TOPIC: DISCERNING OF SPIRITS I
MEMORISE:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14
READ: 1 John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
MESSAGE
Many children of God have fallen into the devil’s trap because they lacked the gift of the discerning of spirits. Usually, the messengers that the devil sends to believers appear as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). They usually seem harmless and very Iikeable, such that believers let their guards down around them and put their trust in them. By the time such believers realize that they are dealing with the devil’s agents, major damage would have been done, and they would have lost ground to the devil where their destiny is concerned. However, if such believers have the gift of the discerning of Spirits, they will get an inward witness, warning them about the devil’s agents.
Some Christian ladies have married occultic men who disguised themselves as born-again Christians because they did not have the gift of the discerning of spirits. Likewise, some believers have engaged in businesses with the wrong people because they lacked the gift of the discerning of spirits. Christian employers should not only look at the qualifications of the people they intend to employ; they should also be sensitive to discern the kind of spirits they carry so they do not impact their organizations negatively.
In 1980, I attended the wedding ceremony of one of my three close friends at the time. When I got to the venue, one of the other two friends welcomed me warmly and was doing everything to make me comfortable by offering me all kinds of drinks, food, and souvenirs. Suddenly, I heard God say, “He is your enemy.” I was shocked because I was really close to him and thought I knew him so well. However, I started treading carefully around him from that day on. Sometime later, I confronted him with what God told me, but he denied being an enemy. Some months later, we met again to discuss issues concerning the church after the death of my Father in the Lord. There, he showed his true colors and said, “From the day you came into this church, I hated you.”
Beloved, if you don’t have the gift of the discerning of Spirits, you most likely will commit the error of making an enemy a friend and a friend an enemy. This is why you must ask God for the gift of the discerning of spirits so you can truly know the spirits controlling the people around you. I pray that every devil disguised as an angel of light around you will be exposed, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please give me the gift of the discerning of spirits.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 6-7
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
28 GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah!
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven!
Feed me now and evermore (2ce)
2. Open Thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow:
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer! strong deliverer!
Be Thou still my strength and shield (2ce)
3. If I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside:
Bear me through the swelling torrent,
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises! songs of praises!
I will ever give to Thee (2ce)
4. Saviour, come! We long to see Thee,
Long to dwell with Thee above;
And to know in full communion,
All the sweetness of Thy love.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!
Take Thy waiting people home (2ce)
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