In this age of grace, we understand that God has given His Spirit as a seal of our salvation, which means that not everyone possesses this gift—only those who are saved by His grace. The primary role of God’s Spirit is to awaken our conscience when we sin against Him. However, many people overlook this fundamental purpose and instead seek God’s Spirit to perform miracles or cast out evil spirits from those who are afflicted. When we receive His Spirit with selfish motives, God’s Spirit still pours His love into our hearts and convicts us when we act in ways that offend Him.
While some people respond to this conviction by correcting themselves, others choose to ignore it, allowing their sinful desires to take over. Over time, as they persist in sin without repentance, the Spirit of God eventually withdraws from them. Sadly, many are unaware when this happens and continue on without recognizing the loss.
Saul and the Spirit of God
“Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.” – 1 Samuel 16:14-15 (NIV)
The word “departed” indicates that Saul once had the Spirit of God but lost it. Just as we rely on parents for guidance and support, we may feel lost without them. Similarly, when God’s Spirit leaves someone, they lose divine direction and comfort.
Interestingly, some perceive the departure of God’s Spirit not with sorrow but relief, viewing it as a source of correction rather than love. They mistake conviction for nagging rather than guidance. Saul repeatedly ignored God’s Spirit, and eventually, He left him. He didn’t notice its absence but immediately recognized the torment of an evil spirit. His attendants also acknowledged it and suggested listening to soothing music of an instrument like the lyre as a remedy.
Often, people fail to see the Spirit of God at work in someone’s life, yet the presence of an evil spirit becomes evident through behavior and actions. Unfortunately, many seek quick fixes to rid themselves of evil spirits instead of turning back to God for true restoration.
Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” – 1 Samuel 28:7 (NIV)
Popular Practices for Casting Out Evil Spirits
People often turn to witchcraft, black magic, chanting mantras, exorcism, reciting Scripture, or authoritative prayers to seek deliverance from evil spirits. In Saul’s case, David’s lyre playing provided temporary relief, but the problem persisted, requiring David’s constant presence (1 Samuel 16:22-23).
Today, we see similar patterns to cast away the evil spirits. During deliverance meetings or worship sessions, possessed individuals may manifest their affliction through shrieking and convulsions. While they find temporary relief through music and spiritual gatherings, the problem remains unresolved. Many continuously attend such meetings but revert to their previous state afterward. Listening to spiritual songs provides comfort, but without true transformation, the issue lingers.
When people rely on temporary relief rather than a true relationship with God, their hearts remain empty, allowing evil spirits to return with even greater force. Jesus firmly warned people about the returning evil spirits.
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” – Matthew 12:43-45 (NIV)
The Spirit Of Sonship Departed From Jesus
We are led by the Spirit of God when we seek to fulfill His will. Jesus always sought to accomplish His Father’s purpose, and as a result, the Spirit of God remained in Him. He proclaimed this truth through the words of Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)
Jesus continued to remain in the Spirit of God, and His Father attested the same about His Son.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:17 (NIV)
Unlike Jesus, many today misuse the Sonship for personal gain and wealth, masking it as blessings and miracles. This opens the door to deception and then God withdrawing the Spirit of God. When the Holy Spirit departs, there is no conviction, but people often remain unaware of its absence because they never sought or expected conviction to begin with.
Without conviction, they feel at ease until the enemy takes full advantage of them, leading to the sorrow that comes from misguided faith. Judas Iscariot fell victim to this kind of deception and helped capture his rabbi and then subsequently took his life (Matthew 27:5).
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. – 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
There was a moment when even Jesus experienced the departure of God’s Spirit—not because He was rejected, but because He bore the sins of the world. In Gethsemane, He addressed God as “Father,” but on the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), signifying His inclusion of all humanity in His relationship with God.
Because of His deep connection with the Spirit, Jesus immediately felt His absence. At the right time, He restored His relationship with the Father by crying out for the salvation of humanity (Hebrews 5:7). If even Jesus felt the weight of the Spirit’s departure, how much more should we strive to remain in the Spirit that has been graciously given to us.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. – Ephesians 4:30 (NIV)
Jesus, Giver of Life
When the Spirit of God left Jesus, He became weak and said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Likewise, when the Spirit of God departs from us, we become spiritually lifeless. On the other hand, when God casts out an evil spirit, the person may also seem lifeless since his strength was rooted in that spirit. This is evident in Mark 9:26-27, where Jesus cast out a demon, leaving a boy appearing as though dead. However, Jesus took his hand, restored him, and gave him a new life.
Jesus came to give us abundant life, but the enemy’s goal is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Yet, many still open their hearts to the devil while ignoring the One who patiently stands at the door and knocks. We have a choice: to be filled with God’s Spirit or to be influenced by an evil spirit. The decision rests with us, as free will allows us to choose between the two.
The Need for True Transformation
Saul initially received the Spirit of God when he came into the contact of the company of prophets (1 Samuel 10:10), but it did not remain with him permanently. Similarly, we may experience anointing at conventions or spiritual gatherings, but it does not last long unless we cultivate a relationship with God. Listening to spiritual songs or sermons alone cannot deliver us from evil forces. Engaging in continuous spiritual programs without true relationship with God leads to exhaustion rather than renewal.
My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. – Hebrews 12:5-8 (NIV)
Rather than resisting, we should welcome God’s correction as evidence that we are truly His children. When we understand His discipline as a means of transformation rather than a burden, we grow stronger in faith. After finding freedom from the torment of the evil spirit, we must then invite God to take residence in our hearts—otherwise, our struggles will continue.
If we desire His teaching and conviction, we must also desire Him. By willingly opening our hearts to Jesus, we allow Him to enter and fulfil the Father’s will. If we devote ourselves to God and reject the enemy’s deception, He will guide us toward eternal life. Therefore, let us stay vigilant, embracing His Spirit and walking faithfully in His truth.
Let us not allow our hearts to remain empty, but instead fill them with the presence of God’s Spirit and His Word, leaving no room for the devil to enter. We must remain discerning, receiving God’s Word directly from Him with His perspective, rather than being misled by the enemy, who may twist the same Word to deceive us as he tried with Jesus in the wilderness.
The Jordan Valley 
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