Discerning the Spirits

The apostle Paul writes concerning Satan in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 4.

And he has conquered death, as we shall see. Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image, that word icon means the exact stamped image of God, should shine unto them. Jesus called him the prince of this world, that is Satan the devil, in John 12.31. And he also said, Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. And God and Christ, through the Holy Spirit and the word of God, have given us every weapon necessary to defeat Satan the devil. But at times I think that we're not aware of some of Satan's devices and the way that he might get to us.

The prevailing spirit of this world is that of Satan the devil. And we'll look at Ephesians chapter 2, first of all, with regard to this, Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 1, with regard to the prevailing spirit of this world, which all of us once walked that way as well. When you hath equitined or made alive, who were dead and trespasses and sinned, wherein in time passed you walked according to the course of this world.

We all walked according to the course of this world at one time, and we were called to come out of the world to repent and change our worldview and to change the way we live our lives and to live unto God and not unto the world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. There is another spirit.

There are two basic spirits as far as being alive and influencing. Of course, that is the spirit of God in Christ and the spirit of the devil in the demons. So I've titled this sermon, Discerning the Spirits. In Ephesians chapter 6, we see this even perhaps more clearly with regard to the power and influence of Satan the devil. In Ephesians chapter 6, we see this in verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For the ultimate enemy, here is the ultimate enemy of every converted person, every person who has the spirit of God, this is the ultimate enemy. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the principles of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto yourself the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the very day, and having done all to stand, stand! Then the next verse would begin describing the armor of God, which we're not going to go into the description of the armor of God in detail at this point or in the sermon, but there will be elements of it having done all to stand, stand!

And we often speak of the gifts of the spirit, of the gifts of the spirit, which one do we hear perhaps the least about? I would say probably the discerning of spirits. So we go back to 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul briefly describes the gifts of the spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 7. And we look here where the gifts of the spirit are listed, verse 7. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit everybody, for to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge, by another by the same spirit to another faith, by the same spirit to another the gifts of healing, by the same spirit to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits.

That's our title, the gift of discerning of spirits. Can you discern the spirit? Can you discern if a spirit is after you? Believe you me, the spirits are after you and want you and want to devour you because Satan as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour. You know, in Jesus' time, there are so many examples in the New Testament of Jesus casting out evil spirits, evil spirits, foul spirits, dumb spirits, deaf spirits, blind spirits, spirit of hortons, and it goes on and on.

We'll list some of these later on in more detail. We don't hear so much about the spirits anymore. Psychology, of course, to a large degree, has taken place of discerning of spirits in so many different ways. Of course, psychology, psychiatry may have its place, and I'm sure that it does. And oftentimes, what might be laid to demons might be because of a mental deficiency that is within the brain or the nervous system and can be corrected. But oftentimes, more than that, it's in the spiritual dimension, the discerning of spirits.

So do we ask God for the gift of the discernment of spirits so that we will know where we are walking and what we're dealing with? God and Christ are the true light-bringers.

Now, light is, in essence, equated with the truth. The truth is equated with light and brightness. Light is the devil, and his teaching is equated with darkness and with deceit. God and Christ are the source of truth. And of course, John 17, 17 says, sanctify them through your truth.

Your word is truth. In John 12 and verse 46, Jesus states that he is the light of the world. I am the light of the world, he says. Satan poses as an angel of light, and somehow we cannot get that through our heads. We still, I'm afraid, have people in the church who think they can mix that which is taught in the churches of this world with the truth of God and take a little dab here and a little dab there and mix it all together and come up with some kind of potion. But we'll notice here in 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 13, 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 13, for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And if you thumb through, especially on direct TV, if you have that from channel 363 to about 389, not every last channel in that range is given over to some kind of religious broadcasting, but most of it is, all of these people who claim that they are bringing light and truth to the world, and of course there's always a pitch for money.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, and no marble, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. He is transformed into an angel of light, doing good. And how many of the people who advocate the things that are totally godless, then most of them have some kind of good works going on, some kind of foundation in which they urge you to contribute to, to help out, and then they are praised for that.

