This particular Charism is a mysterious gift of the Holy Spirit that helps us to see into the spirit world. Through this gift, we discern, see, hear, taste, touch, and experience the unseen world around us. The spiritual world consists of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then the angels, the redeemed Saints, the human spirit, Satan, and his cohorts. Through this Charism, we can see how they operate; we can see the activities of Heaven and Hell. It is a supernatural ‘knowing’ of what is happening behind the scenes. The Holy Spirit shows us what kind of spirit we are dealing with. It’s called ‘the discerning of spirits’.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” (1 Timothy 4:1).
This gift will help you overcome the schemes of the Evil One. And you can help others to be free from spiritual bondage; you can win the battle against the enemy. You can be useful to the leadership of your parish or Centre and help them overcome through intercession. With this gift, leaders can discern the Charisms, to see if the gifts are genuine.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world,” (1 John 4:1).
Discernment in Action
This gift is called the discerning of ‘spirits’, which includes the human spirit, the angelic spirits, and the evil spirits. God does not want us to be ignorant of this gift. To know what kind of spirit is working in a person, in a given situation, or in the ministries, the Holy Spirit activates the gift of discerning spirits in our lives. This gift is limited to seeing and hearing into the spiritual world.
“… to one is given the gift of discerning the spirits,” (1 Corinthians 12:10).
The Importance of Discernment
Recognizing the Source
Without this gift, we can never know all that is happening behind the scenes in the spirit world. God wants you to discern the spirits and know the motives of each one of them. If the Holy Spirit could open the eyes of Balaam’s donkey to see into the spirit world, then surely He can also open our eyes to see!
Not all revelation comes from God, and not even all that seems to be spiritual comes from the Holy Spirit. In day-to-day life, we come in contact with many people. Many of them may want to come closer to us. Some want to be a business partner, some a life partner, and some ministry partners. It is important that we know them by the Spirit.
Discerning Spirits in People
The Holy Bible warns us: “… Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
The gift of discerning spirits helps us know the people we meet and those who come forward to associate with us. This helps us discern the persons we meet and engage with. There are many crooks and cranks on the spiritual scene too. We need to discern by the Spirit of the Lord. We are not to know a person by the flesh, but by the Spirit. We can be easily deceived by looking only at what they are outwardly.
Spiritual Warfare
The gift of discerning spirits helps us know the force working in various people, ministries, and movements. The Evil One works overtime to discredit the Church and its ministries. He wants to destroy the champions of God. We need to be extra careful and aware that evil agents have penetrated even into prayer groups and spiritual communities.
Jesus taught a parable regarding this matter. “He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away,'” (Matthew 13:24-25).
Jesus’ Explanation
Jesus then explained this parable: “… ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil…,'” (Matthew 13:37-39).
There is a planting of the children of the Evil One among us. As there are various kinds of deceptions around us, it is imperative that we have to discern by the Spirit.
“So it is not strange if his (Satan’s) ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds,” (2 Corinthians 11:15).
Jesus and Nathanael
When Jesus saw Nathanael, He was able to see that his spirit was innocent. “When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!'” (John 1:47).
The gift of discerning spirits helps us know the intent of the human spirit within each person, the motives behind them. God taught the prophet Samuel how to operate in the gift of discerning spirits to know the human spirit. The prophet was sent to anoint David as the King. He sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
Discerning People
Samuel’s Lesson
“When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the LORD’s anointed is now before the LORD.’ But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart,” (1 Samuel 16:6-7).
Here, God was teaching the prophet how to know people by the spirit, and not by the knowledge in our heads! The prophet was keener on the physical appearance than the intent of heart. Being a human being, he made the same mistake again. When he saw Abinadab, he thought he might be the one.
“Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the LORD chosen this one,” (1 Samuel 16:8).
Samuel’s Realization
After the first two experiences, the prophet learned to lean his ear to hear from God. “Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the LORD chosen this one.’ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The LORD has not chosen any of these,” (1 Samuel 16:9-10).
As the seven sons passed before him, he did not hear the word from God, “This is the one; anoint him.” I am sure it was a big teaching lesson, a big training time, for the prophet.
“Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here,” (1 Samuel 16:11).
The Anointing of David
Samuel knew God cannot go wrong, and he was sure he had not heard wrong. God had commanded him to go to Jesse’s family and anoint one of them. And he knew that God’s Word would never come back void. So, he asked Jesse whether he had any other son and asked him to bring the boy.
“He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; for this is the one,” (1 Samuel 16:12-13).
Jesus’ Discernment
The Lord Jesus Christ many times used the word ‘vipers’ when He spoke about the Pharisees because Jesus could discern their spirits. Their character inside them was like that of a viper.
“You, snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matthew 23:33).
When Jesus spoke about King Herod, He called him a ‘fox’! Jesus could see through him and understand that he had a foxy (sly, cunning) character inside him.
