| Poster | Thread | jimp
Member
Joined: 2005/6/18
Posts: 1481
| | Re: | | hi rebecca, len ravenhill ministered with a man in the latter rain era(50s)who one night called for three people who really need healing to come forth.when they came up to the minister he asked the first,a woman,if God heals you will you stop sleeping with the married man in the third pew with the red tie on. God is tired of healing people so they can use their healed bodies for sin. the other two people took their seats. sounds like you found yourself a good place to worship Jesus.jimp |
|  2006/2/8 16:36 | Profile | tinluke
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Joined: 2005/4/8
Posts: 220
New England USA
| | re | | To me discernment is the ability to "see" someones spirit. I think that anyone who is filled with the spirit would have this ability. Of course in different messures, but we ALL have it if we have the spirit of Christ within us. I don't see it as a special gift set aside for only an elect few.
The primary reason we have this ability from the holy spirit is so that we will not be deceived in these final days. Not to go around pointing out all the devils in our church. If there are devils in your church then bind in the name of JESUS. God doesn't need spectacular performances to stop the enemy right in his tracks. We need to bind the power of the devil in people, but keep the people in the church. How do we know they won't surrend to Christ?
The Lord has only had me confront 2 people in the past. One was a false prophet who had many people in my area in bondage. I went to a "prophecy" meeting not knowing what to do or say, but knowing that night a vicotry would be won in heaven! What I said to him did not seem like much. I didn't say, "you devil, you false prophet" and point my finger at him. I simply asked him a few questions that the Lord had me to ask him. And that was it. It didn't seem like a great vicotry at the time, but as the months past I got to talk to a few people who had been totally set free from the lies of the enemy because of that brief encounter.
We have to be careful not to esteem anyone who appears to have a special gift from God. Even if that person is me or you. We need to KNOW CHRIST!! I am determined to know Chirst and His cross!! Anything else is a distraction.
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tina
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| | 2006/2/8 23:02 | Profile | philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK
| | Re: re | | Woah, tinluke
Quote:
To me discernment is the ability to "see" someones spirit.
This is a massive assumption with serious implications. The context of the phrase To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
(1Cor 12:10 KJVS) seems to be in a local gathering of the saints. To make 'discerning of spirits' a private gift would be contrary to the whole theme of this part of 1 Corinthians.
The opening verses of 1 Cor 12 may also point to the historical context for such a need. But concerning spiritual [manifestations], brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant. Ye know that when ye were [of the] nations [ye were] led away to dumb idols, in whatever way ye might be led. I give you therefore to know, that no one, speaking in [the power of the] Spirit of God, says, Curse [on] Jesus; and no one can say, Lord Jesus, unless in [the power of the] Holy Spirit. (1Cor 12:1-3 DRBY)It is easy to forget that 1 Corinthians was written to people who knew what it was like to be 'carried away' by other spirits.
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Ron Bailey
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| | 2006/2/9 4:56 | Profile |
| | Re: Discerning of spirits | | Quote:
To make 'discerning of spirits' a private gift would be contrary to the whole theme of this part of 1 Corinthians.
philologos,
While recognising it is important for us to know what the scripture tells us, and I'm glad you have done so here, are you saying, then, that when a person needs to be delivered from a spirit, the whole church should be present?
Or, that those with the gift of discernment should exercise it only in the presence of the whole church?
I think of the disciples when they were sent out two by two...... and feel this is a practical precedent in many naturally arising situations.
Lastly, how many of us have prayed for our children, all alone - not necessarily in extremis, but, say in the night or early morning - when the only recourse is directly to the Lord and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? I would do the same for an adult - not in church - if I felt the Lord's leading in that direction.....
Possibly my 'take' on gifts is slightly non-standard, in that I don't think of myself as [i]possessing[/i] or [i]owning[/i] any gift I feel called upon to exercise..... and I always expect to call upon [u]the Lord's faith[/u] as much as my own (such as my faith is), when [i]praying[/i] for others.
I identify with Tinluke's experience of non-church situations, too, in which bringing the authority of God into the scenario alters the spiritual dynamic (towards God-in-control) very effectively.
EDIT: I immediately wonder whether 'under the guidance of the Holy Spirit' is what I mean.
What happens is, one is praying as one is living through an event, listening to what the Lord is prompting, and making choices as to how to bring His word to bear on the situation. Sometimes, all that is necessary is to have heard Him, and to not 'do' anything, except remain open to His word... I mean, the 'doing' may be other than to [i]speak[/i]. |
| | 2006/2/9 6:34 | |
| | Re: | |
I believe we do all have the ability to discern.For example someone can be saying all the right things but you can sense darkness on them or deception.There are alot of people that I will run into in the grocery store and you can sense darkness.
There is though a gift of the discerning of spirits.Like the woman in Acts who was prophesying about Paul and the apostles and Paul rebuked her.
I have been more aware of the fact that we all have this ability to discern since I have been going to this fellowship.It has helped me to be more aware and more sensitive to the spiritual realm.We need alot of discernment in the churches today.
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| | 2006/2/9 7:25 | | tinluke
Member
Joined: 2005/4/8
Posts: 220
New England USA
| | Re: re | | Philologos,
I hate to quote myself, but I think I'm going to have to in this case. Seems like you read the first line of my post and stopped there.
Quote:
I think that anyone who is filled with the spirit would have this ability. Of course in different messures, but we ALL have it if we have the spirit of Christ within us. I don't see it as a special gift set aside for only an elect few.
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tina
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| | 2006/2/9 9:04 | Profile | tinluke
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Joined: 2005/4/8
Posts: 220
New England USA
| | Re: | | Rebecca,
I love you're example of the women in Acts!
Quote:
For example someone can be saying all the right things but you can sense darkness on them or deception.
Exactly!! Anyone can quote scripute and put on a good performance. Any one of us could be fooled by a good actor in a suite and tie, standing behind a pulpit. But thank God for His spirit within us. It will keep up from being deceived every time!!
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tina
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| | 2006/2/9 9:16 | Profile |
| | Re: | | hmm, I never saw this thread until now.
I do have the gift of discernment.
First and formost, I believe EVERY Christian has a hint of discernment. I think there are some scriptures on this.
The 'gift' is something truly amazing. Some people say to me 'I dont see that' or 'your being judgemental'.
I could give you over 100 examples of the gift. But let me just try to tell you 'what' i've seen with no examples (if you can understand me telling you plainly)
All of this is SOMETIMES, NOT all the time.
"I can tell" = by the power of the Holy Spirit
I can tell if someone is Christian.
I can tell if someone is possessed, and sometimes how many demons are in that person.
I can tell if someone is going to get angry in 10 seconds, by the way I feel their spirit stur up. And can stop it, because of that knowledge.
I can tell when someone is in the flesh. (doing things on their own will)
I can tell when someone else is getting blessed.
I can sense someone's calling. (Prophet, janitor, preacher, evangelist..etc; that relates to that person)
I can NOW, (before I couldn't) almost find the ROOT of someone's problems.
I can sense someone's feelings miles away, after thinking about them for a little bit.
I can tell the maturity of a person, in their walk, and in their life.
I can tell when someone has been turning away from God.
I can tell when their are demonic creatures in my area, or certain areas that I drive by."
I can sense angels as well.
I can tell when Jesus is about to come completly with POWER. (like, when worship turns from good...to GREAT)
I can spot false christians/prophets/etc.
I can tell when someone is offfended. (I'm trying to be more pro-active on this)
Without words I can do all of this. (neither on me, or the person i'm 'discerning'.)
I can describe each of those more in-depth if you would like.
I don't say any of those out of pride, because they BAFFLE ME. I don't understand how I see this stuff, I just do. God's grace.
But, I believe those who have discernment, just like any gift. Have a responsiblity to use to. If you see someone is possessed, and they are just sitting their quitely but you KNOW their possessed, if you don't have the faith, get someone else to help you and cast those demons out.
No use in burrying your gift in the ground.
Blessings |
| | 2006/2/9 10:25 | | philologos
Member
Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK
| | Re: | | tinluke's Quote:
I hate to quote myself, but I think I'm going to have to in this case. Seems like you read the first line of my post and stopped there.
Not at all, I read the whole of it. My objection, in case you didn't read all mine ;-) was that you are defining 'discerning of spirits' as though it were referring to one man's discerning of another man's personal spirit. As this is the only passage of scripture that speaks directly of 'the discerning of spirits' we have some responsibility to see what it says and its context. The context is of unique spiritual manifestations which are not the possession of every saint in the church.
rebecca 5'a Quote:
I believe we do all have the ability to discern.For example someone can be saying all the right things but you can sense darkness on them or deception.There are alot of people that I will run into in the grocery store and you can sense darkness.
You will recall Paul's question as little later in the chapter Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? (1Cor 12:30 KJVS) The implied answer is clearly 'no'. Paul has taken two examples of the whole group. If he had chosen to do so he might well worked his way through the whole list For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
(1Cor 12:8-10 KJVS)These 'spirituals' are not universally spread through all the church to every saint. Your sense of who belongs to the Lord may be more general but it is not what the scriptures mean by 'discerning of spirits'.
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Ron Bailey
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| | 2006/2/9 14:11 | Profile | PreachParsly
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Joined: 2005/1/14
Posts: 2164
Arkansas
| | Re: | | I would think every believer, without a doubt mature believers, have 'discernment.'
Hbr 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I think people get confused about the 'gift of discernment' along with the gifts of the word of wisdom and knowledge. We all have (or should!) have wisdom and knowledge, but not all have that gift. There is a difference between having the "gift of ___" and a Christian having "____."
Am I making sense?
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Josh Parsley
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| | 2006/2/9 14:24 | Profile |
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