Dan Holland considers this vital gifting
… from Issachar, men who understood (discerned) the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chron 12 v 32a)
What exactly is the discerning of spirits? (1 Cor 12 v10)
This is the hardest spiritual gift to describe. All the other gifts in the Corinthian list have an outward expression, but this gift is fundamentally about an inner ‘knowing’ by the Holy Spirit. It’s the Holy Spirit communicating with our human spirit about big and small, personal and impersonal spiritual dynamics. It often relates to our key friendships and churches, and significant decision points in our lives. For instance, we might discern as we walk into a new church; this is my home, there is a good spirit among the people here. Or at interview we meet our potential new boss, despite his outward ‘crustiness’ we discern he has a good and fair heart. We move forward confidently.
Discerning of spirits is not our prejudices, preferences or suspicions dressed up and spiritualised. More on this later…
An essential gift
How many Church splits, shipwrecked Christians and fallen leaders have we witnessed in our generation? The discerning of spirits could have nipped in the bud many calamities in the making. How could a man like Ravi Zacharias remain unexposed around so many international leaders for so long? Were they complicit (God forbid)? Or too cowardly to challenge? Or did they simply not discern what was going on? We desperately need leaders with spiritual discernment!
How many Christians, churches, communities and even nations have risen to the glorious destinies God had for them? Precious few? Perhaps no one discerned that the true leader was meant to be an unassuming and unnoticed younger person (1 Sam 16 v11).The discerning of spirits is vital in appointing leaders; the ‘obvious’ person may not be the right person.
Loneliness of the gift
Discerning of spirits can be a ‘lonely’ gift. ManyChristians will not see or acknowledge what we are perceiving. It is revelatory and often works alongside a deliverance ministry. I quickly learnt that it is not always wise or fruitful to mention what God has shown.Telling an angry person they have a spirit of anger can cause exactly the opposite reaction to the one intended. There may be a few trusted Christian friends who we can confidentially share with, but otherwise we should turn the revelation into prayer.
As a pastor I was approached regularly by Christians (normally women) who were sensitive in discernment. They would often tell me privately they had a ‘caution’ about brother so-and-so, or sister Jane has a ‘worldly’ spirit! Possibly they were right, but they also released an emotional pressure that I was supposed to ‘deal with the individual’. They felt justified in emotionally withdrawing from the person in question. I was exasperated with this; doubly so when they’d never liked that person and seemed to have spiritualised this.
This is a dangerous dead-end road. If we withdraw from anyone we have a ‘caution’ about or isn’t ‘perfect’ in our estimation, we may rapidly end up in a church of one! As the saying goes, ‘There’s only thee and me, and I’m not so sure of thee.’ Splendid isolation is not the intended fruit of this gift, the very opposite is true. It should stir up intercession for people rather than suspicion and separation. Now I would quickly challenge someone to turn their revelation into prayer for that person. We only ‘discern’ people accurately when we view them through the love of God. Any other lens and we will get it wrong, even if we get it right!
Leadership
If you are in a position of authority God will give you discernment to govern by prayer. Discerning of spirits helps you to understand behaviour that would otherwise seem irrational. However, we musn’t become negatively focussed, this is not Biblical. At least half the time discerning of spirits is employed in spotting redemptive gifts and destinies in others. If someone is ‘seeing’ demons regularly, they should be aware of at least as many angels and the tireless activity of the Holy Spirit. To only discern what is wrong with other Christians suggests this gift (if genuine) has been perverted by the enemy into a critical spirit. This critical ‘gift’ can destroy a church as surely as anything else.
The gif should work positively; you may spot a huge anointing and calling on a young Christian….. God shows you she has a huge evangelistic gift and a pure heart. She will be internationally successful. You can follow up this revelation with much prayer and discipleship while offering small evangelistic opportunities to let her stir up her future calling.
Timing
God can instruct you when is the opportune time to tell her what you have discerned. Typically, don’t do this immediately, when she is in a tender stage of growth and susceptible to attacks of pride, fear, and jealousy in others (re. Joseph and his brothers).
This gift was functioning in my life long before I realised or understood it. Perhaps this is true of you too? It is important to distinguish between suspicion, human intuition and the spiritual gift of discernment, they are not all the same thing. Often the discerning of Spirits will be accompanied by peace and confidence we have heard from God, even if it is surprising and seems contradictory.
The following scenario is hypothetical but based on a composite of my personal experiences. I was introduced to ‘a wonderful man of God’ with an impressive spiritual CV. I shook his hand and immediately got a cold feeling, despite his broad smile. Did I imagine it or was his countenance forced, even faked? I was surprised as I expected to like him immediately. Perhaps it was a personality clash or my mistake, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I had no evidence.
Sure enough over time worrying details began to emerge about this man, until the point where he left his ministry. He remains to this time, as far as I know, unrepentant and out of ministry. Holy Spirit warned me to not get too close. I paid attention to that inner warning siren. It’s not that we turn against someone, facts not feelings are essential. But it is wise to be cautious in friendship. (Pro 12 v26)
For all believers, not just leaders
As with all the spiritual gifts discerning of Spirits is for all believers not just leaders. We must all take responsibility for our own spiritual health. Just because someone is behind the pulpit doesn’t mean we have to swallow everything they say or do. I don’t advocate rebellion; God has given us leaders, but we are allowed, even commanded to inspect the fruit of people’s lives and act accordingly (Matt 7 v16). Leaders don’t have time to do everything, all believers need to step up and play their part.
Excellent character
Discerning of spirits is a beautiful crown for mature Christian character. It facilitates walking ever closer with God; we can discern if our own hearts start to operate out of another spirit than Holy Spirit (1 John 4 v1) for instance out of fear or control. If we do, we can quickly repent and be filled with Holy Spirit. Jesus didn’t need anyone else’s opinion about a man; He knew what was in them (John 2 v25). What freedom, to be released from man’s fickle opinions and tyrannical agendas. Send this vital gift afresh on your church please Lord Jesus!
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Daniel Holland is a UK missionary with Through Faith Missions. He wrote “Through The Tunnel – Free at Last” published by PUSH Publishing, as his personal testimony. His second book “Prophetic Evangelism – Kingdom Exploits in the Risk Zone” was reissued in an expanded second edition in August 2021, via Christian Publications International: https://christian-publications-int.com/PropheticEvangelism.html
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Here is a link to a Prophecy Today review of Dan’s recent book: https://prophecytoday.uk/study/resources/item/2076-review-prophetic-evangelism.html
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