‘Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.’ (1 Cor 12:1)

Understanding the Gift of Discernment

There seems to be a great deal of curiosity and confusion about the spiritual gift of discernment.

And this is not surprising. For those of us who have the gift, it can be a complex and lonely journey as we work out what we are sensing, why God has given us this ability, and what to do with it. [1]

For leaders in church life, it can be difficult to know how to respond to or lead those with the gift of discernment—not to mention the question of what we should do (if anything) with the insights that discerners share with us. [2]

Discernment is a gift that, due to lack of information and guidance, has been vulnerable to error. It is vital that we establish a Biblical basis for the spiritual gift of discernment and how to exercise it.

Today I am going to look at the gift of discernment in the context of the Apostle Paul’s instruction about spiritual gifts to the Corinthian church.

5 Things Paul Teaches About the Gift of Discernment

‘But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit… to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits’ (1 Cor 12:7-10)

1. It is the Ability to Distinguish Between Spirits

‘…to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits…’(1 Cor 12:7-10)

The spiritual gift of discernment (or discerning of spirits) is the ability—given and empowered by the Holy Spirit—to distinguish the spiritual source of something. This can include, but is not limited to:

• an atmosphere
• a person’s action
• something seen or perceived
• a circumstance
• something spoken

The Greek word translated discerning is ‘diakrisis,’ from ‘diakrino’, which means to separate thoroughly.

A Christian believer using the spiritual gift of discernment can perceive whether the source of something is God, or whether it is of human or demonic origin.

There is a misconception that discernment has to do primarily with perceiving what the enemy is doing.

The highest and best use of the gift of discernment is to perceive the anointing of the Holy Spirit—to see what God is doing.

2. The Gift of Discernment is from the Holy Spirit

The source of the spiritual gift of discernment is the Holy Spirit—God Himself.

The Holy Spirit is both the giver and enabler of this spiritual gift.

It is not based in

• our minds or personal intuition
• a suspicion or opinion
• a personal ability or history of being able to sense what is happening in the spiritual realm

3. Discernment is a Revelatory Gift

‘But the manifestation of the Spirit is given’ (1 Cor 12:7)

The spiritual gift of discernment is a revelatory gift. In other words, the Holy Spirit is making known something that cannot be perceived by natural means.

The Greek word translated ‘manifestation’, phanerosis, means to make visible, and it comes from a root word meaning to uncover, lay bare and reveal. [3]

‘For we know in part and we prophesy in part.’ (1 Cor 13:9) In the wider context of Paul’s teaching about spiritual gifts, discernment, like prophecy, is subject to being weighed up. (1 Cor 14)

4. The Gift of Discernment is for the Benefit of the Church

‘But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all’ (1 Cor 12:7)

The purpose of the spiritual gift of discernment, as empowered by the Holy Spirit, is to benefit the church.

The Greek words translated ‘for the profit of all’—pros  sumpheron—mean ‘towards the profiting’, or as modern translations put it, ‘for the common good.’

When we understand this, ‘benefiting the church’ becomes our standard for the operation of the gift.

If something purporting to be discernment does not profit the church, i.e., if it results in confusion, or fear, or division—either of two things may be out of order:

1. The discernment may not be from the Holy Sprit. Or—

2. It may be true discernment that is not being used in a Biblical manner; a way of grace that honours God, the church and its leadership.

In order to be of benefit, the spiritual gift of discernment requires the operation of other gifts alongside it, such as leadership and wisdom. It should be developed and used in the context of the church community. (see 1 Cor 14) [2]

5. Discernment is a Good Gift from God

‘Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.’ (1 Cor 12:4)

The word used for gift is charisma, meaning a gift of grace.

The spiritual gift of discernment is a good, helpful and strategic gift, and it is given for a purpose—to benefit the church.

We sometimes need to be reminded of this, because of the challenges that discernment can bring.

