As we continue our section on the gifts the Holy Spirit gives to the church, we read once again in I Corinthians chapter 12, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the...discerning of spirits...But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." I Corinthians 12:7-8, 9-10.
In this study we are going to be focusing on the discerning of spirits, something that is truly lacking in the church today. It seems like anything and everything goes, nothing is wrong, "All is from God" type of theology that is being promoted in the church today. And so you have all kinds of strange and unscriptural behavior being manifested in the church today and it is said to be the result of the Holy Spirit working. And if there is any kind of discernment being exercised we see people coming against them and told that "They are being judgmental" or "They have a judgmental spirit".
In saying that, let me read to you this true story of Hank and his friend Chuck, who wanted to show Hank this miracle man. Chuck said:
"I’m telling you, Hank, thousands, no hundreds of thousands of people have found what I’ve found. I’m telling you, it’s the real thing. Truth is, you’ve probably already heard of him yourself. I mean, by now almost everyone has. His name is..."
"Before Chuck could get the name out of his mouth, I interrupted him. ‘Don’t even say it,’ I warned. ‘If I hear his name one more time, I think I’m going to be sick! If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. When will people wake up and realize that guys like that are phony?...He may be from halfway around the world and have an intriguing accent, but he’s definitely not the real thing.’"
"In the time it had taken us to finish dinner, the parking lot across the street had blossomed with thousands of cars. I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to voice what I was thinking. P. T. Barnum was right: ‘Never underestimate the gullibility of the public’ - or was it, ‘There’s a sucker born every minute’?"
"Security led us past the crowd and through a private entrance to the auditorium. As promised, our seats were front row and center. I could not help but feel conspicuous as people immediately began whispering and pointing in my direction..."
"Surprisingly, I was also feeling uncomfortable at the stark contrast between my own hardened cynicism and the crowd’s sense of expectancy. I was actually beginning to second-guess myself. Perhaps I was too skeptical. Why couldn’t I be like everyone else and approach the evening the way they did?"
"...I spotted a well-known local pastor across the aisle and marveled again at the apparent gullibility of so many seemingly intelligent and discerning people. Were they all just invincibly ignorant...or was it me?"
"...The announcer paused dramatically. ‘And now, please join me in extending a warm Southern California welcome to...’ The name was lost in an explosion of applause."
"From the start, the crowd seemed like putty in his hands. I was amazed at his commanding presence as well as by the control he exerted over the audience...Soon some of them were even laughing robustly along with everyone else. As determined as I was not to let go, I could not help smiling a time or two myself. There was no doubt about it. The laughter was down right infectious."
"...The pastor I had spotted earlier in the evening had thrown off all of his usual ministerial decorum and now whirled around the stage, howling like a dog. Others stumbled through the auditorium as though in a drunken stupor. One women, who had lost all sense of modesty, thrashed around on the floor in total abandon."
"I was amazed at the power this guy seemed to hold over people. His enthusiasm and encouragement seemed to egg them on to new heights of absurdity. He merely pointed in their direction, and they immediately began to jerk spasmodically. At one point he blew into his microphone, and an entire row of people keeled over in an apparent supernatural faint. As he worked the crowd, laughter echoed eerily through the auditorium."
"By the time it was over, I was chomping at the bit to meet this guy up close and personal. After the last person exited the auditorium, we met backstage. He had shed his jacket and was mopping his face with a towel, still flushed from the exuberance of a successful performance. I impatiently endured the small talk and introductions. Impulsively, I blurted out, ‘Over the years I’ve been exposed to some of the best con men, illusionists, and religious charlatans around. But you’ve taken this to a whole new dimension. I thought I’d seen it all, but tonight I experienced things I never knew existed. I want to know how in the world you pulled this off!’"
"Although stunned by my bluntness, he recovered quickly. He methodically completed wiping his face then calmly handed the towel to his attendant. ‘I see your reputation doesn’t do you justice,’ he began. ‘I can’t remember when I’ve been approached more directly.’"
"‘Listen’, I interrupted, ‘I have seen performers break the fourth wall. I’ve seen them use altered states of consciousness, peer pressure, expectations, and suggestions to great effect. But never before have I seen so many people so completely mesmerized...’"
