Understanding the Gift of the Discerning of Spirits

Have you read the story of Nathanael where Jesus spots Him and calls out the condition of his spirit man? John 1:47 (NIV) says, “When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

How did Jesus know that if He was fully man here on earth? He operated in the discerning of spirits. He could see beyond what the natural eye could see and diagnosed his spirit as a man. Discerning of spirits works this way, and it is not always a positive thing.

You may, in fact, discern someone’s evil spirit. And, I am not talking about a demon, although that is also done through the discerning of spirits. A person can have an evil “spirit man.” They, like Cain, can choose to serve darkness with their being. Likewise, you may have often discerned a good or godly spirit in someone before.

Also, with this gift, you can see demons, their type, how they entered a person, their assignment, and more through the discerning of spirits. The discerning will likely go beyond people and allow you to see what rules an organization, or when a demon is in the room, or when an angel or the Holy Spirit is in that very place.

This gift is a powerful one that works beautifully for the sake of deliverance from demonization and for the purpose of intercession. Ask the Lord to open up your spiritual eyes that you may see what the natural person cannot see!