Hello, I'm
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and I'd like to welcome
you and invite you to join us
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in our study on the nine
gifts of the Holy Spirit.
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Today on Heaven's Point of
View we'll look at the gift
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of discerning of spirits.
I remember in the 1970's
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this gift went off the deep end
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in Pentecostal and
charismatic circles.
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People were trying to cast
demons out of soda machines
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and out of pay phones
if they kept their money
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without giving them anything.
There were large church services
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where demon "specialists" would
pray for people to be delivered
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and would even pass
out little paper bags
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to catch their demon
in when they threw it out.
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Well, are you ready to
counteract the counterfeit
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today? Then get your
Bible and we'll be right back.
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I personally believe that
there is still demon activity
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in this present age, and many
of these demons are associated
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with religion just as
they were in Jesus' day.
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However, our main purpose
should be Christ centered
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and avoid obvious witch
hunts. Philippians 4:8 tell us
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what our minds
should be stayed on.
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"Finally brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
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whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
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whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
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whatsoever things
are of good report,
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if there be any virtue
and if there be any praise
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think on these things. "
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You are probably
asking, well, what is the
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discerning of spirits?
This is a gift that allows one's
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spiritual senses and
mental faculties to discriminate
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and distinguish between
what is morally good and noble
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and what is evil and contrary
either to God's divine law
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or even to human law. The
gift of discernment allows you
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to see past the facade of
those that desire to deceive.
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It gives you the ability
to judge whether something is
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from God or from
Satan, from fallen angels
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or unfallen angels.
The definition of the word
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discern is: to perceive
something hidden or obscure.
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To perceive differences
showing insight and judgment.
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Now let me give you
a classic illustration.
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I laugh when I think
about this! Several years ago
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after a morning worship service
in Mollie and my's church,
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I noticed a disturbance
in the rear of the sanctuary
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and I approached a group
of people surrounding a young,
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teenage girl lying out on
the pew. And she was squirming
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and writhing, and all the
while growling in a deep voice.
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There was an older
gentleman whom I didn't know
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standing over her
and praying very loudly.
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You know the
devil's not hard of hearing.
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I stopped him and I
asked what was going on.
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and he informed me that
he was casting out a demon
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of rock 'n roll out
of this young woman.
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And I asked him if I could have
a go at it, and he told me sure
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but be careful because this
one was a very dangerous demon.
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Well, he stepped
back, I stepped up.
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I told her to sit up and
shut up - and she did it!
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I then turned to the stranger
causing this problem and said:
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"That demon of rock
'n roll may be dangerous
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but it sure is obedient. "
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After the laughing
stopped and the crowd cleared,
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the man asked me how I knew it
wasn't a demonic manifestation.
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I told him that the
gift of discerning of spirits
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not only allows you
to recognize what's good
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and what's bad, but it
will also work along with
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the word of wisdom
to recognize what's real
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and what's counterfeit
and the proper way to deal
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with the situation. The
gift of discerning of spirits
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actually examines three arenas
of spirit activity - not two -
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as many would suspect
it's only two. Not so.
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Practical application
of the gift of discernment
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is the heightened ability to
encounter a written or verbal
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attitude, to
encounter a difficulty, or to
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consider a
projected course of action
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and then determine the
fundamentals of the purpose
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behind the philosophy,
the difficulty, or the action.
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You see, first there is
the divine Spirit of God
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whose axis is the
spiritual senses of man.
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says: "But strong meat belongeth
to them that are of full age
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even those who by
reason of use have their
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senses exercised to
discern both good and evil. "
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says: "According as His
divine, His divine power
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hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life
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and godliness, through
the knowledge of Him that
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hath called us to
glory and virtue. "
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And next there is
the spirit of man -
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which is merely human and
abides in every human being.
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says: "The burden of the
Word of the Lord for Israel,
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saith the Lord, which stretches
forth the heavens and layeth
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the foundation of the earth
and formeth the spirit of man
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within him. "
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says - this is just real clear -
"But there is a spirit in a man
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and the
inspiration of the Almighty
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giveth him understanding. "
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"Having therefore
these promises dearly beloved
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let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh
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and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God. "
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For those that are
sitting there asking whether the
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Seventh-day Adventists believe
in demons and where they stand
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on demons and demon possession,
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this statement
might help you understand.
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Last, there is the
demonic or Satanic spirit
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that will try to counterfeit the
ministry of God's Holy Spirit.
