Discernment, and the gift of discerning spirits

[Gerbolski]

This is just a discussion on discernment which we all need as believers, and the specific gift of discernment of spirits.

On discernment it says:

Heb 5:14
(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.


And on the gift of discernment of spirits, it says:

1Co 12:10-11
(10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
(11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Discernment itself, is for all believers, but his specific gift of discernment of spirits, is given to some as the Spirit wills.

So people, feel free to elaborate.

 

[Gothedral]

This is just a discussion on discernment which we all need as believers, and the specific gift of discernment of spirits.

I used to be part of a paranormal investigation group full of people who claimed this gift with particular details.

I left them because they and theirs are to this day more like the girl in the Book of Acts chapter 16, possessed by a familiar spirit of divination. And we know Satan knows things. And we know the anti-Christs ply their trade in the same manner.

I wish true Christians (unlike a Judas, called yet perished a liar) sought had this Gift of the Holy Spirit of God. I seek this

 

[Gerbolski]

Ya I do not have this specific gift, and for sure it is a good gift to have, and very needful.

I thank God for whoever has this gift, but also for just giving us general discernment.

And he does quicken us, when there is wrong, and shows us in one shape or another, and of course by the word of God.

 

[YeshuaFan]

I used to be part of a paranormal investigation group full of people who claimed this gift with particular details.

I left them because they and theirs are to this day more like the girl in the Book of Acts chapter 16, possessed by a familiar spirit of divination. And we know Satan knows things. And we know the anti-Christs ply their trade in the same manner.

I wish true Christians (unlike a Judas, called yet perished a liar) sought had this Gift of the Holy Spirit of God. I seek this

All can have discernemtn from the Joly Spirit, a sthat would be due to us reading and knowing and applying ther scriptures, have you not heard or watched a TV preacher and just sense something was really "off" with his teaching?

 

[Gerbolski]

have you not heard or watched a TV preacher and just sense something was really "off" with his teaching?

Of course I have.

Which is one of the things I meant by what I said here:

And he does quicken us, when there is wrong, and shows us in one shape or another, and of course by the word of God.

There is discernment then there is the specific gift of discerning of spirits in Corinthians.

 

[Gerbolski]

All can have discernemtn from the Joly Spirit, a sthat would be due to us reading and knowing and applying ther scriptures

And of course to this as well, which speaks of general discernment, and all should have discernment, and it comes as we grow in knowledge of the truth, but as you said applying it, and it becoming real in our lives, no disagreement there.

 

[Gothedral]

All can have discernemtn from the Joly Spirit, a sthat would be due to us reading and knowing and applying ther scriptures, have you not heard or watched a TV preacher and just sense something was really "off" with his teaching?

That and then some. Some people I can sense as absolute friendlies, and others are 100% a clear and present danger. I use those terms purposely, and all glory and praise to Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for that. I have lifetime friends from this, and also have engaged in conversation with strangers about the Gospel of the Lord.

It's just, I don't think in terms of "oh, this must be the gift of discerning spirits" because it seems like far too many other people I meet are firstly for my being an unfortunate witness. I still pray for all of them. I hope for the best.

 

[Gerbolski]

1Co 12:10-11
(10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
(11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Ya there has to be a difference between the gift of discerning of spirits, and general discernment.

For all should have to one degree or another discernment, but concerning the gift of discerning of spirits, it is only given to some.

So would someone want to elaborate on that ?

 

[YeshuaFan]

Ya there has to be a difference between the gift of discerning of spirits, and general discernment.

For all should have to one degree or another discernment, but concerning the gift of discerning of spirits, it is only given to some.

So would someone want to elaborate on that ?

We as Christians can and should be able to discern with conviction by the Holy Spirit that doctrine being taught is "somehow wrong", but the gift of discernment seems to be that the Holy Spirit reveals and shows to the person much fully why and where is wrong

 

[B-A-C]

I see this on different levels.

Everyone says they have the Holy Spirit, and everyone says their beliefs are led by the Holy Spirit, and yet.. so many Christians believe differently. Even those of the same denomination don't believe everything the same 100%.

We can say.. we know that "something is wrong, or something is off". And yet there are churches that teach gay marriage, transgenderism,,
and even some that don't believe in the deity of Jesus. Someone is lying.

Level 1. Does it agree with the Bible? - some can't even agree with this?
Level 2. Does it agree with the "spirit" - ah, but everyone says it does.

