(from Journal, 3-18-19)
As His sons and daughters, we will see an unclean spirit in someone who needs deliverance. But before trying to help them, we first must have wisdom and knowledge from above. We must understand that they are spiritually afflicted by Satan and his minions.
This is major league stuff. Those evil spirits are fallen angels that we are dealing with. We must have understanding–which is “knowledge of the holy” about who these spirits are. They are ministering spirits for us, the heirs of salvation. Are not all angels our servants (Heb. 1:14)? All. The evil spirits in this case are providing an opportunity for us to show forth the power of God–in His timing—that He might be glorified in the showing of His mighty power to heal. We better know what we are doing before attempting to cast out an evil spirit. Remember in Acts when the spirit jumped on the unprepared follower?
At first glance, we might think that this is a bit outlandish for God to do this–that He would allow affliction—on saints and sinners alike. But we need to reflect upon pharaoh’s experience with Yahweh. He was the king of Egypt, and he was used by God to make a name for Himself. God hardened pharaoh’s heart against God’s very own will, but for a master purpose. God sent an evil spirit into pharaoh to block the children of Israel from escaping bondage.
It was God who hardened his heart. But this provided the ultimate backdrop to showcase God’s mighty miracle working hand in delivering Israel from slavery. We must remember this: God caused many Egyptians to perish: Egypt’s first born, the Chariots lost in the Red Sea, the victims of the plagues, and others. It was all part of His plan to reveal Himself to His creation.
Yahweh is sovereign, and all of us humans—past, present, and future—are His creation. He can and will use us in any way that He chooses to fulfill His will, plan, and purpose. We all need to get over ourselves with all this battling God for the preeminence in this life. We humans were created for His pleasure, not ours. We think that we have a say in our lives, but we really do not in the end. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh” (Prov. 16:33).
“For the scripture says to pharaoh,’ for this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show my power in you, and that my name may be declared in all the earth’ (Rom. 9:17; Ex. 9:16). Things in God’s plan are not open to those who by their own strength and sheer will, endeavor to please God. Nor is it to those who run for the prize of pleasing God. But it falls upon those whom he has chosen to show mercy to” (Rom. 9:16).
The point is that He uses whomever He wants to use for His purposes. And if He chooses to harden a heart to further His purpose of making sons and daughters, He will do it! Just like he did with pharaoh. This should strike fear and awe of a God who would do this to accomplish His purposes. We should not be surprised. We do the same thing. You plant a garden, and then you harvest it. You decide whether to eat the vegetables or can them or sell them or give them away. You call the shots concerning your garden. God calls the shots concerning His Garden.
But most human beings either think they are in control, or they give up and become driftwood, floating aimlessly, tossed upon the waves of fate, without knowledge of the tree from whence they came. Still God has a purpose and plan. He will still use His power to cast out evil spirits and heal whomever He desires. And in this epoch, He said that He will use you and me. Praise Yah! HalleluYah! kwh
Kenneth Wayne Hancock
Immortality Road 