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I Peter 5:8 says:
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"Be sober, be
vigilant, because your adversary
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the devil, as a roaring
lion walketh about seeking
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whom he may devour. "
Divination is the means
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of imitating the divine.
Now let me say that again.
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Divination is the means
of imitating the divine.
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And we all know that
only God is truly divine.
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Hence it is a counterfeit
rather than the real deal.
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Now there are four classes
of unfallen and there are
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four classes of fallen
angels that have access
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to our earth realm. Now,
please stay with me here, OK?
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I'm going to go through
this slowly. We only deal with
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two of the fallen angels or
what is commonly referred to
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as demons. Now, let me back
that up with the Word of God.
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says: "Finally my
brethren, be strong in the Lord
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and the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God
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that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
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For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood
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but against
principalities, against powers,
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against the rulers of
darkness of this world,
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and against spiritual
wickedness in high places. "
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Now although Jesus
was confronted by Satan
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in the wilderness, his main
confrontations were only with
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principalities and powers.
For clarification, let's refer
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to the principalities
as the smaller demons
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and the powers
are the larger ones.
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Now in this next
scripture, please take note
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that the pronouns change as
Jesus stops dealing with the
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little guys, the principalities,
and confronts the powers
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which are the larger
ones. Now we are only
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saying that for reference.
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Mark 5 says: "And they came over
unto the other side of the sea
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unto the country
of the Gadarenes.
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And when He was
come out of the ship,
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immediately there met Him
out of the tombs a man with an
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unclean spirit who had
his dwelling among the tombs.
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And no man could bind
him, no - not with chains -
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because that he had been often
bound with fetters and chains
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and the chains had
been plucked asunder by him
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and the fetters broken in
pieces; neither could any man
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tame him. And always, night
and day, he was in the mountains
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and in the tombs crying and
cutting himself with stones.
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But when he saw Jesus afar
off he ran and worshiped Him. "
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Now remember, this was the
man that ran - not the demons
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that were worshipping Christ.
"And cried with a loud voice,
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and said, 'what have
I' notice this now...
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'what have I' - please,
please note the pronoun -
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'what have I to do with Thee,
Jesus, thou Son of the Most High
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God? I adjure Thee by God
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that Thou torment me not. '
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For He said unto
him, 'Come out of the man,
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thou unclean spirit. ' And
He asked him 'what is thy name?'
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And he answered saying:
'my name is legion, for' -
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change of pronoun - 'we.
' " It went from singular
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to pleural pronouns. "And he
besought Him much that He would
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not send them " - pleural
- "away out of the country.
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Now there was there
nigh unto the mountains
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a great herd of swine feeding.
And all the devils besought Him
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saying 'send us' - pleural
- into the swine that we'
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- pleural - 'may enter
into them. ' And forthwith
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Jesus gave them leave. And
the unclean spirits went out
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and entered into the swine,
and the herd ran violently down
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a steep place into the sea.
They were about two thousand
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and were choked in the sea.
" You see Jesus didn't stand
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around all night casting
out one principality at a time.
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He dealt with the power
and the others had to leave.
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Please note that Jesus
did not talk to the power
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while it was still in the man.
He did not talk to the demon
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while it was still in the man
but only after it had come out
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at His command.
Mark 1:21-27 says:
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"And they went into
Capernaum and straightway
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on the Sabbath day, He
entered into the synagogue
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and taught. And they were
astonished at His doctrine
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for He taught them as
One that had authority
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and not as the scribes. And
there were in their synagogue
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a man with an unclean spirit
and he cried out " - please,
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once again -
please note the pronouns.
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"cried out saying 'let
us' - pleural - 'alone.
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What have we to do with
Thee Thou Jesus of Nazareth?
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Art Thou come to destroy us?
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I know Thee, who Thou art,
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and the Holy One of
God. ' And Jesus rebuked him
00:12:01.58\00:12:05.23
saying: 'hold thy
peace and come out of him. '
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And when the unclean spirit
had torn him and cried out
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with a loud voice
he came out of him.
00:12:11.85\00:12:14.06
And they were all amazed
insomuch that they questioned
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among themselves
saying: 'What thing is this?
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What new doctrine is this
for with authority commandeth He
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even the unclean
spirits and they obey him. ' "
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This will be a much-needed
gift as we near the last days
00:12:29.86\00:12:34.68
of this age. Now let me just
give you an illustration here,
00:12:34.78\00:12:37.12
OK? When Mollie and I lived
in Lakeland, Florida, I had six
00:12:37.22\00:12:40.33
fruit trees in the back yard.
