As one of the gifts of Holy Spiritthe gift of discerning of spirits it is a crucial part of following the Bible’s teachings and leading a successful life in this fallen world. Discover the biblical meaning and importance of the “Gift of discerning spirits”.
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).
What is discernment?
Discernment is defined, in the modern secular sense, as “the power to discern; discrimination; keen judgment and understanding. Fundamentally, discernment is the ability to judge well.
Whether by our choices or those of the people we interact with, discernment is the gift of recognizing the moral and practical consequences of our decisions.
Historically, discernment has been viewed as a valuable trait, allowing those who possess it to avoid costly mistakes or misfortune.
Gifts of the Spirit What are they?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are unique traits and abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to faithful followers of Christ to serve God for the common benefit of his people, the church.
Paul instructed that:
“We have different gifts, according to the grace that was given to us. Let us use them in proportion to our faith”, Romans 12:6.
The spiritual gift of discernment
The spiritual gift of discernment it is also known as the gift of discerning of spirits “or” “to distinguish between spirits”. The Greek word for the gift of discernment is Diakrisis.
The word describes being able to distinguish, discern, judge, or evaluate a person, statement, situation, or environment.
In the New Testament he describes the ability to distinguish between spirits as in 1 Corinthians 12:10and discern good and evil as in Hebrews 5:14.
The Holy Spirit gives the gift of discerning of spirits to enable certain Christians to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in a given situation.
The church needs those with this gift to warn believers in times of danger, or prevent them from being led astray by false teaching.”
6 Signs You May Have the Spiritual Gift of Discernment
The following are some signs that you may have the gift of discerning of spirits, based on my personal study, observation, and experience. You may not identify with all of them, but if you have the gift, you will recognize some of these in your life:
1. Love for the presence of God
One of the benefits and signs of having a gift of discerning of spirits is a greater awareness of the Presence and anointing of God. A true discerner will have a passion for the Presence of . This is because the greatest use of the gift of discernment is not to see what the enemy is doing, but to discern what the Spirit of God is doing.
2. Sensitivity to the spiritual atmosphere
You may be more sensitive to spiritual atmospheres than most people. You are likely to be affected by the presence of any demonic activity in the environment around you. The reality is that we live in a natural world and a spiritual world at the same time.
In the Bible, when Jacob encountered a group of angels, he called the place , which means “double camp.” (Genesis 32: 1-2). As Jacob realized, we also live in a double camp where there is constant spiritual activity, and discerners have spiritual senses that are attuned to this.
3. Feeling different from other people
Most people, even in the church life, experience life through their natural senses. However, someone who has the gift of discerning spirits is able to feel and see things that others do not see.
This ability can make us feel different, alone or misunderstood at times, especially when starting out. It is vital that someone with a developing gift of discernment finds a safe place to travel with others who are equally talented and responsible in the life of their church.
4. Unusual signs
It is not uncommon for someone gifted with discernment to experience unusual events or manifestations. People who are incubating a gift of discernment begin to see or feel things that others are not aware of. This can include visions, dreams, and strange sensations that alert you to what is happening in the spiritual realm.
5. Signs of childhood or pre-salvation
It is not uncommon to experience things related to your gift of discerning of spirits, even before you became a Christian.
Our creator God prepares us for our calling and gifts from conception. Even when a talent or gift is misused, God can redeem and anoint it to be used to serve him, and love and minister to others.
6. Ability to know what is behind the words or actions of a person
Someone with a gift of discerning of spirits has the ability to see behind what a person says and presents. You can tell if they are telling the truth or not. He is also able to recognize if someone is manifesting a demonic spirit and to identify which spirit it is.
If a prophetic or revelatory message is being brought, a discerner can often tell if it is anointed by the Spirit or from the heart of the speaker.
Discernment in the Bible
Here we show you some books of the bible where discernment is discussed:
1. Hebrews
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discrimination trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14
2. Philippians
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, that you may approve what is excellent, and thus be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10
3. Corinthians
To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another type of different languages, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:10
The gift of discernment of spirits is a gift that the Holy Spirit gives to people who it considers to be capable of fulfilling the purpose with which it is linked. It is very important that it be used correctly, and for God’s work. This gift is no more or less important than the other attributes, so appreciate whatever talent our Lord has given you.