Discernment of spirits?
 

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

The fact that its called discernment of spirits and not discernment of doctrine...


Spirits do not inhabit doctrine...they influence PEOPLE who create,believe and spread the doctrine.


If you are discerning doctrine thatd be like seeing the after effects of ones obedience to a spirit whether good or evil.


Discernment of motivations maybe?


Too early in the morning and with a grumpy toddler to strain my brain like this. Lol Im excited to see what we can come up with in the discussion though.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

The Greek for discerning (of spirits) in 1 Corinthians 12:10, and the Greek in 1 Corinthians 14:29 for judging after prophets have spoken are merely different forms of the same word, namely diakrisis and diakrino, respectively.

It would seem then that the main manner in which discernment of spirits is practiced is in evaluating the words spoken in a meeting by the prophets who may be present.

https://biblehub.com/greek/1253.htm

https://biblehub.com/greek/1252.htm

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

When I first started in EMS and was being trained, something I was taught is that whatever I do behind the wheel, stopping, speeding up and turning was felt 10 times worse in the back than in the front and when the medic is treating the patient, running IVs, doing CPR etc its easy to get thrown around if the driver is too rough and abrupt.



To this end, early on and in other services I worked with they had these audible force meters that would warn you to go easier on what you were doing and in doing so it developed muscle memory that allowed me to drive with the same care even when I was in a vehicle not equipped with that force meter.


What you are talking about with the application of Discernment of Spirits sounds like mature believers are to act as that "force meter" that trains immature believers to the point where they can independently function by learning what is God and what isnt.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Exactly. And that is what John also said in his epistles about not believing every spirit, but try them to see if they are of God, because there are many false PROPHETS out there (1John 4:1-3).

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Ok, so I’m right or wrong?

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

I can’t get into it too deep at the moment, but I believe you’re both wrong. I’ll try to follow up later.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Okay C, you got me to bite, that is what you want.

Let's check out the Word and see what the Word says.

Act 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
Act 16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.
Act 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

This is a great example of the discerning of spirits.

The spirit was compelling or controlling this woman to say the right thing but Paul knew, through the gift, that it was coming from a spirit.

He discerned that it wasn't God's spirit but an unclean spirit that was working here.

This is a great example, Biblically, of the gift of discernment of spirits.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

What..!? :lol

While what she was saying is true, she wasn’t saying the right thing. She was elevating man, not God.

Anyway... Ok. So it can work like that, too.
I guess my issue isn’t with this...

I have a friend who claims to have the gift of discernment of spirits. I’m not saying that God doesn’t speak to him. When we met he spoke to me about things that he had no way of knowing.

But, he sees spirits everywhere. And he ties in his gift into the error that a child of God can give “Satan” a door way into their life by doing xyz. I ask for scripture to support his claims. He has none to offer.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV)

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

The Greek word for discernment is διάκρισιν (diakrisin) from diakrisis, mentioned in my previous post.

So, solid meat is for the mature, the ones who have been trained through discernment to know good from evil. That's exactly what elders and other mature saints are supposed to do with neophytes: help them learn good from evil and gain their own ability to discern truth from error, milk from meat, and someday, become teachers themselves.

https://biblehub.com/interlinear/hebrews/5-14.htm

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

When someone tells me they have the "gift of discernment" I immediately begin to tune out whatever comes next. Maybe I shouldn't, but when people make a claim for discernment only to use it as some subjective spook test to chase devils or worship angels, then yeah, I have a hard time buying stock in their company.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

What you're describing sounds like Word of Knowledge as far as "reading your mail" goes not discenrment.


Have you asked him why hes attributing a gift of the Spirit to something he got from Satan?


Even the Pharisees accused Christ of casting out demons by the power of demons and Jesus was all like,"Guys, thats some crazy talk."


I appreciate yall for making this discussion possible. There is so much I dont understand at times because Im having to filter through what was taught wrong and not necessarily by pastors but by other "saints".


Some of the mess that gets passed around is old wives tales and witchcraft.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

I think it is funny in pentecostal ranks today that many say they believe in the HG yet don't believe in other spirits, ie angels or demons. Especially in the US. Now they can believe that they exist in other countries but not here. I ask them, "why do we need the gift of discerning of spirits if there are no spirits? " They then look at you like you fell out of a tree.

I realize that there are those who try to manipulate or misuse the gift, as with any gift, but to deny the gift because of that is not wise.

This is a gift that is especially needed in the ministry. The Bible talks of many voices in the world, none without significance. I don't believe that these are just human voices but spiritual also. The ministry needs to know what they are hearing and discern the origin.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

What? I’m sorry for not being clear. He believes that xyz opens up the door/gives authority to “satan.” He discerns different spirits on and around church folk.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

We discussed this briefly, what, 8 years ago?

I think that that may not be what discernment of spirits is... but I am open to correction from YOU if you can lay it out clearly with scripture. Not necessarily openly on this thread.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

I have a few thoughts on the subject:

We are to walk after the Spirit so we don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh:

Jesus balanced His time between withdrawing/separation to pray and ministry:

What we focus on is what we become:

So when we spend our time with worldly media, entertainment, music, ect, we are opening ourselves up to the works of the flesh, spiritual wickedness. What is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. We are not going to be in tune with the Spirit. The callings of God are without repentance, but you can end up with a Balaam Spirit, being a false prophet. (Numbers 22)

So, maybe discernment is having an understanding of where people are coming from, what spirits they are subject to because of what they have been entertaining.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Amen.

