The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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to, usually vocalizing such things as a boast of its power, a claim to long time ownership, a plea to
be left alone, a threat to expose something in the life of one of those ministering or a challenge to
his authority. Sometimes the other voice utters a stream of filthy language and blasphemy.
7. General spiritual sensitivity and experience by which those ministering detect the presence of
demonic influences. The pattern of symptoms becomes recognizable; covering emotional, and
sexual problems, addictions, physical infirmities and religious error, etc.
8. It would be quite wrong to suggest to the afflicted person that the cause of a problem
was due to an evil spirit without other corroboration and some manifestation of its presence.
Many people seeking help have been greatly frightened by such a suggestion and have retreated
from a fellowship which has real help to offer, feeling terrified, condemned or rejected.
9. It is far too easy and damaging to jump to such a simplistic solution. There needs to be clear
confirmation: either by evidence of a spirit’s “control” in the sick person’s history or through the
gifts of the Spirit or experience.
10. Sometimes a sufferer is convinced he has an evil spirit but the counselor is not certain. In
such a case it may be right in the name of Jesus to command any dark spirit to manifest itself--
which it will do, producing such symptoms as in #6 above.
11. Beware of assuming that all shaking, bodily contortions, hysterical screaming or sudden
physical pain, etc., is demonic. Many people have deep reserves of suppressed emotion which may
be manifest when they are being surfaced to the conscious mind by the Holy Spirit for healing. 52
Dangers
Pytches continues by pointing out the dangers in this ministry:
1. “If all life is seen as a battle with demons in such a way that Satan and his hosts get blamed
for bad health, bad thoughts and bad behavior without reference to physical, psychological and
relational factors in the situation, a very unhealthy demonic counter part of supernaturalism is
being developed.” 53
2. This ministry should never be engaged in without authority from the leadership of the
church.
3. It would be unwise to engage in this ministry alone, but in exceptional circumstances there
may be no other option.