Discernment of Spirits: A Spiritual Requirement

Jesus warned us to be on the lookout for false prophets and to test the spirits. He also warned us to guard our hearts and focus on the fruit of the Spirit. As mature disciples of Christ, we must be aware of the dangers posed by these religious demons and protect ourselves against their wiles and deceptions. We must walk in the Spirit, standing firm against the schemes of the enemy, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us in all things.

There is a particular class of demons that attack mature disciples of Christ. Identifying them requires humility and the discerning of spirits. This class of demons attacks those who have been in church and ministry for a long time.

These beasts are extremely dangerous. They manifest spiritual pride, religious ambition, false prophetic visions, and bizarre notions. All of this is shrouded in mysticism.These masters of demon powers have an impact on people who engage in strange and foolish behavior.Maybe you have seen some outlandish spiritual things that seem totally out of place.

These dangerous spirits are religious demons of unholy and corrupted character. These devils hunt advanced believers who are gifted by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you have seen people with wonderful gifts from God but terrible character. In the local church, they appear to be anointed by the Holy Spirit, but outside the church, they lie, cheat, gossip, steal, and don’t pay their bills. They are loving in the church and mean and hateful outside the church. These particular demon spirits seldom attack newborn Christians, but those who have been around the church much longer may.

Demons want a body to possess, a mind to influence, emotions to anguish, and character to defile. There are many different demons mentioned in the Bible. Witchcraft, drunkenness, uncleanness, seducing, gluttony, fortune-telling, insanity, and counterfeiting angels of light are all examples.When advanced believers are attacked, they are demonized rather than possessed.There is a big difference. A demonized believer still has control over their life but is tormented by their imaginations and emotions.

Religious demons are also adept at leading advanced believers astray and into error.That's what we call deceit. Scripture says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits to see whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).

To "try the spirits" means to put them on trial and make proof.

John taught that not every spirit is of God. Some spirits want you to believe they are from God, but they are only unholy counterfeits. Advanced believers understand that validation of every spiritual activity, encounter, prophecy, vision, dream, or experience is a Biblical requirement.

Religious spirits are masters of deception, working tirelessly in the corruption of fallen nature.This is why the flesh must be crucified. Scripture says, 

"However, if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law."Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and the like; of which I have already told you, as I have also told you in the past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance: there is no law against such.And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:18–25).

Demons know that self-deception is the worst kind of trickery because a person who has been tricked can justify anything.The voice of God is heard in the spirit of man. The Holy Spirit can speak in your conscience or through the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit never asks man for blind obedience but insists that man put every spirit to the test for biblical accuracy.

Every mature disciple must guard against this class of demons.

Watch your character. That’s where you can spot their activity first. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

© Apostle Jonas Clark

www.jonasclark.com