Does Discernment Really Work?
 

How many times do you know of someone who was living in sin being discerned? There have been well known preachers, TV evangelists, pastors who were living a lie, living in sin, and no one suspected nor "discerned" them. They were continually around the leadership of their denominations and no one had a clue. Why?

Now if I've missed someone that's been discerned please fill me in.

Just.....
Been Thinkin

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

I think we often confuse "discernment" with "word of knowledge". There have been a couple of times when I was given a word of knowledge by God; it dealt with humanity.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

I don't know if discernment is so much a spiritual gift as a mental one. It seems to be about seeing the small signs that tell a story other then the one person in question is trying to say. The problem is that discernment is probably far less in a religious setting then secular one because the congregation or followers willfully blind themselves to so many red flags.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

I believe that God can give someone spiritual discernment in a situation.

When I was much closer in my walk with God, I can think of at least two situations right off of the top of my head where the Lord gave me discernment concerning the intents of another human being.

1 was in a church setting where the guy was faking as he prayed and spoke in tongues.

1 was in my apartment where there was a guy and his "wife" who were lying to me about their marriage and their intent to live for God.

I would imagine there were other incidents, I just can't think of them right now.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Those denominations and preachers who do not teach the truth of how to be saved have not even been able to discern that they are not even following basic truth, so it should not surprise us they if do not discern other things :-)

(and no offense intended to anyone, but I know that here on AFF there are some who might disagree because they seem to basically think that anyone who acknowledges Christ in any way is saved reguardless of the doctrine they believe, and they are entitled to their opinion :-)

Anyhow, here are some related scriptures:

1 Corinthians 12:8 "....to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit...."

1 Corinthians 12:10 "....to another discerning of spirits...."

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

In December 2009, 1 of the Assistant Pastors in my church looked right at a guest I had bought to church with me and said, "Lord deliver us from a lying spirit," as he walked away from us. This was NOT during a sermon. I remember, he looked at us for a few seconds after I had greeted him. I saw out of the corner of my eye where he kept looking towards him and he was standing close to me. Then he said what he said.

I picked up on what he said right away, but I don't think my "friend" did. I purposely chose to ignore what the preacher said-- thinking that there was no way he knew anything about this guy, or his intents. I thought I knew him better than anyone there.


The guy turned out to be a liar. His deception cost me alot.

It remains one of many life's lessons that sting.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

When I think of discernment and how it should benefit the church...well it seems obvious that no one at the Mississippi campeeting that Borat filmed for his movie had any part of the gift of discernment.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Freeatlast that's a good point, a great example. I'm not in any way trying to raise an argument. Just have to admit I don't recall ever seeing a prime example of "spiritual discernment!"

Again, I simply ask why? The examples that have been given thus far may possibly be examples of discernment, but why not the cases of "big preachers," if I can say it that way, who have been in sin but no one discerning it?

BT

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Could it be that they don't surround themselves with people who are used in this gift?

King David surrounded himself with prophets and seers because he wanted to know what the true Word of the Lord was and what God's direction was for himself and the kingdom.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Kinda like when everyone gathered around Borak at Ms. Campmeeting
a few years back................Just saying............They got played...:foottap

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

BeenThinking, you clearly never had to look Tom Fred Tenney in the eyeball as a 16 year old kid!

LOL!

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Discernment sometimes works, sometimes not.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Couldn't get away with anything, could ya! :lol

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Got a scripture? Im not sure what you are speaking of

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Peter discerned Sapphira, as an example. I know, that doesn't mean it's normative, but it just popped into my head. ;)

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

No actually The Holy Spirit spoke to Peter

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

I was at a service once where a number of preachers were to be ordained. The preacher that evening (I can't remember the whole message) at one point had folks "Turn to their neighbor" ... and say, "I'm on your side." The theme was one of unity.

After the ordination, the ministers in the congregation were all asked to go through a receiving line of the men who had been ordained. Being shy and awkward myself and terrible at making small talk, I said to one of the men while shaking his hand - "I'm on your side." His face fell dramatically. He obviously didn't make the connection between what I had just said and the sermon that had been preached earlier. I had the distinct impression that he feared me and feared that I was on to something.

I was greatly troubled by this encounter but I never said anything to anyone. The guy's face looked just like a little boy who had been busted for some wrong doing. Within a few months his moral failure became publicly known. It seemed that I was the only one to have "discerned" anything before hand.

This guy had a family member in a position of leadership who suffered backbiting and such over this affair. "Why didn't he discern the sins?" people asked. His response was 1 Corinthians 13:5, "... Love thinketh no evil."

When we choose to work closely with people we go through various stages of letting down our guard and suspicions and simply embrace them as they are. This does make us vulnerable to deceptions and lies. That is why friendships are considered to be such "sacred" things. Friends see us without our armor and defenses up. This may also be the reason so many people in leadership fail to discern the sins of their close associates.

It doesn't mean that the gifts of the Spirit are absent. It would appear to mean that only certain gifts are present at times. "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (1 Corinthians 12:6).

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

How do you know that? And how does this make it not a case of discernment?

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Walk up to anyone, and say in low tones, "I know what you did." You'll get a similar reaction, 3 out of 4 times, I betcha!

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

:thumbsup Good food for thought. Thank you. I'm not trying to establish a doctrine of discernment but just wondering when and where it really comes in in the work of God and why it seems to be absent from much of the work. Just Been Thinkin'!

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

You are right, it does not say that. However my question earlier had to do with the word. Discernment...there appears a gift called "the discerning of spirits"...

I don't know of a gift of discerning of personal facts. I do know of a gift called "word of knowledge"...presumably that word has to come from somewhere.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Ah. Point taken.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

I've seen some with the gift of suspicion. But here is what I have reference to.

1 Corin 12:7* But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8* For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9* To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10* To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11* But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

It seems that "discerning of spirits" is different or in addition to "word of knowledge!" How should the discerning of spirits work in the church and to what degree? Just wondering.

Been Thinkin

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

Oh, well, that's different. Here's how it works: there are spirits wandering around. Some are good, some are bad. It takes the gift of discernment of spirits to tell which is which.

Hope that helps! :D

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

YEA! Thank you Timmy! You've come through again! Prophet Timmy with the "spirit?" of discerning, discerning the spirits! Is that the way it works Timmy?:toofunny :grampa :ursofunny

Been Thinkin

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

I ought to do that. In this case though, all I did was to repeat something the preacher had said less than an hour or so earlier. "I'm on your side."

I do know what you've done too, Timmay.

... oop! Getting called away. Gotta go. I'll rat you out later.

Re: Does Discernment Really Work?
 

That was supposed to be in "low tones". Like a smaller font, perhaps. Maybe a lighter color. But, anyway: :runhills