In the area of deliverance; discernment of spirits is certainly an aid in such a process. There are certain necessary prerequisites to such procedures; firstly of course a thorough knowledge of the Word in our "tool box" to use as weapons against the Evil One. This at times requires such things as prayer AND fasting ( Matt. 17:21). Since we are not Omniscient like Christ we should be regular in such activities and plan on such when we know a deliverance is needed.
Also there is the need for an individual to repent. It doesn't appear that Christ would ask a person who is being delivered to repent first; but He did warn the paralytic who was healed to "sin no more lest something WORSE happen to you." ( John 15:144-18). Considering the decades the man was a paralytic it seems likely that this was a warning of eternal condemnation of the soul in a helpless state. We should consider these things as obstacles when people aren't delivered right away; and of course if we are aware of certain things leading to their state (such as one case I saw when someone was possessed after watching occultic videos) they need to be dealt with. It didn't seem back in Biblical times that it was so easy to have secret sins as now; what was then outward idol worship is today imagery from a virtual reality; a false god and worship nonetheless no matter how someone defines their obsession with it.
A word of caution here is for those who are gifted with spritual discernment we often lack the practical wisdom to get a good picture of the other factors in a persons life; obviously this can tie in directly to besetting sins (things such as past abuse or patterns of behaviors); as well as the interpersonal dynamics; health issues and other things to get a complete picture. For the best diagnosis sometimes we need to seek the Lord if we are discerning correctly; then allow the blanks to be filled in as to WHY this is what the Lord has shown us.
In the area of deliverance; discernment of spirits is certainly an aid in such a process. There are certain necessary prerequisites to such procedures; firstly of course a thorough knowledge of the Word in our "tool box" to use as weapons against the Evil One. This at times requires such things as prayer AND fasting ( Matt. 17:21). Since we are not Omniscient like Christ we should be regular in such activities and plan on such when we know a deliverance is needed.
Also there is the need for an individual to repent. It doesn't appear that Christ would ask a person who is being delivered to repent first; but He did warn the paralytic who was healed to "sin no more lest something WORSE happen to you." ( John 15:144-18). Considering the decades the man was a paralytic it seems likely that this was a warning of eternal condemnation of the soul in a helpless state. We should consider these things as obstacles when people aren't delivered right away; and of course if we are aware of certain things leading to their state (such as one case I saw when someone was possessed after watching occultic videos) they need to be dealt with. It didn't seem back in Biblical times that it was so easy to have secret sins as now; what was then outward idol worship is today imagery from a virtual reality; a false god and worship nonetheless no matter how someone defines their obsession with it.
A word of caution here is for those who are gifted with spritual discernment we often lack the practical wisdom to get a good picture of the other factors in a persons life; obviously this can tie in directly to besetting sins (things such as past abuse or patterns of behaviors); as well as the interpersonal dynamics; health issues and other things to get a complete picture. For the best diagnosis sometimes we need to seek the Lord if we are discerning correctly; then allow the blanks to be filled in as to WHY this is what the Lord has shown us.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?