Wrong Perceptions

Scripture:  Isaiah 53 v 4:
"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
1 Corinthians 2 v 13 - 15:  "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."

Until we learn and understand what the Holy Spirit teaches us about spiritual matters in our newly awakened spirits, we make assessments based on our natural experience, and are mostly wrong!  The Spirit of God working through us is very different to how our carnal mind perceives situations.

In Isaiah 53 is the prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus and in this verse He took upon Himself willingly all our hurts, grief and sorrow.  Those who crucified Him believed Him to be  sinner worthy of death under Jewish and Roman law.  He was no-one special to them as they had crucified about 2 million people by then.

We likewise judge those who are going through hard times and suffering, to have God's wrath upon them! Many times the struggle they are having is on behalf of others they are praying for.  Romans 15 v1 says we who are strong must bear the burdens of the weak. In bearing those burdens we sometimes sag under the weight and are judged unfairly as being punished for some sin.

People may also appear afflicted when they are being released from bondage as the demons leave. Some demons have to be removed slowly because of an ancestral curse for the person seems to have many long afflictions.  People who have been deeply involved in occult or satanic practices need to be aware of this.  

When demons leave your soul and body they manifest their nature on their way out.  If you were subject to rages and tantrums, there will probably be a big rage episode when it finally departs.  It is furious that it is being sent back to Hell and that it has lost its grip on you.  The peace and calm within you after it leaves will be with you forever.  Just give all praise and glory to Jesus for setting you free.  It is His perfect answer to Anger Management.

Seek God's face for answers as to why people are afflicted before you make a false judgment or wrong perception. You may be surprised at what He reveals and how He leads you to pray.  When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit you receive gifts that help you perceive correctly.

The "word of knowledge" is when you need insight into someone's problems who has turned to you for help.  The Holy Spirit drops a single word into your mind that not all the books of psychology or wisdom can give you.  It happened to me.  The lady in front of me was in mental anguish but could not tell me.  The Holy Spirit dropped the word "rape" into my mind.

I could not blurt that out to her, so the Holy Spirit gave me a "word of wisdom" on how to approach her.  I just had to ask her about her relationships with men in general.  Of course He was also working on her and within a short time she was sharing the awful experience she had borne for over thirty years.  Jesus set her completely free of those terrible memories and the fear that had hindered her proper enjoyment of life.

She had trust issues and pushed people away until Jesus turned her life around in a beautiful way.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit are there to help us and build us up to be able to help others who are bound with fear and tormented souls.  Years of therapy with little victory can change to instant relief when your Creator touches your life with His power through His people being obedient.

So let us turn from wrong perceptions to true spiritual ministry, from trying to assess people through unenlightened carnal minds to allowing the pure truth of God to bring miracle healing to each one who is part of the Body of His Son.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as You carried our burdens so must we learn to help those who are struggling. Change the way we think about them so we can be more like You.   Let us wisely use the precious gifts You have given us so we can discern correctly the way You do and teach others. Freely we have received and must freely give. In Jesus' name. Amen.