The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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His name (Lk. 10:17). Jesus, by the way, rebuked them for their arrogant attitude and warned
them of the danger of being taken up with the issue of power and authority. Instead they were to
focus on their relationship with Him--the fact that they have been given the free gift of eternal life.
Jesus also told His disciples to make other disciples and teach them “to do everything” He had
taught them (Mt. 28:20) which obviously included casting out demons. We also see that the
disciples developed this ministry of deliverance as they reached out to people with every kind of
need (Acts 8:7; 16:16-18).
Pytches gives the following analysis of the different categories (degrees) of demonization.
“The Greek word daimonizomai does not indicate degrees of demonization. This
will become manifest by the nature of the afflicted person’s problem in the
process of ministry or be discerned through the relevant gifts of the Spirit, i.e.,
discernment or words of knowledge. It is almost impossible by the nature of
the subject to categorize spirits, since so much depends on the gift of discernment.
Some are clearly more powerful than others, but it may be helpful to define according
to the area/origin of the spirit’s influences on the body, mind or personality of the
sufferer.” 44
Degrees of Demonic Afflictions
Fiery Darts
Some afflictions seem to be “temporary” and “external,” even though they may cause an
internal illness. Such afflictions can be lifted or cast off in the name of Jesus. 45
Footholds
We are warned in Ephesians 4:27: “Do not give the devil a foothold.” Footholds may be
provided for the enemy by anger, nursed grievance, deliberate sin, involvement with false cults or
the occult (this latter even through such seemingly innocent games as glass-tipping, ouija-boards,
fortune-telling and horoscopes, etc). All such practices need to be renounced and repented of. 46