16 replies to this topic

[Candice]

I hear the expression "you (or someone else) has a spirit of .... suicide, anger, etc".

I don't know how biblically-based this is. I've looked up scripture and see it applied in that one man was demon-possessed by multitude of demons that seemed to make him insane. But, I don't know if this is what people are meaning by this expression. I sometimes ask "what do you mean by that", but the answer is just "you know, a spirit; an oppressing spirit" nothing is ever really explained. My friend said today that my husband "has a spirit about him. You have a spirit of depression about you. Your son has a spirit of confusion of who he is".

Ever heard of this before?

Any ideas anyone?

[Kevin Blankenship]

Yes, I have some ideas. LOL Of course I have. I went to an AoG church (charismatic/pentecostal) and they were ALWAYS using this terminology. Why, I even heard one lady, (who tryed to talk like Kathryn Kuhlman....you know.....all mystical and spooky), and while I was playing the piano she came over and declared: "Young man.....you have the spirit of King David on you." By this time, I had HAD it with this religious shoptalk (a Tozer saying) that was peculiar for this denomination. I felt like stopping playong the piano (this was during a very intense alter-time......had I stopped playing.....everyone would have just STOPPED. People would have stopped falling backwards, other folks would have quit casting out demons of addiction/ despair/depression/ etc etc etc ad nauseum.
I still find myslef saying it today. But I am making reference to the actual spirit of the person. The actual ....THING? .....that makes that person be who they are. I often mis-use it. Many times, I only use it to sound spiritual when I am typing out a reply. So....if I am guilty of that this time.......I am likely repeating what I have heard from Neil Anderson's books and from the alters of the full gospel churchs that I USE to attend......until that same denomination (AoG) got all caught up in the tremendous heresy called the prosperity gospel. "Send me you 58 dollar seed so that my ministry can grow and touch peoples lives......and God will get you out of debt!!!!" And then they run all the Credit Card pics across the bottom of the screen. Let him/her who has eyeballs........SEE it for what it is,
Sorry Candace......I DO believe that we can be hindered I mean.....Job was.....by evil spirits. How they work, is beyond me.
There are two camps, even in full gospel circles: The ones who believe that a Spirit filled Christian CANNOT be messed with by demons in any way.......and the ones who believe that a Spirit-filled Christian CAN be bothered, oppressed, even filled, with demonic spirit. So go figure. I don't know who's right. I'll have to leave that to the Lord as I strap on my Spiritual armour for the day.
Hope this helps. It is a VERY VERY good question. And if good instruction comes along.....I will cling to it.

[Lori Smith]

Candice,

Kevin is right, it can be taken to the extreme. However, there is a gift of discernment; which is the ability to sense whether what a person preaches is true or not (1 John 4:1). Discernment helps a believer discern, through the help of the Holy Spirit, if they are speaking truth.

I agree with Kevin regarding the prosperity gospel (which is a counterfeit gospel!). Discernment says don't watch them!!


(I've edited this post 3 times. I want to be sure I say it right without giving the wrong impression)

[Lori Smith]

Candice,

I want to add (now that I've mentioned the extreme cases) that saying someone has a "spirit" about them can be expressed in a very benign way. Unlike the Pentecostal issues above, one can have the gift of discernment and sense some issue of belief the person is struggling with. It has nothing to do with a spirit at all, it has to do with the spirit of the person himself (like what Kevin was saying). For instance (I'll use an extreme case) a person might have a ___ spirit (insert any kind of extreme posture) and it's possible to pick up on that when talking with them. For example, if I'm talking with my husband, and he thinks a really angry thought, I can "feel" his anger. It's supposed to be a help to the body to help us walk with God or correct things in a good way. It doesn't have to be something weird.

[Julie Daube]

Without having read every word on this thread, I would say that it is perfectly biblical to assume that a believer can come under attack by any kind of spirit, because that is how the devil works. The Bible describes Satan as an enemy who wages a constant battle against us. He has millions of demons at his disposal that know just how to direct their attacks at areas where we are most vulnerable. Therefore, a demon might very likely choose to attack someone who is a significant threat to the enemy's kingdom with thoughts of suicide. Is this a "spirit of suicide"? I don't think it matters very much what you call it as long as you recognize it as an attack of the enemy and immediately take authority over it in the name of Jesus.

What Lori said about discernment was right on target. That happens to be one of my spiritual gifts, and I have sometimes sensed that specific people in my life were being oppressed by a certain type of spirit. As Lori said, this doesn't have to be weird but can actually help us pray more effectively for people.

