Holy Spirit Or Devil Spirit

I begin by encouraging you to read this Scripture Passage. Acts 16: 6 – 10. You are looking at how the Holy Spirit is sometimes the One who hinders the good you want to do and blocks it.

Often you hear people saying things like this. The devil is a busy man, for he is trying to stop me from doing what is good. Or, Satan is a liar and he is doing everything to discourage me and make me give up doing what I know is a good work. Sometimes, you even go as far as to say that it is precisely because it is the Lord’s work, that the devil is busy putting stumbling blocks in your way. I recently heard someone telling a friend that it was good she was doing the Lord’s work, because the devil comes to stop people like her, from doing the Lord’s work. How do you reckon those sentiments with Paul’s experience?

Many of us will welcome and be ever so ready and submissive, to be fixed and fitted with these differently shaped lights. We need these, not just to be rid of our stayed, puny, insular and limiting thoughts about God the Holy Spirit, but to manifest them in our doing.

We need, first of all to stand together on this truth. Paul is a disciple called by the Lord and with whom the Lord has daily, personal communication. He is a man who spends time listening to his Master and who knows his Master’s voice. Paul is doing the work to which the Lord has called him, with fervour, urgency, zeal and unstinted freedom. He is the evangelist who has been sent to serve the Gentile world. He goes from place to place, shining the Gospel light of Jesus, Saviour of the world, in practical and powerful preaching, teaching and working. He is Jesus’ illuminated tree, drawing many to Jesus Christ, crucified, died, buried and now risen.

What then are these differently shaped illuminating lights?

First illumination - Having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.  Acts 16: 6b.

Paul was ready and willing to take the Good News to that part of the world, but he met with so many obstacles and was so unable to preach or do anything there, he knew it was the Hand of the Lord God. How did he know? He knew because no devil could stop this apostle of Jesus. No evil powers could hinder him from doing his Master’s will, and prevail. He was under the cover of the promise, power and presence of the Holy Spirit. No! This had to be the Spirit of the Lord, blocking him from preaching the Word in that area.

Differently shaped Light 1

The Holy Spirit a Blocker. It is He who is the block that keeps His own servant from taking His own Word to people who need to hear the Good News.

Who is blocking you from doing what you believe to be the Lord’s work? Is it devil spirit or Holy Spirit?

Second illumination - When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. Acts 16: 7

Once again, Paul and his travelling companions were ready and rearing to take the Word to a people in need of hearing it, yet God Himself barred them from going. He ensured that they were given no opportunity, no help whatsoever in going. Paul realized what was happening to them. He recognized the Power of his Lord Jesus and was not about to give any credit to the devil. No devil spirit, no Satan spirit, was going to be given any credit for them not going to places they had planned on visiting.

Differently shaped Light 2

The Holy Spirit a Barrier.  It is He who is the barrier who bars His own servant from taking His own Word to people who need to hear the Good News.

Who is barring you from doing what you believe to be the Lord’s Work? Is it the Spirit of Jesus or the spirit of the devil?

I found this to be a most different and revealing time, as my eyes were opened to see how, with conviction, I expose my utter ignorance and folly, by attributing every block or barrier in my life, to the power of the devil. How seldom do I see these as the Hand of God the Holy Spirit, at work? How do you know when it is the spirit of the evil one, as opposed to the Spirit of the Holy One?

Only those who know the daily indwelling, illuminating power of the Holy Spirit, as real, living and active in them, will know this. They will not be deceived into giving over the power of God to any evil power, or fooled into attributing the power of any Satan, to any God power. 

Fit us with these differently coloured and shaped lights Lord, that we may be Your brilliantly shining beacons. Amen!