Devotional: Discerning Spirits

Discerning Spirits

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But {the Samaritans} did not receive Him because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" (Luke 9:51-56).

Have you ever felt like James and John? Sometimes we can get so intent on our mission for the Kingdom of God that we forget not everyone understands the mission. And if we're not careful, then like James and John, we can judge men's hearts wrongly. Jesus made two powerful points in His rebuke toward them. First, be careful of what spirit you are operating in. And secondly, remember Jesus is not the Destroyer.

The Bible teaches that "...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). If you ask me, that's a lot of enemies! But few Christians recognize who they are really fighting against. We do not contend with physical opponents in this life. Our adversary is a spirit. Therefore, our fight is in the spirit. You and I can feel it through our emotions (which work through our flesh) yet the battle is never physical. Even if you were to get in a fist fight with someone, that fight started in the spiritual realm first and only resulted in the natural because one or both of you succumbed to the wrong spirit.

Paul warned Timothy of this very thing. He said, "A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:24-26). All who call themselves Christians are servants of the Lord, therefore this instruction is for everyone. Paul also meant "Christians" can be taken captive by the devil to do his will. James and John are perfect examples! Jesus rebuked them sharply for not recognizing what spirit they were operating under.

There is only one destroyer, and his name is Satan. He has many names, but his mode of operation and purpose remain the same. Jesus said of him, "The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy" (John 10:10). Bible dictionaries define destroyer as a ruiner; one who spoils. Jesus had to correct James and John because they failed to recognize that their question of whether they should call fire down on the Samaritans or not, was against Jesus' purpose. If allowed, they would have operated under the wrong spirit and "spoiled" the plan of God for men's lives.

Obviously, James and John did not realize the wrong spirit they were yielding to or else they would not have said what they did. In contrast, I believe they thought they were speaking righteously. The reason they could be so deceived is because Satan disguises himself as a minister of righteousness for the purpose of leading Christians astray. Paul said Satan had the ability to "...transform himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Who are his ministers? First, they are every principality of darkness listed in Ephesians 6:12, and then secondly, they are every deceived person who falls under their influence and begins to operate under that wrong spirit. All of us need to be warned for none of us are exempt from this trap.

Thankfully we have some assistance. God's Word is first and foremost our help. His Word give us the instruction we need and the correction and warning of these things. Paul stated in his letter to the Corinthians that we even have Old Testament examples to help us. Each story of victory and defeat gives us a visual example of what we are and are not to do. He said, "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man..." (1 Corinthians 10:11-13a). The reason these temptations are common to everyone is because they all come from the same source: Satan. His bag of tricks has not changed. His purpose has not changed. His deception has not changed. However, Paul continued by saying, "...but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13b).

We have often only looked at this scripture as an encouragement for quitting smoking or adultery, etc. This is true, yet because all sources of temptation come from the devil himself, then EVERY WRONG SPIRIT is a temptation to work against Christ. Jesus came to save that which is lost (period). Our mission is to follow His mission. Anything that works against that mission must be recognized, including calling fire from heaven to fall on those who just don't get it!

The Holy Spirit will provide a way of escape for us. But it will require us to listen and obey. When our flesh begins to get stirred up, remember the warning signs: "A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition." If we are ready to quarrel, or lack gentleness or patience in a situation, then the snare is at our door. At that moment, we must not only recognize it, but look quickly for the way of escape! The Holy Spirit will be ready to show us.