THE TWELVE SPIRITS part 1 ( The Strong Men ) If you study the ministries of men and women used mightily of God, such as Smith Wigglesworth, William Branham, and Kathryn Kuhlman, you’ll find they were keenly aware of the demon spirits that came against their work. Most people view their difficulties as being a natural problem, not knowing how the devil attacks. As a result, they remain in bondage to the enemy. Without question, I believe there are far more spirits active in this world than we are aware of. Let me share what the Bible has to say about the twelve leading spirits of the satanic world called the “strong men.” Strong Man #1: A JEALOUS SPIRIT Psychologists are quick to tell us that jealousy is a natural human emotion, but if you examine Scripture, you will discover that in most cases it is a demon. During the journey of the children of Israel in the wilderness, the Lord spoke to Moses and asked him to tell the people what to do if a man’s wife is unfaithful toward him: “If the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife...then the man shall bring his wife to the priest” (Numbers 5:14-15, NKJV). There, he is to present “a grain offering for jealousy” (verse 15).Even if “she has not defiled herself” (verse 14), yet the husband is jealous, the same rule applies. There are two cases here regarding whether or not the wife has committed adultery, but if the man allows the spirit of jealousy to overtake him, the result is the same. The spirit of jealousy also manifests itself through other demon spirits, such as the spirit of suspicion, anger, rage, revenge, and even murder. Proverbs 6:34-35 confirms that the spirit of jealousy brings with it the manifestations of other spirits: “Jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou gives many gifts.” A person with the spirit of jealousy will have no peace or contentment. To come against this spirit, don’t mistakenly call it rage or anger. Name it what it is jealousy. Sometimes we are like boxers, flaying around, not knowing what we are hitting. We need to be like the apostle Paul who said, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26, NKJV). When you boldly cast out the spirit of jealousy, you are freeing others from everything that goes with it. Strong Man #2: A LYING SPIRIT. This has nothing to do with a child who tells a fib to their parents out of fear or some other form of pressure. That’s simply human weakness, not a lying spirit. Not everybody who lies has a demon— otherwise all our children would be demon possessed. The “lying spirit” we are discussing here always operates in conjunction with religion. An example of this is found in the Old testament when Ahab (the king of Israel) asked Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) to join forces with him to fight against the armies of Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat agreed, but there was one requirement. He told Ahab, “Please inquire for the word of the LORD today” (2 Chronicles 18:4). So Ahab gathered 400 of his prophets together and asked them if he should go to war. They gave enthusiastic approval. But Jehoshaphat persisted, “Is there not still [one more] prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?” (verse 6). Ahab admitted there was a prophet named Micaiah, and said, “But I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (verse 😎. Ahab’s messengers called for Micaiah and encouraged him to be like the rest of the prophets who announced that Israel and Judah would be victorious in battle. But when Micaiah stood before the two kings, he said, “As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak” (verse 13). Concerning the upcoming conflict, Micaiah saw Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep with no shepherd. Then the prophet proclaimed: “I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left. And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.’ Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you” (2 Chronicles 18:18- 22). How did the story end? Ahab believed the lying spirits and was killed in the battle. This demon spirit manifests itself also as the spirit of adultery, the spirit of profanity, and the spirit of vanity. Jerusalem Jeremiah wrote, “I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of : they commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness” (Jeremiah 23:14, NKJV). Notice, they are religious men. God says there is a curse on such people: “Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone out into all the land” (verse 15). This religious spirit produces vanity. “Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD” (verse 16). A lying spirit is also a superstitious spirit. “For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 12:24). This speaks of people who are into “signs” and superstition. The Bible tells us to stay away from such individuals. - Pastor Benny Hinn (Angels and Demons) - Spiritual Notes