The spiritual gift of discernment is the special ability God gives to some to know with assurance whether certain behavior or teaching is from God, Satan, human error, or human power. It is the divine enablement to distinguish between truth and error, to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong. The word discernment comes from the Greek word diakrisis which embodies several ideas; to see, consider, examine, understand, hear, judge closely.
“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.” 1 John 4:1 NIV
”And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 NIV
“Have an uncanny ability to perceive hypocrisy, shallowness, deceit, or phoniness.” (Graham, 197)
The United Methodist Church describes discernment as Trans Rational: Information and experience that occurs outside of a normal, logical structure. It is a divine understanding given by the Holy Spirit. Discernment is also Beyond Empirical Knowledge which means it perceives beyond what is received by the senses.
Defense against Deceit
One of Satan’s most powerful tools is deceit and the spiritual gift of discernment is our defense. Not only can those with the gift have strong feelings about what is truth and what is not, they also have the ability to recognize evil. People I have spoken with describe it as an intuition that comes suddenly, instantly, when in the presence of an evil person or situation.
Scripture teaches us that anything religious should be evaluated very carefully; that even the churches to which we go must be examined to see if they are sound in the faith. This includes the manifestation of the Spiritual Gifts within the body. Discernment is key to recognizing genuine gifts of the Spirit, whether they be a true manifestation within a person or imaginary. This gift prevents the “corruption and pollution of Christianity with all kinds of false and spurious manifestations of spiritual wonder.” (Laurin, 210)
The danger with this gift for both the body and the gifted is the improper use of it. Discernment is a powerful gift. Those with the gift of discernment should not be treated as some great oracle or truth-sayer that all decisions need to be directed to. However they should have the courage to speak up and act when the Spirit leads them through their gift.
Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Discernment
Martin Luther believed that the spiritual gift of discernment was essential for Christians in their walk of faith. He emphasized the importance of discernment in his teachings and writings, particularly in his commentary on the book of Galatians.
Luther saw discernment as the ability to distinguish between the voice of God and the voice of the devil, and he believed that it was a gift that every Christian should cultivate. He wrote, “Discernment is the ability to see what is right before our eyes, to recognize it as the will of God, and to act accordingly.”
Luther also warned against false teachers and prophets who would try to lead believers astray, and he stressed the importance of testing all teachings and experiences against the Word of God. He believed that the gift of discernment was essential for discerning the true meaning of Scripture and for understanding the true nature of God.
Overall, Luther believed that the spiritual gift of discernment was a vital part of the Christian life, and he encouraged believers to seek it through prayer, study of the Word, and reliance on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Discernment
John Wesley believed that the spiritual gift of discernment, also known as the gift of discerning spirits, was a special grace given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the purpose of distinguishing between good and evil, truth and error, and right and wrong. He believed that this gift was essential for the health and well-being of the church, and that it was particularly important in times of spiritual conflict and confusion.
Wesley saw the gift of discernment as closely related to the gift of wisdom, but with a particular emphasis on the ability to recognize and expose false teachings and deceptive spirits. He believed that those who possessed this gift were able to test the spirits, discerning whether they were from God or from the devil, and that they were able to expose false teachers and false prophets.
In addition to its role in exposing error and deception, Wesley believed that the gift of discernment also involved a deep understanding of the ways of God and the ability to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. He believed that those who possessed this gift were able to see through the outward appearances of things and to discern the true nature of spiritual realities.
Wesley also emphasized the importance of humility and love in the exercise of the gift of discernment. He believed that those who possessed this gift should use it to build up the church and to serve others, rather than to promote themselves or to engage in divisive arguments.
The Catholic Church on the Spiritual Gift of Discernment
In the Catholic Church, the spiritual gift of discernment is seen as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and it is closely related to the gift of wisdom. It is viewed as a supernatural gift that enables the believer to distinguish between good and evil, and to discern the will of God in particular situations.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the gift of discernment as “a spiritual understanding that enables the believer to evaluate the quality of human actions and the inspirations that give rise to them” (CCC 1839). It is seen as a gift that enables the believer to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in the world, and to discern the ways in which God is leading them in their own lives.
Discernment is a key part of the Catholic tradition, and it is emphasized in a wide range of spiritual practices, including prayer, meditation, and spiritual direction. The Catholic Church sees discernment as involving both intellectual and spiritual insight, and it is often associated with the discernment of vocations and the discernment of spirits.
In addition to its role in personal discernment, the gift of discernment is also seen as essential for the health and well-being of the church as a whole. It enables believers to discern false teachings and to recognize when the church is being led astray. The Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of discernment in the exercise of all ministries, including those of the laity, and it sees it as an essential tool for building up the Church and fulfilling God’s will in the world.
People with this Gift:
- Distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure
- Identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness
- Recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message, or interpretation
- Are able to sense the presence of evil.
The Apostle Paul wrote extensively about this gift and others. Learn more by visiting our Bible study information by following this link -> Unpacking the Apostle Paul
Bible References
| 1 Kings 3:7-15 | Solomon asks God for a discerning heart |
| Psalm 119:121-128 | A prayer that includes asking for discernment |
| Psalm 36 | Opening Truth through God’s light |
| Proverbs 3:19-24 | Solomon telling his son to preserve sound judgement and discernment |
| 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 | Understanding through the Holy Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 | Paul first mentions the gift of discernment; distinguishing of spirits |
| Ephesians 1:17-19 | Paul telling the church at Ephesus he is praying for them to receive the spirit of revelation |
| 1 Timothy 4:1-8 | Paul gives Timothy instructions on discernment |
| Colossians 2:8, 18-19 | Paul’s warning against deception; unspiritual minds |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 | Test everything |
| 1 John 4:1-6 | Test the spirits |
- Graham, 195-197
- Bryant, 70-74
- Laurin, 210
Other Gifts
- Spiritual Gift of Knowledge
- Spiritual Gift of Faith
- Spiritual Gift of Miracles
- Spiritual Gift of Tongues
- Spiritual Gift of Helping
- Spiritual Gift of Healing
- Spiritual Gift of Exhortation
- Spiritual Gift of Compassion and Mercy
- Spiritual Gift of Giving
- Spiritual Gift of Servanthood
- Spiritual Gift of Leadership
- Spiritual Gift of Wisdom
- Spiritual Gift of Administration
That was awesome and outstanding more revelation on this gift of discernment. The body of Christ needs this to avoid corruption that is now taking place in the church worldwide.
With this gift, the Jezebel spirit will not found in the body of Christ. I thank God for the Lord helped me to deal with that spirit for three consecutive Sundays after
I got confirmation.