"Before I could finish my sentence, his broadening grin erupted into a chuckle. ‘That’s high praise, coming from you. Truth is however, there’s nothing particularly supernatural about what I do. Quite frankly I’ve done it so often it’s become second nature to me. In fact, maybe that’s why I’m always billed as,’ He gave a dramatic pause, and then his voice boomed, ‘TONY ANGELO - THE WORLD’S GREATEST STAGE HYPNOTIST!’" (Hank Hanegraaff, Counterfeit Revival, pp 3-8).
Shocked? You should be! That was my intention with that true story. Many in the church today are drawn to preachers that entertain rather than teach. They whip the people up into a state of chaotic frenzy instead of building them up on the solid foundation of God’s Word. We see all kinds of so called "manifestations of the Spirit" like barking like dogs, laughing in the spirit, drunk in the spirit, and-so-on, instead of the fruit of the Spirit being produced in their lives. We have people encouraging health, wealth and prosperity rather than denying self, taking up the cross and following Jesus. The church is in need of real Biblical discernment!
Now don’t think these things are new to the church for Jesus warned that these things would come to pass. In Matthew chapter 7 we see Jesus warn us of the false prophets that are out there, dressed in sheep’s clothing but the reality is they are wolves ready to devour the flock of God with their perverted message. He said beginning in verse 15 of Matthew chapter 7, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Matthew 7:15-20.
And in Matthew 24:24 listen to this warning that Jesus gives us regarding the false teachers and what they are able to do. He said "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
Paul, in II Corinthians chapter 11 had this warning for us. He said beginning in verse 13 of II Corinthians chapter 11 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." II Corinthians 11:13-15.
In hearing those warnings that God has given to us we should not take them lightly. Satan is a master counterfeiter and his desire is to deceive and destroy people. As Christians we need to be able to discern between the true and the counterfeit or we can get swept away with these false teachings that are going on, the winds of false doctrine that come blowing through the church. As John admonishes us in I John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." May we heed his words and test the teachings that are given to us to see if they are of God or not.
Now Paul, in I Corinthians chapter 12, places this spiritual gift, the discerning of spirits, right after the gift of prophecy, and that was no accident. When things are taught they need to be tested to see if they are of God or not. If not, toss them aside and hold onto only that which is good, only that which is from God, that which is found in His Word.
Today we hear Matthew 7:1-2 quoted when anyone comes against these false teachings and they say "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." But when Paul spoke of the gift of "discerning of spirits" he uses the Greek word DIAKRISIS which means "judging through". You see, the idea is to test if something is of God or not. Thus, you have to judge it. Jesus, in Matthew chapter 7 was speaking of judging a persons heart, their motives. But to test if anything is true or false it must be judged, and not according to our own wisdom, but according to the Word of God.
And understand that this gift is not just using the knowledge that God has given to us to determine what is right and what is wrong, but it is the supernatural ability to, in a sense, see right to the heart of the matter. Donald Gee put it this way when he said this regarding this gift: "The essential thoughts of the word are a piercing of all that is merely outward, and seeing right through, then forming a judgment based on that insight. It is a sharp and powerful word."
Now there is learned discernment and then the discerning of spirits, and we will look at both of them to get a better understanding of them.
1. LEARNED DISCERNMENT
Learned discernment means just what it says. It is something that develops or grows over time. In Hebrews 5:12-14 we read "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
The writer of Hebrews is coming against those who have not matured in the Lord, those who have remained spiritual infants. They should have grown and learned how to discern between good and evil. You see, as a person grows in their relationship with God, taking the Word of God and applying it to their lives, they are exercising their faith, applying it to their lives.
In Isaiah 8:19-20 we read "And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
Here God is inditing His people for turning away from the truth of God’s Word and getting their truth from occult practices, experiences that are not found in the Word of God. And because of that they are lacking in spiritual discernment, in judging between good and evil, truth and lies!
Now in this section on learned discernment, something that each and every Christian should be exercising like a muscle, I would like to discuss three types of false teachers or false prophets. Again, each one of us are responsible for recognizing them and not accepting that which is false, exposing that which is a lie and holding onto that which is true, that which is of God. The three areas that we are going to be examining are the DENIERS, the DISTORTER’S, and the DECEIVERS. As you will see, some are very obvious while others are not, but the point being, they all are not speaking for God and they are to be exposed and not followed because of that!
