The next gift that is mentioned is the discerning of spirits. This is quite a wide-ranging one. The basis Greek word is pneuma which means breath as opposed to ruach, which has a stronger connotation to it. Pneuma tends to be more gentle so it does need more discernment. The meaning of the word, in this case, is a judicial estimation. The meaning of this is relating to courts of law or judges. : ordered or done by a court. : responsible for dealing with all legal cases involving the government.
Christians often claim that we are not to judge people but the discerning of spirits makes us judges. In that sense, we are not judging the person. We are judging the spirit that is controlling the person. If a church does not have anyone who can discern a spirit, it is going to be led up all sorts of garden paths. The discerning of spirits gives us a judicial role in determining what is right and wrong. In other words, we sit in judgment on the situation and proclaim what God has said through the discernment he has given us by the Spirit.
It is one violently opposed by the world because in general people do not want to be told what to do or what is right or wrong. They would rather do things that are right in their own eyes. Another word for it is rebellion.
The spirits referred to in this case is manifest as a current of air. Or in other words, they are not physical. They can be manifest as an angel; a demon; Christ's Spirit or the Holy Spirit.
I was in a meeting at a conference and there were about 10,000 in attendance. During the worship, I felt the Holy Spirit descend into the building and that verse which says that he inhabits the praises of his people came to mind. There was no doubt he was doing just that as the atmosphere changed dramatically and the praise became very powerful.
One can discern the presence of an angel and not necessarily see him but in some cases, people have seen angels. If you do, do not be surprised. Thousands of Muslims have been converted because they were visited by an angel who they saw.
In addition, one can be visited by the Spirit of Christ and this again has been a regular feature of Muslims being converted to Christ. Their interest in Christianity has been piqued and whilst asleep a man has appeared in their bedroom and spoken to them and when they have told a Christian about this event they have been told that it was Christ appearing to them.
The other presence one can know about through discernment is a satanic demon. I have come across this guy on several occasions who can easily fool us as he masquerades as an angel of light as the scripture tells us. In this case, we really have to watch out for his presence as he will lead believers astray with his lies. (He is incapable of telling the truth).
In the west, hundreds of churches have been duped by him through homosexuality. Rather than seeing it as sin they see it something to be embraced and accepted. Definitely a work of a satanic spirit.
Another one is a demonic spirit of pride. Have you noticed how some pastors are given pride of place and are to be adored and adulated? How do you know if your pastor has succumbed to that one? One easy way to find out is if he has a reserved parking spot next to the church door.
As Satan is fooling people as an angel of light through things like yoga, pilates, new age ideology, veganism, tattoos, pseudo cults some of whom are aligned with pentecostal denominations this gift is invaluable and will be needed more and more so as not to be fooled by satan's lies and actions.
When they are fooled they will not take kindly to you pointing out that they have been fooled but truth is truth regardless of what others think about it.
One way Satan has fooled the political progressives for want of a better term is that which they call "hate speech." It is nothing more than speech they hate because it is the truth.
So my messages is to keep your spiritual antenna up and discern what you see and hear so that you can sort out the good from the bad.
This is from marksman who is marksman1 at the moment until I can get it changed.