Scripture: 1 John 4 v 1 - 3: "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."
Every Christian who truly follows Jesus Christ should be engaged in spiritual warfare. Seventy percent of Jesus' earthly ministry was spent casting out demons and healing the sick. The Holy Spirit was sent to the Church to bring gifts and power that would help us do the things Jesus did.
Our Father in Heaven wants to see us actively engaged in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. How can we "try the spirits" if we don't think they are a real threat to us. That's what Jesus wants to know. He showed the disciples and the victims of demonic oppression His authority as a Man, for us to emulate. He gave us this authority just before He ascended to Heaven.
The early Church continued in the true works of Jesus but unfortunately the Church has for years played down need for such ministry. Sophisticated people, intellectuals, college graduates and priests have pooh poohed the very existence of demons or evil spirits. However you hear it in strange places like in cricket - the demon bowler; amongst celebs - she's battling her demons; serial killers - he looks like the Devil.
Hollywood is full of movies or TV series on vampires, zombies, werewolves, and other demonic entities. There are umpteen programs on aliens invading Earth with the intention of utter destruction. All of these are based on absolute truth about the unseen realm surrounding us. However, we remain ignorant of these dangers even when a teenage axe murderer kills most of his family and his voice on the emergency line is as calm and controlled as if discussing the weather.
Celeb after celeb have succumbed to drugs and alcohol. Have you ever wondered why alcohol is called spirits? Matthew Perry from Friends fame was a severe alcoholic and drug addict. Fame and money could not free him. When he was found drowned in his Jacuzzi his home was full of anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, type drugs. All he really needed was anointed Christians to pray for him.
Heath Ledger, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Michael Jackson, Ann Heche, George Michael, just a handful of the millions of unknown victims, who could have been saved from a living Hell by allowing Christians to help them. Christians baptized in the Holy Spirit may have the gift of discerning of spirits. It is so powerful and amazing to see people set free.
The truth is we human beings are actually spirit beings. Our spirit is covered with a soul, which consists of our will, our emotions and our mind. All this is enclosed in our fleshly body.
When we meet Jesus and are born again our spirit that was dead in sin comes alive in Jesus. His spirit comes to us, the Holy Spirit. When we are baptized after this we identify with the death of Jesus when we go under the water. We identify with His Resurrection when we come up out of the water. After this hands of Christians should be laid on us to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And His nine wonderful gifts.
Churches lose their relevance when they have no power from the Holy Spirit. Some churches take this power and abuse it, then lose it. The proper churches submit themselves completely to the will of God and comply with His ways. They bring forth abundant fruit. Fruit that remains, testimonies that inspire others. Like the rock star Alice Cooper. He asked Jesus to set him free of drug addiction and he is helping others.
Satan has us in a grip before we meet Jesus. The Word says we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Phillipians 2 v 12 - 13. This means we must evaluate our spiritual condition and work with the Holy Spirit to conquer whatever problems still bother us. This is an ongoing experience in our lives. We are no longer possessed by demons, but our soul and flesh need to be re-educated by reading the Bible, prayer, worship and counselling.
Isaiah 14 v 12 - 14: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
That's why Jesus had to die to break Satan's power over us through sin and equip us to defeat his demons ourselves. Satan's biggest and most successful deception is that he and his demons are figments of our over excited imagination. Any reality check gets filed under "Unexplained!".
The world today is in a serious mess because too few Christians believe we are in a warzone fighting beings we cannot see or hear. They sit in pews every Sunday and are content that all is well with their world.
The world however is flummoxed on how to deal with migrants trying to force their way into affluent countries; or terrorists like Boko Haram who kidnap schoolgirls in Nigeria to marry them or sell them as sex slaves for huge profit to continue their terrorist war against Christians in Nigeria. Nigeria calls on the USA and UK super powers for help. However it doesn't help. That's because Boko Haram are 100% controlled by demons sent to kill, maim and destroy.
You can only truly defeat them through spiritual warfare not guns and ammunition. The same goes for ISIS, North Korea, Syria, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban. All Communism is the manifestation of an antichrist spirit. All Muslim religions are a manifestation of an antichrist spirit. All cults, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Rosicrucian, Freemasonry, Spiritualism, etc are controlled by demons. If you cannot discern the demons you cannot fight them. Paul said that he does not beat the air when dealing with demons. He knows them and they know him.
Britain has discovered that 1800 radical extremist mosques exist there. Only 2 of these British mosques can be described as moderate. We are seeing demonic manifestations in various parts of the world since October 7 when 3000 Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, slaughtering families and communities. Because Israel responded millions of Moslems all over the world gathered in cities to protest. What Hamas did was fine by them. Israel should just accept defeat and annihilation. Satan controls such mobs. Israel is fighting for her survival. A tiny sliver of land that cannot fit its name on a map.