A. THE DENIERS
Now these people, these teachers are the easiest to spot. They flat out deny the faith, they reject Christ and they reject Christianity. As believers in Christ we should be able to see clearly they are not of God and yet some Christians embrace them because they are not exercising discernment, they are truly immature in the faith.
Now groups that are out-and-out deniers of the faith are Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims, the New Age and Mind-Science cults, the Occult such as Satanists and-so-on. These deniers of the faith should be very obvious to us.
B. THE DISTORTER’S
These people, these teachers are a little harder to spot and yet, when you bring what they say in the light of God’s Word, it is not that difficult. You see, this group teaches heresy that is many times coupled with the truth and they believe they are Christians. They may even use the same Christian jargon as we use and yet their definition of those phrases or words are completely different.
Now groups that are distorter’s of the faith are the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Science, the Unification Church of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Herbert W. Armstrong’s World Wide Church of God, although it seems that the leaders are now retracting what Herbert W. Armstrong taught, and I guess time will tell if their words are genuine or not. And of course there are others that fit into this section. When you examine what the distorter’s of the truth teach, they too can be exposed as false teachers.
C. THE DECEIVERS
Now these people, these groups are probably the most difficult to spot. They are very subtle in the error that they teach for they mix it in with much truth. They of course look like Christians and some times they are, but other times they are nothing more than wolves in sheep clothing. When you listen to their teaching you hear about health, wealth and prosperity but never on denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Jesus. They may refer to the cross but then never preach it.
Now as difficult as these may be to expose, I again think God’s Word sheds light upon their error. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Some in the church today are teaching godliness is a path to gain riches. One faith teacher has said "Not only is worrying a sin, but being poor is a sin when God promises prosperity!"
Now what God says contradicts what they are teaching, and I think you can guess who is wrong and who is right. In I Timothy 6:5 we read Paul speak of "useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." And Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Thus, these men are deceivers, for their teaching is in error and leading people astray and they are exposed by the Word of God.
Another prophet said "God is going to renovate the entire understanding of what Christianity is in the nations of the earth....In twenty years there will be a totally different understanding of Christianity as we know it." And yet Paul said in Galatians 1:8-9 "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."
"In the August 1994 issue of Charisma, Rodney Howard-Browne was quoted as saying: ‘One night I was preaching on hell, and laughter hit the whole place. The more I told people what hell was like, the more they laughed.’ On another occasion, Howard-Browne said: ‘I’d rather be in church where the devil and the flesh are manifesting than in a church where nothing is happening because people are too afraid to manifest anything...And if a devil manifests, don’t worry about that, either. Rejoice, because at least something is happening.’" That should be obvious where that kind of teaching comes from, and it is not from God!
Let me share this with you from a book called The Stormy Search For Self, by New Age authors Christina and Stanislov Grof. In this book they describe how strange behavior can be triggered by an advanced spiritual leader or guru. They said: "Individuals involved in this process might find it difficult to control their behavior; during powerful rushes of Kundalini energy (the serpent force) people often emit various involuntary sounds, and their bodies move in strange and unexpected patterns. Among the most common manifestations are unmotivated and unnatural laughter or crying, talking in tongues and imitating a variety of animal sounds and movements." That should shock many people!
Also, in the Hindu world or faith, "Many well-known practitioners of the ‘shaktipat’ have sat with large crowds of their devotees, waved their hands and people have collapsed in ecstatic laughter. When Rajneesh, the deceased cult leader of Oregon, touched his followers, they convulsed in laughter, shook uncontrollably and passed out. The recipients said they all felt such intense peace and joy." Sounds like what is going on in the church today!
ABC news aired a Prime-Time television special that was hosted by Peter Jennings and was titled "In The Name Of God". And listen to what this unsaved host said to his audience in regards to churches who are seeking "to attract sellout crowds [and they] are in danger of selling out the gospel." An interesting statement he made and he went on to say that these changes that are occurring in the church, the seeker friendly church, the laughing in the spirit and all the strange and unbiblical manifestations associated with it may be "compromising the essence of Christianity."
I find it very interesting that an unsaved news reporter has the insight to question these things while a majority in the church sit in silence, not exercising any kind of discernment. More than a century ago Abraham Kuyper wrote these words, and we would be wise to listen to them and heed his warning. He said: "When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith."
