The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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.