03-07-26 Message to Roeh Israel Abilene – Ki Tisa (When you elevate [take a census])
Torah Portion; Exodus 30:11 – 34:15
Haftarah: 1 Kings 18:1-39
Suggested Acheron K’tuvim: 1 Tim 1:3-11
Demonic Deception – Part 6 – Deceivers Among
Us
Central question of this message: Can you help correct the deceivers
within the body of faith today, who are leading people astray?
This parasha is called Ki Tisa which means “When you elevate [take a
census].” Its name comes from the tenth word in the English and the
sixth and seventh word in the original Hebrew.
Ex 30:11-14
11 The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "When you take
a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one
of them shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when
you number them, that there may be no plague among them
when you number them.
We are continuing in our series on demonic deception. And I find that it is a good
time to deal with passages of Scripture which deal specifically with demonic
deception showing that deceivers were then, and are likely even now, among the
congregations of the saints. And sadly, there are many of those in leadership roles.
If Satan is going to attack the body of faith, he will have a number of avenues of
attack. One of those will be his own “special forces” who go behind “enemy lines”
– into the congregations – and who will use their influence to decieve saints, and
draw them away from the truth.
These disruptions of the true faith in the churches, especially when caused by
“teachers” and “pastors” are the most effective to lead people away from the true
faith.
Let’s begin looking at this deception from within by examining a passage which has
been widely misinterpreted by many teachers of the normative church of today, and
which they use to nullify some of G-d’s directions regarding our foods.
1 Tim 4:1-5
4 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away
from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of
demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own
conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and
advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be
gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be
rejected, if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by
means of the word of God and prayer.
By this passage, we can see that demons have influenced some religious teachers to
“fall away from the faith” and in doing so they preach several things, such as
“abstaining from foods.” The letter describes those prohibited foods as “G-d
created” and “sanctified by means of the word of G-d and prayer.”
The common understanding advanced by today’s scholars is that Paul is addressing
here the Jewish concept of kosher which had been a stubborn holdover, against the
corect theology that he and Timothy have been teaching those in the congregation
in Ephesus. That is how I have heard the normative church leaders teach this
passage.
But in another vein, some modern scholars attribute this passage to addressing a
pagan theology which was being introduced by people coming into the
congregations. This pagan doctrine was described by these using the term “Proto-
Gnostic Asceticism.” This is a combination of two ideas:
Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly
pleasures through self-discipline, self-imposed poverty, and simple
living,1 often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals.2 Ascetics may
withdraw from the world or continue to be part of their society, but
typically adopt a frugal lifestyle,3 characterized by the renunciation of
material possessions and physical pleasures, and also spend time fasting
while concentrating on religion, prayer, or meditation.4
Proto-Gnostic thought refers to the early forms of gnosticism which is understood
today as follows:
The term “Gnosticism” is derived from the ancient Greek term for
“having knowledge.” This term is a classification of several different
versions of different groups and beliefs.5 These groups generally
emphasized personal spiritual knowledge above the authority,
traditions, and orthodox teachings of organized religious institutions.6
1 Randall Collins (2000), The sociology of philosophies: a global theory of intellectual change, Harvard University Press, ISBN 978-0674001879, p. 204.
2 "Asceticism". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
3 Finn, Richard (2009). "Pagan asceticism: cultic and contemplative purity". Asceticism in the Graeco-Roman World. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 9–33. ISBN 978-1-139-48066-6. LCCN 2009009367.
4 Finn, Richard (2009). "Christian asceticism before Origen". Asceticism in the Graeco-Roman World. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 94–99. ISBN 978-1-139-48066-6. LCCN 2009009367.
5 "Gnosticism | Definition, Texts, Movements, & Influence | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-09-26.
Retrieved 2025-11-06.
6 Hans Jonas, The Gnostic Religion 1958, p. 33
The Gnostic worldview typically distinguished between a hidden,
uncorrupted supreme being and a flawed human urges responsible for
creating material reality. Gnostics held this material existence to be evil
and believed the principal element of salvation was direct knowledge
of the supreme divinity, attained via mystical or esoteric insight. Many
Gnostic texts deal not in concepts of sin and repentance, but with
illusion and enlightenment.7
I believe that Paul was addressing this very issue in the congregation in Ephesus,
and not talking about doing away with kosher.
But I want to now address how the normative church interprets this passage. There
are a few minor variations in current Christian doctrine, but generally, the
interpretation as set forth in the website Enduring Word8 sets forth what I see to be
the Christian norm in analysis:
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it
is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God
and prayer.”
a. For every creature of God is good:9 Regarding what we eat, we can
eat all things.10 We receive things rightly when we receive them with
7 Pagels, Elaine (1989). The Gnostic Gospels. Knopf Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-679-72453-7.
8 https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-timothy-4/
9 Even G-d Himself differs with this statement. Are poisonous and predatory snakes “good?” How about roaring lions? Why would G-d describe Satan using these two animal types if they are “good?”
10 It is true that any person can eat “all things.” But this misses the point regarding whether a believer should eat it.
thanksgiving, with an abiding sense of gratitude towards God.11 We
receive the blessings of food, shelter, and comfort as gifts, and not as
rights.
b. Nothing is to be refused: We are not limited by any kind of diet;
what we eat does not make us more righteous before God (though
what we eat may affect our health).12
i. This issue was settled once for all when God spoke to Peter in Acts
10:9-16.13
ii. “Both among the pagans, Jews, and Romanists, certain meats were
prohibited;14 some always, others at particular times. This the apostle
informs us was directly contrary to the original design of God; and
says that those who know the truth, know this.” (Clarke)
c. It is sanctified by the word of God and prayer: Paul here has in
mind prayer before a meal.15 Notice that the emphasis is not on asking
11 This indicates that any item you can eat is acceptable if you simply can say “thanks” for it. I submit that there is no believer who fully embraces this statement, because I can most certainly find some items which are subject to being chewed and swallowed by a person (and some of which are being eaten today by pagan tribes) which every normative Christian would abhor, and refuse to put into his mouth, regardless of the sincerity of the “thanksgiving” pronounced over that item.
12 This statement confuses the concepts of justification and sanctification. Our right standing before G-d is accomplished only by our reliance upon the sacrifice of Yeshua for our atonement. But that is only the beginning of our life in the light. From that moment forward, we should live according to G-d’s instructions, and then be increasing in sanctification as we continue to live. Adhering to G-d’s scriptural diet does not redeem us, but it does set us apart from the pagans – and thus we are sanctified and become more holy as He is holy.
13 This statement does violence to the vision of Peter. And it goes directly against Peter’s own reports of the meaning of his vision, which had nothing to do with something to eat, but was all about people. This author has substituted his own erroneous interpretation for that of Peter, which is a violation of the prohibition of “private interpretation” of Scripture. I wonder how Peter will correct this author when the two meet in the World to Come.
14 Note the antisemitic nature of this statement. The author lumps Jews in with pagans.
15 The author presumes to know Paul’s mind on this. I think this statement is presumptuous.
God to bless the food; but on thanking God for the blessing of
providing food to eat.16
i. The word of God sanctifies food in the sense that God gave two
general commands to mankind to eat the good things of the earth.17
· And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed
which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields
seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Genesis 1:29)
· Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you
all things, even as the green herbs. (Genesis 9:3)18
ii. It is good and proper for us to pray before eating a meal but it should
not be done in a ritualistic, superstitious way.19 Nor should it be done
to show others how spiritual we are – which is imitating the prayer
practices of the Pharisees (Matthew 6:5).
16 Here the author discards G-d’s definition of the word “food” found in Leviticus 11, and uses the western, English concept of “food” that he prefers. Here he joins with Satan in saying, “Did G-d really say…?” 17 Note how the author skips right past the specific instructions regarding what is and what is not “food” and cherrypicks some verses from pre-flood Genesis to support his point. If the author contends that every plant that produces seeds was good food at this time of history, and since he contends that all those plants are still on the earth today (as he does to make his point), then I would ask him to show me how G-d suggested we eat poisonous plants such as hemlock, nightshade, foxglove, poison ivy, strychnine, and a multitude of others. I suggest G-d is not a trickster who invites those He loves to eat poisons.
