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The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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23. <strong>Spirit</strong>s get wary and fearful (this sometimes manifests itself in <strong>the</strong> afflicted person).<br />

24. Experience in this ministry will help in discerning when <strong>the</strong> spirit has left <strong>the</strong> afflicted<br />

person. This could be manifest in a variety <strong>of</strong> ways. When Jesus delivered <strong>the</strong> deaf and dumb boy,<br />

“<strong>The</strong> spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. <strong>The</strong> boy looked so much like a corpse<br />

that many said, ‘He’s dead’” (Mk. 9:26). But <strong>the</strong> act <strong>of</strong> deliverance may simply produce an<br />

immediate sense <strong>of</strong> peace.<br />

25. In ordering an evil spirit to leave, it is wise, for some people’s peace <strong>of</strong> mind (though not<br />

essential), to command <strong>the</strong> spirit to go to <strong>the</strong> place God has prepared for it.<br />

26. <strong>The</strong> afflicted person should put his own will to his deliverance and should himself<br />

renounce <strong>the</strong> spirit, telling it to go. “Submit yourselves, <strong>the</strong>n to God. Resist <strong>the</strong> devil, and he will<br />

flee from you” (Jas. 4:7).<br />

27. Experience would indicate that <strong>the</strong>re are sometimes more than one spirit to cast out.<br />

(Mk. 5:9-10; Lk. 8:2)<br />

28. Forgiveness and repentance are normally a prerequisite, but not necessarily so. 56<br />

SATAN’S COUNTERATTACKS<br />

It is important to be alert to <strong>the</strong> enemy’s tactics. He hates any penetration <strong>of</strong> his kingdom.<br />

1. He may attempt to make us boast <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact that God is using us in this ministry. When <strong>the</strong><br />

seventy-two disciples returned from <strong>the</strong>ir first mission saying “Lord, even <strong>the</strong> demons submit to us<br />

in your name,” Jesus warned <strong>the</strong>m, “Do no rejoice that <strong>the</strong> spirits submit to you, but rejoice that<br />

your names are written in heaven” (Lk. 10:20).<br />

2. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand he may try to convince us that we have “bungled” it and failed our Lord.<br />

3. Frequently, those who have been ministering (especially women) sense a felling <strong>of</strong><br />

oppression following this deliverance ministry. It is vital to learn to resist <strong>the</strong> devil (Jas. 4:7). 57<br />

CONCLUSION<br />

1. If any attempt is made to write up what has happened (which is always useful) it should be<br />

done in such a way as to disguise <strong>the</strong> treated person’s real identity.

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