Right Message, wrong spirit!This demon p
Right Message, wrong spirit!
This demon possessed girl got the message right, but the spirit behind the message was all wrong!
During Jesus earthly ministry demons would always recognize Him and often accurately spoke out who he was. "We know who You are, Jesus, Son of God! have you come to torment us before the time?" "Even the demons believe and tremble!" says James. In every case, Jesus commanded them to be quiet. He didn't need or want the testimony of demons.
Strange! Demons are so ready to proclaim who Jesus is while getting his own people to publically bear witness to their salvation is like pulling teeth!
In spiritual one of my favorite verses is from Revelation 12:13
They overcame Him [Satan, the accuser of the brethren] by...
1. The Blood of the Lamb" [Their faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross to restore them to perfect fellowship with the Father.] This of course was a work of grace that only Jesus could accomplish.
2. "The Word of their testimony" [Their public confession of their faith testimony of the change that occurred in their life as a consequence of their faith - the leaning of their entire hope of salvation on what Jesus accomplished for them on the Cross.]
3. "They loved not their lives unto death." [The martyr's life that sets the stage for their martyr's death.] "Unless a man deny himself, take up cross daily and follow me, he cannot be my disciple." said Jesus to those who were following Him.
There is an immense insight from this verse to what it means to be a true Christian and the nature of true authority over the powers of darkness. Everything that God could possibly do to obtain our salvation was accomplished at the Cross and subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. For the blood of the Lamb to have any practical effect upon the lives of the ones Jesus came to save, there must be a response of faith. The first response faith is a verbal declaration. We must confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus. Or more accurately, confess Jesus as Lord. [Romans 10:1-7] the second response of faith is the response of a laid down life. To confess Jesus as Lord without crowning Him Lord of your life amounts to hypocrisy! Jesus willingly submitted Himself to unimaginable agony to redeem us from an eternity in Hell; the very least we can do in the light of so great an act of Divine love on our behalf is to unconditionally surrender our lives to His Lordship. Jesus withheld nothing in going to the Cross; we must withhold nothing from Him in following Him in the way of the Cross!
DL Moody, a well known evangelist of the last century wisely said, "If we withhold so much as a pin from Christ, it will stick us in the end."
The seven sons of Sceva leaned this lesson the hard way. They were unsaved Jews going about as itinerant exorcists, casting out demons in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached, when they ran across an especially violent spirit. "Jesus, I know and Paul I am acquainted with, but who [the devil] are you?" At that he leapt on them leaving them bleeding and wounded.
it is exceedingly important that we recognize that a prophet or teacher can say all the right things and still be a false prophet. Anyone who doesn't follow Christ in the was of the Cross, that is in a way of self-denial and loving service to others is a false prophet regardless of their doctrine. We are exhorted to try the sprits whether or not they are of God [1 John 4:1-5] . Examine their life and their doctrine!
Beloved,
Created 11 months ago