Of course, we have Matthew 7, which says, many will come to me in that day and say, Lord, Lord, how we not cast out devils, done many great works in your name, and I'll say unto them, depart from me, you workers of iniquity, lawlessness, I never knew you. So don't be confused. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transferred, I want 14 first, no marble, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Satan likes to pretend that he is a great benefactor of humanity, where in fact his ultimate goal is to destroy it. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. I say again, let no man think me a fool, if otherwise yet as a fool receive me that I may boast myself a little.

That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as if it were foolishness and the confidence of boasting. So Paul had a terrible time with the Corinthians, and basically he wrote 2 Corinthians in defense of his apostleship and his ministry to them, and he took them to task on several different things. In reality, Satan, instead of being a bringer of light, he is an oppressor. He is a tyrant and rules as such, as it says in Isaiah 14. He walks about seeking whom he made of ours, it says in 1 Peter 5, 8.

He is the author of death. Let's look at 1 John chapter 3 verse 8, 1 John chapter 3 and verse 8. First John chapter 3 verse 8, we see here about Satan being the author of death. We could ask ourselves, why is he the author of death? First John 3, 8. He that commits sin, this word po'eo here has to do with practicing sin. He that commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. The Gospel of John 844 says that he is a liar and a murderer from the beginning. The wages of sin is death, and Satan tries to get you, deceive you into sinning.

He is the author of death because the wages of sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Satan is, as we have noted, the ultimate enemy of each and every member of the body of Christ. And as we shall see, the spirit of Satan manifests itself in many different ways. Listen to that. Satan manifests himself in many different ways. And as we shall see, the demons seek to manifest themselves through human beings.

Maybe the demons walk through dry places seeking whom they may inhabit. They seek out humans whom they may inhabit and torment. Remember the situation where Christ encountered this group of demons and they had a conversation with them.

They said, don't cast us out totally into darkness, but cast us into the herd of swine. So we cast them into the herd of swine because it is through other living organisms that they can manifest themselves. So we cast them into the herd of swine. I heard a swine ran over the cliff, fell into the river, and drowned.

Satan had the power of death over mankind until Jesus Christ came on the scene. Mankind was doomed. Why? Because the wages of sin is death. So let's go to Hebrews 12, verse 14. Hebrews 12, verse 14. In Hebrews 12, verse 12, I'm saying 12. I want two. I want Hebrews 2, verse 14. The notes say 12, but I know it's two. In Hebrews 2, verse 14, For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same.

That is, Jesus Christ took on the form of a man, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself a no-reputation, and took on the form of man, as in Philippians 2, 6, that through death He might destroy him, that is, Satan, that has the power of death, that is, the devil.

He is identified clearly. And deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. That's one of the main things that Satan wishes to do with humans now, is to bring them into bondage. And he seeks to do this through many different avenues. And I think some of these avenues we're not really aware of. For verily it took not on him, that is Christ, the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Now the seed of Abraham, of course David was in that line in the lineage, in the physical lineage sense, but in the seed of Abraham, Christ is in that line. If you be in Christ, then are you Abraham's seed? And it airs according to the promise. Phase 2, I think it's 24. So that's what it means, the seed of Abraham. See you have the seed of God in Christ in you. The seed of Abraham, according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, the Spirit of God. Wherefore, in all things, it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, for in that he himself has suffered, being tempted, tested, and tried.

He is able to succor them that are tempted, tested, and tried. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Life. It is only through Christ that we can be reconciled with the Father, receive the gift of the Spirit after repentance, exercising faith, baptism, laying on of hands. The Word of God prophesies that at the end of the age, Satan will greatly increase his activities. But on the other hand, as far as publicity with regard to the increase of his activities, it seems that the media has basically gone silent except for articles that come out occasionally with regard to the Catholic Church and exorcists and people that have even run advertisements running asking for people to apply as exorcists because they are running short of exorcists.

And some of the things that are taking place in this world in which people just, without any reason that makes any sense, goes out and destroys another human being and oftentimes takes his own life. Revelation 12, verse 9, let's read that. In Revelation 12, verse 9, this is what the Bible says with regard to the end times, that instead of Satan slowing down his activity, he who lets will let, talks about in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.

But when the fence row, the hedge row, is removed, as Isaiah talks about in Isaiah 5, the demons are given sway and the great onslaught that began against the establishment and the culture, the traditional culture of the land with the protests against the Vietnam War, the hippie movement, the rock music, the protesters, and the protest music, the rock music, their dress, their environment with drugs. And so it just spiraled and spiraled and spiraled, and it continues to spiral to this very day. In Revelation 11, verse 9, I don't know what I said, but that's where I want to read. In Revelation 11, verse 9, The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world.

He was cast out into the earth, and his angels, the demons, were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying, In heaven now has come salvation and strength in the kingdom of God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of the brethren is cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. If you sin, you have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, and righteousness.

You can go boldly before the throne of God, repent of your sins, confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and it will be granted. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony, a true testimony. And in some cases, it says in Scripture, think not what you shall say when they shall bring you before the magistrates, the governors, and the powers, and the rulers of the Lamb, because the Father will give you words to speak.

Perhaps we'll read that verse later. By the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death, they were willing to die for it. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them wote in the inhabitants of the earth and the sea. For the devil has come down unto you having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.

And so the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought forth the man-child. Persecutes physical Israel and especially the Church of God. Make no mistake about it, the members of the body of Christ is the number one target of Satan the devil. Why? They're the true heirs of God in Christ. Satan was never a true heir of God in Christ in the sense of being a begotten and then born son. Perhaps that's the reason why he rebelled.

They are created beings, that is, Satan and the angelic realms. On the other hand, true believers are begotten sons and daughters of God, born into the family of God at the resurrection. Moreover, it is the members of the Church of God that will expose Satan for what he really is. You hear very little, even of these evangelists, so-called evangelists, that preach on direct TV from 363 through 389. Not all of that is preaching so much different things.

But very little about Satan the devil, but a lot about the prosperity gospel. God wants you to be rich, sow some seed with me and it'll come back to you.

The day is coming, and to some degree now is, when in almost every way those who profess to believe in God in the scriptures are persecuted, made fun of, and in some cases killed.

Even back when I was in elementary school, and even through high school, from the mid-40s through the mid-50s, I was still even in the public schools of heavy emphasis upon God, upon country, upon family, upon time-honored traditions, upon the commandments.

That is no longer the case.

As members of the body of Christ increase their witness and testimony against Satan, and those who have been deceived by him, these men and women will become more and more the object of persecution and scorn by the world. Now, this set of scriptures we're about to read. I haven't read in a long time in services. I don't think I've ever heard anyone else read them in a sermon, but of course in other settings, perhaps. And I'm sure you have read them in the past, but let's go to Matthew 10 and start in verse 16. In Matthew 10 and verse 16, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. There were two different commissionings, I suppose you would say.

Jesus Christ commissioned the apostles in similar to what we're about to read here.

Also, he commissioned the 70 that he sent out in a similar way. And I believe it is relevant to us today.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Be you therefore wise as serpents, harmless as doves.

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils.

They will scourge you in their synagogues.

You shall be brought before governors and kings, for my name's sake, for a testimony against them and the nations, the ethnos.

Remember that I read earlier about, and they overcame him by the word of their testimony, by the blood of the Lamb, and they loved not their lives until the death.

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak.

For it is not you that speaks, but the spirit of your Father which speaks in you.

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, the father the child.

And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

But he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved.

There is a similar account of this in the Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24, and also to some degree in Mark and Luke.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee you to another, for verily I say unto you, you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man become.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord. In other words, Jesus Christ suffered, and so will you. That's what that verse is saying. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master and the servant as his Lord. If he suffered, so will you. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, indicating in one of the names of the devil, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Fear not therefore, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hid that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that I speak you in light.

And what you hear in the ear, that preach you upon the housetops.

Fear not, then, which kill the body, and not able to kill the soul.

That shows, once again, soul is the life essence. It's not a separate entity, but it is life potential, life essence.

Only God can take that away, second death.

But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Gihanna fire.

Are you not, are not too sparrow, soul for, or fathering, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father?

Remember, one of the definitions of grace that I talked about, God is keenly aware of his creation, his love, care, and concern for his creation.

Not a sparrow falls as ground without your father's knowledge is the ellipse. But the very hairs on your head are numbered.

