Discerning the Conflict
Aug. 30, 2009 (PM) FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,10 and to another the effecting of miracles , and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Cor 12:4-11 (NASB)
A There are at least 9 gifts of the Spirit, and I believe ALL are still God’s gifts to the believer.
1 People pursue gifts (nothing wrong, very right)
a I believe the first gift you pursue/pray for is wisdom.
b In fact, wisdom is mentioned as the first of several gifts of the Spirit.
aa Love isn’t a gift-fruit
bb Your gifts operate out of the fruit
2 Wisdom is to the gifts of the Spirit as love is to the fruit of the Spirit.
a You don’t turn the keys of your $30,000 vehicle to a 16-year-old kid without first knowing he’s been trained, & has experience & time behind the wheel.
aa Why not? We’re afraid they’ll make a wreck of things.
b If you’re entering into the spiritual arena, operate in fruit, gifts, spiritual warfare...you’re gonna have to pray for wisdom & discerning of spirits.
aa Why? Not every bad situation, circumstance, or spiritual battle is caused by a spirit.
bb You don’t want to become a “demon chaser.”
cc You can open doors for them without realizing it! You expect the enemy to show up, & he’ll oblige you.
B You talk about demons, they’ll show up; talk about Jesus, He’ll show up.
1 Discernment is necessary to keep the balance.
a In Southern Baptist church life, we’ve ignored spiritual warfare, leave that to the charismatics.
b They can go too far...balance.
2 Discerning-discerning what?
I Dissecting discernment For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God...1 Cor 2:11-12 (NASB)
A Paul spoke of the discerning of spirits, because there are 3 realms of discernment necessary: discerning the Spirit of God, spirit of man, & spirit of Satan.
1 Many times, people will go to church & something happens & they comment, “That’s not of God.”
a Often, that’s more of an opinion than a discerning of the spirits.
aa They judge something as “not of God” because it runs against their religious or denominational traditions.
bb I was raised to be skeptical of any show of emotion in worship (clap, cry, laugh, raise your hands).
cc For years, I’d label outright anything that looked like that.
b What I labeled as “not of God” was just really “not of me”.
2 Discerning the things of the Spirit of God means being able to hear & obey the voice of the Holy Spirit & separate His voice from your own voice...the spirit of man.
a When I hear His voice I’ll say, “The Holy Spirit is telling me”; when I simply feel something in my spirit, “I feel in my spirit.”
b God should never be blamed when I mistake my own zeal for a word from God.
B It’s important we are able to discern the heart/motives of those we surround ourselves with.
1 People have married out of God’s will because they discern the spirit of man.
a God would’ve told them, “Wrong person!”
b Sometimes people don’t want to know, so they don’t ask! They’re scared they’ll get a word they don’t want to hear.
2 Finally, we must discern the presence of Satan, evil.
a Don’t blame everything on an evil spirit.
b These excesses can put more attention on the enemy than on God & His Kingdom.
II Discerning demonic possession
A I believe a Christian can be depressed, oppressed, suppressed, but never possessed by a demonic spirit.
1 Possession is when a demon is in total control of a person’s mind, spirit, & body.
a They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him,3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain;4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;7 and shouting with a loud voice, he said , "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!"8 For He had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"9 And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he said to Him, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Mark 5:1-9 (NASB)
b This poor ol’ guy is tormented by 2,000 unclean spirits, signs.
aa Tormented in his mind
bb Dwelling among the dead (tombs)
cc Cutting, harming himself, attempting suicide
dd Supernatural strength to break chains, wooden fetters
ee Could not be reasoned with, tamed, brought under control
ff Continually screaming in torment
c Today, he’d be at Chester Mental Health (medicated, guarded, under suicide watch).
d Something was living in his body.
2 Jesus knew it was a strong spirit in this man, & He asked the spirit its name. “Legion (6,000 in a Roman legion, at least 2,000)...we are many.”
3 In my opinion most demonic activity is not a possession, but people who are oppressed or vexed by a spirit.
B Discernment can help you determine the source of a struggle/conflict in your life (if it doesn’t come from Satan, where does it come from?).
1 Your spiritual struggles can be a result of:
a Self-invited conflicts created by bad decisions.
aa Never blame a bad decision on the devil.
bb Thank God when you’ve made the right choices & admit when you didn’t.
b Uninvited conflicts created by people who work in opposition.
aa Not everybody is going to like you.
bb Do anything/everything to be accepted/liked; somebody’s personality is going to clash with yours.
c Hindering spirits capitalizing upon your bad decisions or conflicts created by people.
aa (IL) A co-worker can make you miserable
bb King Saul was jealous of David, tried to hang him on the wall with a javelin. David escaped, but the jealousy was an open door for an evil spirit to attack King Saul’s mind.
cc It’s possible to encounter demonic attack through someone who oppresses you-it takes discernment to know if it’s a spirit or the flesh.
2 We learned with Paul that the enemy will use carnal people and/or certain circumstances as an opening to work against you.
Conclusion
A We have spent the summer learning about dealing with hindering spirits.
1 The Christian life is one of righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit. ...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 (NASB)
a Also a race that will award a prize to those who cross the finish line. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2 (NASB)
b Also a battle for which we must be armed & equipped to fight.
2 What I know...
a Satan’s kingdom doesn’t have more power, but it has plenty of experience.
aa The enemy is a seasoned warrior, deceived 1/3 of the angels in heaven to following him.
bb For 6,000 years, he’s been attacking, scheming, & strategizing against some of God’s choice servants.
b Satan’s kingdom doesn’t have more power, but it is well-organized.
aa If us Christians are all preaching from the same Bible, why do we have 83 kinds of Baptists, 100’s of denominations, & we don’t get along?
bb We claim to have the power, but the enemy is better organized.
cc He is united in his opposing the people of God.
c Satan’s kingdom can initiate an attack, but it cannot determine the outcome.
aa God never reveals to the enemy the final outcome of your conflict.
bb The enemy can plot, plan, scheme, but he never knows when or how the Lord is going to bring you out.
d Satan’s kingdom shakes when 2 or 3 believers come into agreement.
aa And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Eccl 4:12 (NASB)
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? Deut 32:30 (KJV)
bb When you have a trusted, faithful believer praying with you, the level of your spiritual authority over the powers of the enemy is multiplied tenfold.
cc Instead of one praying, two; one fasting, two.
dd Jesus sent His disciples out two by two because “two shall withhold him.”
B As you grow, you’ll grow in the grace & knowledge of God.
1 Learn by example, experience, using the Word of God.
a Handle the trials & tests that will come.
b You have the knowledge, spiritual weapon.
c All we need is the patience to outlast the trial of the enemy.
2 Jesus has overcome, & He’s given us what we need to overcome, too!
C Invitation
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
