The Holy Spirit || Part 11
The Holy Spirit || Part 11, Day 5
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
I Corinthians 12:1-11 NKJV
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
It could be through past hurts or trauma that was left unhealed. It could be through abuse or times of extreme darkness in their lives. They could have been though something in church that they don’t know how to heal from. These places in their lives can open the door to demonic spirits. These spirits come in and begin to influence these people.
The reason the discerning of spirits is so needed and important in the church today is because Jezebel doesn’t announce her entry with a person. No, that spirit comes into the church and immediately tries to attach itself to the leadership. Because Jezebel can’t operate without leadership. This gift is very important. Just because someone wants to be in leadership does not mean they have a Jezebel Spirit. Therefore, you have to be able to discern the spirit behind something or someone. And you have to know how to test them as well.
We see this gift in operation throughout the New Testament, but especially in the book of Acts. Ananias walks in and lays money at the feet of Peter. Peter steps back and says, how is it that you have decided to lie against the Holy Spirit. He falls dead in front of Peter. A few hours later, his wife walks in, and Peter asks her, how is it that you conspired with your husband to lie to the Holy Spirit. And she falls dead in front of Peter.
Everything they did seemed right on the surface. However, through the discerning of spirits, Peter knew they were wrong.
The apostle Paul is shaking cities through his ministry. He comes into the city of Macedonia and meets a very wealthy business owner. Her and her household is born again and baptized. The enemy sees that everything is setting up for the city to be powerfully reached by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Then all of a sudden, this girl comes out of nowhere and wants to attach herself to Paul’s ministry. Everything she is saying sounds right. Everywhere they are going she is telling everyone, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” Brothers and sisters, there is nothing wrong with that statement. Matter of a fact, when you hear it everything in you says amen.
However, this girl had an unclean spirit in her. Actually, if you research in the Greek, she had this python spirit on her. In other words, it was a spirit that once it attaches itself to you or to a ministry, it continues to constrict until it takes the life out of everything it has attached itself to.
The Bible says that it was only after many days that the apostle Paul became annoyed and casts the spirit out of her. Why did it take many days? Because everything the girl is saying is right, but her spirit is wrong. The apostle Paul is praying and listening to the Lord, and he is quickened by the Holy Ghost and the discerning of spirits. Through this gift, he realizes this girl is not here to help the ministry. She is instead sent on assignment from Satan to keep growth from happening in the ministry.
Paul then cast the spirit out of this girl and all hell breaks out. Why? Satan’s plan has been revealed and through the discerning of spirits has been completely destroyed.
Let’s pray together…