The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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190<br />
Purpose: Protection<br />
THE GIFT OF THE DISCERNING OF SPIRITS (I Cor. 12:10)<br />
Definition: “<strong>The</strong> special ability that God gives to certain members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> body <strong>of</strong> Christ to<br />
know with assurance whe<strong>the</strong>r certain behavior [and speech] purported to be<br />
<strong>of</strong> God is in reality divine, human or satanic.” 81<br />
Description: <strong>The</strong> capacity to distinguish between what is from God (truth) and what is a<br />
deception brought by Satan (error). <strong>The</strong> ability to distinguish between what is<br />
real and that which is counterfeit.<br />
A. B. Simpson sees <strong>the</strong> need for this gift especially in relation to <strong>the</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> Tongues and<br />
Interpretation:<br />
“It is quite remarkable that this gift immediately precedes <strong>the</strong> last two, tongues and<br />
interpretation <strong>of</strong> tongues. It would seem as if at this point <strong>the</strong>re is peculiar need for<br />
<strong>the</strong> power to distinguish <strong>the</strong> false and <strong>the</strong> true, as <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> tongues, above all<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rs, opens <strong>the</strong> way for scenes <strong>of</strong> much excitement and <strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> satanic<br />
counterfeits.” 82<br />
Importance: <strong>The</strong> Corinthian believers were reminded by Paul that before <strong>the</strong>y were converted<br />
that <strong>the</strong>y had been “influenced and led astray” by dumb idols (I Cor. 12:1-3). This probably means<br />
that <strong>the</strong>y had been moved to speak by evil spirits associated with idol worship. It was <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
important that <strong>the</strong>y discerned what was <strong>of</strong> paganism (demonic) and what was <strong>of</strong> God. William<br />
Barclay mentions <strong>the</strong> need for this gift <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> discerning <strong>of</strong> spirits also because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> atmosphere<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> early church (especially at Corinth) where paganism had such wide influence. He states:<br />
“In a society where <strong>the</strong> atmosphere was <strong>of</strong>ten tense and electric and where all kinds <strong>of</strong><br />
abnormal manifestations were normal, it was necessary to distinguish between what<br />
was real and what was merely hysterical, between what was genuine and what was<br />
<strong>the</strong> product <strong>of</strong> excited delusion, between what came from God and what came from<br />
<strong>the</strong> devil.” 83<br />
But is our day and age so different? Paul made it plain in Scripture that we all have been called<br />
to spiritual warfare: “Put on <strong>the</strong> full armor <strong>of</strong> God so that you can take your stand against <strong>the</strong><br />
devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against <strong>the</strong> rulers, against <strong>the</strong><br />
authorities, against <strong>the</strong> powers <strong>of</strong> this dark world and against spiritual forces <strong>of</strong> evil in <strong>the</strong> heavenly<br />
supernatural realms” (Eph. 6:11-12).