Pink grapefruit, four tangelos,
00:12:40.44\00:12:43.64
and a Valencia. Now I
wouldn't go out in the back yard
00:12:43.74\00:12:47.02
and look at the fruit and
hold it in my hand and say
00:12:47.12\00:12:49.30
"Wow, this fruit needs
some water " - and you can get
00:12:49.40\00:12:52.57
a hypodermic needle
and stick it in the orange
00:12:52.67\00:12:55.56
and squirt water in the
orange. What would you do?
00:12:55.67\00:12:59.83
I had a sprinkler
system; I turned it on.
00:12:59.93\00:13:01.93
I didn't water the
fruit - I watered the roots.
00:13:02.03\00:13:04.50
And when you deal with
principalities and powers
00:13:04.60\00:13:07.63
the fruit doesn't affect
the root, the root affects
00:13:07.73\00:13:10.77
the fruit. And so many people
deal with these - cast out
00:13:10.87\00:13:14.31
two thousand demons one at a
time instead of getting to the
00:13:14.41\00:13:16.83
root problem. And when re really
move into the power of the gift
00:13:16.93\00:13:20.19
of the discerning of spirits
then we will know what to do,
00:13:20.29\00:13:23.01
how to do it, when to
do it, and where to do it.
00:13:23.11\00:13:25.11
What of the gifts?
What is it? What of it?
00:14:25.42\00:14:29.42
What is the
actual gift, Pastor Hal,
00:14:29.52\00:14:32.09
of the discerning of spirits?
Well first let me tell you
00:14:32.19\00:14:35.95
what it is not. It is
not a heart examination
00:14:36.05\00:14:40.22
because the Godhead is the only
entity that correctly discerns
00:14:40.32\00:14:45.81
someone's heart.
You will find that in...
00:14:45.91\00:14:48.37
It says: "For the Word of
God, the Word of God is quick
00:14:49.62\00:14:51.73
and powerful and
sharper than any two-edged sword
00:14:51.83\00:14:54.13
piercing even to
dividing asunder of the souls
00:14:54.23\00:14:56.93
and the spirit and
the joints and the marrow
00:14:57.04\00:14:58.89
and is a discerner" - get this
- "a discerner of the thoughts
00:14:58.99\00:15:02.27
and the intents of the heart. "
00:15:02.37\00:15:03.79
The true gift of
discerning of spirits allows you
00:15:03.89\00:15:08.96
to only judge the spirit.
I Corinthians 12:10 says:
00:15:09.06\00:15:14.02
"To another the
working of miracles, to another
00:15:14.15\00:15:16.48
prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits. "
00:15:16.58\00:15:18.94
This is not discerning of
the heart of the believer.
00:15:19.04\00:15:23.61
It is only the
discerning of spirits.
00:15:23.71\00:15:27.03
To try to peek into the
heart of a believer is wicked in
00:15:27.13\00:15:31.54
every way. Fighting and
arguing over the distinction
00:15:31.64\00:15:35.32
between the gifts and
talents has little value
00:15:35.42\00:15:37.90
in discovering what gifts
of the Spirit we actually have.
00:15:38.00\00:15:41.74
It would be odd for God, who
made us, not to build into us
00:15:41.84\00:15:47.83
some of us, natural talents
that could be used to complement
00:15:47.93\00:15:53.10
the gifts of the Holy
Spirit. The flip side of that is
00:15:53.20\00:15:56.81
neither should we be surprised
if the Holy Spirit gives gifts
00:15:56.91\00:15:59.75
to make up for what we
lack as a natural ability.
00:15:59.85\00:16:04.49
The value of understanding
the difference between
00:16:04.59\00:16:06.98
the gifts and the
talents come after discovering
00:16:07.08\00:16:09.12
a spiritual gift and in
understanding the temptation
00:16:09.22\00:16:12.86
and the pitfalls of obedience
if natural talents are present
00:16:12.96\00:16:17.68
or absent. For those
with spiritual gifts,
00:16:17.78\00:16:23.04
that intersect with
natural talent, there is always
00:16:23.14\00:16:27.37
the temptation to minister
00:16:27.47\00:16:31.18
in the power of the flesh.
