Is it God’s discipline or the devil’s demons? Steve and his guest J.D. King discuss the confusion some people experience when they see the power of God at work.
The power of God is moving, delivering, and transforming people’s lives. We cannot mistake the presence and workings of God for the devil, just because the things that people need to be delivered from may be ugly or even the devil’s schemes.
Faith is a fight. The devil is a destroyer. Sometimes both are going on at the same time.
Hebrews 12 says, “God disciplines those he loves.” In modern Western society, the word discipline makes us think that God is going to punish us. Meanwhile, the devil is lurking, wanting to harm, torment, and cause trouble. With the belief that punishment is on one side and torment is on the other, that’s when Christians become confused.
The word discipline is similar to the word disciple. God has called us to go and make disciples of others (acting as “fishers of men”). Discipline is God’s training that saves us (from the devil’s destruction).
God’s Discipline or The Devil’s Destruction
Here’s how you can know whether or not something is God’s discipline or the devil’s destruction. Look at the fruit! Is it training, building, and saving? This is God. Or is it harming, tormenting, and causing trouble? This is the devil.
J.D. shares his firsthand experiences ministering in Argentina. There was darkness on a man who came into the service, and after he received prayer, his countenance became light. Another little girl could not speak and had a dark disposition; when J.D. began speaking the love of Jesus over her, the girl’s face changed. She started laughing and became energetic. The power of God unleashed something good in her. God restores us, helps us, and gives us hope!
Steve talks about the Kansas City Revival he led starting in 2008. God came down and brought freedom to people, but lifelong churchgoers would react critically, angrily, vilely, etc. Some people cannot stand it—“gnashing their teeth”—when the good things of God happen.
Let’s not be like the Pharisees and criticize God breathing life into people and transforming lives. Rejoice when people get free!
...because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.
Questions:
How do we know what is God and what is not?
Can you remember a time in the past when you encountered and were changed by God?
What good fruit resulted?
Will you remain open and softhearted toward God and his miraculous works?
Resources:
Purchase J.D.’s books: Regeneration, You’ve Been Duped, and Shift: Leading in Transition at The Resurgence Store.
Listen to previous episodes of Revive Us Now Podcast here.
Quotes To Remember:
2:54Faith is a fight. The devil is a destroyer. Sometimes both are going on at the same time.
8:35You can see when darkness is on someone. Evaluate the fruit. It’s violence, perversion, bitterness, selfishness, etc. (J.D. King)
8:50God may work very strongly, very powerfully, and challenge who we are. But it’s a root of freedom and restoration, restoring our humanity. (J.D. King)
14:20God is going to train you and teach you. The devil wants to stop you.
