Moving in the Apostolic

120 Moving in the Apostolic

flesh. In the context of the Galatian church, it was legalism. They were attempting to be perfect by being circumcised and keeping the law of Moses. Paul said they were being bewitched. I have seen churches and even entire denominations move away from the anointing and start depending on the flesh to do the work of God. Many have lost the Holy Spirit's power and are only a shell of what they once were. How does this happen? How do people who begin in the Spirit try to perfect their lives and ministries in the flesh? I believe that witchcraft often is the reason. It can slip in undetected and work slowly over a period of time. Dealing with Witchcraft This is one of the reasons we need an apostolic anointing present within the Church. This anointing deals with witchcraft. It helps keep the Church walking in and depending upon the Holy Spirit. The apostolic anointing prevents the enemy from stopping the flow of the Spirit. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand (Acts 13:8 11). I like the way Paul dealt with witchcraft. He did not play around with it. He judged it with the power of God, calling down blindness upon Elymas the sorcerer. This type of authority and judgment is returning to the Church with the restoration of apostolic ministry. With the restoration of the apostolic ministry, we will see the same manifestations return to the Church that we read about