The Gift of Discernment - Spiritual Gifts 5

 

What is the gift of discerment?

~~ Watch the Video ~~

Outline:

• Introduction
• Finding Your Purpose in Life Series
• Review: Your Spiritual Gifts
• The Discerning of Spirits
• Natural Discernment
• The Gift of Spiritual Discernment
• Testing your discernment

Scriptures:

• Acts 16:16 - 18
• 1 Corinthians 12:7-12
• 1 Corinthians 2:14

Introduction

Acts 16:16 - 18*

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

The woman had an evil spirit that was allowing her to see the future. This is not the gift of prophecy.

• Prophecy is not just telling the future
• Prophecy speaking on behalf of God

Even though the girl was praising Paul, he was able to discern that the spirit behind her was a demon.  

The gift of discernment can look like: everything in the natural seems to point to a specific conclusion, but the Holy Spirit tells you otherwise.

Critical Spirit / Skepticism

Having a critical spirit is not the gift of discernment

What if Paul was just skeptical about all

• Slaves
• Women
• Fortunetellers

People often mistake a "critical spirit" (looking for faults in others) for the "gift of discernment."

Example: TV preacher wearing 3 thousand dollar suit asking people to tithe 100 dollars because God said that he should have an $80k Watch to help minister to the lost

• True biblical discernment is not rooted in being suspicious or judgmental.

Having correct discernment about something religious or spiritual does not make it the gift of discernment or even spiritual discernment

Today are we are going to take a deep dive into the gift of discernment

But before we do, we are going to understand what discernment is in the first place and how it works on a biological level

• We will look at how your thinking works

Most of today’s lesson will be discussing what is not spiritual discernment

Finding Your Purpose in Life Series

The two greatest days in your life are:

1. the day you were born
2. the day you figure out why you were born

– – Mark twain

Purpose is the fundamental reason that something exists

The Bible tells us that everything was created by God, the Designer, for a reason

If you want to find your purpose… You have to start with God

Your calling is the purpose that God created you for

• It's the end goal of your assignment on earth
• It is how you serve his purposes in the world

A Christian’s Callings

Christians have

1. General callings
2. A Unique calling

General Christian Callings

All Christians are called to:

1. To Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Make disciples
4. Be conformed to the image of Christ – sanctification

Unique Calling

Additionally, you were given unique

• Natural ability
• Acquired skills
• Spiritual Gifts
• Personality
• Desires and preferences
• Life experiences

All of this makes uniquely qualified to serve others, and to glorify God

Your gifts and talents are owned by God… Not you

Success is Measured by Faithfulness, Not Impact

In this series we will discover:

• What a purpose is and why it matters
• What are your unique attributes
• What life experiences have prepared you for your calling
• What is your unique purpose
• How to overcome the barriers preventing you from pursuing your purpose

Throughout this next year, I will walk alongside you and help guide you to finding your purpose

Review: Your Spiritual Gifts

Gifts, Ministries, Effects

1 Corinthians 12:4-7^

Gifts

The raw spiritual "tool" or talent (e.g., the gift of teaching, prophecy, or healing).

This is the internal enablement from the Holy Spirit

Examples 

• Prophecy
• discernment of spirits
• Speaking in tongues

Ministries / Functions

The specific office,role or sphere of service where you use your gift.

Example:

• Pastor
• Choir director
• School teacher

Gift vs Ministry

You might have the gift of teaching, but that gift can be expressed in many different ways.

Example: Gift of teaching

• Pastor
• Jail ministry
• Classroom

You can have the gift of prophecy, but not serve in the office of a prophet

• You might be in the parking lot Ministries

Effects

The supernatural impact or outcome of the gift being used.

Example

• You can “feel the anointing” when someone is singing

Manifestations vs. Permanent Gifts

Manifestations

The Holy Spirit can give any gift to any believer at a specific moment to meet a specific need.

Referred to as:

• "manifestation of the Spirit"
• “Spirit coming upon you”
• “ Being filled with the Holy Spirit”

Permanent Gifts

What people call "having the gift" is a consistent history of God choosing to work through someone.

3 Lists of Gifts

In this series, we are going to discuss three different classifications of gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Bible

1. Motivational gifts. Romans 12:6-8^
2. Manifestation gifts 1 Corinthians 12:7-12^ 
3. Ministries/function/offices Ephesians 4:11-12

Manifestation Gifts

Gifts of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:7-12

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning of Spirits
8. Tongues
9. Interpreting tongues

Not all Christians “have these” gifts

• the Spirit distributes them "as He wills" (v. 11)
• The spirit can manifest any of these gifts on any Christians at any given time

The Gift of Wisdom    

AKA the “word of wisdom” or “utterance of wisdom.”  

