How can believers today discern spiritual influences in their lives? Seeing the Reaction in Mark 3:11 “Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God!’” (Mark 3:11) • Demons instantly recognized Jesus’ authority and deity. • Their forced submission shows the absolute lordship of Christ. • Their confession, though involuntary, proclaims unfiltered truth. • Spiritual realities become visible by how they respond to Jesus. Recognizing the Source of Influences • God-given influences draw the heart to obey, love, and exalt Christ. • Fleshly or demonic influences distract, distort, or oppose Christ’s truth. • Nothing that stays neutral about Jesus is spiritually safe (Luke 11:23). • Every prompting traces back to the Spirit of God or “the spirit of the world” (1 Corinthians 2:12). Testing Influences by Their Response to Jesus • 1 John 4:2-3—spirits that confess the incarnate Christ are from God; those that do not are not. • John 15:26—the Holy Spirit always testifies about Jesus. • 2 Corinthians 11:14—Satan disguises himself as light yet finally diminishes Christ’s work. • Any thought, teaching, or urge that sidesteps or denies Jesus is rejected. Grounding Discernment in Scripture • Hebrews 4:12—the Word pierces and judges intentions. • Psalm 119:105—Scripture lights every path. • Acts 17:11—the Bereans verified teachings daily. • A mind saturated with the inerrant Word forms a reliable filter for every influence. Practical Steps for Daily Discernment 1. Begin each day in Scripture to set the plumb line of truth. 2. Measure every impression against clear biblical teaching; discard contradictions. 3. Watch for fruit (Galatians 5:22-23); the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, not confusion. 4. Keep short accounts with God; unconfessed sin blurs perception (1 John 1:9). 5. Seek counsel from mature believers (Proverbs 15:22). 6. Mark any impulse that diminishes Jesus or inflates pride as hostile, just as demons did in Mark 3:11. 7. Thank God for every prompting that magnifies Christ and aligns with His Word. Additional Scriptures for Strengthening Discernment • James 3:17—Heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, and sincere. • Romans 8:14—Those led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. • Colossians 2:8—Guard against human tradition that is not according to Christ. • 1 Peter 5:8-9—Be sober-minded, resist the devil, stand firm in the faith. • John 10:27—“My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” The Jesus who exposed unclean spirits in Mark 3:11 still reigns, and His living Word equips believers to identify every influence, cling to what is good, and walk in victory. |
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