Spiritual Gift: Discernment

Fay Lee · Aug 30, 2015

Hi everyone,

I have the gift of discernment, and up until now I haven't really thought much of it because to me it was just so normal.
But lately I've been feeling like God is wanting me to start learning how to use it to properly.
How can I learn how to use it, or how to practice using it for good? Does anyone else have the gift of discernment and wants to give me some tips of where to start?

Grace and Peace, Cassia

Strachan · Aug 30, 2015

The gift is a spiritual gift, discernment if spirits. Quite literally, it means the person with gifting can at times see things in the spiritual realm, both demonic and angelic. It works well where deliverance ministry takes place, in the sense that it complements and directs.

It is not 24/7, but on occasion, the same as any other spiritual gift. There is varying degrees of the gift, with some having it in greater measure than others. For example, if you are near a person you might discern a demonic presence, and then potentially even the type, if cause of the bondage.

Job8 · Aug 30, 2015

Spiritual Discernment is essentially the God-given ability to clearly distinguish between TRUTH and ERROR. Between the lies of Satan and his emissaries and the Truth of God the Holy Spirit. In order to exercise this gift, one must study and know the written Word of God, starting with a discernment as to to which Bible version is Truth and which is Deception. Once a Christian knows what God has said, that person must examine ALL THINGS under the microscope of Scripture. PROVE ALL THINGS. HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD (1 Thess 5:21). Following that, you should have the courage to expose the lies while you present the truth.

1 John 4:1-4
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

The primary doctrine which is attacked by Satan is the "doctrine of Christ". But all Bible doctrines are presently under attack, and many of them by professing Christians.

Biblicist · Aug 30, 2015

Fay Lee said:
Hi everyone,

I have the gift of discernment, and up until now I haven't really thought much of it because to me it was just so normal.
But lately I've been feeling like God is wanting me to start learning how to use it to properly.
How can I learn how to use it, or how to practice using it for good? Does anyone else have the gift of discernment and wants to give me some tips of where to start?

Grace and Peace, Cassia

As Strachan pointed out, we should always try to refer to this Operation of the Spirit as being discerning of spirits and not merely discerning. It certainly has nothing to do with defining 'truth and error' which could be what you might be suggesting.

FutureAndAHope · Aug 31, 2015

My suggestion is to decern your decernment, often times myself I may get a feeling about a person or thing. Even something regarding my own life. But not every feeling is true decernment. I don't believe God is in a rush, we need to pray through things we may be decerning, to ensure it is really coming from God. Otherwise we may end up hurting people who God has sent us to help.

GTW27 · Sep 6, 2015

Fay Lee said:
Hi everyone,

I have the gift of discernment, and up until now I haven't really thought much of it because to me it was just so normal.
But lately I've been feeling like God is wanting me to start learning how to use it to properly.
How can I learn how to use it, or how to practice using it for good? Does anyone else have the gift of discernment and wants to give me some tips of where to start?

Grace and Peace, Cassia

Blessings in the Lord! It is not for us to learn how to use it or how to practice it, For it is The Lord that will use it through us. All things come in their season, we just need to be willing vessels. As we decrease (deny ourselves) He increases in us and us in Him. As I write these words down and they are read by another member of the body of Christ, with the gift of discernment, they will know from where these words come.They either come down from above or they are from below.They will know who I am or who I am not, for The Spirit bears witness to The Spirit, and The Lord knows those that are His. Hope this Helps, and be strong in Him for this can be heavy to carry at times, but when it is, just ask and He will carry it for you

Dave-W · Sep 17, 2015

There are actually 2 kinds of discernment - "discerning of spirits" from 1 Cor 12, and "discerning good and evil;" from Heb 5. The first is a specific charisma or gift of the Holy Spirit and is given to only a few. The 2nd should be growing in every single believer.

IMO, both forms are sorely lacking in the modern church. And they are both desperately needed.

I have (on certain rare occasions) operated in the first; and find that to one degree or another, the 2nd is always with me (if I bother to pay attention).

The first kind (1 Cor 12) is used during the deliverance ministry. (casting out demons) It can give the person(s) ministering deliverance the details needed to do the job: What kind of demon you are dealing with; if there are more than one demon in operation; sins committed that need to be repented from; whether a demon has actually left or if it has just gone into hiding. And that is just the high points. Apart from deliverance, it can also warn us of impending spiritual attacks and what is actually going on during the attack.

The 2nd kind is more what Job8 is talking about: distinguishing truth and error, and trying spirits per 1 John. It is an inner "knowing" that something is wrong when everything seems to be just fine. But this kind takes practice. The 1972 NASB worded it ".... By reason of use have their senses trained to discern good and evil." The 1995 update now puts it "because of practice..." Use it. Practice it. Learn from mistakes. Do it better next time.

Dave-W · Sep 17, 2015

GTW27 said:
It is not for us to learn how to use it or how to practice it, For it is The Lord that will use it through us.

That may be true of the first type; but the original audience of Hebrews was chided there at the end of chapter 5 for NOT practicing and learning how to use THAT type of discernment.

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

And since chapter 6 starts with listing the foundational doctrines of the faith, I would say that this type of discernment is established and augmented by biblical knowledge in these basic beliefs.

I take this passage to say that one should not think of themselves (or anyone else) as "mature" who lacks this type of discernment.

GTW27 · Sep 17, 2015

DaveW-Ohev said:
There are actually 2 kinds of discernment - "discerning of spirits" from 1 Cor 12, and "discerning good and evil;" from Heb 5. The first is a specific charisma or gift of the Holy Spirit and is given to only a few. The 2nd should be growing in every single believer.

IMO, both forms are sorely lacking in the modern church. And they are both desperately needed.

I have (on certain rare occasions) operated in the first; and find that to one degree or another, the 2nd is always with me (if I bother to pay attention).

The first kind (1 Cor 12) is used during the deliverance ministry. (casting out demons) It can give the person(s) ministering deliverance the details needed to do the job: What kind of demon you are dealing with; if there are more than one demon in operation; sins committed that need to be repented from; whether a demon has actually left or if it has just gone into hiding. And that is just the high points. Apart from deliverance, it can also warn us of impending spiritual attacks and what is actually going on during the attack.

The 2nd kind is more what Job8 is talking about: distinguishing truth and error, and trying spirits per 1 John. It is an inner "knowing" that something is wrong when everything seems to be just fine. But this kind takes practice. The 1972 NASB worded it ".... By reason of use have their senses trained to discern good and evil." The 1995 update now puts it "because of practice..." Use it. Practice it. Learn from mistakes. Do it better next time.

Blessings to my brother in Christ Jesus! I am in full agreement with all of your points., so thank you for sharing them. One may ask, how that is possible that two members of the body of Christ can be in full agreement and yet the Church today is so divided on so many issues. It is because we are both members of The Body with Christ Jesus being the head. You see, there is no disagreement with those that are truly in Christ, for Jesus can not be in disagreement with Himself nor can we be in disagreement with each other or with Him.
I would like to add that the other side of the first kind is also to discern the good not just the evil.When I read your words I felt The Lord in you which can not be imitated by an empty vessel or evil. To all have a Blessed day.

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Spiritual Gift: Discernment

Fay Lee

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Strachan

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Job8

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Biblicist

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FutureAndAHope

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GTW27

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Dave-W

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Dave-W

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!

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