Discerning of Spirits

DISCERN, verb intransitive

1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.

2. To have judicial cognizance.

The gift of Discerning of spirits is a weapon for all! In fact, as we mature in our walk in Christ Jesus we are expected to learn how to discern good (true) doctrine from evil (false) doctrine. It is false doctrine that caused the fall of man. Therefore learning to discern righteously is critical to our faith in Christ Jesus. Putting faith in false doctrine instead of in the Word of God causes you to backslide.

The purposes of this Gift include helping to deliver the afflicted, oppressed, and tormented, exposing deception and plans of the adversary, unmasking demons,

"Discerning of Spirits gives supernatural insight into the secret realm of Spirits. It reveals the kind of Spirit that is actuating a person who is manifesting supernatural knowledge or power". "The very existence of this Gift proves the present reality of evil spirits. They are wrecking and torturing human beings." Chapter 8

Horton, Harold. The Gifts of the Spirit, 1949

Luke 21:8

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Hebrews 5:12-14

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Ephesians 6:10-13

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We cannot properly discern good from evil on our own, we must listen to the Holy Spirit and God's Word, to righteously discern.

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Eve made a fatal mistake when she unrighteously discerned the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil to be good for doctrine. By accepting the satanic tree as truth thereby rejecting God's word, she and Adam lost the anointed covering of the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: [the lie] 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked;

"Evil spirits will move in even on Christians and try to oppress, steal their faith, create doubt and cause quarrels and cause misunderstandings. That’s them all the way. Confusion. If you have the Holy Spirit on you, and know what’s causing all these troubles. The moment they know that you are able to discern evil powers they go." Neal Frisby, CD759 Discerning of Spirits, 1979

1 Kings 3:9-13

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

Ezekiel 43:23

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Malachi 3:18

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

"The discerning of spirits is not the power to discover faults in others. Not one of us requires the baptism in the Holy Spirit to endow us with gift of criticism and fault finding." Harold Horton, "The Gifts of the Spirit", 1949