Text: Acts 8:1-24

Review what was discussed the past few days about discernment and recognize in the text the difference in how Peter discerned Simon, realizing that this is an illustration of spiritual warfare—and one that we could face.

C. Peter Wagner, in Acts of the Holy Spirit writes concerning the text: “Three levels of spiritual warfare may be fairly clearly discerned, all of them relating to each other through the intricate workings of the kingdom of darkness: (1) ground-level spiritual warfare that is casting ordinary demons out of people; (2) a cult-level spiritual warfare involving the Satanic power of magicians, sorcerers, witches, New Age channelers, shamans and the like; and (3) strategic-level spiritual warfare dealing with principalities, powers and territorial spirits. In Samaria statement that “unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed” (Acts 8:7) displays a ground-level of spiritual warfare. The occult-level warfare involves Simon the sorcerer” (page 174, 175).

Susan Garrett in The Demise of the Devil adds, “Satan does still have some power, but he is handily subjugated when confronted by the vastly greater divine authority that Christians wield. Peter’s righteous rebuke reduces Simon from a famous magician, impiously acclaimed by all the people of Samaria as ‘the great power of God,’ to a meek man who fears for his own destruction and so asked the servant of the Lord to intercede for him” (page 74).

Yes, through the Holy Spirit you have both the power to discern and then defeat the enemy. Pray to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, allowing Him to exercise His will and power in your life.