The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
195<br />
We must be careful that we do not have an unforgiving spirit. Paul says that an unforgiving<br />
spirit makes way for Satan to “outwit” us (II Cor. 2:11). “For we are not unaware,” says Paul, “<strong>of</strong><br />
his schemes” (II Cor. 2:11). And yet <strong>the</strong> church <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ is unaware <strong>of</strong> Satan’s schemes or<br />
strategies. What makes this difficult is that Satan masquerades as an angel <strong>of</strong> light and his servants<br />
as servants <strong>of</strong> righteousness (II Cor. 11:14-15).<br />
Whe<strong>the</strong>r we have <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> discerning <strong>of</strong> spirits or not, we are to be aware <strong>of</strong> Satan’s<br />
methods. Ignorance is not always bliss; <strong>of</strong>ten it spells danger. This is especially true when it comes<br />
to spiritual warfare.<br />
Examples<br />
Mt. 16:22-23 Jesus rebuked <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> Peter.<br />
Mk. 1:21-27 Jesus drove out an evil spirit in a man in <strong>the</strong> synagogue.<br />
5:1-20 Jesus drove out a legion <strong>of</strong> demons in man from <strong>the</strong> tombs.<br />
9:14-29 Jesus drove out an evil spirit from a boy who was dumb.<br />
Acts 5: 1-10 Peter discerned that Ananias and Sapphira had kept back part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> money<br />
<strong>the</strong>y had received from selling some land.<br />
Acts 8:9-24 Peter discerned that Simon, <strong>the</strong> sorcerer, tried to buy God’s gift (<strong>of</strong> receiving<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>) and that he was full <strong>of</strong> bitterness and captive to sin.<br />
Acts 13:6 Paul exposed Elymas, <strong>the</strong> Jewish sorcerer and false prophet, as “a child <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
devil and an enemy <strong>of</strong> everything that is right.” Paul perceived that Elymas<br />
would become blind which he did.<br />
Acts 16:16-18 Paul discerned that <strong>the</strong> slave girl following him was shouting words which<br />
came from an evil spirit and thus Paul drove that spirit out.<br />
CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WITH THIS GIFT<br />
1. Sensitive to <strong>the</strong> voice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>.<br />
2. Pr<strong>of</strong>ound sense <strong>of</strong> right and wrong.<br />
3. Keen insight as to <strong>the</strong> difference between truth and error with <strong>the</strong> ability to discern good as<br />
well as evil.<br />
4. Tendency to be serious and introspective and easily given to gloominess.<br />
5. Tendency to be an introvert bordering on being timid.<br />
6. Has feelings <strong>of</strong> uneasiness when <strong>the</strong>re is anything wrong.<br />
7. Feels an immediate and instinctive rejection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> a person or teaching when an<br />
attitude or teaching has an evil or untrue ring.<br />
8. Quick to analyze <strong>the</strong> reasonings and rationalizations <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs.