“a spirit of divination” (Acts 16:16, NKJV)
In this teaching the 14 spirits the Bible specifies will be discussed, and we will attempt to examine their functioning in practical terms.
In the Pentecost and Charismatic tradition a certain demonology has been established over the year, a quasi-scientific dogma about demonic genealogy and levels of authority. Many believers are kept busy with this quasi-scientific field, with little results. Part of the demonic plot is to engage well-meaning Christians on a full-time basis fighting Satan and his legions, so that they never have the time or energy to function in their calling and purpose. For many people deliverance has become a ministry, and this is not necessarily wrong, but it should never be the sum total of your calling. We deal with demons and principalities as the Holy Spirit points it out, and in as far as it prevents us from fulfilling our purpose on earth.
A large part of the demytholigising of evil is merely Biblical knowledge. In the entire Bible only 14 spirits are named, which we will now examine.
The first spirit is a spirit of divination. We read of this spirit in Acts 16:16-18: “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour.”
Note that this spirit spoke the truth – Paul and his following were servants of God, and the girl even elaborates on this by specifying God as the Almighty (El Elyon in Hebrew), one of the names of God (as is for instance translated in The Complete Jewish Bible). She also makes it clear, and is in that way exactly correct, that they proclaim the way of salvation (this is Jesus – Mark 12:14; John 14:6; Acts 9:2). This spirit sounds very authentic indeed, but you need the spirit of discernment to know that this is not the case. Unfortunately this spirit preaches in many churches.
The dictionary definition of this spirit is “the practice of attempting to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means”. People who, for instance, easily share a word of wisdom, without it being functional or confidential, often function in this spirit. A believer can be exposed to it via occult exposure, fortune telling, exposure to water spirits, passive mind states, playing with a Ouija board, occult items in your home, and rebellion. This opposes the Holy Spirit and his gifts.
We start with this spirit as the way to get rid of it is made very clear in the Word.
- Selah: Do you perhaps have this spirit? Deal with it.
- Read: 7-9
- Examine the OT-typology: 7:9 (Tip: Gen. 14:20)
