Discerning the spirits (II)

If you haven't read the blog from the other day, do that before reading this. This is just a little more on the whole idea of discerning the spirits. I appreciate the comments, and hope we get more! I think it's time for many of us to think about things like this, and to be prepared to deal with them.

The story I want to mention today deals with having eyes to see the spiritual things we often miss, but specifically the things of God. It's interesting, but normally, when people talk about having this gift of discerning the spirits, they only talk about seeing the negative spirits, or demons. I don't know that I've ever heard someone say how they saw 10,000 angels shoulder to shoulder ready to do battle in the name of Christ! But I wonder if they do see this.

When I was praying in my son's room the other day, and it was still a bit creepy due to the recent events, God put something on my heart. He basically removed the fear, and the creepiness, and the goosebumps from being nervous - and He reminded me that He was there, too. That His angels were there waging war on His behalf! So, though I couldn't see it, I imagined hundreds and thousands of strong angels ready to do battle.

Then I thought of II Kings 6. I love that story. Elisha and his servant hiding-out in a house. The enemy locates the home and surrounds it. The servant looks out and sees the massive army, and basically freaks out. Elisha tells him those who are with them outnumber those who are against them, and says, "God, open His eyes." And instantly, the servant sees the hills filled with horses and chariots of fire all around them. He sees God's invisible army! Wow!

God reminded me that His invisible army was in our home - in that room! That we were not alone! So, if you are creeped out by the last entry, let's keep it in perspective. Don't disregard it, but keep it in perspective. We need to know what we are up against - but we need to know who's side we are on, too!

"This is what the Lord says - Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God. Who then is like Me?"

Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 by Jonathan Goeke

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2 comments (Add your own)

1. Verlyn McQuiggin wrote:: I must say that when I read your first blog, I was a little uneasy and did not know how to respond. This was just a subject that you usually don't talk about out loud. I am totally aware that demons and evil spirits exist. But I guess I was brought up "not to go there". As in Deuteronomy 18:10 says do not imitate (stay away) from those who inerpret omens, or who is a medium or spiritist. Yet, among the spiritual gifts that God gives to his people is the gift of distinguishing between spirits. (1 Cor 12:10) So it wasn't until 2:00 am in the morning when I couldn't sleep and was laying in bed thinking that it was rather chicken of me not to have answered your email request as to what we thought of your blog. I felt bad that I had not been brave enough to give you an opinion. So as I began to think about it, every scary movie with every scary creature, demon or ghost began to fly around in my head. I thought - Oh, Great, Can't sleep and now all this is flashing before me. Then the Exorcist movie came to mind and how our Lutheran Seminary, where an exorcism happened and the original movie was based on, has all the documentations on this event sealed and locked away from everyone. This brought me back to "don't go there". It also made me think how creepy it must be for you to go into those rooms in your house and how I would feel if I ever visited. BUT, then I called upon the Lord and acknowledged to Him, that yes, Lord, I know that there are demons and evil spirits around us but I also know that You, O Lord, are more mightly and powerful than they are. I then sent up praises of graditude to the Lord that He is always here to protect us. I then prayed for the Lord to protect and guard over my house and chase all evil spirits away. Then the vision or picture that came into my head as I called out to the Lord was of the Lord standing above me - stretching out his arms in front of Him and then sweeping them out to the sides - Pouring out his power and blessings on my house. I then saw all the evil spirits, fall prostrate before the Lord. They shirveled down into serpants and then slithered away. All that remained in my house was the Lord smiling down at me. It was then that I was at peace and could go back to sleep. All this because I felt bad about not responding to your email asking for our opinion!! So this is my answer to your question of what do I think - Don't dwell on evil things. Look only upon the Lord. As the Lord showed me his power over evil, may others see there is nothing to fear when God is near!!
September 2, 2008 @ 4:16 PM
2. PJ wrote:: Thanks for your thoughts! I'm glad God gave you the strength to share them. You and I did similar things, and experienced similar things. When I focused on God and His power, His strength and His presence in the room, all my uneasiness disappeared.

I think there are two errors we can make. The first would be to allow our thoughts to dwell on evil. To develop a fascination with it. To give the devil more power and credit than he deserves to have. There are many who do this, and it isn't healthy at all. I completely agree that we shouldn't "dwell" on evil.

But the second error we can make is writing off the devil. We can act like he is no longer worthy of our attention. But 1 Peter 5 tells us to be alert, because he is still prowling around and seeking someone to devour. We are told to resist him. That doesn't mean ignore him. We can't resist what we don't acknowledge exists. So, hiding our heads in the sand and ignoring him is equally unhealthy, for we need to know what we are up against.

That leaves us with one option - keeping the proper perspective. We need to remember that he is still the enemy and we are called to take our stand against his schemes (Eph 6:11), but we also need to remember that his fate has been sealed, and he has been defeated! We acknowledge evil rather than ignoring it, but we don't dwell on it. We have nothing to fear when we are on God's side, for who is like our God? The answer to that question is a resounding, "No one!"

And I'm still not sure about the "whole truth" in relation to the Exorcist and the Seminary. What is legend and what is reality escapes me. But I always heard that the exorcism wasn't able to happen at the Seminary, so they called in a Jesuit Priest. Not really sure about that one. I won't spend too much time investigating it since I don't want to dwell on it!! :)

Keep fixing your eyes on Jesus - the author and perfector of your faith!
September 3, 2008 @ 3:47 PM

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