Discerning of Spirits
Our duty is not to be ignorant
about gifts, (1 Cor 12:1).
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To desire the gifts. (1 Cor 14:1)
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To use the gifts. (1 Peter 4:10)
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To rekindle the gifts. (2 Tim 1:6)
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As we are obedient and faithful in the use of our primary Grace gifts.
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And as we develop the use of our gift, over time, the fruit in the use of that gift will be recognized.
THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT:
“Discern” means:
1. To separate or divide up, hence, to examine carefully, investigate, then to determine, judge or estimate.
(Used in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15).
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To distinguish, make a distinction. (Used in Matthew 16:3 and 1 Corinthians 11:29).
THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT:
“Discern” means:
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Discriminating. (Used in Heb 5:14).
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To assay, examine, prove or scrutinize. (Used in Luke 12:56). (Bullinger’s).
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To recognize or perceive clearly
and differences. (Collins Dict.)
The gift of discernment is the
special ability to Judge, Evaluate and Perceive something in the Spiritual Realm.
This gift is used to target “Spirits”. Paul used the word “Pneuma” for Spirits.
There are three main ways, this word
“PNEUMA” is used in the New Testament.
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The Spirit (Pneuma) within a human. (Acts
18:25). “Burning in Spirit” great spiritual fervour.
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The Spirit, (Pneuma) of God – God reveals to us by His Spirit. (Pneuma) (1Cor 2:10) and (1Cor 2:4 & 12). The Spirit of God gives different grace gifts but the same Spirit (Pneuma).
There are three main ways, this word
“PNEUMA” is used in the New Testament.
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This usage refers to supernatural
beings (spirits).
These can be good or evil.
The word “pneuma” is used for
angelic beings and for demons.
For Angels – ministering spirits –
“pneumata”
“Are they not ministering spirits (pneumata) sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
Hebrews 1:14
For Demons – unknown spirit –
“pneuma”
Mark 1:23,24 & 26 – “Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit (Pneuma) and he cried out.
(v.24) saying “let us alone, what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God.”
(v.26) “And when the unclean spirit (pneuma) had convulsed him ….cried out with a loud voice he came out of him.”
Therefore “Pneuma” refers to
The human spirit
The Holy Spirit
Unholy spirits
Angelic spirits
The gift of “Discerning of
Spirits”
Refers to the spiritual gift with a particular focus on the ability to discern whether any of the above is at work behind a particular phenomenon.
“Discerning of Spirits” is the gift to:
1. Detect the realm of the spirits and their activities – it is a supernatural power to discern.
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Implies the power of spiritual insight – supernatural revelation of plans and purposes of the enemy and his forces.
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The word “Diakrisis” discernment is the ability to see through something or the spirit, “pneuma” motivating the phenomenon.
Scriptural Examples:
Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him and said of him “Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no deceit” (John 1:47).
Jesus was able to evaluate, discern and perceive the psycho (mental processes), spiritual nature of the person He encountered.
Jesus perceived Nathanael character and
discerned his transparency of spirit.
What kind of “spirit”, “pneuma” a person possessed, the ability to discern the psycho – spiritual nature of a person is very important.
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A Jealous spirit
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A Bitter spirit
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A Fearful spirit
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A Controlling spirit
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A Religious spirit
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A Spirit of Heaviness
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Etc
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A Humble Spirit
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A Compassionate Spirit
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A Courageous Spirit
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A Faithful Spirit
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A Spirit of Liberty
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A Spirit of Truth
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Etc
Spiritual attitudes
It is important that we are aware of such spirits and what spiritual attitudes are likely to affect what happens in our meetings and relationships with others that force change.
The gifts of discerning of spirits – the spirits of people are disclosed so that ministry can be suggested.
Hebrews 5:14
“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Two requirements
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We need to feed on solid food-that is the full revelation God has given us through the complete Bible, a thorough knowledge of Scripture is essential.
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We must practice discerning. This is not something that will come to us only by Bible knowledge or theory. Nor does it apply only to recognizing the activity of demons. It requires the consistent exercise of our spiritual senses in every situation we encounter.
1 Corinthians 14:26
In a meeting or gathering, whenever you come together each of you has a psalm has a teaching has a tongue has a revelation (discernment, knowledge and wisdom) has an interpretation let all things be done for edification.
Discernment can be used to perceive the “spirit”, (Pneuma) of a group of people or a person. Is the Holy Spirit or another spirit in operation?
In 1 Corinthians 14:29 Paul says:
“Let two or three prophets speak and let the
others judge or evaluate.”
