The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit (Discerning of Spirits)

 

1st Corinthians 12:4-11

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

It's very sad to hear when some religious leaders say there is no more baptism with the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. I wonder why they say that? Is it because they want to be in control of everything and exclude the workings of the Spirit of God in their congregations?

Are they afraid of evil spirits manifesting in their midst, and deceiving or possessing the people? I never read one scripture in the bible where God or Jesus was afraid of evil spirits manifesting, or His apostles either! 

We need to be able to discern what spirits are at work when people gather for any type of meeting, or worship service. How can you know what spirit is speaking through the pastor or religious leader without the gift of discerning of spirits? 

Satan himself could be walking in and out of people in a church service or anywhere else and you would never know it! You could be sitting right next to men or women who practice witchcraft and you wouldn't know it. We NEED all nine and more gifts of the Holy Spirit in these last days that we are living in now!

What does discernment mean? 

1: the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure : skill in discerning
2: an act of perceiving or discerning something

Christianity.com says of discernment:

Discernment is a gift of God that helps us identify right from wrong. It is the process of examining what is good and bad, what is truth and a lie, and what is better and best.

The gift of discerning spirits is:

The gift of discerning spirits is a supernatural gift, given by God's Holy Spirit that allows a person to see into the spirit realm and determine the source of a spiritual manifestation. This gift can reveal what spirits are inside and working through a person. It is also divine discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit and is used for knowledge and protection. It helps a believer to become "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16)

Don't you want to know what spirits are really working in your congregation? I know I do! Wouldn't you like to know what spirits are really influencing your pastor or leader? 

It's time to allow the Spirit of the Living God to reign over gatherings of believers, it's time to let the Holy Spirit lead the worship services, it's time to receive all the gifts of the Spirit so that the bride of Christ can be holy, unspotted, unblemished, and without wrinkle. 

Let the gifts of God's Spirit be given once more to each one as He wills, so we can all function in the fullness of God and the body of Christ!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

Those Who Know Their God Will Be Strong!

Daniel 11:32

"but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits."

We are human beings, we have limits, we have weaknesses and frailties. We are born disconnected from God with a carnal nature, easily influenced by the devil and the desires of our flesh. 

Only by the supernatural power of the Living God through His Spirit, can we be born from above and reconnected to God. Only by His strength and grace can we overcome this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. We must be remade in the image of Christ, we must be transformed (literally) by the renewing of our minds, there is no other way for a Christian to live in this world but by the power of God!

We must understand that in order to be strong in the Lord we have to become weak! We have to surrender our souls to Jesus, we have to surrender our time, our schedules, our talents, our finances, everything that makes us who we are in this world has to be laid at the foot of the cross! Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed, but if it DIES, it produces many seeds!" When we are weak then God will be strong in our lives!

It's the exact opposite of how the world and those who love the world operate. The world's motto is, 'only the strong survive', 'whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger,' 'we're proud Americans, Europeans etc...... it doesn't matter what natural disaster hits, we will rebuild!', 'Hey, it's every man for himself', the list goes on.

The word of God says, 'when I am weak, THEN I am strong', 'submit yourselves one to another, out of reverence for Christ', 'If you are persecuted for Christ's sake, then blessed are you', 'Humbe yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up', 'Love one another, by this all men will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.' We cannot trust in the arm of the flesh, but in the power of God to save, sanctify, protect, provide, and help us in our everyday lives on this earth!

There will always be Goliaths until Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom on this earth, and as Christians we will have to face Goliath, but not in our own strength, because apart from Jesus we can do nothing! We have to face Goliath in the name of Jesus! With the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We will have to face Goliath with the fruit of the Spirit birthed in our hearts, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faith, and self-control. That's really the whole purpose of being a Christian, it's to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts! Not go out and make disciples! Jesus called the apostles, and evangelists to go out and preach the gospel to all nations, not every single disciple that enters into God's kingdom is called to go out and make disciples! That's why Paul said, 'are all apostles?', 'are all prophets?', no they're not! Fruit bearing should be the first priority of every soul converted to Christ! 

As the world grows harder and harder, and farther from God, those who know their Lord and Savior draw closer and closer to Him, the One who is able to save our souls to the uttermost! We draw closer to Him who holds the keys of death and hell, Jesus the Christ! