Wise As Serpents ~ Harmless As Doves

A Word by Elaine Tavolacci

We are entering a season like no other. We have been experiencing revival meetings across the country and around the world and the presence of God will continue to escalate in the days ahead. There will be ministries of miracles, signs and wonders. There will be apostles and prophets arising but there will also be false prophets so it is imperative that we are able to discern the difference. There are nine spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. One of the gifts is the “discerning of spirits”. When I looked this scripture up in the Strong’s concordance I found something interesting. The word “spirits” (pneuma) refers to the Holy Spirit, the human spirit and demonic spirts.) (Strong’s G4151) This gift gives us discernment into all realms of the natural and the supernatural.

As I was writing this the Lord reminded me of an old story about a woman that rescued a half frozen snake from the snow. The snake pleaded with the woman "Take me in, oh tender woman, "Take me in, for heaven's sake." The woman took the snake into her home, warmed him in a blanket and placed him by the fireplace as she fed him milk and honey. After the snake thawed out and was revived the woman said; I saved you from freezing to death. She kissed him on the head and stroked his beautiful skin. The snake suddenly turned on her and gave her a vicious bite. The woman cried out saying “why did you bite me after I saved your life”? “You know that your bite is poisonous and you know that now I am going to die”. The snake replied: You foolish woman, you knew that I was a snake before you took me in.

Discernment is going to be crucial in the days ahead and it is imperative that we come into a higher level of discerning. There are not only false prophets but also ministers who are watering down the truth because they don’t understand spiritual things. They speak against the supernatural intervention of God and are misleading many. They are those who are misinformed and therefore could not lead others to what they haven’t experienced themselves. If we are Holy Spirit filled believers, we should not fear being deceived. We serve the same God that we read about in the bible. Joshua asked the Lord to cause the moon and the sun to stand still. He did this so that he and his army could continue fighting until daylight. The Lord answered his prayer and following this battle Joshua led the Israelites to several more victories, ultimately conquering Canaan.

Elijah asked the Lord to stop the rain and it didn’t rain for three and a half years. When he prayed again, it rained, and the earth brought forth her fruit. When Jesus sent the apostles out, He gave them power to cast out unclean spirits, heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. He commissioned them to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons. He then said “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. He wasn't referring to being evil, but to be wise against the tactics of the enemy. Jesus also said: Most assuredly I say to you, he that believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these will he do because I go unto my father.

Jesus is also commissioning us today to go forth and do the same.

Matthew 10:16

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves: Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Elaine Tavolacci