GIFT OF DISCERNING OF SPIRITS

Greek Definition:

diakrisis meaning to distinguish; to separate out; to investigate by looking throughout; examine; question; distinguish true revelation from false through judging by evidence whether the spirits are divine, human or satanic; distinguish between spirit of truth and spirit of error; to help find truth; spot hypocrisy, pretension, phone; unmask Satan; detect erroneous and false teaching; discerning attitudes of whether it be of God, devil or self.

Scripture References:

1.            Matthew 16:3; Luke 12:26 “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times.”

2.            Acts 8:20-23 “Peter to Simon the sorcerer: I perceive (horao=to see) thou art in the gall of bitterness.”

3.            Acts 16:16-18 “A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us,…Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.  And he came out the same hour.”

4.            I Corinthians 2:9-14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (anakrino=to judge closely, examine)”

5.            I Corinthians 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning (diakrino=to judge throughly) the Lord’s body.”

6.            I Corinthians 12:7, 10 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is given…the discerning (diakrisis) of spirits…”

7.            Philippians 1:10 “That ye may approve (dikimazo=to test, make proof of) things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.”

8.            Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner (kritikos=critic, judge) of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

9.            Hebrews 5:4 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern (diakrino= to judge throughly) both good and evil.”

10.        I John 4:1-3 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (dikomazo=to try or prove) the spirits whether they are of God.”