How To Know The Difference Between The Holy Spirit And Demons
By Dr. James. A McBean D.Th., MCC
Copyright © 2008 Library of Congress
Washington.D.C.20559
T he primary reason why Christians get into oppression and possession by demons is because they do not know the genuine Holy Spirit. Many people inquire whether or not a Christian can be demon-possessed. Yes they can. Christians can also be afflicted with anything; even demonic oppression and possession. The demon, which is a spirit, aspires to use the human body the same way a tenant uses a house; they are simply taking up residence and will come and go as they please until specific action has been taken by the person or a religious superior, to rid that individual of the demonic possession and oppression. This fact explains why a serial killer does not kill every day. The demon will come and go, feel and display emotion at its will.
Luke 11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walked through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
HOW TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OR DEMONIC SPIRITS.
1 John 4:8; He that loved not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:20; If a man say, I love God, and hated his brother, he is a liar: for he that loved not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:16; And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelled in love dwelled in God, and God in him.
When you enter a church in which the Holy Spirit is not in control, you will sense it. You will feel, and notice, an atmosphere where there are hypocrisy, hate, resentment, gossiping and backstabbing. In most cases, this negative energy will only be directed against one person, one family, or one group of people. Amidst all that shouting, screaming, and speaking-in-tongues, you will know that there is a closet where the bones of dead men lay; (figure of speech). These demonic churches can put on a show. They will welcome the wife and children while showing the husband a bad face.
2 Cor. 13:5; Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Matthew 7:22-23; Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity
Luke 13:28; There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Ten Facts about Demons (Luke 11:24-26): Dakes notes
1. They are unclean (Luke 11:24). 2. They can go out and come into the bodies of men (Luke 11:24-26). 3.They can walk (Luke 11:24). 4. They seek comfort (Luke 11:24). 5. They can talk (Luke 11:24). 6. They make decisions (Luke 11:24). 7. They distinguish between different places (Luke 11:24-26). 8. They seek fellowship and company with each other (Luke 11:26). 9. They are wicked (Luke 11:26). 10.They seek control of men (Luke 11:24-26).
Once the demon has taken up residence within the human body, or entity, they are able to share and display the same emotions as the person in whom they are residing. They share the feelings of that body as well as transmit their own feelings to it.
In this articles we will tell you who is the Holy Spirit, how to know him, and know what he has come to do in our lives.
THE FIRST MENTION OF THE SPIRIT.
Genesis 1:2:And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON.
Acts 16:6: Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia
Acts 13:2: As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS ARE REFERRED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
John 16:13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come
THE FIRST MENTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING IN PEOPLE.
Genesis 41:38:And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one, as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
FIRST PROMISE THAT GOD IS GOING TO FILL AN INDIVIDUAL WITH HIS SPIRIT.
Exodus 31:1-2: And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [2] See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: Exodus 31:3: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, Exodus 31:4 (KJV)
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, Exodus 31:5 (KJV) And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
Any time God calls a person to service, he first fills them with the Holy Spirit. The process of the Holy Spirit filing a person is a symbol that indicates that they are indeed called for service.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON KING SAUL.
1 Samuel 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD DEPARTED FROM REBELLIOUS SERVANTS.
1 Samuel 16:14-15 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. [15] And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubled thee.
THE EVIDENCE OF THE SPIRIT UPON HIS PEOPLE.
Galatians 5:22-26:But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. [26] Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another
Ephes. 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
When the Holy Spirit is in a believer’s life, that individual’s life will indicate certain characteristics. That individual will display love, joy, peace, endurance, meekness, and self-discipline. Sometimes, churchgoers will display screaming, shouting and jumping, but these are not the specific indications of one that is filled with the Holy Spirit. In some instances, as discussed above, it is actually a demonic spirit.
Ephes. 4:32; And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIFE.
1 Cor. 2:12; Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
John 16:13; Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Holy Ghost Can Be
1. Resisted (Acts 7:51) 2. Tempted (Acts 5:9) 3. Lied to (Acts 5:3-4) 4. Grieved (Ephes. 4:30) 5. Blasphemed (Matthew 12:31-32) 6. Insulted (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-29) 7. Quenched (1 Thes. 5:19) 8. Vexed (Psalm 78:40; Isaiah 63:10) 9.Quieted (Zech. 6:8) 10.Fellowshipped with (Phil. 2:)
Eight Ways God Speaks to Men.