I also believe that discernment can be given to the ministry to know what spirits are coming against the local church, or attempting to rise up within the church. Spirits of darkness may not be able to possess saints of God, but when a saint grows carnal and cold they can certainly be influenced by spiritual darkness. The devil's agenda is to oppose the work of God, and if he can influence people within the congregation, he is able to raise up opposition. God will give direction to the ministry on what type of spirits are influencing so that they can preach, and spiritual saints so that they can pray.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

I don't know a lot of people who have that view. Actually, I don't know a single person. However, we can say that the US didn't have to deal with demonic spirits as much as our missionaries who were living in countries filled with idolatry and witchcraft.

Now, as the US has changed, such a strong influx of foreigners and our morality in decline, we are seeing and will see more of this.

We have three spirits to deal with: human spirit, God's Spirit, and demonic spirits.

Several words I have heard through the years that have formed my thinking:

1. "I believe in the Supernatural. I believe in God being Super and me being natural.

2. "I can take care of a demonic spirit in 5 minutes. The human Spirit is what scares me. You can't change that." Billy Cole - words to effect.

3. "If you look for the devil, he will show up. If you look for God, He will show up."

4. "I have met missionaries and pastors who had become too overly conscious of the demon world. They were forever seeking out evil spirits instead of spending time praying and reading the Bible. We have to be aware of this trick of the devil - distraction. He tries to distract us from the work that God has commissioned us to do."

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

When you say the US are you referring to the Church in the US? There are plenty of demonic spirits in the US with or without foreigners. Maybe we just dont recognize them or refuse to address them for whatever reason.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

The United States at large. We haven't dealt as much with demonic spirits, in the past, as our missionaries have in other places. Our country has changed and we will deal with it more. People are more openly antagonistic and hostile to Christians in this country, and it was not this way when I was growing up. That can only open up their lives to further destruction, as we already see taking place.

One thing we can know, demonic spirits recognize the power we have with God much more than we recognize ourselves.

Unity is a powerful element for the church.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

How many can discern if somebody has a spirit of greed or some voodoo-idolatry-from-the-ancestors but can't discern that public school is bad for their kids' spiritual health or that celebrating pagan religious holy days is not cool or that politicians are liars even if they visit a prominent Oneness Pentecostal church every once in a while?

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

When did we not have a strong influx of foreigners ?? Was their contribution detrimental to our society ??

Which foreign influxes were detrimental and which ones made a positive contribution????

Since we no longer have slavery and women can vote, could we say our society has improved ???

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Hello!!!

Did anyone read this?

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

hate to say it, but

Democrats won women’s vote for Congress by the largest margin seen in midterm exit polls

On the Democratic side, these races were viewed not only as a referendum on President Trump, but also, in many cases, on his version of identity politics, which in its final days played to the fears of his base, a group that is largely white, male and Christian. Many female Democratic House candidates who prevailed on Election Day ran in opposition to Trump or his policies. Several were first-time candidates. Republican women like Kristi L. Noem and Marsha Blackburn, on the other hand, made history but were reluctant to mention their gender on the campaign trail, preferring to focus on issues.
Though prominent figures like Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for governor of Florida, failed to win their potentially historic elections, many candidates around the country became the first person of their gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation to be elected to their positions in their states, or in some cases, in the country.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...=.f4e46d3e7edc

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Everyone in our country, other than Native Americans, are immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

Has all of their contributions been detrimental ??

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

we can't have open borders and a welfare state such as the socialists are promoting, it will destroy us.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

should probably factor in largest number of turnouts for all segments of society this midterm including women. Washington post may leave that part out.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Where did the "native Americans" come from?

Not sure why they are called native if they migrated from somewhere just like some of the rest.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

The video tape which had a Gillum employee calling us "white" Floridians crackers didn't help him.

But my question is this, what sort of women voted for democrats?

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

baby killers who hate patriarchy

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

not sure what percent of black women voted dem.
49% white women voted dem
59% white college women voted dem
42% non college women voted dem
according to pewresearch.org

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

:thumbsup:yourock

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Thank you.

Now, lets ask what spirit motivates them?

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

It would be interesting to know how many Apostolic women are in those percentages?

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

GOP "deregulation" results in ground water pollution. Polluted ground water results in miscarriages. The relationship between polluted ground water and miscarriages is well documented.

Abortion stops a beating heart. Polluted ground water stops a beating heart.

The difference is abortion is voluntary. Miscarriages are involuntary.

Both the DNC and the GOP have official policies than stop beating hearts.

Therefore, when it comes to the prenatal care, both parties are the same.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

Scott, what is your solution?

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

The whole GOP will pollute the water thing is just an old talking point from the left, wake up friend your being spoon fed a lie.

Re: Discernment of spirits?
 

That would be interesting. I know at least one group of Apostolic women that would not vote dem if their life depended on it.