On the other hand, I also believe that Kevin was right when he said that the idea that people can be afflicted by different types of spirits can be taken to an extreme. I have known people who essentially saw a demon under every bush. They wanted to "fix" every Christian they encountered by casting out whatever demons/strongholds they believed were afflicting the person. This is why, when you sense that God is giving you discernment about a particular spirit, it is helpful to ask the Holy Spirit for confirmation.

[Julie Daube]

By the way, Kevin, I just have to say that I think it was so neat what that lady said to you about having the spirit of King David on you. I hope you will cut her some slack and perhaps even see it as a prophetic word about your destiny or calling. There is a spiritual gift called the word of knowledge; if this woman has that gift, she could very well have been speaking something over your life that came from the Lord. Of course, it is always good and proper to ask for confirmation.

Years ago a prophet we know (remember that there is a spiritual gift of prophecy) was praying for my husband, and this man received a word from the Lord that my husband has been called to be an evangelist. But instead of just assuming that he was correct, the prophet questioned my husband about the word he had received to see if my husband could confirm it. He asked him questions like, "Have you often felt a deep burden for the lost? Do you often feel compelled to share the gospel with people?" Since my husband was able to answer affirmatively, we believed this prophet was speaking for God (my husband had also been trained in Evangelism Explosion, so that was also confirmation).

Right now, my husband is unemployed, and he spends his days on our computer sharing Christ with lost people in online forums. He said he is reaching way more people this way than he ever would doing door-to-door evangelism or through street preaching. So what this prophet spoke over my husband definitely turned out to be true. It may sound spooky sometimes when a believer speaks a word of knowledge over you, but I have experienced this several times and it was often uncanny the way the person knew just what I needed to hear from God at that point in my life. To God be the glory!

[radar]

I think a lot of times people mean well but they really don't know how to Biblically relate Spiritual gifts, such as healing those dealing with depression, confusion, and oppression. When they truthfully state that they do not know, it reveals the lack of knowledge of scripture that would help minister to the person experiencing these negative emotions.

The Bible does give us insight to some of the specific spirits that you have mentioned. The spirit of depression; Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

The spirit of heaviness is a spirit of depression, so the Bilbe does assert that you can have a depressive spirit.

In Acts 19 we see a good example of the spirit of confusion. Although it is not mentioned per say, a "spirit of confusion", we can read the effects of this spirit. In the first part of Acts 19 we see Paul doing great damage to satan's kingdom. Acts 19:11 " And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Acts 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." Paul with the power ot the Holy Spirit cast out the evil spirits that were oppressing the people. We see the spirit of confusion by satan in Acts 19:24-41. We see great confusion was wrought when Paul spoke against the temple of Diana, a pagan idol. This serves as a good example of satan using a spirit of confusion to kick back against Paul who was doing mayhem against the powers of darkness.

In as far as the spirit of suicide, I found this website which gives testimoney of the effects of this spirit and the wonderful deliverance of one tourtured soul. http://www.johnhamel...org/suicide.htm

Hope this helps. The questions and answers really help me to dig deeper into the word and I have found myself answers that I would not otherwise have gotten without help from everyone here. Thank You Jesus!

[Kevin Blankenship]

To Julie, I will concede this much: If she mean't the Holy Spirit, that King David obviously had upon him, then I can understand where she is coming from. But if she mean't King David's actual spirit......I was of the impression that when a spirit departs from a body, it returns to the Lord Who gave it. I suppose that it could be an exercise in semantics, and I would lose up against any of you because I am relatively new to this entire Kingdom stuff (and by 'stuff' I certainly mean no disrespect to God).
By the way, and this is unrelated, bit it COULD be related to the original posters situation....I have begun re-reding a book by Watchman Nee. I finally bought the book. I use to download, and print a chapter at a time off. I would have stacks of Christian Classics lying around in corners and on desktops, at one time. Anyway, never, ever, ever, has being IN CHRIST and reckoning ourselves dead to sin, and pretty much the entire first 8 chapters of Romans taught to me quite the way that great martyr for Jesus teaches it!!!!! Ya know, I have read, or scanned, other works of his, and The Normal Christian Life is the best I have read!!!!!!!! You are in for an eye opening treat when you get this book and read it. For a few bucks, you can download it to your Kindle from Amazon like I did. It was under 9 dollars. Many of the old classics can be had for 3 or 4 bucks. Not bad. I need to get absorbed in that book and let it get into me. I just bears a good witness with me. There's gold in that book. Gold for the takin!!!!! lol

[Julie Daube]

Radar, your response was excellent! Thank you for sharing your insights - they are clearly grounded in a thorough understanding of Scripture.