God’s gifts are good in nature, just as He is. (James 1:17) The spiritual gift of discernment has the ability to bless the church, set individuals free, protect the integrity of what God is doing, and assist in times of spiritual warfare. May we embrace the gift of discernment with gratitude and use it in the way God intended.

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Notes:

[1] For further insights about the gift of discernment, see the following:

8 Signs You May Have The Spiritual Gift of Discernment

8 Ways to Grow Your Gift Of Discernment

[2] I have written an article about exercising discernment in the life of the church here:

6 Tips for Exercising The Gift of Discernment In Church Life

[3] References: VINE, M.A. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. 1985. Virginia: MacDonald. STRONG, J. Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 1996.

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UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT E-BOOK

$5.95 e-Book

Now in the David McCracken Ministries e-store.

Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?

You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.

And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.

‘Unlocking The Gift Of Discernment’ incorporates and enlarges upon material in Enliven Blog. The e-book includes additional valuable material on how to be protected as a discerner in times of spiritual warfare.

To view ‘Unlocking The Gift Of Discernment’ in the David McCracken Ministries e-store, click here

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© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

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Do you have any questions or thoughts on the topic of ‘What is the gift of Discernment?’ I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the comments box. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

This is the fourth in a series of posts on the topic of the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare in church life, and of great assistance when breakthrough is needed.

Is it any wonder, then, that the activation of this gift is highly contested?

Many discerners struggle when it comes to communicating an insight they have received concerning what is taking place in the spiritual realm to leaders in their church.

Here are some tips to help you establish trust with your leaders and to maximise the effectiveness of your gift of discernment in church life. Note: these keys also apply to exercising the gift of discernment in any Christian organisation.

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1. Make Prayer your First Response

Whenever we have an insight as to something taking place in the spiritual realm, our first response should always be prayer. As we pray, we are:

• Confirming that our insight is based on something we have received from a place of intimacy with God and not from our personal feelings
• If the discernment relates to spiritual warfare, we are beginning to pray for God’s intervention
• Asking for further insight relating to the bigger picture of what we are perceiving

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2. Discern What the Spirit of God is doing

A fallacy about the gift of discernment (and the watchman ministry) is that it exists solely to identify demonic attack.

Actually, the highest use of the gift of discernment is to see what the Spirit of God is doing.

Someone with a gift of discernment of spirits has the ability to perceive:

• What the Spirit of God is doing, i.e. where His anointing is
• Angelic activity
• Demonic activity, and to describe it by name and nature for the purpose of waging spiritual warfare
• What is sourced in human desire or nature (not necessarily negative unless it is presented as being of the Holy Spirit but isn’t)

In other words, a discerner has a Spirit-given ability to distinguish between what is from the human soul, what is of the Spirit of God, and what of a demonic source.

If a discerner is only ever seeing and relaying reports on demonic activity, there is an unhealthy imbalance, which needs to be corrected.

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3. Seek God for His Redemptive Plan

Related to the above point, it is vital that we form the habit of looking for what God is doing, not just reporting on what the enemy is doing.

Leaders get enough negative reports coming their way without it continually coming from intercessors and their prophetic team as well!

Even when there is warfare happening and the church is under spiritual pressure (attack) our Father is up to something good. He has plans to overturn demonic strategies and to grow the church.

So don’t just bring a negative report to your leaders. Go back to God and ask Him – what is HE up to?

Something that’s especially helpful if you have the gift of discernment is to activate the gift of prophecy as well (even if this is at a basic level of encouragement) and team the two gifts up.

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4. Find out the Preferred Means for Delivering Discernment and Prophetic Words in Your Church

Every church has its own practices for sharing revelatory insights. And within a larger church, individual leaders or pastors may prefer different approaches.

It is important if you are unsure, especially if you have changed churches, to ascertain what this protocol is. If your leader has not considered this before, give them a few options and find out which they prefer.

If public sharing in your church meeting is encouraged, I recommend running your insight past a leader before presenting it before others. Prayer meetings may have different practices to other public meetings or services.

Some examples of avenues to report a revelatory insight to a leader are:

• Speaking to the leader personally
• Report directly via email or other means
• Report via a secretary or PA
• Share via a designated leader or prayer coordinator

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5. Share your Discernment Appropriately

One thing we must never do is ‘gossip’ revelatory insights. We do that when we share with others who are not in leadership the discernment we are receiving about leaders or the church.

The reason I make a special note of this is that it can happen unintentionally, in the guise of seeking advice, confirmation, help or prayer support from our peers.

Discernment received in a prayer meeting may be prayed through at that time, but should be relayed immediately to the church oversight.

Sometimes we do need a SAFE PLACE to process what we are receiving—especially when we are starting out and we lack confidence.

This may be the leader (minister or pastor) directly. However, our leaders may be too busy, or have a limited understanding of developing the ministry of discernment. They need the benefits of receiving it, but it is not necessarily their job to develop it.

In many cases, a trusted prophetic leader or intercessor may have delegated authority to assist a discerner with processing what he or she is receiving before presenting it to the oversight.

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6. Other Tips for Sharing Discernment with Leaders

Use Prophetic Jargon Sparingly

Many church leaders are not themselves prophetically gifted. Even if they are, we should, as far as possible, use straightforward language and expression when communicating issues of discernment.

Be aware of Differences Between your Values and those of your Leaders

We need to be aware of differences between our own priorities and those of our leaders, because these are often reflected in the content or way we present a word of prophecy or discernment (this is a vital issue and I will discuss it further in a later post).

Submit your Discernment Without Strings Attached

When we share an insight concerning discernment that we have received, we naturally want to know whether it has been acted upon.

However, as with words of prophecy, we need to release our discernment and not place any expectation that our insight be acted upon or responded to.

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*Do you have any questions or experiences to share with us on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the box below. If the comment box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT E-BOOK – *NEW!*

$5.95 e-Book*

Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?

You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.

And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.

(More details …)

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Related Posts:

What Is The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment?

8 Signs You May Have The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment

The Heart Of A Discerner

8 Ways To Grow Your Spiritual Gift Of Discernment

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© Helen Calder  2010   Enliven Blog

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries

‘Do not neglect your gift…’
(1 Tim 4:14)

‘A prophet visited our church in Auckland, New Zealand. He pointed me out in the congregation and said, “You have a gift of discernment.”

A few years later when we were living in another city, the same prophet visited our church there. He again pointed me out and said, “Has anyone ever told you that you have a gift of discernment of spirits?” I said, “Yes, you did several years ago.”

We all had a good laugh—but he remembered neither the earlier prophecy nor me. He ministered throughout New Zealand and overseas and had prophesied over hundreds of people in the interim.’[1]

It is one thing to know that you have a spiritual gift of discernment—it is quite another thing to know what to do with it, and how to use it.

A short time after this prophetic confirmation, I began to struggle in church life. I had not been taught the principle of honouring leaders and accountability in the use of my revelatory gifts.

I thank God that He allowed a time of trial to teach me and bring me through repentance to a place of fruitfulness in the use of my gifts. [2]

Through good stewardship we can reach our potential and our gifts can be used to bless and grow the church.

The gift of discernment is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare and of great assistance when breakthrough is needed in our personal or church life.

Here are 8 ways that you can grow your spiritual gift of discernment of spirits. And yes, some of these I have learned the hard way—through trial and error.

1. Source It

True discernment comes from intimacy with the Father.

It is vital that we understand the difference between discernment that is from the Holy Spirit and suspicion, which can masquerade as discernment, but is actually sourced in our own human nature. This is a danger that can trip even mature discerners up. The best means of preventing this is our intimate relationship with God. Other ways we can keep our gift on track are below:

2. Plant It

‘Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.’ Ps 92:13

The Biblical context for growing in our gifts is the community of a church (1 Cor 12).

As with all prophetic people, discerners need to be cared for and pastored in a church environment.

When we are planted in the life of a healthy church, we can flourish and grow in our gift. However, we must remember that it will not always be smooth sailing in community life—even in the healthiest of churches.

3. Submit It

It is vital, and a matter of protection for others and ourselves, that we operate in our spiritual gift of discernment with accountability, and under God-given leadership.

It is important that we encourage our insights to be weighed up (1 Cor 14:29). As the Apostle Paul said, ‘For we know in part and we prophesy in part.’ (1 Cor 13:9)

The discernment that we receive is incomplete without the insights of others, who will have different pieces of the puzzle and complementary gifts. (1 Cor 12:12-27)

Feedback is also a great tool to help us grow in our discernment.

4. Purify It

It is possible for the expression of a discernment gift to be affected by our response to negative experiences that we have had in our lives.

I had prayer ministry to help me break free of fear associated with early experiences of demonic encounters. I also received ministry in relation to difficulties with authority. As a result, I have a much more useful gift.

I have also had to grow a great deal in my character—a journey that is ongoing!

5. Study It

Find out what the Bible has to say about the gift of discernment:

• Read examples of people who encountered unseen spiritual realities—how did they respond? What did they do as a result of their experiences?

• How and when did Jesus use the gift of discernment to minister to people?

• What does the Apostle Paul say in his epistles about how spiritual gifts operate in the context of church life and ministry?

6. Develop It

As with other gifts, discernment can be developed and strengthened.

The ability to receive a revelation from God is only one aspect of this spiritual gift. Other aspects include:

• Having the wisdom to know what to do once you have received the discernment,
• How and when to share your insight
• How to weigh up what you have received against scripture
• Procedures for submitting an insight, and so on.

Seek to be trained or mentored in the context of Christian community, where you have safe people who can give you feedback and encourage you on the journey.

Look for good training, along with books and other resources on the topic of spiritual warfare and related areas.

7. Use It

Don’t hold back. Even if you are starting out and tentative, God can use you powerfully. Use your gift of discernment to help guard and grow your church.

If you discern warfare or have a warning, remember that God’s heart is always to redeem and restore. Seek the Father for a promise and His outcome.

The gift of discernment can also help give you insight as to how to respond and pray for breakthrough in any situation.

8. Persevere With It

In the development of every spiritual gift there are times of trial.

In some testing times, God may be allowing us to lose confidence in our own ability to perform in our gift. For example, we may have a period when our discernment becomes cloudy, or we may make an assumption that turns out to be in error.

During these times He is calling us to become more dependent upon Him, and to grow in humility.

You may have true discernment but have been misunderstood or feel as though you have been set aside for a season.

These are times to persevere, and not to allow offense or discouragement to divert you from your calling.

Wilderness seasons are allowed by our Heavenly Father to help us grow in our character or to direct us into new areas of fruitfulness.

*************************

*Do you have any questions or experiences to share with us on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the box below. If the comment box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT E-BOOK – *NEW!*

$5.95 e-Book*

Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?

You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.

And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.

(More details …)

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Would you like to develop your prophetic gift?
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• regular blog posts containing teaching that will help you grow in your gift of prophecy, as well as articles on spiritual gifts, prayer, spiritual renewal and supernatural Christian living

2. Prophetic Training:

Check here for prophetic training resources and information

3. E-books to Help you Develop Your Gifts:

‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’ is a high-value e-book specifically written to help you grow in your prophetic gifts – at whatever stage or season you are on the journey.

Check out our e-books page for more e-books related to prophetic and prayer ministry.

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Related posts:

A Checklist For Developing Your Spiritual Gifts

What Is The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment?

