As I got in that day, I began to perceive some foul smell. At first, I thought it was from some wet surfaces. After a few days, the smell persisted and even increased. The air freshener couldn’t help it until the rat was fetched out.
Friend, one of your greatest weapons in the kingdom is discernment. You need the ability to pick stuff. There are some things you won’t see with your naked eye but you would perceive with your spirit man. The difference between a natural man and a spiritual man is the ability to discern (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).
“He will not judge by the sight of his eyes…” (Isaiah 11:3). There is a huge difference between suspicion and discernment. While suspicion is a function of the physical senses, discernment is purely a spiritual matter. Natural people walk with suspicion, kingdom people walk with discernment. In suspicion, you judge by appearances, in discernment, you depend on the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). The devil will always defeat you in the realm of suspicion. The devil thrives in anonymity (Genesis 3:1). Spiritual people have learnt to unmask the devil. Gone are the days when the devil appears in black and red clothes with big horns. Discernment will let you see the devil in suits and tie, and the latest iPhone.
The devil normally takes on the form of the existing culture and civilization. Demons can sit comfortably inside an AC-tight office in a city as well as under an old Iroko tree in a village. It is ignorance to think that there are no too many demons in western countries compared to Africa (2 Corinthians 2:11). If you don’t expose and expel the devil through discernment, he would join you without knowing (Acts 16:16-18).
“…there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand” (Acts 28:3). Atmosphere is what allows and reveals spirits. Just as some fake notes are detectable under some kinds of light, it takes the right environment to expose and expel the devil. The atmosphere of light (God’s word) exposes the devil while the atmosphere of fire (God’s Spirit and operations) expels him (John 1:5, Acts 28:3-5). Arm yourself with these duo and you would live perpetually in victory.
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria