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A former missionary friend of mine, Gregory Fisher, posted something that occurred when he served in West Africa. Gregory’s life has been marked by similar situations when the Spirit’s power challenged hell’s hold on people.
Gregory wrote, “Things changed drastically when we introduced the idea of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We invited new believers to join us for a session on the Holy Spirit, and that’s when the true spiritual warfare began. Demons, particularly those associated with local shrines, witch doctors, and fetish priests, began to manifest, crying out and creating a scene.
The resistance from the dominion of darkness was unmistakable—they did not want people to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This experience revealed a profound truth about the spiritual realm and the unique role of the Holy Spirit’s power in the believer’s life.”
The people manifesting these spirits of darkness were new believers. They could have blended into the religious landscape if it had not been for the introduction of the baptism of the Spirit.
An expression of the power of God is about taking human territory away from the power and control of the enemy. I have seen similar situations when Jan and I spoke of God’s power. We have seen people, even pastors, set free when the Spirit’s presence challenged their alliances with evil.
Jesus foretold what would happen when His followers were baptized in the Spirit, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Spirit of God was already in these new believers. In John 20, Jesus breathed the Spirit into His disciples.
On the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit would come upon them baptizing them in the Spirit anointing them with the power of the Spirit.
This power would be an endorsement of the presence of God in the life of the disciples, “God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know” (Acts 2:22).
When God’s power was exhibited, it would also offer proof of the Lord’s power in His disciples: “The Lord proved their message was true by giving them the power to do miraculous signs and wonders” (Acts 14:3).
As a demonstration of God’s power was released it would “open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” Acts 26:18). This exposure is what happened to Gregory in West Africa. The bondage of hell and its control over our spiritual lives can only be released by God’s power, not another well-packaged message or a calm and peaceful daily devotional.
Paul wrote, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (I Corinthians 4:20). We have a lot of talk taking place in our churches, but little demonstration of God’s power. As a result, we have not challenged the spirits that are holding the Church captive to demonic spirits.
To move forward in this confusing season, we need to revisit the power of God and invite people to experience the evidence of true power. That experience and its endorsement of Jesus will change the world as it did in the Early Church and each time in Church history when the Lord revived His people by a demonstration of His power.
Garris Elkins
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