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28th July 2024
SaturdayReflection
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Dave Shepardson, shares
Word by mail
"Discerning of spirits"
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Let's move on to discerning of spirits.
It's not by coincidence that in 1 Corinthians 12, verse 10, that Paul lists discerning of spirits after prophecy.
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits
I believe that is there for a purpose because we need the gift of discerning of spirits.
So, what is the definition of discerning of spirits?
"Discerning of spirits is when the Holy Spirit reveals to you the spirit behind a circumstance or an action."
It is the spirit behind what somebody is saying or doing.
It's a revelation of the spirit that's behind an action - when God supernaturally reveals the source of what's going.
In the New Testament, Jesus used this all the time.
In Acts 16, there is a woman saying,
"These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation."
Is it right? Yes.
It's one hundred percent accurate.
But if you read further, it says this in verse 18.
And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour.
.... Acts 16:18 (NKJV)
Now, that's odd, isn't it?
Paul, given discerning of spirits, knows the spirit behind that comment and turns and casts that spirit out.
This is a very powerful example of discerning of spirits.
Well, we know that physical world well.
But the spirit world exists in conjunction, along with, inside the physical world.
And it's not so unusual because that's where the Holy Spirit works.
The Holy Spirit works in the spiritual realm, in the spirit world.
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.
.... Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
That's the battle raging. It's raging in our midst.
And so, let me deliver this bombshell of why discerning of spirits is so critically necessary for Christians.
2 Corinthians 11:13 (NKJV) says
For such are false apostles,
(He's talking about men putting themselves up to be teachers of God)
deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
We see the exact same thing in the fabulous Matthew 16 example of Peter and his confession of Christ at Caesarea Philippi.
When Jesus says,
"Who do you say I am?" Peter says, "You Are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
Moments later, what does Jesus say to him? "Get behind me, Satan."
Now, had Peter turned into Satan? No.
Had Peter become possessed by a demon? No.
What was Jesus talking about?
The spirit behind what you're saying, Peter, is Satan.
The great Apostle, Peter.
The spirit behind his actions was straight from the pit of hell.
And that is what Paul is referring to here in 2 Corinthians Chapter 11.
The enemy is at work in the Church, and we need the discerning of spirits to say,
"Lord, give me a revelation into the source. What's going on behind this?"
If somebody is doing damage in the Church, if somebody is causing division, dissension that's from hell.
The person could be full-on, going to Heaven.
Peter was going to Heaven when Jesus called him Satan.
But the spirit behind what is motivating them is the enemy.
And the discerning of spirits is when we say,
"You know what? I don't think that's from God.
I think what you're saying there is from the enemy."
I know this is heavy, but we need it.
I can't become a Christian just because I sit in Church.
I can't be serving the Lord just because I say I am.
There's a spirit behind our actions.
We need to use this gift on ourselves - just like Peter.
Peter would have wished he had this gift so that when that thought came to him to say to Jesus,
"Far be it from you to ever die,"
he would have liked to have been able to say,
"Wait a minute. That's not from Heaven. That's from the pit of hell. I can't say that."
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
Pastor Dave
has been teaching God's Word, leading, and pastoring Calvary Chapel churches for 32 years.
Dave's teaching style is unique, engaging, and verse-by-verse.
Go through a book or series with him. You'll be glad you did.
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Let me just remind you that Jesus said,
"it's better that I go away. Because if I don't go away, I can't send the Helper, and when he comes, he will teach you, he will lead you into all righteousness."
It is the Holy Spirit who is primarily responsible for our day-to-day walk with Jesus.
The gifts that he gives us are ones he gives us for that walk.
He is available for us to be immersed in for the asking,
1 Corinthians 12 says desire spiritual gifts.
And the Holy Spirit will give sovereignly as he wills so that the Body will fit together perfectly.
See, it's not so mysterious.
Mystery in the Bible means something that has not yet been revealed.
And so, once it's revealed, it's not a mystery anymore.
And the revelation of the Holy Spirit is this: ask for it.
And then desire the spiritual gifts.
Say, "God. Would you give me the gift of prophecy that I would be able to teach?
That I would be able to speak forth your Word?
That you would give me a word of edification, of exhortation, of comfort."
And we all need to say, "God, give me the discerning of spirits gift, I beg you. I need it."
That's all it takes.
And then, as we go on in our communing with God, we develop those gifts.
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