What The Bible Says About Discerning Of Spirits
Here are 93 Bible verses about Discerning Of Spirits from the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), sorted from the most relevant to the least relevant. For those who seek to understand this topic, the scripture advises: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The Gifts of the Spirit
The Bible identifies the ability to discern as a specific spiritual gift. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Manifestations of the Spirit
- Message of wisdom
- Message of knowledge
- Faith
- Gifts of healing
- Miraculous powers
- Prophecy
- Distinguishing between spirits
- Speaking in different kinds of tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
The Process of Discernment
True discernment requires a transformation of the self. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. To assist in this, one might pray as the servant did: So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.
The importance of spiritual maturity is highlighted as follows: But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. This is because the person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
The Power of the Word of God
The Word is the ultimate tool for judging the heart. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.