The Gift of Discerning of Spirits

In times like these, Pastors, Elders, Deacons, and all others need to ask for the gift of discerning of spirits. The New Testament clearly teaches that every Christian needs to be able to distinguish good from evil, right from wrong. 

Hebrew 5:14 says that mature Christians have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. You shall be able to test teaching, and lifestyles of the pulpit folks against scripture, as we all must, as did the Berean Jews in Acts 17:11.  I John 4:1 explicitly tells us “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.”

These passages describe the Christian role of discernment. Within the Body of Christ (Body), however, there are individuals gifted with the ability of discerning of spirits. Those with this spiritual gift must be free and willing to exercise it. Some who have it may be reluctant to use it, because it requires a good deal of courage. It is comforting for the whole Body to know that God has not left Christians ignorant or defenseless against the tactics of Satan and his forces.

The gift of discerning (or discernment) of spirits is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to know with assurance whether certain behaviors purported to be of God are in reality divine, human or satanic.

The Apostle Peter apparently had the gift of discernment, which he dramatically used to determine that Satan had inspired Ananias to lie about his real-estate deal, and Ananias was struck dead on the spot. He (God) repeated it with Ananias’s wife, Sapphira, who also died (see Acts 5:1-10). 

Later in Samaria, Peter used the gift to see through to the (heart) motives of Simon the sorcerer. He had all the assurance from God, that he needed, in order to tell Simon that he was poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity (see Acts 8:23).

The gift of discernment can operate on several levels. The most obvious being (1) the ability to know that purportedly good behavior is in reality the work of Satan; (2) the ability to determine whether something that a Christian brother or sister does is emerging from godly or carnal motives; and (3) the supernatural ability to distinguish truth from error, although motives may be proper.

It goes without saying that the latter two levels involve sensitive kinds of judgment and must be accompanied with an extra measure of the fruit of the Spirit, if they are going to be helpful to the Body of Christ.

I would add that this is not a popular gift to those (watching) who have not been taught in the things of God about living a holy and honest life. The word of God does provide in all its teachings the growth in the Fruit of the Spirit. Character and morals are the correct course of Godliness, and Holiness.

I thank you for your continued viewing and reading.  If this Blog and its contents has been a blessing to you, then I ask, with God's leading, that you consider supporting my ministry.


Pastor James P. Norman Jr.

Artesian Well Church

6031 Linden Avenue

Long Beach, Ca.