1. By prophecy (Acts 3:21; 2 Peter 1:21; Acts 11:27-28; Acts 21:10; Hebrews 1:1) 2. Tongues and interpretation (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 1 Cor. 14:1-40) 3. Still small voice (1 Kings 19:12)
4. Audible voice (Matthew 1:17; Matthew 17:5; John 12:28; Acts 9:7; Deut. 5) 5. By angels (Acts 8:26; Acts 12:8; Acts 27:23)
6. By visions (Psalm 89:19; Acts 9:10; Acts 10:3; Acts 11:5; Acts 16:9; Acts 18:9) 7. By dreams (Genesis 20:6; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:12-22; Acts 2:17; Daniel 2:19,28,45)
8. By impression upon man's spirit (Acts 17:16; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:21; 2 Cor. 2:13; Ephes. 4:30; 1 Thes. 5:19; Romans 8:16). This could be called intuition, impression, inner consciousness, inspiration. It can come in various forms and ways.
The fact the Holy Spirit acts, chooses, wills, speaks, commissions, sends, and exercises personal powers proves that He is a person with a personal spirit body, a soul, and a spirit.
The nine-fold fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23):
1.Love. Greek: agape), divine love. A strong, ardent, tender, compassionate, devotion to the well being of someone (note, §1 Cor. 13:4).
2.Joy. Greek: chara ), the emotional excitement, gladness, delight over blessings received or expected for self and for others (see Instances of Joy in the New Testament).
3.Peace. Greek: eirene (, the state of quietness, rest, repose, harmony, order, and security in the midst of turmoil, strife, and temptations (note, §Isaiah 45:7).
4.Longsuffering. Greek: makrothumia (, patient endurance; to bear long with the frailties, offenses, injuries, and provocations of others, without murmuring, repining, or resentment (1 Cor. 13:4-7; 2 Cor. 6:4-6; Ephes. 4:1-2; Col. 1:11; Col. 3:12-13; 1 Tim. 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:10; 2 Tim. 4:2).
5.Gentleness. Greek: chrestotes ), a disposition to be gentle, soft- spoken, kind, even-tempered, cultured, and refined in character and conduct (2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:1-2; James 3:17).
6.Goodness. Greek: agathosune (, the state of being good, kind, virtuous, benevolent, generous, and God-like in life and conduct (Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:6; Psalm 23:6; Psalm 31:19; Psalm 33:5; Psalm 107:9; Romans 2:4; Ephes. 5:9; Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:27-32).
7.Faith. Greek: pistis (, the living, divinely implanted, acquired, and created principle of inward and wholehearted confidence, assurance, trust, and reliance in God and all that He says (see Faith).
8.Meekness. Greek: praotes (, the disposition to be gentle, kind, indulgent, even balanced in tempers and passions, and patient in suffering injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge (note, §Psalm 25:9).
9.Temperance. Greek: engkrateia (, self-control; a moderation in the indulgence of the appetites and passions (Proverbs 23:1-3; Proverbs 25:16; Daniel 1:8-16; Romans 13:14; 2 Cor. 9:25-27; Phil. 4:5; 1 Thes. 5:6-8; Titus 2:2-3,11-12; 2 Peter 1:5-10).
Evil Spirit From God
Evil spirits come from God only in the sense of being permitted by Him to trouble those who have significantly fallen from the faith (backslide) and persist in sin and rebellion (1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Kings 22:21-24; 2 Chron. 18:20-23). The idea is that God does not protect such a person from spirits as He otherwise would if he yielded to Him. God gave Saul over to an evil spirit as punishment for his sins and self-will. Naturally, when the Holy Spirit left him he was open to an evil spirit of torment from Satan.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Luke 11:13 (KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Ephes. 1:13 (KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
Ephes. 4:30 (KJV) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
1 Thes. 4:8 (KJV) He therefore that despised, despised not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.
SATANIC SPIRIT.
2 Cor. 11:13-15;For such are a false apostle, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] 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
Acts 16:16-23; And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: [17] The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. [18] And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
[19] And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, [20] And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, [21] And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. [22] And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. [23] And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:
1 John 4:2 (KJV) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confessed that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Every spirit inspiring any teacher to deny the incarnation, His passion, death, physical resurrection, and physical ascension to heaven is not of God, and is antichrist (1 John 4:2-3; note, § John 21:14).
1 John 4:6 (KJV) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
THE SPIRIT CHRISTIAN ASSUMED WAS THE HOLY SPRIT.
Acts 16:17-23 (KJV) The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. [18] And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
[19] And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, [20] And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, [21] And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. [22] And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. [23] And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:
A FRIENDLY DEMON.
Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
WATCH THIS!!.
1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believes not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. [2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Satan has learned a new trick since this verse was written. Demons are now confessing Jesus. However, they are not necessarily talking about our Jesus Christ. How do you think false ministers came into the Christians Churches? If they came not confessing Jesus we will immediately throw them out. They are now saying nice things about Jesus.
THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT WILL ALLOW YOU TO KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS POSSESSED AND OPPRESSED BY DEMONS.
1 Cor. 12:7-10 (KJV) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. [8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; [9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; [10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues
The Bearer's Of The "Mind Sword"
