discernment of spirits

Swooping Birds And Harassing Spirits

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Each year, spring time is quite hazardous in many parts of Australia. Some birds become very protective of their territories during the nesting season.

Normally placid and tame birds start to swoop pedestrians and cyclists whom they consider to be a threat. The worst among these are the Australian magpie and the plover. While they are mostly harmless, seeking to intimidate rather than injure, some individuals do make contact with people’s heads and faces.

Over recent weeks, I have been praying for the covering of the blood of Jesus when I enter a known hot spot. If a bird swoops, I command it to leave in the name of Jesus. Amazingly most of them do.

Recently I was swooped by a pair of crows, which I have never experienced before. Indignantly I told them to go and they immediately left me alone.

These are not all natural events. Some of them, if not all, are actually evil spirits that are sent specifically to harass, intimidate and distract us, even to reduce us to fear.

We might even consider them to be a sign of other events that satan is using to pull us down. If we are being attacked in a physical way, it is probably a sign that we are under spiritual attack in other areas. Sure enough there are many people in our church who are being intimidated and harassed by the enemy in various parts of their lives.

W don’t have to allow this to continue. We have been given authority over the devil and all evil spirits. Whatever realm in your live is under attack right now, surrender it to the Lord. Ask Him to cover it with the blood of Jesus and command those intimidating spirits to go in Jesus’ name.

Carson Weitnauer: How can we discern who really loves Jesus?

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From Reasons For God:

So many people claim the name of Jesus.

But sometimes, what looked like love for Jesus turns out to be a mask that conceals a lust for money, power, fame, or sex. It is a stunning and painful experience to realize that someone would intentionally violate our deepest values to take advantage of us.

So what if we could find out what separates those who love Jesus from those who want to use Jesus? 

In all honesty, sometimes we can’t. Cunning operators are often successful in their deception and manipulation. They tell us what we want to hear, and it works.

Still, in John 6, we have one story that can help us. 

A little boy offers his five little barley loaves and his two little fish, and Jesus blesses the weakness of this humble offering. We see the beauty of bringing together human weakness and God’s power: a crowd of many thousands eats their fill.

And why did Jesus do this astounding miracle? He explains it the next day, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” If you depend on Jesus to feed you bread and fish, then do you trust Jesus to satisfy your deepest longings? 

Sidebar: What are your deepest longings? Does Jesus fulfill them for you?

But what does the crowd want from Jesus? They want what they want! John tells us they are on the precipice of forcibly demanding that Jesus be their king. His powers are fantastic; he can overthrow the Romans! 

So what does Jesus do? He withdraws to a mountain by himself. And when the crowd chases after him, he challenges them.

Notice the contrast? 

Jesus draws close to the weak — and blesses them.

Jesus moves away from the power-hungry — and confronts them.

Read the rest here

Spiritual Gifts- Discernment of Spirits

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The spiritual gift of “discernment of spirits”, or more accurately “distinguishing between spirits” is of vital importance in an age where lies are dressed as truth and where satan can appear as an angel of light.

If somebody preaches a message or gives a prophecy, how can we tell if they are being led by the Holy Spirit, an unclean spirit or their own human spirit? How can we tell if a new person at church is a real christian or somebody sent to undermine the fellowship and destroy the ministry?

I have seen congregations destroyed by the white-anting of evil spirits in their midst. I have seen ministers driven to distraction by manipulation through unrepentant Jezebels.

This gift of distinguishing of spirits is the key to keeping us safe from the devil’s deceptions. It allows us to welcome genuine christians while avoiding people who are influenced by satan or sent on a mission of destruction.

Some years ago, a couple turned up at our night service. Through their conversation, we determined quickly that they were under the influence of demons. They claimed to have come with the support of ministers in another town, but we were able to establish that this was not the case. They had a bizarre theory about the New Jerusalem which anybody with an ounce of Biblical knowledge would see right through, but had the potential to deceive immature believers. We immediately warned the other pastors in town and the whole church was untied against them.

So how does this gift work? Often it is an impression that something is not right. Our first warning sign with any visitor to church is when they don’t give a full name or where they are from or the church they attend.

When there are strange events happening that don’t add up, or people become ill in strange ways or emotions and relationships are unusually stressed, these are signs that demons are on the prowl.

Sometimes in prayer, a word of knowledge may come that a particular person is under the influence of a particular spirit, or a key piece of information will come that suddenly makes sense of a previously baffling situation.

On one occasion, I was part of a group that was praying for a particular person. After we talked about the situation and were about to go into prayer the person said something that in any other situation would be quite innocent. Instantly I knew in my spirit “That’s it!” and my wife confirmed the same revelation.

As christians we have been given all authority by Christ. When these spirits are revealed, it is very easy (usually) to expel them. Sometimes we may need to get a group of people together and even fasting may be necessary. In any event, the blood of Jesus is our weapon in these times of spiritual warfare.