00:16:31.28\00:16:33.54
I have seen this happen before,
and what ministers would call
00:16:33.62\00:16:37.24
the word of knowledge
which we took a look at.
00:16:37.35\00:16:39.35
I have seen them look
out over a congregation
00:16:39.45\00:16:42.09
and when they say well God
will meet your financial needs
00:16:42.19\00:16:44.52
for the woman sitting on
the third row - elderly lady -
00:16:44.62\00:16:47.81
get tears in her eyes. And
he is sensitive to this because
00:16:47.91\00:16:52.45
he is a pastor, he
watches a congregation.
00:16:52.55\00:16:54.70
And then at the close
of the service he says:
00:16:54.80\00:16:57.44
"Well, I am going to
minister in a word of knowledge.
00:16:57.55\00:16:59.06
God has shown me this
lady on the third row here,
00:16:59.17\00:17:00.90
this elderly lady,
has a financial need. "
00:17:01.00\00:17:03.97
God didn't show him that. He
saw that with his natural eye.
00:17:04.08\00:17:08.00
Don't let your natural abilities
interfere with the true
00:17:08.10\00:17:10.97
giftings of God. If
this is the situation,
00:17:11.07\00:17:14.19
we must be careful not
to fabricate divination
00:17:14.29\00:17:18.71
for divinity with any natural
ability that God may have
00:17:18.81\00:17:22.28
given us. For those who are
gifted in areas where they have
00:17:22.38\00:17:26.70
no talent, fear of failure can
paralyze the spiritual gifts.
00:17:26.80\00:17:31.13
However, wow, if we are
obedient to the Spirit's
00:17:31.23\00:17:35.82
low-risk promptings...
why do you call it low risk?
00:17:35.92\00:17:39.85
I call it low risk because
of this: we are not responsible
00:17:39.95\00:17:42.59
for the end
result of what happens.
00:17:42.69\00:17:44.20
We are only responsible
for being obedient to God.
00:17:44.30\00:17:46.86
When we are obedient to
God, when God will tell us
00:17:46.96\00:17:49.92
what to do,
prompt us with the gifts,
00:17:50.02\00:17:51.74
and we are obedient, then
God will confirm the gift in us
00:17:51.84\00:17:57.58
with power and our
confidence will be in God
00:17:57.68\00:18:01.71
and it will help us to remember
when we are moving in the
00:18:01.81\00:18:04.30
divine will of God,
we are not responsible
00:18:04.40\00:18:06.65
for that final result.
We are only responsible
00:18:06.75\00:18:09.03
for obeying God. God is
the one who is responsible
00:18:09.13\00:18:12.47
for the results
of our obedience.
00:18:12.58\00:18:15.04
It is when we disobey God
that we become responsible
00:18:15.14\00:18:19.03
for the outcome. Hear that, now.
00:18:19.13\00:18:21.03
Now let's look at
some New Testament examples
00:18:21.13\00:18:24.23
of true
discerning of the spirits.
00:18:24.33\00:18:27.65
"And when Simon saw that through
laying on of the apostles' hands
00:18:31.72\00:18:36.00
the Holy Ghost was
given, he offered them money
00:18:36.10\00:18:39.42
saying 'give me also this
power that on whomsoever I lay
00:18:39.52\00:18:43.62
my hands he may
receive the Holy Ghost. '
00:18:43.72\00:18:45.99
But Peter said unto him:
'Thy money perish with thee
00:18:46.09\00:18:49.26
because thou has
thought that the gift of God
00:18:49.36\00:18:54.16
may be purchased with
money. ' Remember what I said?
00:18:54.26\00:18:56.55
It can't be earned.
It can't be learned.
00:18:56.65\00:18:58.74
And now we know it
can't be purchased.
00:18:58.84\00:19:00.70
'Thou has neither
part nor lot in this matter
00:19:00.80\00:19:05.60
for thy heart is not
right in the sight of God.
00:19:05.71\00:19:07.92
Repent, therefore,
of this thy wickedness
00:19:08.02\00:19:09.98
and pray God if perhaps
the thought of thine heart
00:19:10.09\00:19:13.72
may be forgiven thee.
00:19:13.83\00:19:16.69
For I perceive
that thou art the gall
00:19:16.79\00:19:22.28
of bitterness and in
the bond of iniquity. ' "
00:19:23.02\00:19:27.07
Once again, let
me communicate this.
00:19:27.17\00:19:30.96
Do not let it work in your life.
Learn to discern the difference.
