Discerning of Spirits, Part 5

The eight signs we looked at yesterday will guide us in the battles ahead, helping us know the spirits we are to fight and the spirits we are to embrace.

I want to point out a few more things, however, that will help us discern spirits accurately. From experience and from the word of God, I’ve noticed that those who are not operating in the Holy Spirit’s love and compassion…

…Have lives marked by anger and bitterness

People that operate under religious spirits are weapons in the hands of the devil. People that operate under the influence of a religious spirit are as valuable to the devil as anyone else in the world. Some of the most hate-filled people you will ever meet are religious and know the Bible. The devil leads those who trust in their own minds into deception.

…Are producing bad fruit.

We are to know people by their fruit, what they produce in themselves and in others. The fruit will always reveal the health of the roots.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:14-17)

…are not trustworthy.

The Spirit of God is the stop light system in our own spirits. The Holy Spirit will show us who they are and whether we can trust them. We just have to get better at listening to Him.

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:4-5, 11-14).