DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
ORIGIN
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NKJV)
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
The scripture is clear in I Corinthians that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, is active in the earth. He is imparting gifts/abilities to us, His people.
When the Holy Spirit, God, does something in the earth, it is a manifestation. The reason for the “manifestation” is so that someone or everyone will get something from it. That is what defines profit. Although there are other gifts listed, I wanted to look at specifically in this blog at discerning of spirits.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DISCERN?
In order to understand what it means to have “discerning of spirits” let’s define the word, “discern”. It basically means to perceive. If you were to do a word study in the New Testament, you would see the word can mean to separate thoroughly. For example, if I perceive that you are here with me, I have separated thoroughly from the thought that you are somewhere else. So, my perception separates me from another thought.
There are many things we naturally “discern” daily. We discern the weather and take an umbrella. We discern the traffic and take a different route. We discern the time and call the babysitter to say we are going to be late. Life is wonderfully filled with things that we “discern”. It begs the question; if discerning is so common why would there be a need for a supernatural discerning of spirits?
MANY ARE IGNORANT OF SPIRITUAL THINGS
It is obvious that there is a deep ignorance among the people of spiritual things. Many times, it is easier to depend on what we call common sense and all that our senses can interpret to define our world. Yet the Bible is clear that there are many things moving about that cannot be revealed by our natural senses. Therefore, ignorance abounds.
WE ARE DESIGNED BY GOD TO UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT REALM
Therefore the Apostle Paul gives us this admonition in the same book and chapter of the Bible where we find the verses about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:1 (NKJV)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
Even though Paul lets us know the will of our Heavenly Father concerning our understanding of the spiritual realm, we see most are ignorant. The word “gifts” in this verse is added to help make the verse clear. That is why it is italicized. So, you can read it, “Now concerning spiritual”. What Paul is referring to is concerning the things that are spiritual.
MOST PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT AND AFRAID
Most people are very ignorant and afraid when it comes to the spirit realm. If we can’t see it, well, it must not be real or carry weight, but nothing could be further from the truth. Just because you cannot see the wind doesn’t prove that wind does not exist. There are many unexplainable phenomenon’s that are “manifestations” of the spirit realm.
Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By the Word of God, the things we now see and enjoy were made from things that were not visible.
This is a picture of the spiritual realm.
The spirit realm is real.
We are so used to living in what we can see that the Holy Spirit sent aid to us in the form of a gift. This gift of “discerning of spirits” gives us the supernatural ability to know a few things. Know a few things about what you may ask?
DISCERNING OF SPIRITS REVEALS ORIGIN
There are many things that we face daily. It can be as simple as car trouble or catastrophic as grave illness. There is a myriad of good, not so good, and down-right evil things. But according to the Bible, there are basically three places of origin. Discerning of spirits helps us “perceive” the source.
SATANIC OR DEMONIC ORIGIN
Everything that comes out of the spirit realm with supernatural power is not necessarily from the God of the Bible. If you have access to main stream media, you may have been introduced to the devil by seeing a man with arched thick eyebrows, a red pajama suit, horns and a pitch-fork. But the devil, called Satan is real and lives in the spirit realm. He moves about mostly unseen and has an army of demons who do the dirty work with him. He is cunning and deceptive. He is far from being a weird little man who came out of a costume party. He is stunningly beautiful and eviler than we can understand. He can mimic God but it is always twisted and not quiet right. He is defeated by the cross of Jesus and His resurrection but still works in this fallen world. He is not looking to be recognized but operates among us mostly with stealth. If he doesn’t want to be noticed, you would not naturally notice him or his demons. But the Holy Spirit will let you know! The gift of discerning of spirits will rat out the stealthy strategy of the dark kingdom. That way you are not fooled and you can help those that have come under attack by Satan and his demons’ tricks. So, the gift of the Holy Spirit “discerning of spirits” will help you perceive when the origin, though hidden naturally is of satanic origin.
JESUS SHOWS US HOW DISCERNING OF SPIRIT WORKS
Luke 13:10-16 (NKJV)
10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound–think of it–for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
Jesus tells us plainly that a spirit was behind this 18-year sickness. He discerned it and healed her. He declared her “loosed” from her infirmity. He didn’t say you are healed from your infirmity, but “loosed”. Why? He did heal her, but He “loosed” her first by speaking with authority to her. He got rid of the demon and healed her. She profited from the gift of discerning of spirits.