Level 3 is a little harder - here is an example. I went into a "Christians" home a couple of years back. They had statues of
Buddha, Mary, and Confusious on their fireplace mantle. I asked them about it.. and they said "just in case".
But if you asked them, they claimed to be a Christian. I would say their discernment was a little off.

Level 4. This is controversial, and not everyone will agree... it's similar to number 3 in many ways, but more subtle.
a friend of mine had 2 year old son at the time, he woke up every night crying and yelling, they took him to the doctor
but no one could find a reason why. We went to his house,, he had dream catchers, and wold spirit paintings on the wall.
We asked him about them, he said he didn't believe in any of it, he just liked the way it looked for decoration purposes.
We told him to get rid of them. His son quit waking up crying.

Level 5. - This seems to be the hardest one. Someone says, I've been going to this church for a decade or two.
All my friends go here. I love the preacher here. He doesn't always go along with the bible 100%, but he is a Godly man.
I follow all of his teachings. - again, someone doesn't have discernment here.

 

[Gerbolski]

Hi guys, I like hearing people's thoughts on the gift of discerning of spirits.

Now share your thoughts, but I am just throwing this out, because I do not claim to know that gift very well , since first of all, I do not have it.

Could part of it be, the detection of certain spirits in people, and please do not call me a crazy, I am just wondering if part of it is this.

 

[Gerbolski]

I am wondering such things that I mentioned in my previous post, because listen to what it says:

Heb 5:14
(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.

In general discernment it speaks of being able to discern both good and evil, but what does it say in our next verses, via the gift of discernment ?

1Co 12:10-11
(10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
(11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

It says discerning of spirits, of spirits, of spirits.

 

[YeshuaFan]

Hi guys, I like hearing people's thoughts on the gift of discerning of spirits.

Now share your thoughts, but I am just throwing this out, because I do not claim to know that gift very well , since first of all, I do not have it.

Could part of it be, the detection of certain spirits in people, and please do not call me a crazy, I am just wondering if part of it is this.

Very good summary here on this gift

What is the spiritual gift of discerning spirits? | GotQuestions.org

What is the spiritual gift of discerning spirits? If a person has the gift of distinguishing spirits, what can he/she do?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[joestue]

Could part of it be, the detection of certain spirits in people, and please do not call me a crazy, I am just wondering if part of it is this.

Yes, had that experience a few times. In one case it was a minor who had been attracted to me for 9 months at that point, when i saw the demon following her into the room, i told it to leave her alone, and she instantly quit looking at me and appeared to suddenly be ashamed of herself.

The next week i tried to ask her how she was doing (nov 2019) (i had never spoken to her before) and she replies "I'm fine" without looking at me and gets in her car and leaves. I find out 3 years later.. that she was born in mid to late 2005. so many questions.

----
now regarding discerning of spirits, this isn't technically that but i've never had a demon offer to tell me what a persons motivations are. seems only God knows those matters:

some time ago i became aware of what a specific person's intentions were in a certain matter. i don't sense an opportunity yet to confront her about that, or even if i should. on the order of a year prior to that i sensed something in her crying, after a particularly stressful sunday morning. I spoke to her husband about what i saw while praying about what i felt.. it was accurate. and from about 25 years ago. but that is specifically empathy or perhaps in the bible a gift of compassion.
----

usually if i sense a spirit behind a person its because i've already been granted the authority to deal with it.

one recent case is a local county representative. i sensed in him the same spiritual force that was behind my ex girlfriend of 12 years ago, and that was the first time in 12 years that i felt it in anyone else. well, one day i saw that spiritual force behind one of his election signs, and i told it to leave him alone and it protested "i have to influence someone" meaning, i'm more than a mere demon but a higher order thing that influences entire people groups. i replied i don't care.
the next week he showed up to church looking a bit haggard and i've never seen his fiance since then.

 

[joestue]

All can have discernemtn from the Joly Spirit, a sthat would be due to us reading and knowing and applying ther scriptures, have you not heard or watched a TV preacher and just sense something was really "off" with his teaching?

About 13 years ago while listening to two preachers talk about the gift of discernment, I "knew" that the one of them was deceived, had a lying spirit posing as that gift, giving him information on the "spirit" behind a persons actions, In the examples he gave, if they were true then it would make the holy spirit an accuser.

The other preacher was afraid of the gift, but had operated in several of the others. So i asked God to open the man's eyes. and, they were, i heard from him again 6 months later, he had found the faith to ask for the gift of discernment.

so, in hindsight now, 13 years ago when i asked for that gift, i realize now, i've already had it far back into early childhood.