Fear you not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before me and him will I confess also before my father, which is in heaven.

See, Satan knows his fate.

Remember when Jesus confronted some of the demons? They said, are you come to torment us before the time?

They know the time is coming.

In the meantime, he will try to destroy you and destroy everyone that he can who knows the truth.

And once again, the irony of our age is that in the church, it seems we hear less and less about the activity of Satan and his attempts to destroy the body of Christ.

And for that matter, the body of Christ is composed of individuals of which you are one of the members.

Make no mistake about it, Satan is relentlessly at work seeking to destroy you and the church of God.

In any kind of warfare, one of the main strategies is to divide and conquer.

For a period of time, Satan will be able to divide and scatter the church of God.

There is no telling since the initial division took place in the worldwide church of God in 1995 to the present day how many hundreds of offshoots there are of people who profess to be affiliated with, and God is the ultimate judge, profess to be striving for the faith once delivered.

Let's look at Daniel 12.

Daniel 12, the prophecy here is quite clear of what I've just said in reality.

And at the time of the end, that word for end, yetz, means exactly what it says.

Spell with a Q, I believe.

At the time of the end, at that time, shall Michael stand up, the great prince, which stands for the children of your people. There shall be a time of trouble, as never was since Matthew 24, 15, the great tribulation when the abomination of desolation is placed, and then Matthew 24, 21, the time of trouble, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to the same time. And at that time, your people shall be delivered in every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars, for ever and ever. But ye, O Daniel, shut up the word, seal the book, even to the time of the end, many shall run to and fro, knowledge shall be increased. And of course, we've heard that many, many times. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood another other two, the one on one side of the river, the other on the other side of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen which was upon the waters of the river, how long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

And I heard the man clothed in linen which was upon the waters of the river which he held up, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven and swore by him that lives forever, that it shall be for a time's time and half a time, three and a half years, and when he shall accomplish to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And of course, when the abomination of desolation is placed, a countdown to the end begins.

As we shall see, the Bible teaches that there are different kinds of demons that exhibit different spirits of Satan. God commands us to test the spirit to see if they are of God.

Let's look now at 1 John 4-1. 1 John 4-1, one of the main commandments here. 1 John encountered many false teachers, especially those who were espousing a form of ascetic Gnosticism. 1 Deny the body to purify the inner man. 1 John 4-1, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits concerning the spirits. One of the gifts of the spirit.

Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. As we have read, they transform themselves into angels of light. They can have 99% of the truth, which I don't know any that do, but it only takes, in some cases, 1 tenth to 1%, or less to kill you. 2 John 4-1, 1 John 4-2, hear by know you the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh is of God. Jesus Christ is living in each one of us.

And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh is not of God.

And this is the spirit of Antichrist. Whereof you have heard that it should come, and even now already it is in the world. The spirit of Antichrist. He who lets will let till he be taken out of the way. We are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Once again, Jesus Christ said, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. So he's given us the weapons, the warfare, that we might overcome the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God, we being the apostles, the apostle John at that time, the elder of the apostles. We are of God, he that knows God, knows us. He that is not of God hears not us. I want to hear what the Bible has to say, and of course they'll take bits and pieces of it like God loves everybody. God is love. Yes, that is true, but God does not love sin. He's angry with the wicked every day. God hates sin because the wages of sin is death, and the only way we can live is to repent of sin. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. How do we know it? By listening to the word of God, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are true, said Jesus Christ.

Otherwise, I don't know why we cannot get this across to the whole world, as it were, with regard to the spirit of truth. There are just two options. One option is to be left to your own mind of what you can conceive and reason with regard to why the universe, why human beings, why anything you want to name and you fill in the blank. And the other option is to believe in the great creator God who created everything, and nothing else makes sense because if you ever have a course in statistics and you study probability, the probability of some of the things that people who teach evolution are trying to get you to believe are so, what, 100 to the thousandth power or something ridiculous figure like that, which in essence is not possible to happen accidentally.