A WOMAN WITH CANCER
I prayed with a woman who had cancer. There was a demon behind that cancer. How did I know that? The Holy Spirit helped me to “discern” what was causing it. To get rid of that demon, got rid of the cancer. Does that mean that all cancer is a demon operating against the body of the person, not necessarily, but if the Holy Spirit helps you by His gift of “discerning of spirits” then use what He reveals and help the person. That demon was the origin of that cancer. She was “loosed” and then she was healed. She was profited.
Satan and demons can also be the origin of people problems. Although the human heart can be really wicked all by itself, there are times that demons will incite people to do terrible things. I had an experience in a park one day and discerning of spirits saved my life.
JUST A DAY IN THE PARK…NOT!
I was big and pregnant with my son. I had gone to a park not far from my home during the day. The park was empty and the place I went to read my Bible and pray was very isolated. It was at the bottom of a steep hill by a running creek. There were trees up the opposite bank that muffled out all sound to the upper part of the park.
I had sat down, which was a feat in itself. I was trying to read but something was troubling my spirit. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “turn around.” I turned my head to look behind me. A big man was coming down the steep embankment behind me. He had a heavy log raised up over his head. It was clear his intentions were to kill me.
I felt panic! I couldn’t get up much less outrun this man. When I met his eyes, he dropped the log. He stood beside me. He said, “It’s lonely down here, no one will hear you scream.” At that moment, the gift of discerning of spirits came to me. I knew it was a demon. I told it I was protected in Jesus name. He looked like I had slapped him. It stopped him. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me to get up, walk up the hill and don’t look back. I had to roll to my knees to get up. The man looked like he was in a seizure while still on his feet. I walked up the hill and didn’t look back.
What if I didn’t know the origin? If I had begged a demon for my life, I would most likely be dead. I profited from the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to me.
HUMAN ORIGIN
Not all trouble is from the devil. Sometimes really ugly things come out of the hearts of people. If a person is making a decision, you can bind the devil all day long and it will not fix the situation. The flesh cannot be cast out, it has to be “put under” the blood of Jesus. Therefore, when people troubles are huge, it helps to know if the origin is human.
THE OPEN WINDOWS
I had a young woman that I tried to win to Jesus. I spent so much time with her. I gave her things she needed. I rescued her over and over again. One night in a dream, discerning of spirits manifested. I saw the young woman in a room. I was with her. There were windows on all four sides. Evil things were coming in the windows. I would run and shut the windows to protect her, but as soon as they were shut, the other side of windows would be open. This went on for a while. Then in the dream I turned around quickly to catch the young woman opening the windows again. Discerning of spirits let me know her problems were of human origin. She had made a decision. I was to stop rescuing her.
GOD ORIGIN
There are many things that God is doing and we cannot “discern it”. The Holy Spirit will by the gift of “discerning of spirits” lets us know when “God” is in a situation.
I’M GOING TO JAIL!
When I was young in ministry, I had a woman fall down in my revival service I was holding. She laid on the ground, looked at me and told me she couldn’t move. I didn’t know what was happening. I was concerned she was hurt. I thought, “I am going to jail!” Praise God! The gift of discerning of spirits came to me, the Holy Spirit let me know that God was doing this and she could get up only when He was through with her. It happened just as the Holy Spirit said.
Can you see the value of discerning of spirits? We don’t want to be trying to deal with a person naturally if a demon is the real cause of the issue. We don’t want to be trying to cast a demon out of a person who just loves their rebellion. We don’t want to attribute to another source something that God our Father is doing. We want to be informed. We want to understand. Discerning of spirits will help us be informed so we understand what to do and the people profit.
FINALLY, WHO CAN HAVE THIS?
1 Corinthians 12:31 a (NKJV)
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts.
Anyone who will serve Jesus, be filled with the Holy Spirit and earnestly desire to be used in the gifts He provides can have this.
The best thing to do if you are interested in being used is to ask Him. I used to ask God all the time to use me in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I asked and prayed over specific gifts. He answered those prayers. He started using me and has continued to do it over my 40 years of ministry. He will do this for you as well. So, start with a prayer and ask!
lisa
© Copyright Lisa Swayze 2019