Supernatural Power of Discerning of Spirits

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them (Hosea 14:9 ESV).

One powerful supernatural weapon against the devil is having the supernatural ability to discern spiritual things such as demons, angels, truth, error, seasons and times, divine, demonic, the presence of God, and the presence of evil.

God wants to equip every Spirit-filled believer with the power of discerning of spirits. Many things are occurring in and around us that we can see with our natural eyes. But it takes spiritual magnifying lenses to see beyond the natural.

You don’t have to be a prophet, seer, or intercessor to see into the unseen realm. What does it mean to discern things in the invisible or spiritual dimension? To gaze into the spiritual realm may not always mean having the ability to see beyond the natural realm. Perhaps for you it means you can think and perceive from a spiritual place and mindset—able to detect spiritual matter and things concerning that dimension.

Looking Beyond the Obvious

To be victorious in this unseen warfare, we must have the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to understand, engage, and examine what is happening beyond the realm of natural sight. What does the Bible say about the word “discern”? Researching this word from a biblical perspective I found that it means “properly, to scrutinize, investigate, interrogate, determine.” It also means “to ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search” (Strong’s G350).

Basically, to discern is the ability to properly examine, hold investigation, to discriminate or make determinations. To discern is closely related to wisdom that a believer must have in times of crisis, warfare, and in your spirituality. Hebrews 4:12 says this about a discerner: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges [the “discerner” of] the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

For us to win the spiritual battle against the works of the devil, we have to discern by judging, examining, investigating, searching out, and inquiring of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. Furthermore, as soldiers of God in this battle, knowing the Word of God is imperative to fight against falsehood. Discerning is not assuming; it is properly assessing and examining the facts. If a person doesn’t study and know the Word of God (the Bible), they will fall victim to walking in error and susceptible to becoming double-minded or unstable.

The Word of God has the power and edge to cut through the toughest situation to get to the root. Like a surgical scalpel is sharp enough to pierce and cut through all the flesh to get to the bone, joint, and marrow as the Scripture describes what the Word of God can do. Discerning of spirits is a powerful gift from God used to detect falsehood and anything contrary to the ways, will, and presence of God. It interests me that the Word of God can cut thorough the soul and spirit. That’s how spiritually sharp the double-edged sword is.

We need this type of weapon when we are fighting against an intelligent, cunning, and manipulative enemy—the devil. Possessing the power of a discerning heart and mind displays the divine insight, intelligence, and wisdom of God that transcends beyond what is seen and heard in the natural. The Word of God can only be “spiritually discerned.” Without the Spirit of God, our natural minds would consider things of the Spirit as foolish because humans are unable to discern them spiritually.

The Power of Discernment

I believe that the body of Christ—the church—needs the power of discernment to warn the body at large prophetically what the devil is up to in times of danger to keep them from being led astray by false teaching. (See also 1 Corinthians 12:10, Acts 5:3-6; 16:16-18; 1 John 4:1.) It takes the power of discerning of spirits to understand times and seasons (1 Chronicles 12:32).

In times of crisis, turmoil, pandemic, economic depression, and civil unrest, discerning the times is imperative to know what is on Heaven’s agenda and God’s will for that time. People can sometimes forecast the weather by determining what is happening in the sky and the signs we see. But God is looking for those who can spiritually discern the moves of God’s Spirit. The Bible even talks about nations lacking discernment and sense (Deuteronomy 32:28).

God is raising up leaders in the body of Christ who possess the wisdom of discernment and common sense. The power of discerning spirits is the power and ability to think, perceive, comprehend things of God against what’s not of Him and distinguish and judge what they are righteously and accurately.

I am reminded of the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:16-18:

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

We can see that what the woman spoke was true of who they worshipped, but Paul was annoyed by not just what she said, but by the source that was speaking through her. He discerned the source of her power and influence was ungodly. We must be able to detect and discern by judging prophecy as in 1 Corinthians 14:29 (ESV), “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” The prophetic word must be judged by two or three seasoned prophets within a local assembly in order and protocol.

In addition, 1 John 4:1 (ESV) says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Today as it was then, we see a rise of false prophets, teachers, and false-christs who have gone out into the world system; the enemy is using them to deceive many and possibly the very elect of God (Matthew 24:24). Just because someone is operating in healing, signs and wonders and accurate prophetic words doesn’t mean they are of God.

That is why the supernatural gift of discerning of spirits can detect and deflect false charismatic personalities, movements, and gifts. Jesus says in Matthew 24:24, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Therefore even Spirit-filled believers can be lacking true discernment. So, we should not be impressed by supernatural workings, as they may be of the devil, used as a weapon of deception. When you have the vital gift of discernment, you will not be deceived.

Supernatural Power of Discerning of Spirits

What is the power of discerning of spirits? It is one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit that edifies and blesses the church as a whole. Every believer can ask for this gift (1 Corinthians 14:1). May our prayer be like David when he said, “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes” (Psalm 119:125). The power spiritual gift of discernment is also known as the gift of “discernment of spirits” or distinguishing between spirits.

Discerning of spirits will save your life when the enemy is trying lure you into a trap or have you engage in gossip, slander, hatred, and conspiracy against people—especially God’s people. Love is the greatest antidote against people bringing division, hatred, and dissention. The love of God becomes kryptonite against the works of the enemy including hate, racism, jealousy, anger, etc. We must discern not only spiritually but intelligently through God’s Word.

If your discernment is low, sharpen your sword today so that you can wield it accurately and precisely when offensively and defensively fighting against the works of the devil, acts of the flesh, and navigating in God’s Words of wisdom. Jesus discerned and perceived what is in the heart of His disciples and the religious self-righteous murderous leaders. Matthew 9:4 says, “Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts in your hearts?”

Jesus wasn’t a mind reader, he was a discerner and could judge their motives and secret intents. It takes the power of discerning of spirits or discernment to perceive the plots, plans and evil intent of the enemy, even through people. Believers must conduct themselves like Kingdom “spiritual” citizens. There is a different standard we live by—holiness and righteous living. We are to live in peace and show ourselves friendly—while standing strong against evil.

Oftentimes, we have to discern and use wisdom when in engaging in the world system and living among worldly and ungodly people. God’s people are hated by the world so at times we must operate under the radar (read Matthew 10:22; John 7:7; 15:18-25). In sending out His apostolic twelve disciples, Jesus says to them all, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). In this verse, Jesus was basically cautioning them in His commissioning that they were to be alert, wise, and compassionate. They needed to discern with wisdom to judge their environments and people they would meet along the way. As believers and children of God called to share the gospel, we are shunned, persecuted, and hated because of Whom we serve.