00:19:36.07\00:19:39.34
We all know that
there is only one God
00:19:39.44\00:19:44.77
and He is the one
that is truly divine.
00:19:44.87\00:19:47.01
Hence, it is a counterfeit
rather than the real deal
00:19:47.11\00:19:51.58
if it is not
divinely given by God.
00:19:51.69\00:19:54.50
says: "But a certain man
named Ananias" - you all know it
00:19:56.17\00:19:58.79
but I am going
to share it anyway -
00:19:58.90\00:19:59.96
"with Sapphira his wife
sold a possession and kept back
00:20:00.06\00:20:03.81
part of the price. His
wife also being privy to it
00:20:03.91\00:20:07.93
and brought a certain part and
laid it at the apostles' feet.
00:20:08.03\00:20:13.05
But Peter said: 'Ananias,
00:20:13.15\00:20:17.73
why hath Satan filled thy heart
00:20:17.84\00:20:21.69
to lie to the Holy Ghost and
to keep back part of that price
00:20:21.72\00:20:25.10
of the land? While it
remained was it not thy own
00:20:25.20\00:20:30.96
and after it was sold
was it not in thine own hand?
00:20:31.06\00:20:33.40
Why hast thou conceived
this thing in thy heart? '
00:20:33.50\00:20:36.57
Not in his head, in his heart!
00:20:36.67\00:20:38.49
'Thou has not lied unto
men' - whoo - 'but unto God. '
00:20:38.60\00:20:43.58
And Ananias hearing these words
fell down and gave up the ghost
00:20:43.68\00:20:47.76
and great fear came upon all
them that heard these things. "
00:20:47.86\00:20:53.03
Do you know that our churches
would stop being invaded
00:20:53.13\00:20:58.42
by people that come in
through deception and try to
00:20:58.52\00:21:01.15
tear things down if the fear
of God ruled in our churches
00:21:01.25\00:21:04.26
like it did here on
this day. It goes on to say:
00:21:04.36\00:21:07.61
"And the young men
arose, wound him up,
00:21:07.72\00:21:09.88
and carried him
out and buried him. "
00:21:09.92\00:21:12.05
Ananias and
consequently his wife Sapphira
00:21:12.15\00:21:15.54
attempted to lie to the apostles
by giving only a portion
00:21:15.64\00:21:18.97
of their possessions.
The Holy Spirit showed
00:21:19.07\00:21:21.06
Peter their true
motivation. Never assume
00:21:21.16\00:21:25.00
there is an exact
or repetitious process
00:21:25.10\00:21:29.74
or procedure that's to
be performed in every case
00:21:29.84\00:21:34.34
or on every
occasion. Now hear that.
00:21:34.44\00:21:37.54
It's not, it's not a
program. It's not a process.
00:21:37.65\00:21:41.22
It's not a procedure. You've
got to be led by the Spirit
00:21:41.32\00:21:43.77
What you might do in
one deliberate service
00:21:43.87\00:21:47.16
you would never even
attempt to do in another one.
00:21:47.26\00:21:50.25
The gift of discerning of
spirits may not ever be manifest
00:21:50.35\00:21:54.62
through you in the
exact same manner as before.
00:21:54.72\00:21:57.98
says: "And one of the
multitude answered and said:
00:21:59.76\00:22:02.37
'Master, I have
brought unto Thee my son
00:22:02.47\00:22:04.74
which hath a dumb
spirit. ' I heard one pastor say
00:22:04.84\00:22:07.33
'As far as I'm concerned,
they're all dumb spirits. '
00:22:07.43\00:22:09.73
But we were talking
about the natural tongue.
00:22:09.83\00:22:13.49
'And wheresoever he taketh him
he teareth him and he foameth
00:22:13.59\00:22:17.60
and he gnashes with
his teeth and pineth away
00:22:17.71\00:22:20.50
and I spake to Thy disciples
that they should cast him out
00:22:20.60\00:22:24.01
and they could not. ' " Even
the father knew he had a devil.