I think there is a also a place in the Old Testament that speaks about a lying spirit (ironically, in one case it was said that God sent a lying spirit to confuse his enemies. To me, this shows how God can use evil to accomplish His purposes).

In my own life, there was a time when God told me that a particlar person had a lying spirit and that she couldn't be trusted. At the time, I had just met this individual and would have no way of knowing this. As I continued to interact with this woman in the context of ministering to her and her family, I learned firsthand that I had heard from the Lord correctly.

I think you hit the mark when you said that many Christians mean well when they seek to teach about spiritual gifts but that they just don't know how to communicate these truths in a way that people understand (so it comes across as spooky and weird). That's why it's important to give our brothers and sisters the benefit of the doubt and assume the best about their intentions until we know otherwise.

[Julie Daube]

To Julie, I will concede this much: If she mean't the Holy Spirit, that King David obviously had upon him, then I can understand where she is coming from. But if she mean't King David's actual spirit......I was of the impression that when a spirit departs from a body, it returns to the Lord Who gave it.

Wow, Kevin, that is not the impression I would have gotten from the woman's comments. What I thought she probably meant was that you have an anointing on your life that is similar to the anointing that God gave King David - not that his spirit had returned from the dead and inhabited you. I guess in this case, it may very well have been an issue of semanitcs. I appreciate your clarifying that!

[Candice]

I wonder if some of this is just gut instinct about people. I know unbelievers, like my own father, who had a real nose for people and could figure them out quickly before anything ever happened. I suppose I just don't like the idea of any judgment going along with this type of thing. Like RADAR said, it's really a matter of believers' lack of clarity and knowledge of scripture and the gifts. A matter of a spirit of adultery came up once in my realm; a Christian woman I knew, and the man who said it turned out to be accurate about two years later! I know I didn't feel easy with him saying this as it seemed critical. Anyway, I don't know if he needed to share it with me, but maybe with her.

I have the gift of discernment. Sometimes it's difficult because one can appear negative to others. I know my friend who has the prophetic and discernment gifts comes of critical and negative to my husband. I believe she is really just a real New Yorker through and through!! She's blunt! But, I've told her she doesn't need to give her opinion about everything and have the last word, which she does. I used to do this a lot and sometimes still do. But the Lord has shut my mouth and convinced me that I have been a woman of unclean lips, no matter if I'm defending the Word or Christ or whatever, sometimes it is just sin sniffing or judging.

Thank you all

[Kevin Blankenship]

Wow, Kevin, that is not the impression I would have gotten from the woman's comments. What I thought she probably meant was that you have an anointing on your life that is similar to the anointing that God gave King David - not that his spirit had returned from the dead and inhabited you. I guess in this case, it may very well have been an issue of semanitcs. I appreciate your clarifying that!

Julie....lol.....you REALLY would have to know this lady. I really didn't know HOW to take it as it kind of made me think: "What does that mean? The spirit of David? I continued to fellowship with her. Actually her and her husband really really love the Lord. Had I been a seasoned Christian when she said it, I might have been uplifted and encouraged. But not me!!!! I had to criticise (in my mind) and judge her as being one of those super-spiritual types (thinking this in my mind and not voicing it to others). I couldn't let folks know how critical I was. I was too busy trying to look Spiritual myself!!! LOL.....sigh. I really am a piece of work. During that time, that I played for that church, headed up a jail ministry, was voted to be a deacon, I REALLY had high thoughts of myself. The truth? Looking back, I think that I was further from Jesus than I was at times when I was living in major sin. There is probably a 99.99% chance that I mis-interpreted her meaning. She had the very best of intentions and was likely following the Lord's promptings. At that time in my life, I was overwhelmed with a spiritual pride that people just HAD to have noticed. And yet, I was blind as a bat to it. But getting back to Candaces question: in that same church, there was a lady who would see demons sitting on people's shoulders (her and her husband would drive me home after church). And she would tell us who had demons on or in them and that we should be praying for them. This lady and her husband had a Kathryn Kulhman Crusade video that I watched with them. I was quite new in the charismatic circles and I suspect that they were giving me a crash course. Loving people, and I love them to this day. In the video, Miss Kuhlman said to a lady that had come upon the platform "I see the glory of the Lord all around ya honey." Now this was a sunday afternoon, and it primed our pumps and we were determined to see some manifestations at church that evening!!!!! The church service ends and an alter call is made. Of course Sister (so and so) is up there with the pastor and several others. There were two husky guys doing the catching as people were being slain in the spirit. And I was standing near the lady, whom I had watched the crudade video with. And she tells this lady who is up there for prayer: " Mam, I see the glory of the Lord all around ya" and she said it just like Kathryn did. (see, back when I went to church, I somelow seemed to pick up on all of this stuff.....no doubt, a spirit of criticality). I was a mess. A complete mess. I have gone back to these churches since having a conversion experience and after MUCH more study of the word, and I'm sorry, but I could see alot of stuff that was just plain unscriptural. It got to where I would cry and ask God to forgive me for being so critical (again, in my own head, I rarely voiced my concerns unless asked). And then, I would go back, and I saw Jesus being dishonored and the flesh of man being lifted up. I would try to make it work in my head and heart and I just couldn't. It saddened me deeply. Not that I was all holy and sanctimonious (although God's Word DOES say that we are holy and dearly loved), but my critical spirit, or what I determined in me was a critical spirit, would just ruin a service for me. Folks, I;m just laying it out there. I'm not proud of it. It is what it is. It has, I have, turned it all over to Jesus.

