Spirit discernment is a gift that allows us to detect the spirits behind various manifestations or activities. It differs from natural discernment in that it is a spiritual detection system that measures spiritual realities that are not visible to the natural senses.
When exercising this gift, a believer can be aware of the presence of a demon, know what to do about it, and begin to command it to leave the person. The gift is not only for seeing what is going on in the demonic realm, but also for seeing what God is doing.
True discernment is born of intimacy with the Father, and as we get to know Him, we gain firsthand experience of His love and can more easily recognize and comprehend what He’s doing.
Spending time in worship, the Word, and His presence, as well as learning to listen for His guidance, will cause our gifts to soar. It is critical to use wisdom when exercising this gift and to do so with accountability and under God-given leadership. This gift is always for the edification and building up of the Body of Christ and our own and others’ protection.
NASB (1 Timothy 4:1)The Spirit expressly states that in later times, some will abandon the faith, listening to deceitful spirits and demon doctrines.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. NASB (1 John 4:1)
One of the most needed gifts in the Body of Christ today is the gift of discernment of spirits. Jesus’ command to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16) implies that we must cultivate supernatural discernment, the ability to detect motivation and the spirits that motivate. Because deception will be the hallmark of these perilous times, the gift of discerning spirits will become increasingly important as we approach the end of this age.
How Does It Work?
According to the Apostle Paul, “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.” NKJV 1 Corinthians 12:7-10
The spiritual gift of discernment of spirits has the potential to help the church, set people free, protect the integrity of what God is doing, and assist us in spiritual warfare. It is a spiritual detection system that measures spiritual realities not visible to the natural senses, similar to how a Geiger counter measures radiation. It is the God-given ability or ability to discern the source of spirits, whether they are from the Holy Spirit, angelic spirits, demonic spirits, or individual human spirits, that are behind various manifestations or activities. It is not a natural ability. Many people are naturally perceptive or discerning, but this is not the same as the spiritual gift of spirit discernment.
I’ve discovered that the gift of discerning spirits is frequently intertwined with other manifestation gifts. For example, a believer practicing spirit discerning may be aware of the presence of a demon, know what to do about it, and begin to command it to leave the person. Receiving information about the demon and knowing what to do with it is analogous to – and intertwined with – a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom, whereas casting out the demon can be classified as working a miracle (Mark 9:38 and 39) or healing (Acts 4:16).
Not all revelation is from God, and not all that appears spiritual is from the Holy Spirit. When we have a revelation about what is going on in the spiritual realm, our first reaction should always be prayer. This is as simple as asking the Holy Spirit if what is happening is from him or from another source. Sometimes the gift of discernment is a “knowing” that feels like a gut instinct, but it does not come from us. It is frequently a divine warning. Our spirits will become unsettled if we detect pride, perversion, occultism, or any other form of evil. We may not understand what is wrong with a person or his or her message, but we will detect danger and recognize the warning to be cautious.
In my experience, the Holy Spirit will frequently give a warning dream in advance of what is to come. I had a dream recently that I was sitting comfortably in a large chair when a giant rat appeared and leaped toward me, causing me to flinch and wake up. Within a week, I was in a difficult relationship situation that came at me like that rat – rats come to betray, steal, and destroy. In this case (due to the dream), I was forewarned and better prepared to deal with the adversary’s plan.
The gift of spirit discernment is not the gift of suspicion or judgment. Perceptions and insights should never be used to gossip about or defame another person. This gift, like the other Spirit-given gifts, is always for edification and the building up of the Body of Christ. As you might expect, the gift of discerning spirits has great potential; therefore, it is critical to use caution when using it. To avoid having to learn everything the hard way (and potentially causing harm), seek wisdom from others with more experience. It is critical for our own and others’ safety that we use the gift of discernment with accountability and under God-given leadership.
There is a common misconception that discernment is primarily concerned with seeing what is going on in the demonic realm. The highest and best use of discernment, however, is to see what God is doing. So, if you suspect the enemy is at work, you can return to God and ask, “Father, what are YOU up to?” As His children, we get to participate in His plans!
How to Develop Your Discernment
True discernment arises from intimacy with the Father. We gain firsthand experience of our Father's love as we get to know him better and can more easily recognize when he's at work and understand what he's doing. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit will result in clarity in distinguishing among the voices competing for our attention. Spending time in worship, the Word, and his presence, as well as learning to listen for his direction, will cause your gifts to soar.
Praying in the Spirit - using your personal prayer language - is a practical way to improve your ability to hear God's voice and strengthen your relationship with the Holy Spirit who lives within you.
We can also improve our discernment by surrendering our five natural senses to the Holy Spirit and practicing distinguishing between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). This gift, like all of the Spirit's gifts, can be developed as you spend time conversing with the Holy Spirit about what is going on in your daily life. He will guide you as you maintain an ongoing dialogue with Him.
Use it! Don't be shy. God can use you powerfully even if you are just getting started. If you sense warfare or a warning, keep in mind that God's heart is always to redeem and restore. If you're praying alone or in a small group, ask Him what He's up to as He reveals things - good or bad - and then begin to pray in accordance with what you sense He's showing you.
Another effective way to improve your gift is to ask for it! You can begin by praying Ephesians 1:18-19 over yourself on a regular basis and asking the Holy Spirit to bring this reality into your life.I pray that the eyes of [my] heart be opened to see what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe. (NASB: Ephesians 1:18-19).