Listen to this articleIt’s important for us to have discernment, to be able to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil, and the leading of the Holy Ghost versus other spirits. The gift of Discerning of Spirits allows us to do just that.
In the Bible, we see examples of this gift at work. In Acts 16:16-18, a slave girl who had a spirit of divination followed Paul and Silas, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” While the girl was speaking the truth, Paul recognized that the spirit speaking through her was not of God and cast it out.
Discernment is essential in today’s world, where false teachings and ideologies abound. We need to be able to discern what is of God and what is not. This gift is not only important for personal spiritual growth, but also for the edification and protection of the church.
In 1 John 4:1, we are told to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, and in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, we are told to test everything and hold onto what is good. These verses highlight the importance of having discernment and being able to distinguish between the various spirits at work in our lives.
May we seek the gift of Discerning of Spirits and use it to discern truth from falsehood, and to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost in all things.