Sunday, June 12, 2016

Weapons for the Believer 5.6 – The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Discerning of Spirits

Weapons for the Believer 5.6 – The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Discerning of Spirits

According to Paul, there are weapons of warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We are considering ten weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked at the first four in previous posts. If you haven’t read them I encourage you to do so.

The next weapons are referred to as The Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits,
Different Kinds of Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues.

When our faith intersects with the Spirit’s power, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished in those moments. I do not believe these are given permanently as some teach. I do not believe that some “posses” these gifts, but instead are given in the moment when needed. Consequently any or all of these may manifest in each Believer as the Spirit chooses.

There are nine gifts list by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. Traditionally these have been divided into three groups: The Power Gifts, The Revelation Gifts, and The Speaking Gifts.

            The Power Gifts:                  Faith (or special faith, as some have described it)
                                                            Gifts of Healing (the only plural gift)
                                                            Working of Miracles

            The Revelation Gifts:          Word of Wisdom
                                                            Word of Knowledge
                                                            Discerning of Spirits

            The Speaking Gifts:                        Prophecy
                                                            Tongues
                                                            Interpretation of Tongues

Today we will look at the sixth of these in more detail: Discerning of Spirits. This is truly a defensive tactic given by the Holy Spirit to protect us from deception and any harm that someone might intend toward the Believer.

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

A common mistake people make in relationships is trying to judge someone’s intentions. The writer of Hebrews tells us that it is impossible for us to know the thoughts and intentions of another person, except by revelation from the Holy Spirit. This is the Discerning of Spirits. The Holy Spirit can reveal to us the spirit that is at work in another person, good or bad.

Acts 16:16-18 (ESV) As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

Someone told me years ago while I was serving as a worship leader in my church. He said, “The only thing worse than criticism is a complement. You should never listen to either one.” This young woman was following Paul, Luke (the writer of Acts), and others as they were ministering for the Lord. What she said was true. These men were “servants of the Most High God.” Paul, however, knew by the Spirit that she was not operating by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but that of another spirit that intended to disrupt the work of the ministry.

This Gift of the Spirit called Discerning of Spirits will lead us into “all truth” which is one of the primary reason ministries of the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus had to say about this work of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:12-15 (ESV) “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


All truth. Not just the truth that we can perceive with our physical senses, but all truth. Some of this “truth” can only come by the Spirit. As we become more mature Believers we will be able to hear the voice of the Spirit as He directs our steps. Revealing our own thoughts and intents, but that of others we encounter, will give us clear vision in how to approach situations so we can more clearly convey the love of God, and accomplish the purposes of God in our life. Learn to listen to Him.

No comments: