Spiritual Gifts

[mizzdy]

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

I have a question about the discerning of the spirits. I have been told more than a few times this isn't exactly a 'gift'. What and how does anyone explain this? Thanks.

[~~ angelique ~~]

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

I have a question about the discerning of the spirits. I have been told more than a few times this isn't exactly a 'gift'. What and how does anyone explain this? Thanks.

I am curious about this one as well.

[OneLight]

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

I have a question about the discerning of the spirits. I have been told more than a few times this isn't exactly a 'gift'. What and how does anyone explain this? Thanks.

If what you have been told goes against scripture, then I would question the source of this information, not scripture. If we are going to question one piece of scripture as being the true Word of God, then we have to question it all, including salvation. I choose to believe in all of His Word.

[mizzdy]

I am not questioning scripture at all but am asking someone to explain what it really means. Is it like being able to tell if someone is trustworthy, a bad person? For instance as a child my family went to an out of town church with relatives, we had never been there before and a man was standing talking to us before chuch and I wouldn't speak to the man and kept trying to get my mom away from him. After a few minutes she was dragging me towards the bathroom to have a word or two with me about my behavior and I kept crying saying that he was a bad man. One of the elders came up to my mom and told her not to go too hard on me since the man in question indeed had a not so nice reputation and that she should be greatful since he felt that I had the gift of discernment. Now I have always been able to figure people out within minutes of meeting them, is this the same thing or something different? That is what I am asking.

[EricH]

I am not questioning scripture at all but am asking someone to explain what it really means. Is it like being able to tell if someone is trustworthy, a bad person? For instance as a child my family went to an out of town church with relatives, we had never been there before and a man was standing talking to us before chuch and I wouldn't speak to the man and kept trying to get my mom away from him. After a few minutes she was dragging me towards the bathroom to have a word or two with me about my behavior and I kept crying saying that he was a bad man. One of the elders came up to my mom and told her not to go too hard on me since the man in question indeed had a not so nice reputation and that she should be greatful since he felt that I had the gift of discernment. Now I have always been able to figure people out within minutes of meeting them, is this the same thing or something different? That is what I am asking.

It is the God given ability to recognize whether a person is being influenced by the Holy Spirit or demonic spirits

[mizzdy]

It is the God given ability to recognize whether a person is being influenced by the Holy Spirit or demonic spirits

Thank you so much for answering. Would you consider someone who can tell if someone was lying, deceitful or just tell if someone is not a who they say they are have the discerning gift? Or is it something altogether different than that?

[Floatingaxe]

It is the God given ability to recognize whether a person is being influenced by the Holy Spirit or demonic spirits

Thank you so much for answering. Would you consider someone who can tell if someone was lying, deceitful or just tell if someone is not a who they say they are have the discerning gift? Or is it something altogether different than that?

I believe that is an indication, if you are a Christian, that you may have the gift of discernment. However, I do believe that believers all have it to some degree anyway, as God wants us to be able to discern between those who are operating out of the enemy's camp or the Lord's camp. That said, there are many believers who live their lives without discerning, which lends to more struggle than they bargain for sometimes.

Keep on keeping on! Thank God for your gift!

[LadyRaven]

It is the God given ability to recognize whether a person is being influenced by the Holy Spirit or demonic spirits

Thank you so much for answering. Would you consider someone who can tell if someone was lying, deceitful or just tell if someone is not a who they say they are have the discerning gift? Or is it something altogether different than that?

Scripture says to test the spirits, to see if they be of God. Therefore everyone has some ability to tell, but there is also a gift of discerning spirits, which I believe is on a whole secondary level. When Elijah asked God to open Elisha's eyes, he did not need to test those spirits, he knew what he was seeing.

It goes for other things too. For example, in scripture, when the gift of tongues was given, people heard things in their own language in Acts 2. Therefore, it's an earthly language spoken if a person spoke tongues in the assembly.

Theoretically, someone could learn many many languages and become quite proficient at them without the gift of tongues, or the gift of interpretation. But, if you have the gift of tongues, you would not need to learn the language, you just speak it, and if you have the gift of interpretation of tongues, you would not have to study to understand them.

Therefore, anyone who spoke Swahili could interpret for someone who spoke it in the assembly, but one with the gift of interpretation of tongues would not have to learn Swahili to do it. Anyone who spoke it could speak in the assembly, but those who had the gift of tongues would not have to learn it.

Make sense?

[mizzdy]

I believe that is an indication, if you are a Christian, that you may have the gift of discernment. However, I do believe that believers all have it to some degree anyway, as God wants us to be able to discern between those who are operating out of the enemy's camp or the Lord's camp. That said, there are many believers who live their lives without discerning, which lends to more struggle than they bargain for sometimes.

That is a great answer and one I can agree with, thanks. I would think that anyone lead by the Spirit is given the ability to discern certain situations or given a heaping dose of common sense! I believe that my being able to 'figure' people, situations and all that type of stuff is God given and have always believed that even when I was at odds with Him.

[nebula]

I am not questioning scripture at all but am asking someone to explain what it really means. Is it like being able to tell if someone is trustworthy, a bad person? For instance as a child my family went to an out of town church with relatives, we had never been there before and a man was standing talking to us before chuch and I wouldn't speak to the man and kept trying to get my mom away from him. After a few minutes she was dragging me towards the bathroom to have a word or two with me about my behavior and I kept crying saying that he was a bad man. One of the elders came up to my mom and told her not to go too hard on me since the man in question indeed had a not so nice reputation and that she should be greatful since he felt that I had the gift of discernment. Now I have always been able to figure people out within minutes of meeting them, is this the same thing or something different? That is what I am asking.

I believe it is. Your spirit discerned there was something wrong with this man, even though your mind had not a clue.

If that is not a spiritual gift, I cannot imagine what else it would be.