00:22:24.11\00:22:27.67
"He answered him and
saith: 'O faithless generation,
00:22:27.77\00:22:32.05
how long shall I be with
you how long shall I suffer you
00:22:32.15\00:22:36.15
Bring him unto Me. ' And
they brought him unto Him
00:22:36.25\00:22:39.54
when He saw him,
straightway, the spirit tear him
00:22:39.64\00:22:43.24
and he fell on the
ground and wallowed foaming
00:22:43.34\00:22:47.36
and He asked his father
'How long is it ago since this
00:22:47.46\00:22:52.09
came unto him? ' And
he said 'Of a child -
00:22:52.19\00:22:55.51
and oft times it hath
cast him into the fire
00:22:55.61\00:22:58.26
and into the
waters to destroy him
00:22:58.36\00:23:00.20
but if Thou canst do anything
have compassion on us. '
00:23:00.30\00:23:04.02
Jesus was
compelled with compassion!
00:23:04.12\00:23:06.55
'and help us. ' And Jesus said
unto him, 'If thou canst believe
00:23:06.65\00:23:10.57
all things are possible
to him that believeth. '
00:23:10.67\00:23:14.29
And straightway the father
of the child cried out and said
00:23:14.39\00:23:18.56
with tears 'Lord, I believe;
help Thou mine unbelief. '
00:23:18.66\00:23:21.50
And Jesus saw that the
people came running together.
00:23:21.60\00:23:23.65
He rebuked the foul
spirit saying unto him:
00:23:23.75\00:23:26.06
'thou dumb and deaf spirit,
I charge thee come out of him
00:23:26.17\00:23:30.79
and enter into him no more. '
00:23:30.89\00:23:33.44
And the spirit
cried and rent sore
00:23:33.47\00:23:35.34
and came out of him and he
was as one dead; insomuch that
00:23:35.38\00:23:39.41
many said, he is dead.
But Jesus took him by the hand
00:23:39.51\00:23:41.90
lifted him up; and he arose.
When He came unto the house
00:23:42.01\00:23:46.08
His disciples
asked him privately,
00:23:46.16\00:23:47.13
'Why could we not
cast out this demon?'
00:23:47.18\00:23:51.35
And He said unto them:
'This kind can come out,
00:23:51.45\00:23:54.68
come forth by nothing
but prayer and fasting. '"
00:23:54.78\00:23:59.06
Don't try to do it
the same way every time.
00:23:59.16\00:24:01.47
We are going to take a
short break, and we'll be
00:24:01.57\00:24:03.30
right back in just a
few minutes. Don't go away!
00:24:03.40\00:24:05.53
If you've been confused
about what the Bible says
00:24:08.23\00:24:10.73
about the Holy Spirit's
amazing gifts for the church,
00:24:10.83\00:24:12.82
you'll want to order your very
own copy of this 13-part series.
00:24:12.92\00:24:16.85
It's available on DVD
or video cassette from 3ABN
00:24:16.95\00:24:20.80
at a very special
price. This 13-part series
00:24:20.90\00:24:24.04
with Pastor Hal
Steenson makes a wonderful gift
00:24:24.14\00:24:26.75
for a friend or a
family member. Just call us at:
00:24:26.85\00:24:28.86
You may also order it online at:
00:24:34.58\00:24:36.28
I want to take just a few
minutes here and just share some
00:24:53.54\00:24:55.99
things with you that
come from experience.
00:24:56.09\00:24:58.29
Experience is a good
teacher! You really learn
00:24:58.39\00:25:01.22
from experience. You learn
the good and you learn the bad.
00:25:01.32\00:25:04.09
The first thing I want to
reiterate is never talk to
00:25:04.19\00:25:07.26
a demon or a spirit, demonic
spirit that is in someone.
00:25:07.36\00:25:12.19
Here's what happens.
Back several years ago
00:25:12.29\00:25:15.29
this was a big thing, you
know. Tell me who you are.
00:25:15.39\00:25:17.86
What is your name?
And I remember one time
00:25:17.96\00:25:19.57
I was just observing, I
was in a time of observation,
00:25:19.67\00:25:23.55
and they were going to show
me how to cast this demon out
00:25:23.65\00:25:26.13
of this guy, and I
remember his name was Ronnie.
00:25:26.23\00:25:28.28
And so they all got around
him and they began to pray
00:25:28.38\00:25:31.40
and praying in these
babbling tongues and everything
00:25:31.50\00:25:33.65
and finally one of
them looked at him and said:
00:25:33.75\00:25:36.05
"All right, what is
your name? " And he said:
00:25:36.15\00:25:38.42
"My name's Ronnie.
Y'all ought to know me. "
00:25:38.52\00:25:41.24
And they were trying to
talk to a demonic spirit
00:25:41.34\00:25:44.11
while it was in
there. Jesus never did that.
