Lesson 3. The “Discerning of Spirits” School will help you successfully recognize demonic forces. Author: John Edwards.
Corinth, Be Careful!
Paul mentions the gift of “discerning of spirits” in his list of nine spiritual gifts, which he writes about in his First Epistle to the Corinthians. From this epistle, we learn that Paul received news from the church in Corinth that caused him considerable concern. The church community in Corinth, many of whose members had come to Christ through Paul, wrote him a letter asking his advice on several matters. Paul’s epistle contains answers to these questions, as well as a challenge to improper behavior in certain areas.
Paul was concerned that the Church might divide by following personalities rather than the Person of Christ. He was troubled by their conduct when they gathered as a church for the breaking of bread, as well as by their interpretation of spiritual matters.
Paul wanted the people of this newly established church in Corinth to remain strong in their devotion to the Lord and free from divisions. He rejoiced that this community lacked no spiritual gifts, but he also clearly recognized the possibility of spiritual deception. This was a real danger for the church, since most of them came from pagan idolatry with all its demonic consequences. He writes that before their conversion they “...were led astray to mute idols, however you were led” (1 Cor. 12:2), and that they needed to be careful not to come under the same influence again. Paul was concerned that they “should not remain ignorant concerning spiritual gifts,” but should understand the ways in which the Holy Spirit manifests Himself through individual believers when they gather together in the name of Jesus. He greatly desired them to hunger and be ready for the Holy Spirit to use them to bless and strengthen one another whenever they gathered as the Body of Christ. Paul also warned them to be attentive and not confuse the influence and manifestation of the Holy Spirit with any evil spirit.
Conflict at the End of the Age
Paul’s teaching is just as vitally important today as it was in the early days of the Church. As we approach the end of the age and the glorious return of Jesus, another great outpouring of the Holy Spirit awaits us. The proclamation of the Good News through demonstrations of the power of God is gathering an enormous harvest into the Kingdom of God from every corner of the earth. At the same time, alongside this progress, a wave of demonic activity is increasing—renewed demonic opposition to the move of the Holy Spirit. Whenever the Holy Spirit has brought revival, the enemy of the Church has attempted to counterfeit and discredit the manifestations of the life of God. To achieve his goal, he provokes demonic, soulish, and irrational activity among God’s people, seeking to discredit and sideline those who want to move deeper into the supernatural realm in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we experience the supernatural and become aware of increasing spiritual manifestations in church gatherings, we need knowledge and understanding of the principles of the Kingdom of God established in our hearts, as well as the leading and discernment of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual Gifts
Paul writes about the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit (spiritual gifts) in order to correct any possible ignorance among the believers in Corinth regarding spiritual experiences. He emphasizes that it is the “One Holy Spirit” who can work in different ways, and that there should be no sense of rivalry among believers, nor any contradiction of the truth set forth in the Word of God when these gifts are used. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” (1 Cor. 12:4–6).
Three Groups of Three
The nine gifts are divided into three groups of three. Vocal gifts, spoken by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy; power gifts, which demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit: gifts of healings, working of miracles, and the gift of faith; and revelation gifts, which impart knowledge through the Holy Spirit: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits.
All nine of these gifts have in common that they are entirely supernatural and do not originate in human logic or ability. They are a manifestation, an outflow, of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Revelation gifts—the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits—are all methods of communication that the Holy Spirit uses to reveal certain facts to a believer.
The gift of “discerning of spirits” is the way the Holy Spirit gives a person revelation and awareness of the presence, activity, or effect of a spiritual being (or beings).
The Greek word diakrisis, translated as “discernment,” literally means “judgment through,” implying the acquisition of clear information about a matter and a thorough investigation that leaves no room for doubt.
Nothing Is Hidden from the Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit of God knows everything; nothing is hidden from His insight and understanding. Scripture presents this truth to us in various ways. John, while on the island of Patmos, received a revelation of the risen Jesus at the center of God’s throne in heaven: “Then I saw… a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne… He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth” (Rev. 5:6).
This description resembles that of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah: “…these seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the whole earth” (Zech. 4:10). There is no secret place where something happens that God does not know about. The use of the number seven in these verses conveys the idea of divine perfection: seven horns means “all-powerful,” and seven eyes means “all-seeing.” King David expressed it this way: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You” (Ps. 139:7–12).
No action, and no angel or demon, is hidden from God. The Holy Spirit can share this knowledge with whomever He wishes. The Holy Spirit is responsible for the gifts, so that each individual member of the Body of Christ may receive them: “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines” (1 Cor. 12:11). Nevertheless, we are called to seek the gifts and to “eagerly desire” them (1 Cor. 12:31; 1 Cor. 14:1).
The gift of discerning of spirits is given according to the purpose of the Holy Spirit. He does this when there is a need for the gift, as well as openness and a willingness to use it. When Christians engage in spiritual warfare and take authority over evil spirits in the name of Jesus, this gift will operate more regularly and with greater understanding.
When a believer has the gift of discerning of spirits, this does not mean that the secrets of the spiritual world will constantly be open before them. Each act of discernment is a separate revelation. We do not decide when the gift should operate; that is the prerogative of the Holy Spirit. However, we can be ready and open to the work of this gift.
It Is Not Healthy to See Demons Constantly
Living with an awareness of every demonic action and presence would be too much pressure for any of us. Life would be unbearable. Some people claim that they remain in a state of continual awareness of the presence of demons. However, the source of their revelation is probably demonic rather than illumination from the Holy Spirit, and they need deliverance from it.
When I first began to understand the reality of deliverance and spiritual warfare, I came under a prolonged demonic attack. At that time, I encountered a number of Satanists; as I understand it now, the enemy was trying to hinder me, my wife, and the church where we served from advancing into the realm of spiritual warfare. During this intense attack, I was constantly aware of demonic presence and activity in and around the people I met. Everywhere I went, I keenly sensed the operation of spiritual oppression and control. Ultimately, this attack was broken through prayer. Once the victory had been won, the intense spiritual sensitivity that had been pursuing me ceased.
I am convinced that God does not want His children to live under such pressure. The gift He has given us through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is discernment that comes when needed. However, I believe that many of those involved in occult practices are subject to such demonic pressure and sensitivity, often in order to use it for their own purposes. I have prayed for Christians with Satanic and spiritualist backgrounds who, before being delivered from occult spirits, could simply walk down the street and know for certain which houses contained people also involved in occult and witchcraft practices. This was supernatural sensitivity given to them by occult demons, from whom they later needed deliverance. One woman, after receiving deliverance, testified that she felt the sudden and complete disappearance of this instinctive knowledge, with which she had lived since childhood.
