What is the gift of discernment? The NIV calls it the distinguishing of spirits, but my old friend Concordance defines them the same. The root word is diakrisis which means to differentiate or pass judgment. When I looked up the word discernment, it also meant to judge. I will be using the words interchangeably.
Why Do We Need This Gift?
Discernment is needed to divide the true from the false. Truth and lies can come in the form of false teachers and false prophets. 1 John 4:1 the apostle John is teaching believers that not everything that comes out of a person’s mouth is from God:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (NIV)
God has given us the responsibility of judging teachings and prophetic words. He has also given us the tools to do so.
How To Discern
The scriptures tell us that we are responsible for rightly dividing spirit and truth:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb 4:12 NIV)
The most important thing we can do is read the Bible! As Hebrews says, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. If we don’t know what is in it, we cannot tell who is lying. If you wonder how cults get started – this is the beginning. They take the leader’s word without distinguishing and judging it against scripture. Sometimes people let the leader interpret the scripture for them and never work to get their own understanding
Renewing Your Mind
We live in a world that has formed our opinion of what is right and wrong. Sometimes we read things in the Bible that go against our thinking. Should you come up against that, the best thing to do is ask God what is correct. The apostle Paul tells us not to conform to the world but to have our minds transformed.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV).
Scripture is the starting point. Until next time under the palm, be blessed!
