THE GIFT OF DISCERNING OF SPIRITS.
Thank you Pastor Bob McGoran of Glenmore Community Church for allowing us to post these teaching notes on the
prophetic group website. We love you Bob!
A MISUNDERSTOOD GIFT.
Discerning of Spirits is the most misunderstood of all of the gifts of the Spirit. Because of the confusion
surrounding this gift, clear biblical teaching on the dicerning of spirits would be beneficial. The gift of
dicerning of spirits and the natural ability of discernment (like intuition) are not the same thing. The gift of
discerning of spirits is supernatural in nature. For example the gift of knowledge is something supernatural, not
something that can be attained by natural means. Supernatural discernment divides that information into four
different areas: 1. the working of the Holy Spirit, 2. the working of the demonic, 3. the working of the human
spirit, and 4. the working of heavenly beings.
Another reason why the gift of discernment is misunderstood is that the gift has been abused. Many believe that the
gift of discerning of spirits is the ability to know another person's secret sin and have used it as justification
for harbouring attitudes of suspicion, criticism, and accusation. Good-hearted people don't want to opperate in
this distorted version of the gift. I have heard leaders in other streams comment that if they had to choose to
remove one of the nine gifts of the spirit, they would remove the gift of discerning of spirits because no other
gift has single handedly caused so much damage to the Body of Christ.
WHAT THE BIBICAL GIFT OF DISCERNING OF SPIRITS REALLY IS.
Let's take a look at what the gift of discerning of spirits truly is. In the Bible the words 'judgement' and
'discernment' are very similar. There are actually three words in the Greek for the word 'judgement'. This gives us
a strong insight into the nature of discernment. When moving in this gift, always ask yourself 'Is it kind? Is it
true? Is it necessary?' as we're not called to 'point the finger' at others, but the Spirits work is always
redemptive.
THE THREE GREEK WORDS FOR 'JUDGEMENT'.
The first word in the Greek is 'anakrino'. In Vine's dictionary the base meaning of this word is the ability to
distinguish. We should always opperate under this kind of discernment. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says,
'The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned (anakrino).
The second word in Greek is 'dokimazo', the meaning of which is to test and to prove. Luke 12:56 says,
'Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky.
How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?'
The use of this form of discernment is somethimes appropriate as a Christian. For example we are told to 'test
the spirits', in 1 John 4:1, and judge our prophecies, in 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
The third root word in Greek is 'krino' which means to condemn. This is never the role of the Christian! We
should distinguish between good and evil, but condemnation is off limits for the believer. Matthew 7:1-2 says,
'Do not judge (krino) or you too will be judged (krino).
For in the same way you judge (krino) others, you too will be judged (krino),
and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you'.
From these three root words for judgement, we learn that there are two types that are good, and one that is not. We are to remember that Jesus said that we are to judge 'with righteous judgement'. John 7:24 says,
'Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement'.
Because of a lack of biblical teaching, the gift of discerning of spirits has been misunderstood in the church to
be criticism, suspicion, and condemnation. The truth is that it is a supernatural gift from the Holy Spirit to be
operated through love.
THE FOUR TYPES OF SPIRITS.
There are four types of spirits you can discern: 1. the Holy Spirit, 2. the human spirit, 3. demonic spirits, and
4. heavenly spirits. Discerning of spirits helps us know which of these four spirits we are interacting with. Let's
look at these four types of spirits.
1. THE HOLY SPIRIT.
During the mass confusion on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, Peter, having the gift of discerning of spirits in
operation, stood in front of the crowd and declared that what was happening was a move of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 8,
the church had Peter and John check out Philip's conversion of the Samaritans. It required discernment on Peter's
part to acknowledge that what was happening with Philip was the work of the Holy Spirit. It took obedience and
discernment to bring salvation to the house of Cornelius.
2. THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
The book of Acts contains many clear examples of this operation of discernment. Peter confronts Simon the Sorcerer
about his evil motivations. Peter confronts Ananias and Sapphira about their lying. Paul confronts the sorcerer
Elymus for his evil heart. Jesus perceived the thoughts of others. These are all clear examples of discerning of
spirits operating to discern the state of the human spirit or soul.
On one occassion, while I was praying for someone who was sick, I saw something unique about the person I was about
to pray for. Before the person told me what illness they were suffering with, I saw arrows stuck in the person
from all directions in the spirit realm. The person told me thay had anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue,
fibromyalgia, and many other ailments. I described what I saw, and was told that what I had seen perfectly described
that person. That person did not want to have hands laid on them as it caused them so much pain. Some of the arrows
I had seen had writing on them that explained what they were and how they had arrived there. Some said hate,
disappointment, and fear. I spent some time leading the person in forgiving individuals who had hurt and offended
them; releasing word curses, and dealing with many heart issues. As we proceeded, the arrows were being removed in
the spirit. By the time we finished, this person was able to give me a hug without any pain! I later heard that this
individual has received a tremendous breakthrough in their health! Ephesians 6:16 says,
'In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one'.
The evil one is shooting spiritual arrows at believers. I often see believers riddled with arrows from the enemy; we need to discern in this realm so that we can bring healing to one another. Ephesians 6:17 says,
'The sword of the Spirit is the word of God'.