Paul states clearly how important it is to distinguish between spirits in the use and exercise of a prophetic utterance.
The Greek word or verb “evaluate” equals “Diakrinein.”
The noun “Diakrisis” is used for discernment.
The gift of discernment is to be
exercised in the context of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29).
1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21 – Paul says in:
Verse 20: “Do not despise prophecies.”
Verse 21: “Test, discern all things and
hold fast what is good.”
Our responsibility
Is for the ongoing use of the gift of discernment in the Church to evaluate whether or not a person is speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit, or by the human flesh or intellect.
Ask the Lord for wisdom and courage to expose a word, which is from “the flesh” rather than the spirit.
Word of Wisdom can work
together with the gift of
Discernment:
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The Word of Wisdom is the supernatural perspective to ascertain the divine means of accomplishing God’s will in given situations.
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Divinely given power to appropriate
spiritual intuition in problem solving.
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A sense of Divine direction.
Word of Wisdom can work
together with the gift of
Discernment:
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Being led by the Holy Spirit to act appropriately in a given set of circumstances.
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Knowledge rightly applied; wisdom works interactively with knowledge and discernment.
ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD TO
JUDGE (PERCEIVE):
In Hebrews 4:12 we see the need to allow, THE WORD OF GOD to judge the intents and thoughts of your heart.
“For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two- edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a DISCERNER of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
DISCERNING ANGELIC AND DEMONIC
BEINGS:
In 2 Kings 6: 15-17, “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas my Master! What shall we do?” So Elisha answered, “Do not fear for those who are with us are more than those who are with them”
And Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, I
pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
Then, the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw. And beheld the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Elisha prayed for his servant would be given discernment (prophetic insight) to see the presence of the angelic hosts.
Peter exercises the gift of
Discernment:
In Acts 5: 1-11, Peter perceives that Ananias (and later his wife Sapphira) have been motivated by a lying, deceiving spirit. Ananias and Sapphira were judged for their hypocrisy and lying to God, not for the decision to retain some of their personal property for themselves but their deception.
“Give no place to the devil”
A sobering lesson is that Satan has the power to distort the thinking of Christians, thus affirming our need to allow him NO PLACE – “Give no place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:24).
Angels during public worship:
Revelations 5:11 –“Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands.”
The Gift of Discernment discerns the work of Angels; they are spiritual beings created by God who help carry out His work on earth.
They bring messages and protect God’s people –
Luke 1: 26-28.
Offer encouragement-Daniel 8:22.
Give guidance – Genesis 16:7.
Bring punishment – Exodus 14:19.
Patrol the Earth – 2 Samuel 24:16.
Reveals the sovereign Lord God – Ezekiel 1:4-28.
Seeing into the invisible and discerning spiritual forces -2 Kings 6:16-18.
And angel coming down from heaven –
Revelation 20:1.
Revelations 12:7
There are both good and evil angels.
But because evil angels are allied with Satan, they have considerably less power and authority than good angels.
The function of angels is primary twofold: worship and service. Revelation 4:11. The elect angels are “ministering spirits sent forth to them who are the heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:13-14; Psalm103; 20-21).
Paul in Acts 16: 16-18
“Now it happened as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune telling. This girl followed Paul and us and cried out saying “these men are the servants of the most High God who proclaim to us the way of salvation”. And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he (a spirit of divination) came out that very hour.”
Paul discerned
Paul discerned what the slave girl said was true, although the source of her knowledge was a demon.
Why did a demon announce the truth about Paul
and why did this annoy Paul?
If Paul accepted the demons words he would appear to be linking the Gospel (Good News) with demon-related activities.
This would damage his message about Christ;
truth and evil do not mix.
Jesus and the woman at the well:
Jesus showed by example that He did not thirst after material things or worldly possessions, and taught, through faith, that all things are available to him who believes, according to God’s will.
Jesus and the woman at the well:
John 4:13-15 – Jesus answered and said to
her:
“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to drink.”
Jesus and the woman at the well:
• In John 4: 16-17,
Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come here.”
The woman answered and said, “I
have no husband.”
Jesus said to her, “You have well said, I have no husband.”
Jesus and the woman at the well:
As Jesus met this woman His Spirit
bore witness.
He perceived (discerned) that there was a lustful spirit in her. That is why Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband.”
Jesus had prepared Himself because a
lustful spirit is out to seduce.
Here is a man and an opportunity to seduce and deceive Him. Jesus had identified the spirit by discernment and was prepared when He said to the woman, “Go call your husband.”
