This document, “Spiritual Discernment.pdf,” defines and explains spiritual discernment.

Here’s a summary of its key points:

• What is Discernment? It’s the spiritual ability to “differentiate,” recognize, examine, and correlate information, often based on perception. Its purpose is to see past facades to find truth, discover motives, or recognize the nature of a spirit. Old Testament (Hebrew “Nakar”) and New Testament (Greek “Anakrino,” “Diakrino,” “Diakrisis,” “Kritikos”) definitions are provided.

• Why is Discernment Necessary? It’s crucial because Satan operates subtly, not everything offered is beneficial, not everyone has pure motives, situations can be confusing, God speaks in ways not always clear to those who resist His will, and it helps distinguish what is genuinely “yours.” It also unmasks deception.

• Who Needs Discernment? Every believer needs to develop it, as it’s a gift that can be refined. Leaders, in particular, must be discerning.

• How to Receive a Discerning Spirit: One must value it, sincerely ask God for it, acknowledge a lack of it, be taught by those who possess it, and be aware of personal predispositions that can hinder truth.

• What Discernment Is NOT: It’s not merely the result of continued exposure to natural things, nor is it comparison. It is also not suspicion or just a feeling, but rather a “knowing” – a telling the difference. A judgmental disposition must be repented of for pure discernment.

• “Discerning of Spirits”: This is the ability to distinguish the type of spirit one is dealing with and its intentions (e.g., Spirit of God, lying spirits, human spirits with various postures). It’s also for discerning what spirit might be trying to control oneself. The Bible provides instructions for testing spirits.

• Dangers of Lacking Discernment: A lack of discernment can lead to inappropriately elevating others above Jesus, failing to recognize God’s anointing on others, and welcoming what should be dismissed while destroying what should be saved.

• Jesus’ Use of Discernment: Examples from His ministry show He allowed discernment to operate without rushing to judgment, recognized subtlety to avoid traps, and discerned people’s thoughts based on their dogmatic commitments.