Distinguishing between spirits

“discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults]” AMP.

“the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit” NLT.

“the power to know whether evil spirits are speaking through those who claim to be giving God’s messages—or whether it is really the Spirit of God who is speaking” TLB.

Is this God? Is this genuine? Or is it in fact demonic and more from the spirit of the world than the Holy Spirit? This is the gift that unveils the answer to those questions.

“….to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12 v 10)

We need this gift. To be able to distinguish what is true and what is false is needed. To know what is good and what is evil is needed. To know whether a person is full of the Holy Spirit or is carrying a damaging spirit is needed. Seek this gift. You need it.

John told us to test the spirits and see if they are from God.

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4: 1-3)

… do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

• Not everything you hear can be trusted and believed blindly.
• Not everything that is inspirational is from Him even though it might make you feel good.
• Not everything that is false looks false at first otherwise there wouldn’t be a possibility of being led astray.

… This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.

• Everything must be filtered through this one test: Jesus is the Christ in flesh sent from God.
• Every religious experience must come under the submission of the orthodox teaching of and about Jesus Christ.

… This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

• Everything the Spirit of Christ does points to Jesus and if it doesn’t then it is the spirit of the antichrist.

If you’re not sure then speak to a trusted person. See what they think.

Last week I was speaking with a Church leader and his wife. He told me how his wife could see the truth in people far more than he could. He described how she had warned him about a certain leader a long time before he had betrayed him. I said that it was because she had been given the gift of discernment. This is the gift and we need it.

Satan can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Sometimes your friends may speak words that are not the words of God (Matthew 16:23 – ‘get behind me satan’ as Peter was trying to prevent Jesus going to the cross).

We are warned by Paul that we will know a time when the devil will do miracles and that a powerful delusion will come on unrighteous people (2 Thessalonians 2: 9-10).

We need this gift!

Holy Spirit, I seek discernment. Help me to hear the words and see the actions of people through your heart and mind. Give me this gift so that I can discern your voice from the many opinions around my life. Show me how to compare the truth of your Word with other people’s truth and to know the difference. I cannot discern without you. I need to know what is true and what is false; what is good and what is evil; what is you Holy Spirit and what is another spirit. May Jesus be seen and glorified in my life as I discern what is good, what is from you and the direction I should take.

Amen.