By The Spirit IV

1 Cor.12:^4-5 “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.” (emphasis added)

Discerning of spirits means recognizing the source of a manifestation. Why is this important? It is because not everything spiritual is from the Holy Spirit. Recognizing the source of a manifestation is the gift of discernment of spirits and it is so indispensable in this our time. Please read Acts 8:17-25. Acts 8:^22-23 “Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” (NRSV). Peter could discern there was guile in Simon’s heart and that the source of Simon’s quest was not God. It was dark, evil bitterness.

Acts 16:^16-17 “One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” (emphasis added). Unfortunately, today, people are quick to believe anyone that has a spirit to tell the future. Did you notice that the Bible did not say what the girl was saying was fake, or that she was foretelling a fake future? Sadly, there are a lot of churches that are demon spirit possessed, and people are excited because they are telling the future and because there is spiritual action going on. Do not be deceived!

What the girl was saying about Paul, Luke and the rest was it true or false? It was one hundred percent accurate. She had not met Paul, Luke, or any of the others previously. But she saw them and said, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” Even the devil knows… For a lot of people, that is enough to make them believe that the girl has the gift of prophesy so she must be a prophetess. Then they make her a prophetess in church, make her a house fellowship leader, and put her in the choir. Not with us, in Jesus Name. What the girl was saying was accurate and we cannot dispute that. From day one Paul already knew that she was not of God, so he was ignoring her because you cannot respond to everything.

For instance, during one of our vigils in a God Will Do It Again season, I saw some witches sitting in our meeting. As we were praying, I said to the Lord, “Should I take these people on?” His response was, “Just leave them, they are wasting their time.” So, I continued the vigil. Similarly, with some things, just leave them because they are wasting their time and they are a waste of your time. Sometimes, even at a Sunday service, I see a witch, but I do not do anything about it unless God leads me to. But I can; when I was much younger even when the Holy Spirit did not send me, I would go and cause trouble.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I earnestly desire the gift of discerning of spirits. Lord, help me to discern instantly when the source of spiritual things is not You, in Jesus Name. Amen!