CRYSTAL THOMAS MINISTRY

REVEALING THE VOICE OF GOD TO THE NATIONS

The Basics of ‘Discernment’

“I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes”.

Psalm 119:125


The word discern and its derivatives are translations of the Greek word anakrino in the New Testament. It means “to distinguish, to separate out by diligent search, to examine.” Discernment is the ability to properly discriminate or make determinations. It is related to wisdom. The Word of God itself is said to discern the thoughts and intentions of one’s heart (Hebrews 4:12).

BEYOND WHAT IS SEEN

A discerning mind demonstrates wisdom and insight that go beyond what is seen and heard. For example, God’s Word is “spiritually discerned.” To the human mind without the Spirit, the things of God are “foolishness” (1 Corinthians 2:14). The Spirit, then, gives us spiritual discernment.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORTH OF GODS WORD

A discerning person will acknowledge the worth of God’s Word: “All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge” (Proverbs 8:8-9). Seeking discernment is a goal for all who desire to walk righteously: “Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them” (Hosea 14:9).

POWER OF DISCERNMENT

King Solomon was known for his power of discernment, making many wise decisions and moral judgments (1 Kings 3:9, 11). Christians today are to be discerning as well. Paul prayed for believers “to discern what is best . . . until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10).

HATE WHAT IS EVIL; CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD

We are commanded to “hate what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). But, unless we have true discernment, how can we determine what is “evil” and what is “good”? 

DISCERNMENT HAS MANY BENEFITS

“My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet”.

Proverbs 3:21-24

SPIRIT-GIVEN ABILITY

Discernment of spirits is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to Christian believers. It is a Spirit-given ability to distinguish whether Divine, human or demonic origins are the source of what is presented—whether it be in an atmosphere, encounter, event, or prophetic message.

DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits…All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

1 Cor 12:7-11

The key to living an un-compromising life…

…lies in one’s ability to exercise discernment in every area of his/her life.  Failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves Christians subject to false teachings.

False teachings then leads to an un biblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living. Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Christians stumble.  They exhibit little ability to measure the things they are taught against the standard of Gods word, and they  unwittingly engage in all kinds of un biblical decision making and behavior.  They are not armed to take a decidedly biblical stand against the onslaught of un biblical thinking and attitudes that face them through out the day.

First Thessalonians 5:21-22

Teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning.  The apostle John issues a similar warning in 1 John 4:1.  According to the New Testament, discernment is NOT optional for the believer-it is required.

 21 but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right.[a] 22 Avoid every appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Delightfully loved friends, don’t trust every spirit, but carefully examine what they say[a] to determine if they are of God, because many false prophets have mingled into the world.

1 John 4:1

One of the Keys to discernment is surrender

If you treat “I” as the emperor of all things, you won’t be in the right place to find out what God wants of you. This selfish view of existence lies at the heart of all sin, we act as if we’re god, even though we certainly know better.  We need to set aside what we want and what we’ve been taught and join with Jesus in his prayer in the face of his most ultimate decision: yet not as I will but as you will. Matt 26.39

Another key to discernment is a sense of peace

God wants us to have some sense of security about what we do. Since God is not a God of confusion, it will not do within Gods purposes for His followers to be confused or be confusing.

8 SIGNS OF THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT

■1. Desire for the Gift

  • As with other spiritual gifts, desire is often the first sign of a gift of discernment of spirits (1 Cor 14:1).
  • You may have a longing to see people set free from demonic bondage.
  • You may want to be more effective in prayer and spiritual warfare
  • You may simply be curious about the spiritual realm.

■2. Love for God’s Presence

  • One of the benefits and signs of having a gift of discernment of spirits is a heightened awareness of God’s Presence and anointing. A true discerner will have a passion for the Presence of the Holy Spirit.
  • This is because the highest use of the gift of discernment is not to see what the enemy is doing, but to discern what the Spirit of God is doing.

■3. Sensitivity to the Spiritual Atmosphere

  • You may be more sensitive to spiritual atmospheres than most other people. In the early stages of developing the gift, you may be affected adversely by the presence of any demonic activity in the environment around you.
  • The reality is that we live in a natural world and a spiritual world concurrently. In the Bible, when Jacob came across a group of angels, he named that place Mahanaim, meaning ‘double camp.’  (Gen 32:1-2)
  • Like Jacob realized, we also live in a double camp where there is constant spiritual activity, and discerners have spiritual senses that are attuned to this.

