The Discerning of spirits (3)

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“… to another discerning of spirits; …” 1 Corinthians 12v10 (KJV)

“… He gives someone else the power to know whether evil spirits are speaking through those who claim to be giving God’s messages – or whether it is really the Spirit of God who is speaking …” 1 Corinthians 12v10 (TLB)

It is very important for a believer to be able to discern between spirits. The Holy Spirit is the One who enables believers to be able to do this. Discerning of spirits is “a supernatural revelation, or insight into the realm of spirits to detect them and their plans and to read the minds of men” (Dakes Concordance Bible). The Almighty God, angels and fallen angels, that is, demons, for example are spirit beings. Normally we do not see them with human eyes but God can give insight to human beings about what is going on in the spiritual world. For example, Job was not aware of the conversation that went on between the Almighty God and the devil about him (Job 1), before all the trials that befell on him came. Although Job didn’t sin against God, but perhaps if he had been able to see what was going on the spiritual realm, things would have been easier for him. Daniel prayed for 21 days concerning a certain matter before his answer came. However, in the spiritual realm, the 1^st day he prayed he was heard. This was later revealed to him “Then he said unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” Daniel 10v12-14 (KJV). We however see an account in 2 Chronicles 18 where the prophet Micaiah had insight into what had happened in the spiritual realm:

Supplementary Text

“Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing on His right and on His left. And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “By what means?’ the LORD asked. “I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.”” 18-22 (NIV)

Prayer

Our heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Spirit. We thank You for the Spirit of truth who is in us and with us. We pray for the ability for discerning of spirits, that we may know what is true and what is false, what is of You and what is of the devil in Jesus name, amen.