Gift of Discernment

[Mr. M]

There is more to discerning the spirit of another than trying to detect an "anti-christ". Some people are just plain devious, and it is not a necessity of God's children to be taken advantage of by insincere so called brethren. The discipline is simply in being quick to listen, and slow to speak or act.

Ezekiel 3:10 Moreover He said to me: Son of man, receive into your heart

all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.

The gift of the Holy Spirit allows us to listen with our ears, while simultaneously hearing His Voice in our hearts. One or two follow-up questions will normally be sufficient to discern a person's subtlety, revealing contradictions to their narrative. This is an absolute necessity if you hope to walk at liberty in Christ.

Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

This is not some gift that you are born again with,

but is developed by faith in action.

Hebrews 5:

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone 

to teach you again the first 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 unskilled in the word of righteousness,

for he is a babe. 

14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, 

those who by reason of use have their senses exercised 

to discern both good and evil.

[Alive]

27 minutes ago, TheBlade said:

From what I read and understand the short is seeing into the spirit realm. Not seeing someone and knowing they are good or bad or something like that. Gifts of the "Spirit".  Seems allot of believers have this so called "gift" of discerning. Yeah that is not of God its flesh. Some of that they think is discerning of spirits could be Gifts of Revelation,  the Word of Knowledge, the Word of Wisdom,  blah blah blah. 

It is proper to doubt what brothers believe and to articulate why, using scripture. It is not proper and pleasing to the Lord to mock your brothers and what they believe.

[Mr. M]

40 minutes ago, TheBlade said:

From what I read and understand the short is seeing into the spirit realm. Not seeing someone and knowing they are good or bad or something like that. Gifts of the "Spirit".  Seems allot of believers have this so called "gift" of discerning. Yeah that is not of God its flesh. Some of that they think is discerning of spirits could be Gifts of Revelation,  the Word of Knowledge, the Word of Wisdom,  blah blah blah. 

Peter discerns the spirit of Simon the sorcerer.

Acts 8:

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

[jeremiah1five]

The gift of the discerning of spirits allows the giftee to discern the source of the spiritual phenomenon. It can only discern three spiritual sources:

1. the spirit of man.

2. the spirit of good angels.

3. the Spirit of God.

The angels that sinned are locked up awaiting judgment (2 Peter 2:4.)

Edited November 3, 2023 by jeremiah1five

[Mr. M]

3 minutes ago, jeremiah1five said:

The gift of the discerning of spirits allows the giftee to discern the source of the spiritual phenomenon. It can only discern three spiritual sources:

1. the spirit of man.

2. the spirit of good angels.

3. the Spirit of God.

The angels that sinned are locked up awaiting judgment (2 Peter 2:4.)

All manner of unclean spirits abound in this present world.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Ephesians 2:

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Ephesians 6:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

You know Mr M There's no period after 1Tim 4:1 after the words "doctrines of devils" there but I have rarely seen that verse fully quoted at any time. And the examples given us for the doctrines of devils show themselves more after "a forbidding of" or an "an abstaining from" rather than an indulgence (such as marriage and meats) ever notice that? Whereas the other verses speaking against  disobedience in  respects to "the fulfilling of" lusts.

For example

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (no period here)

1 Tim 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Tim 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (period)

And who initially thinks that a doctrine of a devil is simply forbidding marrying, or asking one to abstain from meats? I sure did not.

Whereas here 

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
 and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But I would estimate that in "the forbidding of" the one (let's say, "marrying" 1 Tim 4:3) that this could actually lead to fornication in the other (Col 3:5)

Whereas Paul says, 

1 Cr 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Paul suggests a way to avoid fornication by marrying, a doctrine of a devil forbids it and would likely not help them avoid it

Its just interesting that what is shown to be the two examples highlighted as a doctrine of a devil would contain

"forbidding" something verses indulging in a thing, whether it be Marrying or meats.

But forbidding of marrying does not serve to avoid fornication  (as Paul suggests in 1 Cr 7:2)
 

[jeremiah1five]

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

All manner of unclean spirits abound in this present world.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Ephesians 2:

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

These are from evil, unconverted, man. 

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Ephesians 6:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

KJV says, "rulers of the darkness of this world [aion=age]" and they again refer to man.

Edited November 4, 2023 by jeremiah1five

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, jeremiah1five said:

These are from evil, unconverted, man. 

KJV says, "rulers of the darkness of this world [aion=age]" and they again refer to man.

 

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Then man is responsible for polluting the heavenly places.

[jeremiah1five]

4 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

 

Then man is responsible for polluting the heavenly places.

Our feet are on the ground, but our heads are in first heaven.

Second heaven is where the stars, moon, planets reside.

Third heaven? Good bet it's the Presence of God.

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, jeremiah1five said:

Our feet are on the ground, but our heads are in first heaven.

Second heaven is where the stars, moon, planets reside.

Third heaven? Good bet it's the Presence of God.

Where would you place...

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.