Text:Mark 1:23-27

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit;  and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone;  what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?  art thou come to destroy us?  I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.   25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.   26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.   27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this?  what new doctrine is this?  for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.   

 Sunday, 17^th November 2024 

REVELATIONAL GIFTS: The discerning of spirits

Text: Mark 1:23-27

Memory verse: 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

This gift of the Holy Spirit equips the discerner to see evil spirits operating in someone’s life. The Holy Spirit pulls back the curtains, exposing the evil spirits so that the person can experience a breakthrough from their bondage.

The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. The gift of discerning of spirits is one of the most needed gifts in the Body of Christ today. Jesus's mandate that we become "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" Matthew 10:16 implies that we must develop supernatural discernment, the ability to detect motivation and the spirits that motivate. The gift of discerning of spirits will become increasingly important as we approach the end of this age because deception will be the hallmark of these perilous times.

This gift was given for believers to detect the presence of God, not just the demons they see behind every chair. Christians have used this gift in the name of detecting demons and the motives of people they believe are wrong. Using the gift this way is so dangerous because it gives more credence and power to the enemy than that of the Godhead, the resurrection power of Jesus and the supernatural omnipotence of the Holy Spirit. The church becomes powerless when it gives more precedence to the devil’s work in their circumstances than to what God Himself has done.

Remember, this gift is called the discerning of spirits, and the word “spirits” is plural because there are different spiritual realms to discern. God has given us an incredible gift that we are able to discern “all spirits” correctly, not just the demonic ones. We need to remember that this gift operates out of the love of God and not from any other motivation.  

CGDS HYMN 27: SS&S 

THERE'S A LIGHT THAT IS SHINING IN DRKNESS

1. There's a light that is shining in darkness,

While we wait for the dawning of day;

And it cheers us along on our journey,

Till the shadows shall vanish away !

2. So we'll wait and watch for the dawning,

The day of eternity blest;

Then take the wings of the morning,

And fly away to our rest.

3. From the sure word the prophets

have spoken, [the gloom;

There is light flashing forth through

For the Scripture can never be broken,

And the King in His glory will come.

4. Now we sing 'mid the darkness and shadows, ;

And we pray and we watch for the dawn

Till the Day-star, in glory arising,

Shall betoken the coming of morn.

His Second Coming

5. We are not of the night nor of darkness,

Let us walk, then, as children of day;

Our weeping shall be for a moment,

And our joy shall ne'er vanish away !

  Prayers 

1.  Lord Jesus, support me not to fall by deceptive spirits.

2.  LORD God Almighty, give me the gift of discerning different spirits in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.