18 The author seems to dismiss the idea that G-d began with people at a lower level of understanding of His ways of living, but as we were able to understand and to obey at a higher level, G-d gave us more specific instructions.
19 I believe the author didn’t realize that prayer after meals is how G-d directed us in Deut 8:10. The Parushim (Pharisees) whom he roundly condemns, were the ones who originated the concept of praying before meals. And Yeshua validated that practice by also praying before taking foods. Those whom Yeshua endorsed are scorned by this author.
This is an example of the construction of a falacious argument. I will at a later date
present a series on logical construction and how to recognize a falacy when you see
it, so that you will not be persuaded by poorly-constructed thought processes. But
that will be for another time.
But for now, since we have seen how the normative Church generally misapplies
this passage, let’s revisit it once again, and show a proper understanding.
1 Tim 4:1-5
4 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away
from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of
demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own
conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and
advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully
shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything
created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received
with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and
prayer.
The first concept in this passage is that it addresses some who have “fallen away
from the faith.” What faith? Paul actually defines the “faith” earlier in this letter.
1 Tim 1:3-11
3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at
Ephesus, in order that you may instruct certain men not to teach
strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless
genealogies,20 which give rise to mere speculation rather than
furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal
of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and
a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have
turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the
Law, even though they do not understand either what they are
saying or the matters about which they make confident
assertions.21 8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it
lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous
man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious,22 for the
ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill
their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and
homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever
else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious
gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
Let us first note that Paul condemns people who are of lower levels of understanding
of Torah, and who are pridefully holding themselves out as teachers of Torah23. Paul
describes them at being highly confident, but also being terribly wrong in their
teachings.
20 I suspect that this applies to some of the teachings I have encountered lately in the “messianic-ish” movements to the effect that if you are not an ethnic Jew, you are a second class part of the body of faith. I have encountered this teaching in both the UMJC and the MJAA. For this reason, our congregation has declined any invitation to be under their umbrella of covering.
21 I have heard this used to assert than anyone who teaches “the Law” is now a person who doesn’t know what he is talking about, and is speaking against the grace of this age.
22 The theology of the normative church is that the Law condems those who are “under the law” but for those who are “not under law but under grace” the Law does not apply to them, since the blood of Christ has made them righteous.
23 I find this to be widespread in today’s “messianic-ish” movement, especially those who have YouTube channels.
Why would Paul discuss what is a right, and proper teaching of the Torah and
distinguish it from an uninformed and haughty teaching of Torah if Torah is
abolished? Why would he not rather simply tell Timothy to disregard all Torah in
his teachings?
And Paul says clearly that Torah is designed to condemn “the ungodly and sinners,”
whose specific sins are contrary to Torah, and then Paul includes all violations of
Torah in a summary statement, “and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,”
which he then attaches “sound teachings” directy to Torah, and also to the good news
of Messiah when he continues by saying, “according to the glorious gospel.”
Paul clearly differentiates between strange doctrines, and sound teaching. He gives
examples of those strange doctrines, but affirms that the Law (Torah) is good, when
used “lawfully.” This suggests that some are using the Torah unlawfully. We need
not speculate how they are doing that, because we are interested today in how we
might use it “lawfully.”
Paul, in another letter to Timothy, went on to discuss a further demon-inspired
deception that was then, and will be in the future, found in congregations and their
supposed teachers.
2 Tim 3
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For
men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant,
revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving,
irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters
of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God; 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they
have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. 6 For among
them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women
weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always
learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 And
just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose
the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith. 9 But
they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to
all, as also that of those two came to be. 10 But you followed my
teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11
persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at
Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them
all the Lord delivered me! 12 And indeed, all who desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and
impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being
deceived. 14 You,24 however, continue in the things you have
learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have
learned them; 15 and that from childhood you have known the
sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads
to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.25 16 All
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
24 Paul is speaking to Timothy directly, not to his congregation. That is important for the understanding of the next few verses.
25 Again Paul connects Torah with the gospel and the faith aspect that is essential to “salvation.”
reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the
man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In this subsequent letter, Paul is reinforcing his previous instructions to Timothy and
expanding a bit on some of them.
He begins by warning Timothy to avoid people who show “a form of godliness” but
denying the power of G-d. So, it is clear that he is referring to people who seem on
the outside to be living in some ways consistent with Torah, but in their private lives
they are sinful.26 So, he is referring to influencial people in the faith community in
Ephesus who are being followed by some in the community.
What is the “power of G-d” that Paul is speaking of? It seems to me that the context
of this passage suggests that this power is that which transforms a life of rebellion
and sin into a life of obedience and holiness.
He describes these false teachers as deceivers who themselves are deceived. Where
does sinful and destructive deception come from? Only one source – Satan. It would
seem that these false teachers have fallen under the influence of Satan to deliver
these false teachings. I don’t suggest that these people are taken-over by demons,
but that they simply have listened to the wrong spirit and have acted on that false
message.
26 Yeshua encountered these people as well, and called them out for hypocrisy. Mat 23:25
Paul reminds Timothy that the teachings he received even from childhood are still
valid and important for training in righteousness and showing what “good deeds”
are to be.27
What teachings did Timothy receive as a child? Since those were “sacred writings”
then there was only one set of writings that were considered sacred by the Jewish
people, and Timothy was a Jew. Paul was referring specifically to Torah and
possibly also the Prophets. At the time these words were written, there was no such
thing as a “New Testament” for the writings of this section of your Bible had not yet
been completed, or assembled.
So, now that we know how the Torah can be used “lawfully,” let’s go back to the
main passage of study in 1 Timothy 1.
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9
realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for
those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for
the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for
murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and
liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which
I have been entrusted.
27 In Hebrew understanding, the term “good deeds” is masim tovim. These are not merely good, but signify the proper keeping of the instructions of Torah with the proper heart. This is the “works” that James spoke of in Jas 2:18.
Paul says that the Torah is designed to convict the lawless and rebellious. We know
that those who are in violation of Torah are in sin.28 We know from the context that
those who are “rebellious” are rebelling against G-d’s instruction.29
Paul describes those who are “lawless and rebellious” as acting against “sound
teaching.” But see again how Paul connects the Torah’s “sound teaching” as being
a foundational part of the “glorious gospel of the blessed God.”
And here is where Paul, by his own words, disproves a major tenet of the common
teaching of dispensationalism that has been widely adopted by the normative church
of today.
Dispensationalism divides history into different ways that G-d deals with mankind.
One of those divisions is between Law and Grace. They believe that there was a
period where G-d taught His law to the Jews, but that epoch ended at the cross, and
from that time forward “the age of grace” began.
Dispensationalism creates a sharp division between Israel and the modern church.
These two entities are treated as completely separate, and ignores the idea that G-d
is trying to combine them into His ongoing kingdom plans.
A podcast called “Jimvision”30 offers an analogy.
28 1 John 3:4
29 Titus 1:10
30 https://www.patreon.com/posts/dispensational-148260083
The analogy is that of watching a movie in which the middle portion is
“paused” and replaced by a different movie, representing the church,
before returning to the original story of Israel. The challenge is
identifying precisely where to “pause” and “unpause” the biblical
storyline, particularly when the church begins (often pegged to Acts 2)
and ends, and how Israel’s role fits in before and after that.
And he continues his analysis:
The dispensationalist narrative includes the belief that the Jews
(collectively) rejected Jesus, causing God to "pause" His plan with
Israel and start a new plan with the church. Ken challenges this by
emphasizing that it was primarily the religious leaders (Pharisees) who
opposed Jesus, not the entire Jewish people. In fact, the early church
was overwhelmingly Jewish, with thousands converting31 in Acts. The
idea that Jesus “offered the kingdom” to Israel, they rejected it, and God
withdrew it to start a new spiritual kingdom with the church is a key
dispensationalist teaching. This leads to controversial questions about
the nature and timing of the kingdom of God.