It is the ability to receive insight into how given knowledge may best be applied to specific needs

• A solution to a problem

The Word of Knowledge

The unique ability to receive knowledge which could only be revealed supernaturally

• Information

Faith

The gift of faith is the unique ability to trust God against all circumstances.

Having a supernatural peace or assurance about some situation

1. Supernatural certainty
2. Unshakable faith during persecution or suffering

Healing

The ability to initiate supernatural intervention of God that cures a physical ailment, disease, or injury without the aid of natural medical means.

Working of Miracles

This describes when the Holy Spirit chooses to "over-ride" the laws of nature, working in or through an available person.

Examples:

• Raising the dead
• Turning water to wine

The Gift of Prophecy

The ability to deliver a message from God to a group or individual

• Sometimes this is foretelling the future

The gift is separate from the office

The Discerning of Spirits

The spiritual gift of discernment is also known as the gift of "discernment of spirits" or "distinguishing between spirits."  The Holy Spirit gives the gift of discernment to enable certain Christians to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in a given situation.

A person with this gift can identify the source of a behavior, teaching, or spiritual manifestation.

There are generally four "spirits" they distinguish between:  

1. The Holy Spirit: Recognizing when God is truly moving or speaking.  
2. The Human Spirit: Sensing when something is just human emotion, ego, or "performance" rather than divine.  
3. Demonic Spirits: Identifying the presence of evil, deception, or oppression.  
4. The Spirit of Error: Spotting false doctrines or "half-truths" that sound biblical but aren't .  

Natural Discernment

How we think

Discernment is the keen ability to judge well, perceive hidden truths, and distinguish between similar options (e.g., truth vs. falsehood, good vs. bad).

How we discern as Christians

• Experience
• Using biblical wisdom
• Being observant
• Being a good judge of character
• Common sense
• Wise council

All of these are “natural discernment“

Example: preacher who says Noah was really a woman

• You don’t need to gift of discernment to realize this is false
• You don’t need the supernatural to realize this is wrong

There is a difference between using natural discernment to judge spiritual matters vs using the gift of discernment

Body, Soul, Spirit

We are made up of body, soul, and spirit

• Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions.

Natural discernment is discerning things with your body and soul.

• Mind
• Emotions
• Body

How natural discernment works…

Finding Patterns

We have the ability to take fragmented data and see the "whole".

The brain stores information about

• social interactions
• emotions
• situational scenarios

When a new situation occurs, the brain "scans" its library and flags suspicious things.

It’s the "gut feeling" that something is off because a known pattern of honesty has been violated.

We notice when someone’s expressions don't match their words.

People with a strong ability to notice patterns may "see"

• where a situation is headed long before others do.
• The way the energy in the room shifts when that person enters.

Discernment is often just the brain realizing that the "Surface Data" and the "Deep Data" don't match.

Processing Speed

This is how  fast you can analyze the data and recognize patterns

Hi IQ

People are considered to have a high-IQ if they have

• Exceptional pattern finding ability
• Fast processing speed

What Data We Process

Micro-Expressions and Body Language

Micro expressions

• Not smiling with their eyes
• Micro smirk (yeah right)
• Nose wrinkle
• The micro-tension in the jaw.

Voice

• The slight lack of "resonance" in the tone.

Shifts in body language

• Arms cross
• Feet open towards/away from you
• Pupils dilate
• Preening (fixing hair, playing with jewelry)

Emotion

Our Emotions

While your conscious mind can only handle a few variables at once, your subconscious is absorbing millions of data points.

Your emotion is a "summary" of the data.

Other People’s Emotions

When we perceive the emotions of others, we aren't just "observing" them;

• our brains are simulating them.  
• empathy

Mirror neurons fire both when you experience an emotion and when you observe someone else experiencing it.

Your Body

Our experiences are stored in our nervous system.

Our shoulders may get tense when we’re in a situation that our nervous system believes to be threatening (like public speaking) even if we don’t “feel” nervous consciously

Your body may get tense when a certain person comes near you

Our body stores traumatic experiences in our nervous system

Memories are stored in your body

Example: gut feeling

you can have a gut feeling that someone is dangerous if they exhibit characteristics and behaviors of someone similar who was dangerous

Vibes

Psychologically, a "vibe" is often your subconscious processing data faster than your conscious mind.

The Source:

• Past experiences,
• trauma,
• personal preferences,
• physical states (hunger, tiredness, anger).

True discernment involves noticing this emotional signal and then using the Processor to verify why the signal was triggered.

Mental Filter

Most people’s brains have a "filter" that blocks out 99% of environmental data so they can focus on simple tasks.  

