Daily devotional-Be spiritually sensitive-Glory & Grace

Then Peter took him( Jesus), and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan… (Matt. 16:22-23 )

Jesus responded to Peter’s rebuke with a stern and firm reply “Get thee behind, Satan!” This was not an ordinary admonishment. Jesus spoke to Peter but was addressing Satan, who was the spiritual influence behind Peter’s actions. Was Peter possessed? No. Was he demonic? No. Satan simply influenced his mind and then his actions as he does with many of us today. Imagine the shock and embarrassment on Peter’s face when Jesus said this. There was demonic activity going on right in a church meeting that Jesus had with His elders. We better be vigilant, no matter where we are or who is around us.

The Lord taught us a very important lesson by this experience, which He again re-iterated through the mouth of the same Peter, this time not under the influence of that satanic spirit but the Holy Spirit saying “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Pet. 5:8).

Be vigilant, and spiritually sensitive to what goes on in your world. Tune in at all times to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He will tell you when there is more going on than what you see or hear. Many believers will be blown away if they were told how many times demonic spirits have come against them, and even succeeded. One of Satan’s major strategies is to attack under cover. He wants to go unnoticed. Worst still, he sometimes disguises as an angel of light. Do not be at the extremes of spiritual sensitivity-neither at the end of the spectrum that sees demons in everything nor the end that is so natural that demons operate and he calls them normal phenomena. You want to avoid any of these extremes. Just be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He will tell you who is really speaking through the people you meet, and the spirit behind the events that happen to you.

MEDITATE

The Word in your mind and mouth (1 Tim 4:15; Josh 1: 8)

Keeping God’s Word in our mind and mouth causes it to sink into our spirits. Meditate on the word above. Thinking on the Word gives it the opportunity to stay in your mind. Then begin to say it out, speaking it to yourself. Confess that you are spiritually sensitive to the Holy Spirit, etc.

PRAY

Water the Seed (word) to grow. Invite the Spirit’s strength! (Isa 32:15; Zach 4:6)

Thank God for the opportunity to be spiritually sensitive and responsive in the spirit. We are alive in the spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to cause your heart to be spiritually sensitive to His leading.

APPLY THE WORD TODAY!

Your door to a blessed life today is doing God’s Word. Refuse to be a hearer or reader only! (James 1:22-26)

You may encounter what happened to Jesus today. Satan may speak to you through someone. Or you may encounter circumstances which are demonic setups. Be vigilant, not obsessed with demons. Spiritual sensitivity is not only to demons. Be conscious of the realm of the Spirit, the leader of the Holy Spirit, as well as the reality of spiritual foes. There are more angels than demons, so you should be more mindful of God than the satanic world!

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