So for a period of time, Satan will continue to scatter and divide, but we have the power. We can try the spirits, even though we live in the age of toleration. And as I've said many times, the only commandment now is you shall not be intolerant. So trying the spirits. John says, once again, verse 6. Verse 6, We are of God, he that knows God hears us. He that is not of God hears not us, hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Now we go to Isaiah. We're talking about how do we know? How do we know that homosexuality is wrong? Well, the Bible is very clear on it. In Isaiah chapter 8 and verse 20. To the law and the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, to the law and the testimony, what's written in this book, if they don't speak according to that, if they don't believe that, it is because there is no light in them. In other words, there's no truth in them. Now we go back to 1 John chapter 2, and I mean it is so clear. 1 John chapter 2 verse 1, My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate that is the same word that's translated comforter back in the Gospel of John chapter 8. We have a paracletus, a comforter, intercessor, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the perpetuation for our sins, he went in our stead, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

And hereby we know that we know him if we keep his commandments. I mean, it's simple. 1 John chapter 2 verse 1, He that says I know him and keeps not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But who so keeps his word in him barely is the love of God perfected. We want to talk about love. God loves everybody, and indeed he does, but God loves the sinner and hates the sin.

And him barely is the love of God perfected, hereby know we that we are in him.

And some people say that they believe in God. If you believe in God, if you really believe in God, you would do what he says.

Luke 646 says, Luke 646, Why call you me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Why would you do that?

Some people say they really believe in Jesus Christ.

You're talking about trying the spirits and the spirit of antichrist.

You see, if you're not willing to believe and do what God says to do, do you really believe in God? Are you of the spirit of antichrist if you refuse to do what he says?

You know, in James, let's turn to where it first, John. Turn back there a few pages to James chapter 1, James chapter 2, rather, in verse 19. In James 2, 19, you believe there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe in trouble.

Just to say you believe in God, that an entity God and Christ exist is not sufficient.

You know, Satan, he can plant thoughts in the minds and in the hearts of people.

He planted thoughts in the heart and mind of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus Christ, and so he did. How does that take place? How does Satan get to a person?

A planting, a thought, sowing a seed of doubt, or whatever it is. Look at James 1 in verse 13.

James 1 verse 13, let no man say when he is tempted or tested, I am tempted, tested of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man.

But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin. Now, this gets into that question way back when we had this comedian named Flip Wilson. One of his famous lines was, the devil made me do it. But actually, the devil doesn't make you do it, but he can influence you, plant the thought to, quote, do it. And so every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and entice. Then when lust hath conceived, in other words, you think about it and you mull it over and it goes back into should I, should I not, and give in, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift, every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness and neither shadow of turning with his own will, beget he you with the word of truth. So guard your thoughts and how you respond to them because they are precursors to action. Proverbs 4, 23 says, out of the abundance the heart the mouth out of the, I'm sorry, guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life. You know, the truth of God is not an opinion poll. All of God's works are done in truth. So let's note some of the kinds of unclean spirits that Jesus encountered.

Let's go to Mark 9 and verse 25. Mark 9 and verse 25. We're going to hurriedly go through some of these spirits. I would encourage you to write them down and to read the context surrounding verses. Think about, has Satan ever gotten to me through this way or that way in Mark 9 and verse 25?

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried and rent him sore and came out, and he was one as dead, insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose.

And when he was coming to the house, the disciples asked him privately, why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, and here's one of the keys, with regard to spiritual warfare, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

So, prayer and fasting. Remember when Jesus was to be tempted by Satan, the devil led away into the wilderness? Matthew 4, tempted, tested 40 days, 40 nights. The devil came to him after he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights. And so, Jesus was as in tune spiritually as you possibly could be.

And the three temptations that Satan threw toward him, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, Jesus rebuked by quoting the Word of God. The next unclean spirits, look at Matthew 10 and verse 1. In Matthew 10 verse 1, these spirits are called by different names. They manifest themselves in different ways. In Matthew 10 and verse 1. And when the disciples called him, and when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. So, one of the types of demons that Jesus cast out was unclean spirit. So now we go to Mark chapter 5 and verse 8. I'll turn to these scriptures with you, even though I have them written down here. In Mark chapter 5 and verse 8, Jesus commands here the unclean spirit to come out. In Mark chapter 5 verse 8, for he said unto him, Come out of the man you unclean spirit. And he spoke to him, saying, What is your name? He answered, saying, My name is Legion, for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send him away out of the country. In other words, cast him into outer darkness, then he would be rendered of non-effect. Now there was, and that's what I, there was nearby under the mount, a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine that we may enter into them.

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. He did it, and the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine. And the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea. They were about two thousand, and were called choked in the sea. And David fed the swine, fled, and told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. You see, one of the things that Satan and the demon seek to do is a living organism that they can inhabit and torment.

You look back here now in verse 6, but when he saw Jesus, this one that was tormented far off, he ran and worshipped him and cried with a loud voice and saying, What I have I to do with you, Jesus, you son of God, this is the demon recognizing who Jesus is, the most high God.

I dare you by God that you torment me not. And of course, the ultimate torment is to be cast out into outer darkness, to be rendered of non-effect. And some people want to debate whether or not God can destroy spirit. And I ask the question, does God create anything that he cannot destroy?

You answer that.

Another is called evil spirits. We look now at Luke 7 and verse 21. In Luke 7 and verse 21, we'll see another type here. Remember when he cast that one out? That we first talked about the dumb spirit.

It says this type goes not out except through fasting and prayer.

See this kind showing that there are different kind. This kind goes not out except through fasting and prayer. Now here is another kind in Luke 7 and verse 21. And in the same hour, he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and of evil spirits and many that were blind he gave sight.

And then Jesus answered and said unto them, Go your way and tell John what things you have heard and seen and how that the blind see the lame walk the lepers are cleansed the deaf hear the dead are raised to the poor the gospel is preached. See John sent out messengers asking if you are really the Christ and Christ's answer was look at the mighty works that are being done. Another one is familiar spirits and those are talked about in Leviticus.

