The Holy Spirit taught Paul that some Christians would be lured away from Christ by false teachers and stop following Jesus (Acts 20:29-30).  These false teachers misled believers, but they were hypocrites themselves, and did not tell the truth.  Although they pretended to be part of Christ’s church, and may even have been honoured as godly teachers, they did not follow Christ and could not lead other people to Him.  

Shockingly, the Apostle Paul says that they are really being manipulated by evil demonic spirits into twisting the truth to doubt the Scriptural truths about Jesus and His way of salvation.  Like the Pharisees, they appear devout because of their strict way of life, but they demand that their followers behave in ways that are not part of the essential Christian lifestyle.  They do not even realise that their consciences do not work any longer.  They are dangerous and blasphemous people like Hymenaeus and Alexander who made shipwrecks of their own faith (1 Timothy 1:19-20).  Jude describes such people as callous, empty and dead (Jude 1:12)

The truth is that when people come to Jesus for mercy and grace, He opens their eyes to the truth and sets them free from bondage (Hebrews 2:14-15).  But Satan and his demons want to enslave people, dictate their basic human choices and deprive them from living as free people under God’s grace (2 Timothy 2:25-26).  Paul’s words to Timothy should also ring in our ears.  We must not be naïve, but alert to recognise such people - ensuring that we are not sucked into their error ourselves (2 Timothy 2:1-3).

It is good to have clear direction in the church, and most people want to follow a strong lead.  But when a strongly opinionated leader gathers a following which leads people away from trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, loving God with everything and our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40), remember these verses.  But also remember that Jesus who has saved you wants you to have ‘fullness of life’ (John 10:10).  He freely provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17) so we should receive and give thanks. As Paul says (Galatians 5:1), “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”