■4. Feeling Different from Other People

  • Most people, even in church life, experience life through their natural senses. However, someone with an emerging gift of discernment of spirits can see and sense things that others do not see.
  • This ability can result in us feeling different, lonely or misunderstood at times, especially when starting out. It is vital that someone with a developing gift of discernment finds a safe place to journey with others who are similarly gifted and accountable in the life of their church.

■5. Unusual Signs

  • It is not uncommon for someone who is gifted in discernment to experience unusual events or manifestations.
  • People who are incubating a discernment gift begin to see or feel things that others are not aware of. This may include unusual visions, dreams and sensations that alert them to what is happening in the spiritual realm.

■6. Childhood or Pre-Salvation Signs

  • It is not uncommon to experience things relating to your gift even before becoming a Christian. Our creator-God prepares us for our calling and gifts from conception. Even when a talent or gift is misused, God can redeem it and anoint it for His use to serve Him and love and minister to others.

■7. Ability to Know What Lies Behind a Person’s Words or Actions

  • Someone with a gift of discernment has the ability to see behind what a person is saying and presenting. You may know whether they are telling the truth or not. You may also recognize if someone is manifesting a demonic spirit and be able to identify what that spirit is.
  • If a prophetic or revelatory message is brought, a discerner can often tell whether it is anointed of the Spirit or from the speaker’s own heart.

■8. Confirmation of the Discernment Gift by Others and Leaders

  • You may have the gift confirmed through a prophecy given to you.

Discern the Holy Spirit and Demonic Spirits

HOLY SPIRIT

■Like hearing the voice of God, discerning the Holy Spirit is typically about quieting our flesh and listening to that still, small voice inside that bears witness to what we are picking up on.  
■It is something each believer can have and mature in as in all the other gifts of the Spirit.

DEMONIC SPIRIT

■The name of a spirit typically corresponds to its nature or to the behavior that it produces. For instance, a spirit of depression brings depression; a spirit of anger brings anger and so on.
■We discern a spirit’s name or nature by the fruit
■All demonic spirits are evil and unclean.  It can be important to notice the nature of the spirit because they respond to that course of deliverance (call them out by name.)

  • If you spiritually discern/see unreasonable, persistent anger in a person’s life, it is likely they have a spirit of anger at work.  
  • Discerning is not judging, but we must use spiritual eyes.
  • With demonic spirits still being allowed to roam in the air we really need this gift in full operation today just to handle this one type of bad evil spirit.
  • As you know, many times demons can literally enter into a person’s body if they have the appropriate legal rights to be able to do so. But once they are in someone’s body, they will then try and hide and not show themselves. They know if they get caught and exposed on the inside of that person’s’ body, they risk that person either finding Jesus if they are not saved yet, or if it is a Christian, that this person will then seek out a deliverance from another believer.

GOD’S ANGELS

The Bible tells us that God’s angels are also spirit beings. They are ministering spirits. Throughout history God’s angels have appeared to people many times. The Bible is full of these kinds of stories from the Virgin Mary, to Daniel, to the apostle John in the Book of Revelation. However, the Bible also warns us that Satan and his demons can appear to us as angels of light. As a result, you will need proper discernment from the Holy Spirit if an angel were to ever appear to you. The false religions of Islam and Mormonism are two perfect examples of demons appearing as angels of light to the two people who started these two false religions. If those two people would have known how to properly test a spirit appearing to them, those two demon angels could have easily been stopped dead in their tracks and those two false religions could have easily been prevented from ever having started up.

How do you get the gift? 

Ask for it and believe you have received it! Start to walk in it by purposing to walk in love, calm your emotions and see in the Spirit what is going on! Get help from a seasoned brother/sister in the Lord if you are unsure and know that God wants you to walk in discernment and has given you all that you need!

  • 1.Desire the gift – god partners with our desires
  • 2.Ask for the gift – james teaches us that we don’t have b/c we have not asked
  • 3.Have someone w/ the gift lay hands on you to receive it – prayer of impartation