We go to Leviticus 19 31. Familiar spirits are the fortune tellers of the land that people seek to as you come off 80 there in Longview you come to the loop and you take a left and you go down a block and a half or so and you will see a sign at least I guess it's still there that says palm reader so the the fortune teller supposedly the lines on your palms will tell it will give you your life story your future in Leviticus 19 and verse 31 what does God have to say about the familiar spirits regard not them that have familiar spirits neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them I am the eternal your God you shall rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man and fear your God I am the Lord also in Leviticus 20 and verse six forward just a page or so Leviticus 20 and verse six about the familiar spirits and the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among the people sanctify yourselves therefore and be you holy for I am the eternal your God another is the spirit of divination this spirit of divination apparently is stronger than familiar spirits and is more deceitful we go to first let's go to acts we go to first thessalonians 2 and verse 5 first of all first thessalonians and 2 5 the spirit of divination there are people who use flattery and deceit to try to manipulate and control the people it's very difficult at times and it's very difficult oftentimes to resist those who use this technique and that's not to say that everyone uses that uses flattery is necessarily of Satan the devil in first thessalonians 2 verse 5 let's read 4 first of all first thessalonians 2 4 but as you were allowed of God to be to be put in trust with the gospel to be put in trust means to be placed in sacred keeping with you even so we speak not as pleasing men but God which tries our hearts for neither at any time use we flattering words as you know nor a cloak of covetousness God is witness see God hates the flattering tongue let's go now to acts 16 and verse 16 a very famous account here of one who was going about the people that Paul encountered in his ministry in acts 16 and verse 16 and it labels this one as having the spirit of divination the spirit of divination acts 16 verse 16 it came to pass as we went to prayer a certain damsel possessed with a with a spirit of divination met us which bought brought her masters much gained by soothsayer or by fortune telling the same followed Paul and us and cried these men are the servants of the most high god which show unto us the way of salvation well they kept on saying that and finally Paul got weary of it and cast this spirit out verse 18 and this did she many days just following said these men are the most high god these men are the most high god but Paul being grieved turned and said to the spirit I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her and he came out the same hour and when her master saw that she that the hope of their gains was gone they caught Paul and Silas drew them into the marketplace under the rulers and so they persecuted Paul and Silas and you know the rest of that story another spirit is the spirit of hortums the spirit of hortums can be used in two different ways one physically oftentimes physical horton precedes spiritual horton and then oftentimes after especially in the old testament they would go a whoring after the gods of other nations and then they would commit spiritual fornication or horton look at hosea chapter four and verse 12 hosea chapter four and verse 12 hosea right after daniel and the minor prophets hosea chapter four and hosea chapter four and verse 12 my people ask counsel at their stocks and their staff declares unto them see we could read we can read isaiah 47 where it talks about the seers of the day with regard to the financial markets and the economy of babylon how many newsletters and that kind of thing are sold basically each one paints a picture that the economy is about to collapse if you only knew what we knew the inside then you would subscribe to our letter we'll inform you and of course sometimes these things are helpful sometimes they're not but that's not as what is going to save us my people ask counsel at their stocks and their staff declares unto them for the spirit of hortons have caused them to err and they have gone a whoring from under their god they sacrifice upon the tops of mountains burn incense upon the hills under oaks and poplars and elms because the shadow thereof is good therefore your daughters shall commit hortom and your spouses shall commit adultery so the spirit of hortons oftentimes physical fornication or adultery precedes spiritual then i'm just going to name these last ones here and you can look at them if you care to the spirit of jealousy the spirit of jealousy of course can cause the for divorce and especially people who are subject to paranoia thinking that everybody's out to get them or everybody doesn't like them it causes a lack of trust and suspicion of everyone and everything it can cause a person to become violent and have fits of rage and anger there's a spirit of bondage this type of demon can cause people to be addicted to drugs to alcohol tobacco of course most of the times it is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes but god says we've not received the spirit of bondage to fear but we receive the spirit of sonship whereby we cry abba father there is the lying spirit that goes forth some people seem to be pathological liars they lie when the truth would serve them better we could probably name some people not in the church but maybe in the church the spirit of fear god has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind the spirit of infirmity spend a little time here the spirit of infirmity this spirit is the cause of many people's sicknesses and infirmities when they get delivered they really are not happy oftentimes of being healed because their identity was their infirmity well how you feel today well i really don't feel very well you know i did have this but now i've got this i used to have that but now i have this in Luke 13 verse 11 behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity 18 years and was bowed together and couldn't know why it's lift up herself and when jesus saw her he called her to him and said unto her woman you are loose from your infirmity and he laid his hands on her immediately she she was made straight and glorified god examine ourselves am i a victim of the spirit of infirmity is that my identity in some cases their infirmities become their life and their identity and it holds them in bondage what can we do as we've already mentioned let's review ask the holy ask god for the word and the spirit to be within you for the discernment of spirits the gift of the discernment of spirits the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit everybody try the spirits as we've talked about from first john 4 verses 1 through 6 rebuke any and all evil spirits in the name of jesus christ you know here's the great example of this look at jude chapter 1 and verse 9 jude chapter 1 and verse 9 in jude chapter 1 verse 9 here michael the great archangel was contending with the devil over the body of moses the devil wanted the body of moses set up as a an icon a a point of worship and if they had it they would probably be charging people to see it to this day in jude 1 and verse 9 yet michael the archangel when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of moses dared not bring a railing accusation against him but said the lord rebuke you you have power god has given his people power over the spirit world to overcome powers and principalis i'm reading now luke 1019 but i give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you do we really believe it do we really live in faith do we really live in hope knowing believing that god is going to deliver and we are going to be able to make it but at the same time let us be aware of what is out there let us take nothing for granted we take far too many things for granted not even knowing at times that we are taking things for granted so let's close now with luke not luke i don't know where that came from in romans romans 8 in romans 8 and verse 31 to the end of the chapter romans 8 and verse 31 for what shall we say then to these things if god be for us who can be against us we have the power over all he that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things who shall lay anything to the charge of god's elect see satan is a great accuser of the brethren when you fall into that trap you become one of satan's instruments it is god that justifies who is he that condemns it is christ yay that died and has risen again who is even at the right hand of god who also makes intercession for us Hebrew 7 25 says he ever lives to make intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword as it is written for your sake we're killed all the day we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter anything that i get above death is a gift because i deserve death knowing all these things were more than conquerors through him that loved us for i'm persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels fallen angels and demon powers nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of god which is in christ jesus our lord