Learned discernment is not only to gain head knowledge but to take those truths of God, and apply them to our lives. Learning what is good and what is evil and holding on to the good and standing against that which is evil. The church today is lacking this, and the words of Jesus spoken of in Luke 18:8 are an eerie call for us to stand up for what we believe in. Jesus said, "... Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
2. DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
Now this is different than learned discernment in that the discerning of spirits is a supernatural ability to see right to the heart of the matter, to judge whether a teaching or a person is of God or not. It is a non-verbal revelation that the Holy Spirit gives to you, bearing witness with your spirit, that this person is not of God, the teaching is in error, their motives are wrong, there is pride or bitterness in their heart, not to place them in a ministry at this time or not at all. It is not the word of knowledge but just a feeling in your heart that something is not right. Let me show you what I mean by giving you some examples from the Scriptures.
A. JESUS SEE’S THEIR HEART - JOHN 8
In John chapter 8, after Jesus shared with them that He was the light of the world, that He is God, we read in verse 30, "As He spoke these words, many believed in Him." Now you would think, "Great, they got saved!" Yes, from a human perspective of things, that is what it looks like, you would have no reason to doubt them. And yet Jesus is going to press them for He saw their heart, exercising the gift of discernment.
Now as much as they said they believed, their hearts were far from God. For as Jesus questioned them they became defensive, said that Jesus was an illegitimate child, having a demon in Him, and picked up stones to kill him. This is an excellent example of Jesus exercising this gift, the discerning of spirits.
B. JESUS KNEW ALL MEN - JOHN 2, 6
We read in John chapter 2, beginning in verse 23 "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man." John 2:23-25. Jesus knew who were His and who were not. He knew those that were false. In fact, in John 6:64 we read "‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him." Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, and yet He kept extending His love to Him. Many people today say they follow the Lord, are doing the work of the Lord, and yet they don’t know Him, they are not one of His. The parable of the wheat and the tares speaks clearly on this. They look just like us and it won’t be until the harvest time that the truth of the matter will be known unless the Holy Spirit reveals that information regarding some individuals.
C. PETER SEE’S SIMON’S HEART - ACTS 8
In Acts chapter 8 Philip goes down to Samaria and revival breaks out, people are getting saved. And we read starting in verse 9 of Acts chapter 8 "But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done." Acts 8:9-13.
Again, the logical conclusion is that Simon is saved. He believed and was baptized. On the surface everything looked good. And that was the problem it was all on the surface, his heart was far from God. Now if I was down in Samaria and said that about Simon I would be called "unloving", "judgmental", but listen to what transpired as Peter came down to Samaria.
Beginning in verse 18 of Acts chapter 8 we read "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.’" Acts 8:18-23.
Peter comes in and exposes this false believer. He tells him that his heart is not right with God, that it is filled with bitterness and he is still bound in sin. The only way Peter could have known this is that the Holy Spirit revealed it to him, He showed Peter that something was not right in Simon’s heart, even though Philip saw nothing wrong and allowed him to be baptized.
D. PAUL EXPOSES A FALSE PROPHET - ACTS 13
In Acts chapter 13 we meet a person who is called Bar-Jesus, or the son of Jesus. The problem was that it was in name only, he was not a believer and beginning in verse 9 of Acts chapter 13 we read "Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord." Acts 13:9-12. Paul discerned that this guy was not of God and he was not afraid to stand up and say so!
Now in saying that we must also be careful that we don’t allow jealousy, criticism, suspicion, or hate to be called discernment. Feelings are subjective and we need to be careful and make sure that what we are saying is from God, that our hearts are right and we are walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh. On the other hand, if the Holy Spirit has spoken to your heart, then you need to stand up for the truth, and speak it forth. The only way the church is going to remain pure is by using learned discernment and also this supernatural gift of discerning of spirits.
Let me leave you with this thought from Jeremiah 5:30-31. We read "An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" Is this not speaking to the church in America today! Why are false prophets and false teachers always around? Because there are people that don’t want to hear the truth but do love to have their ears tickled. People love to hear positive things today just like back in Jeremiah’s day. He was preaching of the coming judgment and the people didn’t want to hear that negative message and tried to silence him. But in the end the message the false prophets gave of health, wealth and prosperity was empty, and so too will be the message that these false teachers are giving today. Let us be wise and use discernment that God has given to us and also the supernatural gift of discerning of spirits. It is truly needed in our lives and in the church today!