8 Signs You May Have The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment

The Heart Of A Discerner

Prophetic People In Testing Times: The Reason For The Season

6 Tips For Exercising The Gift Of Discernment In Church Life

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Notes:
[1] This is quoted from my book, ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’
[2]I tell the full story in ‘Prophetic People In A Changing Church.’ For a brief testimony check out the Enliven Publishing ‘About’ page.

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© Helen Calder 2010    Enliven Publishing

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries

I am currently preparing to go to Sydney for a ‘School of Healing and Impartation’ with Bill Johnson and Randy Clark.

It’s a funny thing, that there are ‘Schools of the Prophets’, ‘Prophetic Conferences,’ ‘Healing Schools,’ and so on. But whoever heard of a discernment conference? There are books a-plenty on the topics of healing and prophecy—but few on the topic of discernment.

When I first started to navigate my way through the mysteries of encountering the spiritual realm, I had few resources to help me. It seemed that I had ‘marched off the map.’ I did have some prophetic mentors, but not all of the advice I received was healthy. For the most part, I was alone.

Over the next few posts I am going to discuss how to grow in and exercise the gift of discernment—an area I am still learning about. If you have some thoughts and experiences you would like to share, I would love to hear from you in the comments section. If the comment box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Seeing the Way the Father Sees

Discernment of spirits is the Spirit-given ability to distinguish whether Divine, human or demonic origins are the source of what is presented—whether it be in an atmosphere, encounter, event, or prophetic message.

Our goal in discernment is twofold: firstly, to see what the Father would have us see, and secondly, to communicate that in such a way that we represent His viewpoint as closely as possible.

When He shows us something—even if it is demonic in nature, it is because He has a purpose for us in revealing it. His heart is always to redeem and restore people and for His church to be purified and made holy (Eph 5:25-27).

Whatever I perceive in the spiritual realm, I do not want my impression or communication to be coloured by my own viewpoint, prejudices or fears. This is a danger common to all who have the gift of discernment of spirits, and one that I have struggled with continually. [1]

The Discerners Heart

‘In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself… he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.’ 2 Tim 2:20-21

I have come to realise that the most important thing, as I seek to grow in the gift of discernment, is to prepare and guard my heart, and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in cleansing myself from those things that endanger the clarity and purity of His gift in my life.

Here are some qualities to seek after if you would like to grow in the spiritual gift of discernment:

1. Love for God

We need to have a passion for God and His intimate Presence. As I have said, the highest use of the gift of discernment is not to see what the enemy is doing, but to discern what the Spirit of God is doing.

When we love Him, we will desire to know His heart and to faithfully represent Him in the expression of our gift.

2. Love for People

There is a reason why 1 Corinthians 13—the love chapter—is sandwiched between Paul’s two chapters on spiritual gifts.

I realise now that it is vital I do not jump to conclusions about a person, situation or anything based on my perceived discernment without first moving into Jesus’ position of love.

When I step into judgement, I inevitably get it wrong. I grieve over times in the past when I have formed opinions about people based on ‘discernment’ and missed Divine appointments.

Love for people will also keep us in Christian community. Our gifts were never meant to operate in isolation but in the environment of a local church (1 Cor 12-14).

3. Faith.

I want to learn to respond in faith and not fear, no matter what I perceive taking place in the spiritual realm.

It is important for us to always look for God’s positive outcome, not just to focus on the negative. God’s plan is to overturn every strategy of the enemy! I want to grow in faith and to place increasing value on looking for His redemptive purposes in the things He allows me to see.

4. Humility ( Teachability)

I have learned to be open to being adjusted about my discernment and to present and release my insights with ‘no strings attached.’

We will not always have similarly-gifted people around us to guide us in our gift. Pastors and leaders who do not have the gift of discernment themselves may be leading us.

As with other prophetic ministry, our leaders will not always respond to or act upon our revelations. God has graced them with the ability to see the bigger picture and we need to trust Him—and our leadership—in their response.

Even when we have been misunderstood or unfairly treated, it is important to keep a right heart attitude. I know that these are the times that I have learned and grown the most in my gift and character.

