The Discerning of Spirits

spiritual gifts: Charismata

The Discerning Of Spirits

Now concerning spiritual (pneumatikw/j) gifts, brethren,

I would not have you ignorant. -- 1 Cor 12:1 (KJV)

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. -- 1 Cor 12:2 (KJV)

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. -- 1 Cor 12:3 (KJV)

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. -- 1 Cor 12:4 (KJV)

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. -- 1 Cor 12:5 (KJV)

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. -- 1 Cor 12:6 (KJV)

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. -- 1 Cor 12:7 (KJV)

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; -- 1 Cor 12:8 (KJV)

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; -- 1 Cor 12:9 (KJV)

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: -- 1 Cor 12:10 (KJV)

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. -- 1 Cor 12:11 (KJV)

1. Dream

2. Vision

3. BY a Divine Messenger

4. Your eyes just see it

5. Your ears just hear it

6. You just feel it

7. You can smell it

Example #1 - PAUL

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: -- Acts 16:16 (KJV)

Deu 18:9 (KJV)

When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. -- Deu 18:9 (KJV)

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, -- Deu 18:10 (KJV)

Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. -- Deu 18:11 (KJV)

For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. -- Deu 18:12 (KJV)

John 10:10 (KJV)

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. -- John 10:10 (KJV)

Acts 16:16 (KJV)

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: -- Acts 16:16 (KJV)

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. -- Acts 16:17 (KJV)

And this did she many days. But 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. -- Acts 16:18 (KJV)

What it is NOT !

NOT Discerning of Devils

Mat 24:4 (KJV)

And Jesus answered and said unto them,

Take heed that no man deceive you. -- Mat 24:4 (KJV)

Mat 24:24 (KJV)

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. -- Mat 24:24 (KJV)

1 Tim 4:1 (KJV)

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; -- 1 Tim 4:1 (KJV)

2 Cor 11:13 (KJV)

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. -- 2 Cor 11:13 (KJV)

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. -- 2 Cor 11:14 (KJV)

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. -- 2 Cor 11:15 (KJV)

Example #1 - JESUS And JOHN The Baptist

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. -- Mat 3:13 (KJV)

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? -- Mat 3:14 (KJV)

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. -- Mat 3:15 (KJV)

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: -- Mat 3:16 (KJV)

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. -- Mat 3:17 (KJV)

Example #2 - JESUS

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. -- Mat 4:1 (KJV)

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. -- Mat 4:2 (KJV)

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. -- Mat 4:3 (KJV)

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. -- Mat 4:4 (KJV)

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, -- Mat 4:5 (KJV)

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. -- Mat 4:6 (KJV)

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. -- Mat 4:7 (KJV)

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; -- Mat 4:8 (KJV)

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. -- Mat 4:9 (KJV)

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. -- Mat 4:10 (KJV)

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. -- Mat 4:11 (KJV)

Example #3 - JACOB

And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. -- Gen 28:10 (KJV)

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. -- Gen 28:11 (KJV)

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. -- Gen 28:12 (KJV)

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; -- Gen 28:13 (KJV)

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. -- Gen 28:14 (KJV)

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. -- Gen 28:15 (KJV)

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. -- Gen 28:16 (KJV)

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. -- Gen 28:17 (KJV)

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. -- Gen 28:18 (KJV)

And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. -- Gen 28:19 (KJV)

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, -- Gen 28:20 (KJV)

So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: -- Gen 28:21 (KJV)

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. -- Gen 28:22 (KJV)

Example #4 - ABRAHAM

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. -- Gen 15:1 (KJV)

And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? -- Gen 15:2 (KJV)

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. -- Gen 15:3 (KJV)

And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. -- Gen 15:4 (KJV)

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. -- Gen 15:5 (KJV)

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. -- Gen 15:6 (KJV)

And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. -- Gen 15:7 (KJV)

And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? -- Gen 15:8 (KJV)

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. -- Gen 15:9 (KJV)

And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. -- Gen 15:10 (KJV)

And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. -- Gen 15:11 (KJV)

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. -- Gen 15:12 (KJV)

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; -- Gen 15:13 (KJV)

And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. -- Gen 15:14 (KJV)

And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. -- Gen 15:15 (KJV)

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. -- Gen 15:16 (KJV)

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. -- Gen 15:17 (KJV)

In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: -- Gen 15:18 (KJV)

Example #5 - MOSES

And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. -- Exo 33:18 (KJV)

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. -- Exo 33:19 (KJV)

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. -- Exo 33:20 (KJV)

And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: -- Exo 33:21 (KJV)

And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: -- Exo 33:22 (KJV)

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. -- Exo 33:23 (KJV)

Example #6 - ISAIAH

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. -- Isa 6:1 (KJV)

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. -- Isa 6:2 (KJV)

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. -- Isa 6:3 (KJV)

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. -- Isa 6:4 (KJV)

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. -- Isa 6:5 (KJV)

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: -- Isa 6:6 (KJV)

And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. -- Isa 6:7 (KJV)

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. -- Isa 6:8 (KJV)

Example #7 - JOHN

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: -- Rev 10:1 (KJV)

And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, -- Rev 10:2 (KJV)

And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. -- Rev 10:3 (KJV)

And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. -- Rev 10:4 (KJV)

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, -- Rev 10:5 (KJV)

And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: -- Rev 10:6 (KJV)

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. -- Rev 10:7 (KJV)

And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. -- Rev 10:8 (KJV)

And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. -- Rev 10:9 (KJV)

And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. -- Rev 10:10 (KJV)

And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. -- Rev 10:11 (KJV)

Example #8 - EZEKIEL

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. -- Ezek 1:1 (KJV)

In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, -- Ezek 1:2 (KJV)

The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. -- Ezek 1:3 (KJV)

And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. -- Ezek 1:4 (KJV)

Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. -- Ezek 1:5 (KJV)

And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. -- Ezek 1:6 (KJV)

And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. -- Ezek 1:7 (KJV)

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. -- Ezek 1:8 (KJV)

Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. -- Ezek 1:9 (KJV)

As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. -- Ezek 1:10 (KJV)

Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. -- Ezek 1:11 (KJV)

And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. -- Ezek 1:12 (KJV)

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. -- Ezek 1:13 (KJV)

And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. -- Ezek 1:14 (KJV)

Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. -- Ezek 1:15 (KJV)

The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. -- Ezek 1:16 (KJV)

When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. -- Ezek 1:17 (KJV)

As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. -- Ezek 1:18 (KJV)

And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. -- Ezek 1:19 (KJV)

Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. -- Ezek 1:20 (KJV)

When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. -- Ezek 1:21 (KJV)

And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. -- Ezek 1:22 (KJV)

And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. -- Ezek 1:23 (KJV)

And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. -- Ezek 1:24 (KJV)

And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. -- Ezek 1:25 (KJV)

And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. -- Ezek 1:26 (KJV)

And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. -- Ezek 1:27 (KJV)

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. -- Ezek 1:28 (KJV)

And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. -- Ezek 2:1 (KJV)

And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. -- Ezek 2:2 (KJV)

And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. -- Ezek 2:3 (KJV)

For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. -- Ezek 2:4 (KJV)

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. -- Ezek 2:5 (KJV)

And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. -- Ezek 2:6 (KJV)

And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. -- Ezek 2:7 (KJV)

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. -- Ezek 2:8 (KJV)

And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; -- Ezek 2:9 (KJV)

And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. -- Ezek 2:10 (KJV)

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. -- Ezek 3:1 (KJV)

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. -- Ezek 3:2 (KJV)

And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. -- Ezek 3:3 (KJV)

And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. -- Ezek 3:4 (KJV)

For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; -- Ezek 3:5 (KJV)