Jesus and the woman at the well:
Jesus became a (perfect) husband to that woman in the spirit; no lies, and no deception because He loved her and did not lust after her flesh.
Jesus showed her perfect love, with genuine motives.
The woman said, “Come meet this
Man, the (first perfect) man I have met.”
EVALUATION PROCESS
TEST THE SPIRITS:
“Beloved do not believe every spirit but test the spirits (“pneuma”) whether they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” John 4:1-2
TEST THE SPIRITS
The gift of discernment should be used in
both private as well as public meetings.
To evaluate and to test words given in public.
This is a time for the congregation to respond
with a “yes”, “no”, “not sure”
(Let’s wait on that one) give us time to evaluate.
The word “pneuma” spirit is:
God as Spirit – (John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17)
Christ – (1Corinthians 6:17 and 15:45)
The Holy Spirit – (Matthew 1:18-20 and 3:11)
Christ’s personal Spirit – (Mark 2:8; Mark 8:12; Luke 2:40)
Angels – (Hebrews 1:17 & 14; Psalm 164:4)
Spirits of Men – (Matthew 5:3; 1Corinthians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 5:20; Hebrews 4:12)
Evil spirits – (Matthew 8:16; Matthew 10:1; Matthew 12:43; Acts 8:7; Acts 16:16; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 18:2)
The Spiritual Body – (1 Corinthians 15:44)
THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST
The crux of the test is a spirit’s (“pneuma”) acknowledgement or rejection of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Son of God.
It is a profession of Faith in Him and submission to His sovereignty.
The Holy Spirit testifies to and glorifies
Jesus (John 15:26; 16:14; 1Cor 12:3).
SEVEN WAYS TO TEST FALSE
PROPHETS BY
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Their confession of Jesus – (1 John 4:2-3)
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Their relationship with the world – (1 John 4:5; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4)
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How they receive Christianity – (1 John
4:6)
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Their attitude towards the commandants of God – (1 John 4:6; 1 John 3:20-24; John 14:15)
SEVEN WAYS TO TEST FALSE
PROPHETS BY
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Love of the brethren – (1 John 4:7-21; 1 John 3:11-16; John 13:34-35; John 15:12-15)
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The indwelling Holy Spirit – (1 John 4:6)
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The Word of God – (1 John 4:6; 1 John
5:10; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:3
So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God.
No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus and no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
Anyone can claim to speak for God, and the world is full of false teachers.
Test to discern whether he or she confess Christ as Lord? Don’t be naïve and accept the words of all who claim to speak.
WHAT SPIRIT IS MANIFESTING?
The Word of God (Scripture)?
The way God has worked in the past?
The Spirit of Jesus Christ?
The Spirit of Truth – (John 16:13)?
Any spirit that is inconsistent with the character of Jesus
Throughout the ages there are many
examples and precedents
THE GREATEST TEST OF
GIFTING:
Love is the qualifying factor in spiritual gifts.
That spirit of Love is the qualifying factor.
To assure that those who exercise spiritual
gifts actually follow after “agape” love.
A fresh challenge for spiritual gifts, in the Corinthian church – which was characterized by a certain amount of spiritual division and ignorance.
The church was not operating in Love.
BY THEIR FRUITS YOU WILL
KNOW THEM:
Jesus said of prophets in Matthew 7:20 – “By their fruit you will know them.”
This applies for all spiritual phenomena, not only prophecy – The fruit of genuine prophecy results in edification (to build up), exhortation
– (stir up) and comfort – (cheer up).
1 Corinthians 14:1 – “Pursue love and desire
spiritual gifts,…”
In most instances it takes time, so be patient, to see what fruit comes from certain manifestations and delay making a decision and recognize that delay in judgment is not a bad thing.
“There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking” Proverbs 30:20 – (NLT).
Weigh up all spiritual manifestations and use the gift of discernment to evaluate and ask questions related to spiritual phenomenon and experiences in Charismatic and Pentecostalism, as we understand it today.
My prayer is:
“Dear Lord Jesus, give us wisdom as we use this wonderful gift of discernment in a loving and edifying way, to keep the church safe; not to judge people, but to discern spiritual phenomena and a variety of events, with a sensitive, intuitive perception of the prophetic journey You have ahead for us in the future.”
“Dear Lord Jesus, keep us alert and sensitive to Your Holy Spirit. Let us not be deceived in believing wrong teaching and doctrines by prophetic words that will lead us into destruction. Give us insight and credibility to weigh and balance. Amen.”