The Billy Graham association has published an article authored by Joel Rosenberg
(a Messianic Jew) setting out how Paul’s writings clearly refute dispensationalism
and “replacement theology.”32 Part of that article is set out below:
31 Even the use of the word “converting” suggests that a Jew which recognizes Yeshua as Messiah has somehow lost his connection with Israel, and is now part of a different group – the church.
32 https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/articles/the-errors-of-replacement-theology
The Apostle Paul explicitly rejected replacement theology.
“I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be!
For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of
Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew”
(Romans 11:1-2).
“I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never
be!” (Romans 11:11).
“Do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant,
remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root
supports you” (Romans 11:18).
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—
so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial
hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has
come in; and so all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25-26).
Today, praise God, about 1 million Jewish people worldwide believe
Jesus is the Messiah. Eventually, “all Israel will be saved.”
Meanwhile, Paul explained that God would keep His promises to
reestablish the sovereign state of Israel.
Paul wrote of the “Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons,
and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the
temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from
whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God
blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 9:4-5, emphasis added).
Paul explained “from the standpoint of God’s choice,” the children of
Israel “are beloved for the sake of the fathers” and the Old Testament
promises God made to them cannot be canceled, “for the gifts and the
calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28-29, emphasis added).
It may be fashionable for some Christians to attack the Jewish people
and say God has replaced Israel with the church. But it’s not true.
Rather, it’s an argument steeped in the very arrogance the Scriptures
warn against.
I suggest to you that some of the past and present teachers in the normative Christian
church have not been influenced by the Spirit of G-d into truth, but have somehow
fallen into what Paul describes as teachers “of false doctrines.”
How did these false doctrines gain acceptability in the normative church? There are
several factors I believe contributed:
1. The early church failed to follow the instructions set forth by the Chief Rabbi
of the congregation in Jerusalem – Yacov (James) – regarding what those
goyim who were coming into the faith should do, that is, to attend synagogue.
Acts 15:19-21
19 "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning
to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they
abstain from things contaminated by idols33 and from fornication34 and from
what is strangled35 and from blood.36 3721 "For Moses from ancient
generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in
the synagogues every Sabbath."38
2. The identity of Yeshua as Messiah, and the deity of Messiah, were matters of
deep division and contention in the synagogues at that time. When goyim
would come to the synagogue as believers in Yeshua, they would sometimes
be met with opposition. It became easier to just meet as home groups rather
than go to the synagogue.
3. Once the early church distanced itself from the synagogue, it adopted a
number of pagan practices, and also developed many doctrines, that are
contrary to Jewish, and even Scriptural, ways of life.
4. The absence of qualified Rabbis in the early churches caused those
congregations to lack the institutional understanding of the Torah and the
33 Lev 19:4
34 Deut 20:18 tells us not to do the detestable things of the pagans, who have temple prostitutes. See also Ex 20:14 35 Strangling an animal is cruel. G-d instructed us to slaughter our food animals by cutting their throats. Lev 5:8 36 Lev 6:26-27
37 These are four practices which are hallmarks of pagan worship. The new believers were to put these things away, to demonstrate a sufficiently changed life so that they would be accepted in the synagogue as those of a changed heart.
38 These new believers were to attend the synagogue on Sabbath, and learn from the Torah from those believers there, who knew the Word of G-d and how to apply it. They were to learn at a slower pace, not to be required to be observant of the Torah before being allowed into the covenant relationship with G-d, as had been suggested by some.
Prophets, so the church developed its own leadership who had shallow
understandings of Scripture, and who could not correct errant understandings
of troublesome passages in the writings of Paul and others.
5. The early church fathers were decidedly antisemetic, and many of them
advocated for the destruction of the Jewish people. 39
How do we reverse this pattern of deception in our time? By having loving
conversations with believers who have been deceived, are open to conversations that
might change their thinking, and who are willing to become educated on the truth.
Paul and Timothy faced this very issue in their times, and we face it today. Satan’s
“special forces” are still influencing teachers in the normative church, and they will
be hard to root-out. But if we will be sensitive to opportunities presented, and if we
take advantage of them as the Spirit leads, we will have an influence against
darkness.
39 I recommend you watch Let the Lion Roar, by Derek Frank. It is available on Amazon.