[keroseman]

I was going to dig into the Scriptures to give examples of different types of sprits, but I think radar already did an excellent job with that. I especially respect when the Word of God is effectively used to make a point. As ambassadors of Christ it is incumbant upon us to lay our own opinions aside in exchange for His view on every situation in which His Word throroughly instructs us.

I just wanted to say to Kevin, that I am thoroughly impressed with (not intending to feed any pride) and inspired by your spiritual self-awareness and honesty. I think close-mindedness regarding our own shortcomings and refusal to be truthful in the inward parts (as Psalm 51 states) is one of the major hindrances to our spiritual growth. You say that you are "new to this stuff", but you very well may have grown leaps and bounds more than a vast an unfortunate number of those who have called themselves Christians for many years. Keep on pressing, brother.

[Kevin Blankenship]

I appreciate that my dear brother!!!!! And yes, spiritual pride is a foe that I must keep a close eye on. I am especially prone to it. I think that....maybe.....many of us that started out with very low self esteems are weak in this area. It's almost paradoxical!!! As Pride seems the exact opposite of low self esteem. But low self esteem is definitely NOT a Godly virtue. In fact, it is counter-productive to seeing ourselves in Christ, which is awesomely important and absolutely essential. But.....thanks for your kind words. I will try to take them as they are meant and not start imagining stuff like: "Hey, people are starting to notice how connected with God that I really am. It's about time that I get my due!" LOL See what I mean???? I can talk the talk....because I have walked the walk. And I am using that phrase in a carnal context now. By the way, if I missed you in Introductions, or in another post, I want to take this time to WELCOME you aboard. We are truly glad that you are here!!!!!!!

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[Kevin Blankenship]

To the above poster......do you realize that there REALLY IS a God in Heaven??? He loved you so much that He has went OUT OF HIS WAY to provide you with an opportunity to escape this empty way of life.....and then, having lived your life, He will grant to you ETERNAL life!!!! Did you know that??? Haven't you ever wondered if THIS, your job, your house, family, car, bike, fishing rods, is ALL there is??? Don't you have a nagging feeling that there is more??? I can tell you Who put that nagging feeling in there. Do ya want me to? Do ya care? Is life only about selling your wares? Or don't you want something richer and deeper. More fulfilling than even being madly in love with your spouse/partner. It's kind of a secret. But it's my job....no....our job, to 'spill the beans' to you and let you in on this info. Feel free to PM me. No.....I don't want what your selling. I don't need one. I'm not a hi tech redneck. I'm just a redneck. A redneck from down in the Southland who loves Jesus. And who loves you. Am I 'weirding' you out? Don't worry, i felt the same way when someone approached me about the condition of my everlasting soul. There are two paths. One is large.....like a 4 lane Interstate. The other.....well....it's more like a trail alongside a Mountain branch with beauty all around, and the occasional adventurous pitfall.....but that's when Jesus reaches out and pulls me to freedom. Just like He will do for you. You think I'm full of beans don't ya? Jesus's life split history into two......BC.......and AD. Now.....who else do you know who can do that? Anyway....PM me for more. If my prayer is answered.....God will begin working on your heart. It's no coincidence that you posted your spam here. There's a reason. My friend, you are loved. And just maybe, you don't even know it yet. Have a great day.

[Julie Daube]

I just wanted to say to Kevin, that I am thoroughly impressed with (not intending to feed any pride) and inspired by your spiritual self-awareness and honesty.

I was, too!