DISCERNING OF SPIRITS Greek: discerning-diakrisis = a thorough judging; to distinguish; to
separate out as to investigate; looking throughout; examine; question; to find
truth spirits-pneuma = spirits To distinguish between true
and false revelation by judging the evidence whether the spirits are divine,
human or satanic. Distinguish between spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Discerning attitudes as to whether they are of God, devil or self Spot hypocrisy, pretense or phony; unmask Satan, detect false teaching and
teaching errors. 1.
Matthew 7:15-16, 20
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye
shall know them by their fruits. Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them.” 2.
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?” 3.
Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24;
Mark 13:5-6; Luke 21:8 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive(planao=to
lead astray) you. For many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive(planao) many.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive(planao)
many. For there shall arise false
Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive(planao) the very
elect.” 4.
Acts 20:29
“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter
in among you, not sparing the flock. Also
of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw
away disciples after them.” 5.
I Corinthians 2:9-14
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which
is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual. 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.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of
no man. For who hath know the mind
of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But
we have the mind of Christ.” 6.
I Corinthians 11:29
“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to
himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” 7.
I Corinthians 12:10
“To another discerning of spirits;” 8.
II Corinthians 11:13-14
“For such are false apostles, deceitful(dolios=deceitful)
workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel
of light.” 9.
Galatians 1:6-9
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace
of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that
trouble you, and would pervert(metastrepho=to turn away)the gospel of
Christ. But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any
other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” 10.
II Thessalonians 2:9-11
“Even that Wicked one whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved. And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe
a lie:” 11.
I Timothy 4:1
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing( spirits, and doctrines
of demons; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron;” 12.
II Timothy 3:1, 6-7,
13, 14-16 “Know also that,
in the last days perilous times shall come.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly
women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able
to come to the knowledge of the truth. But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived. But continue
thou in the things which thou hast learned…and that from a child thou hast
known the Holy Scriptures…All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God.” 13.
II Timothy 3:13
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived.” 14.
II Timothy 4:2-4
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all long-suffering and doctrine. For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching
ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables.” 15.
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 of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.” 16.
Hebrews 5:14
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil.” 17.
James 1:22
“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves.” 18.
I John 2:27
“But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you,
and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth
you all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it
hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 19.
I John 4:1-3
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try(dokimazo=to try or
prove) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets
are gone out into the world. Hereby
know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it would come; and even now already is it in the
world.” 20.
II John 7, 10
“For many deceivers(planos-one who leads astray) are entered into the
world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
This is a deciever(planos=one who leads astray) and an antichrist.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not
into you house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker of his evil deeds.” 21.
Revelation 13:13-14
“And Satan doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven
on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the
earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of
the beast.” Importance of knowing: Christ…anti-christs? True
apostles…false apostles? True
prophets…false prophets? Wheat…tares? Sheep…wolves? Shepherds…hirelings? Angels…unclean,
demonic spirits? Spirit…flesh? True
worship…soulish emotions? KNOW THE REAL AND YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE COUNTERFEIT! |