Example:

• Socks on your feet
• Feet on the floor
• But in the chair
• Hum of the refrigerator

Example: red car

Your brain filters based on

• Prejudices
• Your goals
• Threats
• Novelty
• Value (goals)
• Emotional state

Wide vs Narrow Filter

Different people’s mental filters allow different amounts of data through.

People with wide filters allow more data to come into their brain than those with narrow filters.  This causes them to receive more "irrelevant" data.

Narrow Filter

The brain recognizes "familiar" stimuli (the feeling of clothes on skin, background chatter, the smell of a room) and stops sending those signals to the conscious mind.

 The Result:

They can work in a loud coffee shop and literally not "hear" the music after five minutes.

Excellent at

• focusing,
• finishing tasks,
• following rules.

They see the "main point" but miss the "nuance."

They are less likely to be distracted by "what if" scenarios.

Wide Filter

You notice the flickering light, the hum of the AC, and the texture of the carpet.

See the "main point" plus ten other possibilities.

They are constantly "re-evaluating" what they know because their brain keeps letting in new data.

Highly creative people have wide filters.  

• They are getting more information than the average person.

Spiritual Awareness

People with wide filters often possess an uncanny ability to "read" people or sense atmospheric shifts that others miss.

Spirituality is often linked to having a wide filter.

This is why some cultures traditionally viewed those with these traits as

• Seers
• Shamans
• Empaths
• sensitive

Drugs

Drugs can force the brain's "filter" to stay open.

When this happens, the brain is flooded with raw data that it would normally ignore,

This can lead to

• heightened creativity,
• intense spiritual experiences,
•  or—if the "Processor" is overwhelmed—psychosis.

The "Hardware" Problem: 

Drugs can open the Filter, but they often impair the Processor (IQ/Logic) and the Pattern Recognizer.

Example: See God in everything

look I have 77 on my receipt… That must be a message from God

The Discernment Check:

Is this a "word from above," or is my brain just calculating the most likely outcome of these data points?

The Gift of Spiritual Discernment

1 Corinthians 2:14

But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The gift of discernment is not based on:

• Recognizing patterns
• Experience
• Biblical wisdom
• Observation
• Common sense
• Reading emotional energy
• Skepticism

As mature Christians, we should be using many of these, but these are all part of our natural discernment, and not gifts of the Holy Spirit.  

Spiritual discernment often "skips" the need for physical data.

You might enter a room with zero prior patterns and immediately feel a spiritual "weight" or "clarity" that has no logical basis.

Your Spirit

Your brain can discern situations using data from

• Mind
• Body
• Emotions

Your spirit receives the “spiritual data”.

 your spirit is the part of you that "hears" or "senses" the presence of God or other spiritual data. 

The gift of discernment of spirits involves an elevated ability to receive and process data from the spirit realm.

Example:

• You can feel the heaviness in the room
• You can sense that something is off about a biblical teaching

The Role:

Your spirit receives raw "spiritual data" (discernment, peace, conviction, or "weights") before your mind can even put words to it.

For a person with the gift of discernment,  this antenna is often "unshielded"—meaning you pick up on the spiritual energy of a room just as clearly as you notice the physical temperature.

Testing your discernment

Everyone thinks they can read people well

Most people think they are a good judge of character

Accuracy Test

Do you often misjudge people?

Do people “change” in relationships?

Are you surprised when people act out of the character that they portray?

Biblical consistency test

Does this match with God’s word or is it in line with God’s character

The "Mirror" Effect (The Ego Test)

Projection: 

The pattern you see in others often matches a pattern you are currently struggling with.

 (e.g., If you are feeling insecure, your "discernment" tells you everyone else is being judgmental).

The Gift: 

The insight is often surprising.

 It tells you something about a person or situation that you had no reason to suspect and that doesn't necessarily relate to your own current mood or judgment.

The "Fruit" of the Insight (The Outcome Test)

Projection leads to isolation.

It makes you withdraw, judge, or feel superior/inferior.

 It closes doors.

The Gift leads to clarity.

Even if the discernment is a "warning" to stay away, it leaves you with a sense of "knowing" rather than "stewing." It opens up a path for appropriate action.

How to "Calibrate" Your Processor

If you feel a "hit" of discernment but aren't sure if it's real, try these three steps to settle your "Filter":

1. Close your eyes or move to a quiet space.

1. Does the "insight" stay, or does it vanish when the external "noise" stops?

2. Check your Emotions: hungry, angry, lonely, tired (HALT)
3. The "Wait and See" Method:

1. True spiritual discernment is rarely a "one-time" flash. If it's a real gift, the pattern will persist and become clearer over time, whereas projection tends to fade as your mood shifts.

It’s obvious to you, but not to Everyone

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