4. Wisdom (Balance)

All revelationary gifts need to be balanced with wisdom. Wisdom instructs us how to share what we are receiving, and also when to share, or when to hold back and pray.

People who are ‘flaky’ in their gifts are usually those who do have a gift of discernment, but have not developed the wisdom to use and communicate the gift properly (another reason is not receiving instruction on how to operate in the ministry in a way that honours God and people).

5. Purity (Wholeness)

The things that cloud my discernment often relate to areas of past hurts or circumstances that I have not responded well to. I want to grow in wholeness, so that old fears, temptations, judgments and wrong beliefs lose their hold on me (Eph 4:22-24).

The degree to which I can see clearly, and be sensitive to how the Holy Spirit would have me respond, is the degree to which I become more like Jesus—having cooperated with His Spirit in experiencing restoration in my heart.

I am still a long way from seeing what God sees, and perceiving how He sees, but my desire is to draw ever closer to that place when I am reflecting Him in my heart, thoughts, life and gifts—and that includes the gift of discernment.

Now, gotta go pack my suitcase…..

[1] This is one reason why, as in all revelatory gifts, it is vital that whatever we perceive is given to the opportunity to be assessed by others who are leaders or mature in the gift of discernment. As Paul said, “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”  2 Cor 13:1-2

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UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT E-BOOK – *NEW!*

$5.95 e-Book*

Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?

You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.

And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.

(More details …)

For more e-books to develop your prophetic gifts and lead a supernatural christian life, visit our e-books page.

---

Related Posts:

8 Signs You May Have The Gift Of Discernment

8 Ways To Grow Your Gift Of Discernment

Hunger For God: 6 Ways You Can Stir It Up

6 Tips For Exercising The Gift Of Discernment In Church Life

©  Helen Calder   2010   Enliven Publishing

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries

In the early days of our ministry, the Hunk and I would often travel and stay in many places in Asia and throughout New Zealand. It seemed that no matter where we were, my intrepid husband could sail through any situation, but it was a different story for me.

• Staying in a place in Asia where strange spirits were worshipped? I would encounter them in my dreams.
• Ministering in a region or church where there were trials or strongholds? I felt them acutely.

We were often led to wage spiritual warfare or intercede through my sensitivity to the spiritual realm.

The gift of discernment of spirits is the one spiritual gift that has continually presented the most difficulties and challenges to me personally.

Because of my journey, I would like to share what I have learned with others. This article is the first of a series of three articles in which I will cover:

1.      Signs you may have the gift of discernment,
2.      How to grow in the gift of discernment and
3.      How to exercise the gift of discernment in the context of church life

What is the Gift of Discernment?

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits…All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Cor 12:7-11)

Discernment of spirits is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to some Christian believers. It is a Spirit-given ability to distinguish whether Divine, human or demonic origins are the source of what is presented—whether it be in an atmosphere, encounter, event, or prophetic message.

What are Some Signs You May Have the Gift of Discernment?

Following are some signs that you may have the spiritual gift of discernment, from my personal study, observation and experience. You may not identify with all of them, but if you do have the gift, you will recognise some of these in your life:

1. Desire for the Gift

As with other spiritual gifts, desire is often the first sign of a gift of discernment of spirits (1 Cor 14:1).

• You may have a longing to see people set free from demonic bondage.
• You may want to be more effective in prayer and spiritual warfare
• You may have a desire for holiness
• You may simply be curious about the spiritual realm.

2. Love for God’s Presence

One of the benefits of having a gift of discernment of spirits is a heightened awareness of God’s Presence and anointing. A true discerner will have a passion for the un-grieved Presence of the Holy Spirit.

This is because—and I will continually reiterate this—the highest use of the gift of discernment is not to see what the enemy is doing, but to discern what the Spirit of God is doing.

