The Gift of Discernment

I read where several leading Christians, some theologians, declare that discernment is simply understanding the difference between right and wrong, truth and error.  That is not true.  It reduces a supernatural gift to a natural ability.  We have our natural senses for that and if properly exercised will make that determination in most matters.  However, Satan’s ministers appear as ministers of righteousness.  If one only relies on the natural senses, all indicators will lead him or her to believe the satanic minister is actually a minister of righteousness.

We are in a war with a supernatural being who has had over 6 thousand years to observe and experiment with human nature.  Satan’s deceptions are sometimes clearly obvious, and other times are imperceptible by the natural senses.

In this final great deception, delusion, and apostasy, the most damaging deceitfulness of Satan is impossible to detect by the natural senses.  Christ clearly expressed the power of the last day’s unrighteous deception.

 ^“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

For this intense deception, we need the gift of “discerning of spirits.” (1 Corinthians 12:10)  This gift is obviously not a natural ability, but one imparted by the Holy Spirit.  It is the ability to know beyond the skin of an individual who is deceptive.

People do not understand this gift.  Some reject it without consideration.  However, think of the consequences of ignoring it.

Because of the Internet and social media, people can watch videos, read posts and observe how Christians interact with each other.  They can copy the speech and little nuances to perfection.  They know what to post to attract Christians to “like” their pages, blogs, websites, or join their groups, etc.  Christ declares that evil doers would be so deceptive (as sheep in their appearance) that only by their fruit would you know them.

However, on the Internet one cannot see their faces or discern their spirits naturally.  I personally know a man who is on Christian social media whose grandson is also his son, if you can understand that.  He is one of the vilest and reprobate individuals I know.  Yet, I watched him join Christian groups, even be invited into the inner circle of a Christian music group, and fellowship with professing Christians without detection.  He can say exactly what professing Christians want to hear because he has had years of involvement in Christianity.  There is no hint of guilt in him, nor anything else that reveals him as a reprobate except his fruit.  That is hidden from everyone on the internet.

I have witnessed individuals who I know molested their daughters, and yet they rise to leadership in churches and their denominations.  We are witnessing pastors being outed for homosexuality, drug abuse, and affiliation with “Ashley Madison”.  Some of them (Ed Young) make no attempt to hide their salacious spirits.  Oher ones are outed (Eddie Long), but the people are already so deceived it does not matter to them.

People who constantly stir up discord among Christians, who consistently honor themselves, lauding their accomplishments, question every valid point of truth, and otherwise divert people from the path of the righteous, may be detectable naturally.  But what of the covert ones?  Only by the Holy Spirit’s gift of discernment can these people be detected before they drop their evil fruit.  Before that occurs, they may have so many gullible followers that it will not matter that they are exposed.