13). We find more emphasis
placed on the basic principles of the world such as politics, commerce and man-made religion guiding the
church than the basic principles of God’s Word. Leonard Ravenhill lamented, “The church is in the world
and the world is in the church.” We use the world’s slick methods of fundraising to cause “dynamic growth”
in our churches. The churches are becoming more and more worldly so that the worldly are more
comfortable sitting in the church. The “meet them where they are at” philosophy will keep them where they
are at – carnal and worldly minded, a churched people who continue “behaving like mere men” (1 Cor. 3:3)

Satan’s use of the Tree of the SEDUCE CHRISTIANS The other way this tree
Knowledge of Good and Evil thrives among God’s people
thrives in the church today on TO MISUSE is through the misuse of the
the willful misuse of the Word “THE WORD” world. The political thrust of
of God for sanctifying self-
indulgence and covetousness. Christians to rule America
The American church is with God’s laws legislated on
engulfed with “faith for
prosperity” teachers who the unregenerate is totally
huckster the wares of “seed without biblical basis. What
faith” and “hundred-fold return”
get-rich-quick schemes. ever happened to Jesus’
declaration that “My Kingdom

is not of this world?

(Jn. 18:36).