And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying  (Acts 16:16, KJV)

The Lord has ushered in a prophetic move in the Church that has never been seen since the Church was born. We see a glorious manifestation of the prophetic office, and it is beautiful to behold. However, it has come with unintended consequences, including misunderstandings and misuse. But the worst unwanted outcome of this divine move is Satan’s false parallel move.

Many believers are not aware that demonic spirits can give perfect, accurate “word of knowledge” or prophecies. These prophetic powers were known to the Greeks and Romans during Biblical times. Notably, there was a  Greek Temple of the Greek god Apollo in Delphi where an oracle was able  tell people things about their lives just as we know of the word of knowledge today. It is obvious that it was not just empty mind-reading but a demonic spirit operating there. Paul encountered this spirit in a girl in Acts 16:16 above. The phrase “spirit of divination”  in KJV is literally  “spirit of python” in the Greek. Why the name “python”? It was believed that the god Apollo slew the Python, a serpent or dragon that guarded this oracle. This spirit of divination that was able to tell people about their lives through the oracle in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi was then called “spirit of python.” That is what is mentioned in Acts 16:16 above where this possessed girl was able to give accurate information about Paul and Silas. 

Let me ask you a question which I  encourage you to think about— do you think these spirits that operated in the days of Paul have left the earth? Absolutely not! The current authentic prophetic wave of God has created an excellent opportunity for these spirits to walk their way into the Church.

I wish I can say this a million times in just one sentence — the ability to tell people accurate things about their lives DOES not prove that it is from  God. Demons can do that as well. My heart breaks each time I read stories of fake prophets abusing and misusing Christians and continue to “hypnotize” them with the so-called accurate word of knowledge. Please, be on your guard. Satan has entered the church as a wolf in sheep clothing and using  “prophesies and miracles” to ruin God’s people. Word of knowledge and miracles ARE NOT ENOUGH to prove it is God that is at work.

MEDITATE

Can Satan perform miracles? What will be one of the traits of the false prophet that will be working with the Antichrist? ( Rev. 13:13-14)

APPLY THE WORD

The Church has a bigger problem than these fake demonic prophets.  That problem is with us, the believers, not even with these fake ministers. This problem is believers who are not established in the faith and are unable to discern God from Satan. They follow miracles, prophecies, and breakthroughs as blindly as does a  sheep. Please be warned that Satan is now operating from some pulpits. Some of you might not have encountered this problem personally in your area, but know that as you are reading these devotionals right now, some pastors and prophets have gone to Satan to receive demonic powers to prophesy and work miracles to attract a following. Please pray for the Church and the believers in particular, that God will raise ministers that will feed the believers all over the world to grow to maturity ( Jer. 3:15).

PRAY

Ask the Lord to keep His children all over the world from this ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

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