The Church has no power when it ignores the power of God through the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. When churchgoers find no victory over terror and tragedy they drift away. We must get back to our true nature in Christ and learn to try the spirits, not the people, the SPIRITS!!
Christians engaged in spiritual warfare have the gift of discerning spirits of good and evil. When you have delivered someone from demons and seen the wonderful change in them it is joy unspeakable and full of glory.
However, it happens as you are rejoicing something catches your eye. Job is not over. The person protests that they are fine now but you discern something in the eyes. You need to try that spirit. Those eyes move in all directions to avoid looking at the person praying deliverance. You have to command that demon to "Look at me!". You know that Jesus is looking at that spirit through your own eyes. The demon knows it too. Sometimes they speak through their victim with words like....This is my house (meaning the person's body). You cannot expel me. He is mine for 36 years. At this point you wake the person up who usually has no recollection of this conversation.
You need to find out what happened 36 years ago. It could be that the victim was molested as a child. Be very gentle but find out the name of the perpetrator. The victim needs to forgive that person then you can pray for that demon.... The person's name and type of evil attack. Perhaps rape. "I rebuke Herbert and the demon of rape in the name of Jesus. I command you to loose this man. I bind this demon and cast you out." There may be drugs or alcohol problems that are all demons. Their agenda is only to fast or slowly to destroy the victim.
Sometimes the victim yells and performs that you are hurting him. It's actually the demon trying to make you stop. It does not want to leave because it's going back to Hell. So when a demon is identified it has to leave. Its like a secret agent. If his cover is broken he has to retire. When you break that demon's cover you consign it back to Hell.
When you are praying deliverance for someone, the Holy Spirit is with you giving a word of knowledge, or a discernment of exactly what spirit is binding the victim's soul. We challenge the spirit to tell us its name. We use the name of Jesus as our authority. The demon (reluctantly) will give its name. Lust, Murder, Theft, Rebellion, Suicide, Perversion, Witchcraft, Hatred, Alcohol, Drugs, Bitterness, Lies, Pride etc. Once you have the name you can bind it and cast it out.
When a spirit is silent you have to try the spirits. You speak to the demon inside not the person. You command it to tell you if Jesus Christ was manifested in the flesh. This is one thing no demon will ever admit. Watch the person's eyes and mannerisms. Eyes roll or look every place but at you. The whole body may display restlessness or uneasiness. Then you command that thing to be bound and cast out in Jesus' name.
Policemen cannot explain why a group of youths can suddenly turn into killers, kicking and beating an innocent human to death for no reason but "the fun" of it. The high it gives them. But if you know that there is one or two members who have a violent spirit in them or a spirit of murder it incites the group in a flash. That same spirit causes them to smirk and laugh in the dock when they get long sentences. The spirit is achieving its mandate to kill (the innocent victim), maim the families involved, and destroy the perpetrators.
Intercessors around the globe are praying against the violent agenda of hordes of Muslim men invading western countries to destroy Christianity and bring those nations under dark control. Through much prayer the world has suddenly realised that they are in danger. They are making worldly plans, laws, changes but these will not work. Ephesians 6 v 12 says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood people but against evil spirits in high places. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot do this.
As I mentioned the Apostle Paul said "I don't just beat the air" I know my enemy. (1 Corinthians 9 v 26). Paul was not guessing which demons were manifesting, he was using the gifts of the Holy Spirit to discern and know what he was fighting. We should all be able to deal with demons like this. Years ago my 3 year old son was doing spiritual warfare before I was. I learnt a lot from him. He could see, hear, name and defeat them as easy as breathing. Unless you come as a little child you cannot perceive the kingdom of Heaven. Words of Jesus. So you don't have to be old, wise and whiskery to deal with demons. You just have to learn more about this subject.
Call on Jesus to open your eyes and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Be willing to open His marvellous gifts and use them. Discover what you are really capable of and turn this world upside down for Jesus. You are not fighting a losing battle. You have Jesus with you who has already defeated Satan and all his demons so that you could do this too. Be an overcomer! Be a true follower! Give demons the boot!
Let your spirit, your real self, conquer your soul and its demons of anger, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, wrong sexual activity, false religions, bitterness, hatred, violence, murder, pride, rebellion etc. Cleanse your flesh of these gate crashers and rise up in newness of life to be part of God's army in these last days.
Prayer: Heavenly Father Forgive me for wasting time on frivolous things when I could be fighting the big battles with Jesus against demons, the real aliens who want to destroy us. I want to know the truth so I can be free to help others overcome our common,(not so) hidden enemy. Teach me to reign over them and deal with them like Paul and others have done. In Jesus' name. Amen.