3. Sensitivity to the Spiritual Atmosphere

You may be more sensitive to spiritual atmospheres than most other people. In the early stages of developing the gift, you may be affected adversely by the presence of any demonic activity in the environment around you.

The reality is that we live in a natural world and a spiritual world concurrently. In the Bible, when Jacob came across a group of angels, he named that place Mahanaim, meaning ‘double camp.’  (Gen 32:1-2)

Like Jacob realised, we also live in a double camp where there is constant spiritual activity, and discerners have spiritual senses that are attuned to this.

4. Feeling Different from Other People

Most people, even in church life, experience life through their natural senses. However, someone with an emerging gift of discernment of spirits can see and sense things that others do not see.

This ability can result in us feeling different, lonely or misunderstood at times, especially when starting out. It is vital that someone with a developing gift of discernment finds a safe place to journey with others who are similarly gifted and accountable in the life of their church.

5. Unusual Signs

It is not uncommon for someone who is gifted in discernment to experience unusual events or manifestations.

People who are incubating a discernment gift begin to see or feel things that others are not aware of. This may include unusual visions, dreams and sensations that alert them to what is happening in the spiritual realm.

6. Childhood or Pre-Salvation Signs

It is not uncommon to experience things relating to your gift even before becoming a Christian. Our creator-God prepares us for our calling and gifts from conception. Even when a talent or gift is misused, God can redeem it and anoint it for His use to serve Him and love and minister to others.

As a child I ‘saw’ things in the night and as a teenager was sensitive to the spiritual realm, sometimes encountering demonic spirits in my room or dreams. Later, as a fully committed Christian, God redeemed this spiritual sensitivity as a gift of discernment. I know Christians who have a gift of discernment who were drawn to New Age counterfeit gifts prior to becoming a Christian.

7. Ability to Know What Lies Behind a Person’s Words or Actions

Someone with a gift of discernment has the ability to see behind what a person is saying and presenting. You may know whether they are telling the truth or not. You may also recognise if someone is manifesting a demonic spirit and be able to identify what that spirit is.

If a prophetic or revelatory message is brought, a discerner can often tell whether it is anointed of the Spirit or from the speaker’s own heart.

This is not always the case, and as with other revelatory gifts such as prophecy, you will sometimes get it wrong or have incomplete discernment (1 Thess 5:19-21, 1 Cor 13:9-10)

8. Confirmation by Others and Leaders

You may have the gift confirmed through a prophecy given to you. My gift of discernment was identified through prophecy twice (perhaps this was because I was reluctant to accept it!)

However, the bottom line of the presence of any gift is that it is recognised and acknowledged by leaders in the church and that it is useful for its purpose—which is to help build up the church and bring people closer to Jesus.

When you submit what you are seeing or sensing, your leaders confirm your accuracy and your gift begins to be recognised for its effectiveness.

Whenever a gift is used to criticise or tear down a church, person or leader, you know it is being misused, or is simply a person’s hurt, frustration or agenda masquerading as discernment. Because these kinds of abuses are common and have brought disrepute to the gift of discernment, I will take some time over the next couple of posts to share how the gift of discernment can bring value to church life.

Have you experienced any of the above, or any different signs of a gift of discernment emerging in your life? Do you have any joys and challenges to share? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the box below. If the comment box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?

You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.

And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.

(More details …)

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Would you like to develop your prophetic gift?
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3. E-books to Help you Develop Your Gifts:

‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’ is a high-value e-book specifically written to help you grow in your prophetic gifts – at whatever stage or season you are on the journey.

Check out our e-books page for more e-books related to prophetic and prayer ministry.

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Related Posts:

What Is The Gift Of Discernment?

8 Ways To Grow Your Gift Of Discernment

The Heart Of A Discerner

What Are Some Signs That You Have A Prophetic Gift?

6 Tips For Exercising The Gift of Discernment In Church Life

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© Helen Calder  2010   Enliven Blog

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries