Holy Spirit Opposes Unholy Spirit
An all-creatures Bible Message

Holy Spirit Opposes Unholy Spirit
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
22 October 2017
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

Exodus 33:12-23
Matthew 22:15-22
Romans 13:1-7

Holy Spirit opposes unholy spirit because they are diametrically opposed to one another; the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God that leads us to live in His heavenly will and everlasting life, and the unholy spirit is the devil who leads us to destruction.
 
And just because someone is a member of the clergy or claims to be born again does not mean that they have the Holy Spirit, for they may really have an unholy spirit, which should be evident to us, for such people follow the corrupt ways of this world, which includes murdering innocent humans and animals.
 
Yes, people murder animals, because their killing most often is premeditated; they plan to kill the animals for sport (hunting and fishing), and because they plan to kill animals for food and clothing.
 
Today, we are going to look at a few Biblical examples of people in whom we can discern which spirit they have.
 
Let’s begin by looking at Exodus 33:12-23…

12. Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, Thou dost say to me, 'Bring up this people!' But Thou Thyself hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Moreover, Thou hast said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.'
 
13. "Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found favor in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight. Consider too, that this nation is Thy people."

Moses had doubts then, but today all truly born again Christians have the Holy Spirit who abides within us, and goes with us.
 
Furthermore, we know the heavenly will of God, because the Holy Spirit abides with us, so that everything we do and say would be in the heavenly will of God, that is, unless we fight against His unction in favor of some worldly way.
 
In this case, Moses seems to be struggling with this as if he has a tug of war going on within him between the Holy Spirit and an unholy spirit who fills his mind with doubts.

14. And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest."

This is also what the Holy Spirit should do for us; that is, if we are really listening to His unction and following it.

15. Then he said to Him, "If Thy presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.

As Paul tells us, when we have the Holy Spirit we also have the mind of Christ, and should have no doubts, as Moses seems to have.

16. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Thy sight, I and Thy people? Is it not by Thy going with us, so that we, I and Thy people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?"

If indeed the Holy Spirit abides with us, we should instinctively know that we also have found favor in the sight of the Lord.
 
Additionally, the people around us should see that we are not living in the corrupt ways of the world.
 
The problem is that most people who claim to be Christian are still living in the evil and corrupt ways of this world, which gives people the impression that followers of Christ are nothing but hypocrites.
 
The Holy Spirit opposes unholy spirit which means that if we are truly born again, we should be living in the heavenly will of God, where there is no pain, or mourning, or death.
 
Let’s return to our Biblical passage…

17. And the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight, and I have known you by name."
 
18. Then Moses said, "I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!"

Moses got what he asked for, and remember that he also participated in all the miracles that God did, but even with all of this, he seems to still have doubts and asks for more proof.
 
And if we have any doubts, we need to remember that we have the Holy Spirit, even if not in the physical, others can see His presence in the way we live before them in this world, such as doing no harm to any part of God’s creation, such as killing and eating animals and their by-products.
 
And God agrees to allow Moses to see His presence:

19. And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."

And we should be compassionate to all the animals and show them empathy, as an example of God’s goodness and mercy.

20. But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!"

Even here God is showing His goodness and mercy.

21. Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;
 
22. and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
 
23. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."
NASB

Since Jesus came and we have the Holy Spirit, God doesn’t seem to do any of these things anymore; at least to our knowledge, we have not heard of any such occurrences.
 
Now, let’s take a look at Matthew 22:15-22…

15. Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap Him in what He said.

Here we can plainly see that these religious leaders did not have the Holy Spirit, because their thoughts and actions are the ways of the unholy spirit in this world.

16. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
 
17. "Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"

See how they try to sound like religious leaders, but their intent is evil, and they will not be able to trick Jesus, but we need to be very careful so we don’t fall into such schemes today, which come from both clergy and lay people claiming to be born again Christians.
 
We need to always remember that the Holy Spirit opposes unholy spirits that try to lead us astray from the heavenly will of God.

18. But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?

We need to be like Jesus.

19. "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius.
 
20. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 
 
21. They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." 
 
22. And hearing this, they marveled, and leaving Him, they went away.
NASB

In Romans 13:1-7, Paul makes it appear that he is playing politics, but let us look at this passage through the eyes of “Holy Spirit opposes unholy spirit”…

1. Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

This does not mean that we are to be doing things that are against the heavenly will of God and His Holy Spirit; it just means that God installed the leaders that reflect the way the people are living.
 
If the way most people are living is a reflection of the unholy spirit or spirits, then we are still to live in the heavenly will of God and follow the unction of the Holy Spirit.
 
This way we set the example before others, and hopefully it will help change people to turn from their wicked ways, and return to God wholeheartedly.
 
Regardless of the way the leaders live, we are to respect their authority and position, such as paying taxes.

2. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Again, this doesn’t mean we are to do anything that is evil in the sight of the Lord, but only that we are not to resist the authority of the leaders.
 
If the leaders are evil, they also will have to face the judgement of God.
 
Remember, sometimes we just have to leave things in the hands of the Lord, for the Holy Spirit opposes unholy spirit.

3. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same;
 
4. for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.

This is the same principle that is used when the Holy Spirit opposes unholy spirit or spirits, and it should also be the way that we live.

5. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
 
6. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

It is always better to work for good in God’s heavenly will from within the system, rather than to try to fight from the outside.

7. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
NASB

And above all, to serve God in His heavenly will, and do everything we can to free creation from its present corruption.
 
Amen.

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