GIFT-OLOGY: Experiencing the Minifest Power of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

DISCERNMENT: Seeing the Supernatural Behind the Natural

THE PRIORITY OF DISCERNMENT

1 Kings 3:9 ESV

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

1 Kings 3:12 ESV

behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

1 Kings 3:13 ESV

I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

I. WHAT IS THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT?

The Holy Spirit gives the gift of discernment to enable certain Christians to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in a given situation. The church needs those with this gift to warn believers in times of danger or keep them from being led astray by false teaching.”

A. The Power to Distinguish (Gift)

B. The Ability to Distinguish (SKILL)

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

IT IS THE POWER / ABILITY TO SEE THE SUPERNATURAL BEHIND THE NATURAL

· TO SEE WHAT IT REALLY AT WORK IN A PERSON (THEIR LIFE AND THEIR TEACHING)

· The Greek word for the gift of discernment is Diakrisis. The word describes being able to distinguish, discern, judge, or appraise a person, statement, situation, or environment.

ONE MAN WROTE:

“But there is more to discernment. True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, the permanent from the transient, the good and the better from the best.”

II. WHY IS IT NECESSARY?

A. To Discern False Morality In the Church

2 Corinthians 11:4 ESV

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

B. To Discern False Activity In the Church

2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 ESV

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Matthew 24:24 ESV

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

C. To Discern False Teachers In the Church

Jude 4 ESV

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 2:1 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:2 ESV

And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

ALL OF THESE ARE FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH (PROFESSING CHRISTIANS – YOUTUBE, ETC) THUS DISCERNMENT IS NECESSARY

III. HOW DO WE CULTIVATE DISCERNMENT?

A. The Anointing of the Holy Spirit

B. Saturating Your Mind With the Word of God

a. Discernment…is LEARNING…from the Word

the only discernment we possess is that which we receive in union with Christ, by the Spirit, through God’s Word.

Discernment is learning to “think God’s thoughts after him,” practically and spiritually; it means having a sense of how things look in God’s eyes, and seeing them in some measure “uncovered and laid bare.”

Psalm 119:66 ESV

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

3. The Ongoing Experience and Acknowledgement of the Grace of God In My Life

2 Corinthians 12:8 ESV

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

4. Ask For It!

1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Psalm 119:125 ESV

I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are unique skills and abilities given by the Holy Spirit to faithful followers of Christ to serve God for the common benefit of his people, the church.

REMEMBER, THE GIFTS ARE FOR THE GOOD OF THE BODY AND FOR THE EDUFICATION

A. To Protect Body from Deception

B. To Bring Healing to the Body When Sin Happens

1 TIM 4 1

COL 2 8

1 JOHN 4 1

ROMANS 12 2

HEB 5 14

PHIL 1 9

Finally, discernment serves as a catalyst to spiritual development: “The mocker seeds wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” (Prov. 14:6). Why? Because the discerning Christian goes to the heart of the matter. He knows something about everything, namely that all things have their common fountain in God. Increase in knowledge therefore does not lead to increased frustration, but to a deeper recognition of the harmony of all God’s words and words.

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