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                      THE HOLY SPIRIT                  Study No.13.

XIII The Gift of Discerning of Spirits.

     The word discerning means "seeing clearly, having insight,
     having the power of perception" The operation of this gift
     gives us the ability to judge whether people and situations
     are motivated by satanic, human or divine spirits.  We meed to
     be aware that we are involved in a spiritual warfare and Satan
     is contending for control over lives of unbelievers and
     believers alike.  Ephesians 6:12. Those in leadership in the
     Church need also to be aware of the many who in the last days
     are seeking to deceive God's people.  No amount of human or
     godly discernment is able to identify or expose these subtle
     satanic attacks on the Church - only this supernatural gift of
     the Holy Spirit.  By use of this gift alone can the Church
     confidently remain free from deception.  Read I Timothy 4:1,2;
     2 Peter 2:1 ; 1 John 3:24; 4:1-3.

A.   The gift of discerning of spirits is not:
     - natural human judgment of people and circumstances based on
     what we are taught at home and by our culture.
     - our Christian judgment of good and evil which becomes more
     sensitive as we grow in the Christian life through fellowship
     and the study of God's Word.  Hebrews 5:13,14. a gift that
     makes us suspicious of the motivation behind peoples lives.
     - a gift that has anything to do spiritism or necromancy
     (contacting the spirits of dead human beings) which are
     strongly forbidden.  Deuteronomy 1 8:10-1 3.
     When needed, God can instantly give us supernatural
     discernment to help in bringing deliverance to people bound by
     satan; to expose error and to expose people acting through
     satanic power.

          Bible examples
          1.   Jesus concerning Peter.  Matthew 1 6:] 7, 2123.
          2.   Jesus discerning hypocrisy.  Matthew 23:1 3-36.
          3.   Jesus concerning James and John.  Luke 9:51-56.
          4.   Paul discerning a spirit of divination.  Acts 1 6:]
               6-1 8.
          5.   Simon the sorcerer.  Acts 8:9-24.

B.   What is the gift of discerning of spirits?
      IT-IS THE EYES OF THE CHURCH

     1- God is a Spirit.           John 4:24
     2- God's angels are spirits.  Heb.  1:7,14
     3- satan is a spirit.         Eph. 2:2
     4- demons are spirits.        Luke 10:17,20; l Tim.4:1; Rev 16
     6-   Man is a spirit clothed with flesh. Job. 32:8; Zech. 12:1

C.   What is the purpose of "discerning of spirits?"

     Its purpose is to protect, guard, guide and properly feed the
     flock of God.

     --1 John 4:1 - gives some good advice: "Beloved, do not put
     faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirit to discover
     whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have
     gone forth into the world."

     Discerning of spirits is a gift often given when dealing with
     a person who is possessed or troubled by demons.  With the
     discernment is given the power and authority to challenge and
     cast out the troubling spirits in Jesus' name.  Deliverance
     from oppression depends firstly on the willingness of the
     person involved.  Without that willingness, no gift of the
     spirit or authoritative prayer can free them from oppression.
     Read Luke 8:26-36;10:17.

     This gift, then, is for the purpose of: deliverance from
     demons (Mark 5:5; Acts 8:1-81; To reveal the servants of Satan
     (Acts 13: 9-101; to expose and defeat the works and utterances
     of demons (Acts 16:16); to expose error (1 Tim.4:1; 1 John
     4:1-3)

D.    "Discerning of spirits illustrated;

          1.  In the life of Christ:

          --Matthew 9:4 - Jesus knew the thoughts of the Jews,
          which involved the spirits of men.

          1 Corinthians 2:11 Actually, Jesus discerned their
          spirits many times. (Matthew 12:25; Luke 5:22; 6:8;
          11:17: 24:38)

          --Matthew 16:22-23 - Christ discerned that Peter's
          utterance was directly inspired by Satan.

          --Mark 5:5-13 - Jesus discerned that there was an
          "unclean" spirit in the man; that there was actually a
          whole legion.  Again, this was done many times in the
          ministry of Christ. (Luke 9:42; 4:18:33; etc.)

          --Matthew 16:15-17 - Jesus discerned that Peter's
          utterance was directly inspired by and revealed by God.
          (It is a real caution to realise that the same man can
          speak at one time inspired by the Holy Spirit and at
          another time inspired by the wrong spirit).

          2.   In the Old Testament prophets:

               --1 Kings 22:19-23 - The prophet Micaiah saw the
               whole picture, from the heavenlies down to the
               spirit which motivated the false prophets.

               --2 Kings 6:16-17 - Elisha was able to see the
               angelic armies of the Lord surrounding them, and at
               his request, God opened the eyes of the young man,
               enabling him to see these spirit beings as well.

          3.  In the life of the New Testament leaders:

          -Acts 5:1-10 - Peter not only operated in knowledge,
          wisdom and miracles, but actually discerned their
          spirits: Satan had "filled their hearts" to lie.

          --Acts 8:20-23 - Peter "perceived" that Simon was in the
          "gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

          --Acts 13:9-12 - Paul saw and revealed the evil in the
          heart of Elymas-