The Gift of discerning of spirits

1 Cor. 12:10

                The next Spiritual Gift in our passage is the “discerning of spirits”. Simply stated: the ability to know whether a thing is from the Lord or not. This is a very valuable gift in your Christian life. We all need to know whether a circumstance or situation before us is from the Lord or from our adversary.

This is not the “try the spirits” of 1 John 4:1, and without teaching another lesson notice one difference. To “discern” something means to distinguish; to see the difference between two or more things. To “try” something means to prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality. The gift of “discerning of spirits” is being able to see the difference between two or more things.

[Ezra 3:13] Their discernment was hindered because of the greatness of the noise. It is a miracle today that any spirit from the Lord could possibly be noticed in the mass confusion in which we live. Our lives are bombarded with worldly spirits that are there to keep you from following the Lord.

[Eph.6:10-12] You may live in a “natural” world, but you better be aware of the “spiritual” world around you. [Eph.2:1-2] “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” is “the prince of the power of the air”  [1 Pet.5:8] Your adversary is seeking to devour you.

[2 Cor.11:14] Satan is the master of counterfeit. What you may discern as an open door of great opportunity, can really be a disaster. Discerning of spirits at this point would be very valuable.

[Matt.7:15] & [Acts 20:29] Paul knew that the attacks of the adversary are often hidden in camouflage. In hunting or at war camouflage is essential to fool the prey or enemy. Without discerning of spirits you will be devoured.

[Rom.8:4] If you are a “son of God”, a born again Christian, you should be led by the Spirit of God. What is leading your life, a career, family, hobby, pride (ambition), covetousness (wanting what you don’t have) or fear?  To be led by something assumes that you must follow. What are you following? If it’s not the Spirit of God, it won’t take much camo or counterfeit to trip you up.

The biggest danger is for a Christian to have one foot in the world and the other in church. All the adversaries tricks work! You have no discernment of what is of the Lord. You think because you came to church that the open door that you perceive is of the lord trying to bless you.

Bank tellers are trained to spot (discern) counterfeit currency by handling the REAL thing, and then when the fake shows up it is easy to discern. The more you know the Lord, the more you will be able to discern the adversary.

Commit to being led by the Spirit of God, his way is perfect [Ps.18:30] and covet the gift of discerning of spirits [1 Cor.12:31] it is one of the best gifts.