
233. Counterfeit vs. Holy Spirit: How to Discern What's Real with Riaan Swiegelaar
From Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast by Heidi Mortenson, MA, LMFT
March 30, 2026 · 49 min
About this episode
Heidi Mortenson interviews Riaan Swiegelaar about his transformation from darkness to faith and the importance of discerning true spiritual practices.
What happens when someone deeply embedded in darkness encounters the real Jesus? In this powerful episode, Heidi sits down with Riaan Swiegelaar, former co-founder and leader of the South African Satanic Church, who shares his radical transformation after encountering the love and truth of Christ. Together, they unpack the difference between true discernment and a critical spirit, the dangers of counterfeit spiritual practices, and why many believers are missing the power of a genuine relationship with the Holy Spirit. This conversation will challenge, stretch, and strengthen your understanding of authority, identity, and freedom in Christ—and remind you that Jesus is still delivering, healing, and transforming lives today. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." — John 8:32 What You'll Gain From This Episode How to discern between the Holy Spirit and counterfeit spiritual practices The difference between true discernment and a critical or religious spirit Why intimacy with God—not striving—develops spiritual authority A deeper understanding of deliverance and the role of Jesus (not human effort) How to walk in your identity and authority in Christ with…
People in this episode
Host: Heidi Mortenson
Guest: Riaan Swiegelaar
Topics covered
- discernment
- spiritual practices
- Holy Spirit
- identity in Christ
- transformation
- deliverance
Keywords
- discernment
- Holy Spirit
- spiritual authority
- identity in Christ
- deliverance
- transformation
- Satanic Church
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: South African Satanic Church
Books & works: John 8:32
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