Simply stated, in the spirit words equal swords. We can use our words with the Holy Spirit like a scalpel to bring healing and restoration into the lives of others, or we can use our words in a destructive manner that spiritually stabs and injures others. Proverbs 12:18 says,
'Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing'.
Often there are blockages in an individual's ability to receive the physical healing that they need. Forgiveness is often all that is needed. Other times words that have been spoken against them need to be renounced, and rejected. Isaiah 54:17 says,
'No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me'.
This is one way that discerning of spirits can operate to bring emotional and spiritual healing.
3. DEMONIC SPIRITS.
There are many examples of discerning of spirits in operation in throughout the gospels, especially if w look
closely at the miracles of Jesus. Luke 13:11-13 says,
'He saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit.
When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, 'Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!'
Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
In the physical realm, the only thing that could have been known was that the woman was bent over and had been in
that condition for 18 years. With the gift of discerning of spirits in operation, Jesus identified the root cause
as a spirit of infirmity. So often, the use of the gift of discerning of spirits is overlooked, but it is clearly in
use throughout the bible.
IT'S NOT CRITICISM.
What the discerning of spirit is not, is the 'gift of criticism'. Many people claim no responsibility of their
criticism of others, under the guise that they discern such and such. The truth is that we are responsible for our
words because it is out of the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks, Matthew 12:34. If we are gossiping,
backbiting, dishonouring, or smearing anyone, we need to stop and repent. Becareful not to make the gift of
discerning of spirits an ugly ugly thing to others by misrepresenting it in this way. When criticism and complaining
about others is taking place, discernment is not in action.
IT'S NOT SUSPICION.
It's not the gift of suspicion either. When we have had a bad experience with an individual or circumstance we can
slip into suspicion. 1 Corinthians 14:5 says,
'Love keeps no record of wrongs'.
Most often suspicion is built upon some a record of some sort, whether a firsthand experience or secondhand gossip from someone else. If we are going to look at people through Jesus' eyes then we can't be carrying a record of wrongs and supecting wrong of others. For your own sake, and for clear discernment, forgive and repent of having held it.'There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus'.
I would say that since there is no condemnation for us, then we should have none in us to give to others. We are not carriers of condemnation. We see the world through Jesus' eyes and he said that he did not come to condemn the world. John 3:17 says,
'For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him'.
It is never the job of a Christian to condemn.
WHAT ABOUT 'NEGATIVE' DISCERNMENT?
What if I truly discern something negative about someone? It is true that a small percentage of discerning of
spirits will discern the sinful or negative parts of an individual. We must always properly process this information.
In no way should this information be slander. The only reason the Holy Spirit would be showing you this is so that
you can either pray on their behalf, or bring them into healing. It has to be redemptive. The best example of this
story is the woman at the well in John 4:16-19. Jesus did not bring condemnation, just pure love. He spoke directly
to her. He in no way slandered her to others:
'Go and get your husband', he told her.
'I don't have a husband', the woman replied.
Jesus said, 'You're right! You don't have a husband - for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married
to the man you're living with right now.
You certainly spoke the truth'.
'Sir', the woman said, 'you must be a prophet'.
I remember quite a few years ago someone called me and said they were going to commit suicide that night. I sensed the
Holy Spirit say to me that this was not going to happen, and it was a way to draw attention to himself. I went to
sleep and that night without any concern for that person. He did not commit suicide.
DISCERNING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM.
It's the ability to discern the true nature of a problem. Is it physical, emotional, or are there actual spirits
at work here? It is the ability to see if there are any demons involved, and if so what sort of demons are there?
Distinguishing between spirits means being able to recognize their presence and their nature so that their stronghold
might be broken.
THE DEMONIC NAME TELLS US ABOUT IT'S NATURE.
The importance of the discernment of spirits is also seen in the story in Mark 5:1-20. Here we see Jesus command the
spirit to declare it's name. Why does he do this? We should note that in this particular case the demonic bondage
was deeply entrenched. The possessed man lived in a graveyard, shrieking day and night and cutting himself with
stones - a cronic case indeed. Infact, he was possessed not by just one, but many demons - an entire legion. Possibly
because of the magnitude of this demonic stronghold, Jesus demands to know it's exact nature, that is, it's name.
We learn from that success against deeply entrenched spiritual forces that we will often require insight into exactly what
kind of spirits we are dealing with. Recognition of the root problem can often be a great encouragement to the
person needing deliverance too. Suppose someone comes to you and says, 'I am always anxious, and there is a
continuous cloud of fear around me'. As you pray and talk to them, you will discern that the problem is at least
partly demonic in nature. So you say to the person, 'I sense that there may be a spirit of fear at work here'. Even
before you see success in expelling the demon, your firiend may well find encouragement by learning the nature of
their problem; that they are under demonic oppression. When it dawns on them that fear is a lie, and lies do not need to be
believed. There often comes a measure of freedom simply in recognizing that our fear is not rooted in life itself,
but simply a life about our life. This gift of the spirit can also save long hours of trying to figure out what is
troubling someone. When the Holy Spirit tells you, there is no longer any doubt.
A PRAYER.
'Lord, I want communication fom heaven in my life. I ask, Father, would you open up the unseen realm to me? Please
remove all fear from my heart; please remove all fear of the unseen. Lord, I want to receive all of the spiritual
blessings that you have provided for me. I make myself available to you, and I make myself available to your many
forms of communication to me. Amen'.
