Discernment

[Willie T]

Because I hear so many people throwing this term around... and most doing so just KNOW that they are thus gifted.... I thought I would post these few paragraphs about the subject (Taken from "School of Seers" by: Jonathan Welton).

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS is the most misunderstood of all the spiritual gifts. Because of the confusion surrounding this gift, clear biblical teaching on discerning of spirits would be beneficial. The gift of discerning of spirits and the natural ability of discernment are not the same thing. There are many people who have a high level of sensitivity in the natural or emotional realm. This can even be taught through a heightened self-awareness to your emotional state, as explained by Daniel Goleman in his groundbreaking work, Emotional Intelligence.

The main difference is that one of the main attributes of the nine spiritual gifts listed in First Corinthians 12 is that they are supernatural in nature. For example, a “word of knowledge” is something supernatural, not something that could be attained through natural means. The same is true of the supernatural gift of healing; it supersedes the laws of the natural world. This applies to all nine of the gifts, but our focus here is on the gift of discerning of spirits. In our culture, we have accepted that someone can be very discerning, but this is a natural intuitive ability. The spiritual gift in First Corinthians 12 is something unique. There is a correlation between natural and supernatural discernment in that both gifts help to inform an individual what is in the atmosphere or environment surrounding them. Natural discernment informs what is in the natural, emotional, or interpersonal realm, whereas supernatural discernment informs what is in the spiritual realm. Supernatural discernment typically divides that information into four different areas: (1) the working of the Holy Spirit, (2) the working of the demonic, (3) the working of the human spirit, (4) the working of heavenly beings.

Another reason that the gift of discerning of spirits has been misunderstood is that the gift has been abused. Many believe that discerning of spirits is the ability to know another person’s secret sin and have used it as justification for harboring attitudes of suspicion, criticism, and accusation. Good-hearted people don’t want to operate in this distorted version of discerning of spirits. I have heard major church leaders comment that if they had to choose to remove one of the nine gifts of the Spirit, they “would absolutely choose to remove the gift of discerning of spirits because no other gift has singlehandedly caused as much damage to the Body of Christ.” That comment only makes sense in light of the misuse of this gift. Let’s look closer at what the gift of discerning of spirits truly is.

THREE ROOT WORDS
In the Bible the words judgment and discernment can be used synonymously at times. There are actually three root words in the Greek for the word judgment. This gives us a strong insight into the nature of discernment.

The first root word in the Greek is anakrino. In Vine’s dictionary, the base meaning of this word is the ability to distinguish. We should always operate under this type of discernment.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned [anakrino] (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The second root word in Greek is dokimazo, the base meaning of which is to test or prove.
Hypocrites! You can discern [dokimazo] the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern [dokimazo] this time? (Luke 12:56 NKJV).

This use of discernment is sometimes appropriate as a Christian. For example we are told to test the spirits (see 1 John 4:1) or judge our prophecies (see 1 Thess. 5:21).

The third root word for judgment in Greek is krino, which actually means to condemn. This is never the role of a Christian! We should distinguish good from evil, and we should even test and prove at times, but condemnation is off limits for the believer.

Do not judge [krino], or you too will be judged [krino]. For in the same way you judge [krino] others, you will be judged [krino], and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2).
From these three root words for judgment, we learn that there are two types of judgment that are good and one that is not. As we move in discernment, we need to remember that Jesus said that we are to judge with righteous judgment.

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24).

THE FOUR CATEGORIES
Because of a lack of biblical teaching, the gift of discerning of spirits has been misunderstood in the Church to be criticism, suspicion, and condemnation. The truth is it is a supernatural gift from the Holy Spirit to be operated through love. There are four types of spirits you can discern: The Holy Spirit, heavenly spirits, the human spirit, and demonic spirits. Discerning of spirits helps us know which of these four spirits we are interacting with.

 

[Edward]

Oh yeah, I like Johnathon Welton and have a bunch of his videos downloaded. This is good stuff here.

 

[Gary]

Discernment is akin to common sense.

Everyone thinks they have it.

 

[Kathi]

Wisdom,insight,Acknowledging the worth of God's word.

 

[reba]

Good post Willie T

 

[Willie T]

Good post Willie T

Thank you, but it is Jon's work, not mine. (Legally reproduced, BTW)

 

[Deborah13]

Thank you, but it is Jon's work, not mine. (Legally reproduced, BTW)

I find it interesting the secular people have at times been confronted by beings in the spirit realm, evil beings, and some do not consider that there are also good beings in the spirit realm, as well.
I know a college professor and archeologist who had such an encounter when he was looking for a good site to take his students to. Needless to say he did not take them there or tell them about it nor did he return himself.

 

[reba]

Thank you, but it is Jon's work, not mine. (Legally reproduced, BTW)

I discerned as much :biggrin

 

[Willie T]

I find it interesting the secular people have at times been confronted by beings in the spirit realm, evil beings, and some do not consider that there are also good beings in the spirit realm, as well.
I know a college professor and archeologist who had such an encounter when he was looking for a good site to take his students to. Needless to say he did not take them there or tell them about it nor did he return himself.

I won't expound upon it, because I am probably already treading on thin ice with a fair portion of the posters here concerning my rather non-traditional views on many aspects of spirituality, but I have found that people who operate in the prophetic, encounter WAY more positive influences (Godly) than negative.

 

[TOG]

THREE ROOT WORDS
In the Bible the words judgment and discernment can be used synonymously at times. There are actually three root words in the Greek for the word judgment. This gives us a strong insight into the nature of discernment.

The first root word in the Greek is anakrino. In Vine’s dictionary, the base meaning of this word is the ability to distinguish. We should always operate under this type of discernment.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned [anakrino] (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The second root word in Greek is dokimazo, the base meaning of which is to test or prove.
Hypocrites! You can discern [dokimazo] the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern [dokimazo] this time? (Luke 12:56 NKJV).

This use of discernment is sometimes appropriate as a Christian. For example we are told to test the spirits (see 1 John 4:1) or judge our prophecies (see 1 Thess. 5:21).

The third root word for judgment in Greek is krino, which actually means to condemn. This is never the role of a Christian! We should distinguish good from evil, and we should even test and prove at times, but condemnation is off limits for the believer.

The word used in I Cor. 12:10 is diakrisis. Do you know what it's base meaning is?

The TOG​

 

[Willie T]

The word used in I Cor. 12:10 is diakrisis. Do you know what it's base meaning is?

The TOG​

Probably no more than you, or any of us do. We only know what books and supposed scholars tell us these words mean. And the one you chose is, I believe, something like, "being aware of spirits"

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Tell me if I'm discerning the Holy Spirit or is it just me.

1. Altar call time at church.
I put my head down and start praying for people to come forward.At times I felt the Holy Spirit pass right by me.
Once I sensed someone walking by me with no sense of the Holy Spirit.
That person said the prayer of salvation and we never saw him again, only his wife who said he was back to getting drunk everyday and not working.

2. We were in a prayer group in a home group.
One person was opening up about the problems she was going through.
As she cried, people were telling her things and I could see nothing was sinking in.
I kept praying.
Then a Psalm and verse came to me.
I didn't know what it said.
I read it.
It seemed to be what she needed.
I said, "the Lord has just given me a word".
I read the psalm and she was relieved, she said it was just what she needed to hear.

Am I using discernment correctly?

 

[Willie T]

Tell me if I'm discerning the Holy Spirit or is it just me.

1. Altar call time at church.
I put my head down and start praying for people to come forward.At times I felt the Holy Spirit pass right by me.
Once I sensed someone walking by me with no sense of the Holy Spirit.
That person said the prayer of salvation and we never saw him again, only his wife who said he was back to getting drunk everyday and not working.

2. We were in a prayer group in a home group.
One person was opening up about the problems she was going through.
As she cried, people were telling her things and I could see nothing was sinking in.
I kept praying.
Then a Psalm and verse came to me.
I didn't know what it said.
I read it.
It seemed to be what she needed.
I said, "the Lord has just given me a word".
I read the psalm and she was relieved, she said it was just what she needed to hear.

Am I using discernment correctly?

Ya got me. I'm just kind of naturally attuned to noticing and catching onto various "tells" from my decades of facilitating Group Therapy sessions, that I honestly have to say that in matters like you described, I wouldn't really know the difference between trained, or developed, intuition..... and supernatural intervention or leading.

 

[Kathi]

Tell me if I'm discerning the Holy Spirit or is it just me.

1. Altar call time at church.
I put my head down and start praying for people to come forward.At times I felt the Holy Spirit pass right by me.
Once I sensed someone walking by me with no sense of the Holy Spirit.
That person said the prayer of salvation and we never saw him again, only his wife who said he was back to getting drunk everyday and not working.

2. We were in a prayer group in a home group.
One person was opening up about the problems she was going through.
As she cried, people were telling her things and I could see nothing was sinking in.
I kept praying.
Then a Psalm and verse came to me.
I didn't know what it said.
I read it.
It seemed to be what she needed.
I said, "the Lord has just given me a word".
I read the psalm and she was relieved, she said it was just what she needed to hear.

Am I using discernment correctly?

In both cases you are planting the seed.That is using discernment.

 

[Willie T]

Discernment, yes, We all use discernment in everyday life. But "spiritual discernment" is a horse of a different color. And though 90%, or so, of Christians swear they have that gift.................................... eh? I seriously doubt it.

 

[Kathi]

Discernment, yes, We all use discernment in everyday life. But "spiritual discernment" is a horse of a different color. And though 90%, or so of Christians swear they have that gift.................................... eh? I seriously doubt it.

Willie are you saying that you do not have spiritual discernment?Why?

 

[Deborah13]

Discernment, yes, We all use discernment in everyday life. But "spiritual discernment" is a horse of a different color. And though 90%, or so of Christians swear they have that gift.................................... eh? I seriously doubt it.

Do you really think that 90% of Christians think they have the GIFT of discernment of spirits? If that's true I'm in the 10%.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Very timely post Willie.

 

[Willie T]

Do you really think that 90% of Christians think they have the GIFT of discernment of spirits? If that's true I'm in the 10%.

Yes, I honestly do think the percentage is way up there. And, that is, Why?

Because we ALL do have some ability to sense things going on around us (not a spiritual thing, at all), and with a whopping amount of Christians, this gets seen as having "spiritual discernment".... but many people seem to take it way beyond just that.

When we observe a heavily tattooed person with a skinny body, with obvious physical signs of abuse... both drug and nutritional, and missing teeth, etc., many of us pretty quickly form an opinion........... even when we "righteously" claim we do not.

This "discernment" is really just observational perception, learned from experience. Everyone has a degree of it. But for some reason, Christians often seem to feel they have been gifted with the DISCERNMENT to "see" these things through some SPIRITUAL means.

 

[Willie T]

Willie are you saying that you do not have spiritual discernment?Why?

Yes, I do, on occasion, have impulses and urgings that I know are from the Holy Spirit. But this is not a special gifting of discernment. And it usually isn't with most people who wish like crazy it was. So much so, that they often delude themselves it is.