What practical steps can we take to recognize spiritual influences in our lives? The Scene in Mark 1:23 “Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:” (Mark 1:23) In the middle of a normal worship gathering, an invisible but very real spiritual influence surfaces. The incident reminds us that spiritual activity—good or bad—can emerge in the ordinary spaces of life. Why This Moment Matters • It shows that unclean spirits exist and can affect people. • It affirms Jesus’ authority over every spiritual power. • It alerts us that discerning spiritual influences is not optional—it is part of everyday discipleship. Ground Rules for Discernment • Scripture is literal and true, so what it says about spirits is factual. • The Holy Spirit indwells believers (Romans 8:11) and equips us to recognize what is from God and what is not. • Every influence—thought, impulse, teaching—must be tested against God’s Word (Acts 17:11). Practical Steps to Recognize Spiritual Influences 1. Stay Word-Anchored • Daily reading keeps your mind calibrated to truth. • “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) • Memorize key passages about spiritual warfare (e.g., Ephesians 6:10-18). 2. Invite the Spirit’s Spotlight • Ask the Holy Spirit to expose anything unclean or deceptive. • “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) 3. Test Every Spirit • “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1) • Evaluate teachings, media, and inner promptings by their agreement with Scripture and the character of Christ. 4. Watch the Fruit • Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:20) • Look for outcomes: love, joy, peace (Galatians 5:22-23) versus confusion, bondage, or sin. 5. Maintain a Clean Conscience • Unconfessed sin dulls spiritual perception (Psalm 66:18). • Regular repentance keeps the heart sensitive to God’s warnings and confirmations. 6. Cultivate Alert Fellowship • Share life with believers who will speak truth in love (Hebrews 3:13). • Joint discernment protects against individual blind spots. 7. Stand in Christ’s Authority • “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) • Verbally affirm Jesus’ lordship and renounce any influence contrary to His Word. Scripture’s Protective Gear Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but … against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The armor listed in verses 13-17—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God—is not theory. Put each piece on daily: • Belt of Truth: refuse half-truths and rationalizations. • Breastplate of Righteousness: obey quickly, repent quickly. • Shoes of Peace: carry the gospel into tense situations. • Shield of Faith: extinguish lies with God’s promises. • Helmet of Salvation: rest in your secure identity in Christ. • Sword of the Spirit: quote Scripture aloud when tempted or oppressed. Living Discerningly Day by Day • Start the morning with Scripture; end the day reviewing where God was at work. • Stay alert: “Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion.” (1 Peter 5:8) • Expect God’s presence to be stronger than any opposing force. The same Jesus who expelled the unclean spirit in Mark 1:23 resides in every believer (Colossians 1:27). Walk in that confidence, and you will increasingly recognize—and overcome—every spiritual influence that comes your way. |
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