DIGGING DEEP NO. 888 – June 22, 2021 THE WRONG SPIRIT Col.3: 15- 17

One Sunday, a sister shared a dream which she had early that morning. In the dream, she said “I was visiting with some Christian people when someone said, “Sister Dora had a demonic fit yesterday, but she is alright, because today she was in the Spirit.” I did not know if the demonic fit was that she was throwing herself on the floor in convulsions or if she cursed someone out, but in the dream, I spoke up, saying, “If she had a demonic fit yesterday and was in the spirit today, it is the wrong spirit.”1 John 1:6.

A lady was visiting in that Sunday service, and shared how she had been a pianist in her church for many years but just recently God truly saved her. Everything about her life has changed, yet for some reason the other ministers in her church are now separating from her. She said “An elder recently cursed me out, but the next service, the elder was in the pulpit and seemed all spiritual. I do not know what to think about that, but when the sister shared her dream and said….” if someone had a demonic fit yesterday and was in the Spirit today, it is the wrong spirit”? 1 John 1:5

If we habitually practice the ways of darkness, then we have not yet seen the light. James admonished us in James 1:21-22 to get rid of any representation of evil, anything that bears witness with evil andto practice righteousness. Isaiah 5:2. Every good and righteous ways are the ways of God in him there are no grey areas. 1 Tim 6:16

The Apostle Paul told us “The Spirit itself bears witness with our own spirit that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16. The words bears witness with, comes from a Greek word which means “testify jointly”. In other words, our spirit, and the Holy Ghost both present evidence in unison that we are children of God. But what does it mean when the witness of one seems to contradict the other? This was the case of the elder mentioned above. James 1:17

In promising redemption, God said, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you”. Ezekiel 36:26. The receiving of this “new heart” and new spirit” is the essence of what it means to be “born again”. John 3:7. This happens when God sends the Spirit of Christ into our hearts.

The first evidence of this new birth is an unquenchable thirst for heavenly things, which in fact our “new spirit” reaching out for communion with God our Father. Paul describes this, saying, “God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

The next great witness of this new Spirit is love. When a person is born of God, they become overwhelmed with love and compassion for others. Love is such a powerful evidence of being born of God that the Apostle John wrote, “He that loveth not knoweth not God…. 1 John 4:8. Yet love is not the only evidence of knowing God. John also told us that “whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 john 3:6., 1 John 2:9-11 John uses these things as the testimony our spirit gives as to whether we are God’s children or not. He says, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” 1 John 3:10

The manifestation of the nature of Christ in our heart and life is the ‘witness” our spirit gives that we are children of God. Yet Paul speaks of a second witness, saying, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit…. When the Spirit of God fills a child of God, there is a second witness which begins to be given. The Spirit of God begins to anoint, work through, and lead the person in a supernatural way. Speaking in tongues, the gifts of the Spirit, the anointing to preach, miracles, and many more such things are witnesses being given by the Holy Spirit that this person is a child of God. Yet it is important to remember that the spirit of God will only “testify jointly” with those who also have the Spirit of Christ. Romans 8:9. The Holy Ghost will never bear witness with a sinful heart.

Another great witness is a repentant heart and eyes that can see the right way. Acts 26:18, the eyes of your understanding will be opened and His word will become our guide. Psalms 119:105. You will be led by the Spirit of God

IN CONCLUSION:

It is important to understand. If a person’s spirit is manifested by uncleanness, hatred, profanity, jealousy, backbiting, immorality covetousness, or any other such things, although they may speak in tongues or prophesy, you can be certain their tongues and prophesy are not a witness from the Spirit of God. Only a wrong spirit will give witness in unison with an unclean heart. The same goes for those who preach, teach, or even seem to work miracles. If the witness of their spirit is not the nature of Christ, the Spirit that works with them is not the Spirit of God. It is the wrong spirit.

Come out now from amongst them and be ye separate. produce fruits in keeping with righteousness and the light of God shall shine upon you ways.