2: an act of perceiving or discerning something
John 3:1-2
"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”Paul's whole ministry is also summed up in these scriptures.
1st Corinthians 2:1-5
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."The above scriptures should sum up every single man or woman that get's up to speak for God, if you don't hear Jesus Christ and Him crucified preached, and you don't see a demonstration of the Spirit and power of God working through them, you have to ask them the question, IS GOD WITH YOU?
In Jesus,
Tyrone
Luke 24:49
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
The New Testament books of the bible are filled with testimonies of the power of God, the supernatural displays of the Holy Spirit working in and through the lives of ordinary men and women who chose to answer the call of Jesus.
Without being empowered by the Spirit of God it is impossible to overcome your flesh, this world, and the adversary of all our souls, satan. We absolutely can not live in this world as a disciple of Jesus, unless the Holy Spirit is indwelling your soul. There is just to much evil, sin, and gross darkness, to live without the Spirit's daily help, protection, and empowerment.
Jesus who understood the full scale of the spiritual battle we face everyday and He would never send His apostles into the world to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth without first being empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them that He was going away but He would not leave them as orphans, but would come to them again through the Spirit of God.
John 14:15-18
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."
According to https://www.gordonconwell.edu/, there are about 2.6 billion Christians in this world and now over 8 billion people on this planet, and that equates to 32.5% of the earths population! So if all these people are really Christian, shouldn't we be seeing evidence of great unity, love, peace, health and prosperity?
That's what we read in scripture isn't it? The disciples were all together and had everything in common, giving to each one who had need, eating together, serving together, loving each other, and holding to the teachings of the apostles, who were taught by Jesus Himself.
Acts 2:40-47
"And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."Revelation 13:11-17
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
When you understand this truth, it changes the way you view people and the world. Jesus told His disciples to be gentle as a dove but wise as a serpent for a reason! The hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places will show you no mercy, period! And evil spirits are not just in heavenly places but also in the bodies of human beings too!