00:25:44.21\00:25:45.90
He always cast it out
before he talked to this.
00:25:46.00\00:25:50.12
Now there is another
reason not to talk to the devil.
00:25:50.22\00:25:52.66
Somebody said: "How can you
tell when the devil's lying? "
00:25:52.76\00:25:55.49
I'll tell you how you can
tell. Any time his mouth moves
00:25:55.59\00:25:58.80
he's lying. Anything that he
would say to you, he is lying.
00:25:58.91\00:26:02.97
The Holy Spirit is
always out front drawing you,
00:26:03.07\00:26:05.30
and the enemy is
behind you pushing you.
00:26:05.40\00:26:07.91
I was in a service in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
00:26:08.01\00:26:11.14
and I'll never forget this one.
The pastor was going to show
00:26:11.17\00:26:14.44
everybody how
to cast out demons.
00:26:14.54\00:26:17.06
Said, what you do... you find
out what kind of demon they are.
00:26:17.16\00:26:20.01
Remember, Jesus didn't cast
out 2,000 little principalities.
00:26:20.11\00:26:23.28
He cast out the power
and then dealt with it.
00:26:23.38\00:26:27.29
And this is what
we need to realize.
00:26:27.39\00:26:28.93
It is not the fruit that affects
the root, it's the root that
00:26:29.03\00:26:31.80
affects the
fruit. Well, this pastor
00:26:31.90\00:26:34.99
got over this man and he said:
"I want to know, you foul spirit
00:26:35.10\00:26:38.69
of hell, I want to know
what kind of spirit you are. "
00:26:38.79\00:26:43.00
And this is the
truth, this is not a joke.
00:26:43.10\00:26:45.64
This man said
back to the pastor:
00:26:45.74\00:26:50.61
"I am a lying spirit. "
00:26:50.71\00:26:51.68
And the pastor's response was:
"Are you telling me the truth? "
00:26:53.18\00:26:58.05
How ridiculous! What we need to
do is learn the true operations
00:26:58.15\00:27:03.79
of the gifts of the Spirit. The
gifts of the Spirit are not only
00:27:03.90\00:27:07.08
for discernment.
They are for witnessing.
00:27:07.18\00:27:10.70
The discerning of the
spirit is for witnessing.
00:27:10.80\00:27:13.09
And what we can do
when we witness and truly
00:27:13.19\00:27:16.29
witness for God, we can tell
whether that person is receptive
00:27:16.39\00:27:19.98
whether they are
standing there turned off.
00:27:20.08\00:27:22.17
We can tell also
before a demonic spirit
00:27:22.27\00:27:25.21
or someone that is meaning
us harm ever even gets to us
00:27:25.31\00:27:28.54
Before it even gets close, we
can discern by the Spirit of God
00:27:28.64\00:27:32.47
what this person is all
about. What we can do is we can
00:27:32.57\00:27:36.79
receive spiritual insight
through the discerning of the
00:27:36.89\00:27:39.49
spirit how to
minister to someone.
00:27:39.60\00:27:41.86
Through the discerning
of the spirit you will know
00:27:41.96\00:27:44.07
whether to use the word of
knowledge, the word of wisdom,
00:27:44.17\00:27:46.67
the gift of faith,
or whatever it might be,
00:27:46.77\00:27:50.12
we can truly build
up the body of Christ.
00:27:50.22\00:27:52.13
We need these
gifts in the end times.
00:27:52.23\00:27:54.37
We've got too many hurting
people, too many people that are
00:27:54.47\00:27:57.32
scattered and are not brought
together, and the gifts of the
00:27:57.42\00:28:00.64
Holy Spirit can truly
move the church into unity.
00:28:00.74\00:28:03.72
Wouldn't that be great?
Well, I've got news for you.
00:28:03.82\00:28:06.23
You get ready, because
it's going to happen...
00:28:06.33\00:28:08.96
and happen soon!
00:28:09.06\00:28:10.26
So far on Heaven's Point of
View we've been looking at the
00:28:30.92\00:28:32.99
gifts of the Holy
Spirit. But on our next program
00:28:33.09\00:28:35.77
we are going to show you
how to receive the baptism
00:28:35.81\00:28:38.46
of the Holy Spirit
according to scripture.
00:28:38.56\00:28:40.59
So check your 3ABN
World for the dates and times
00:28:40.69\00:28:43.09
and I'll see you there.
00:28:43.19\00:28:44.47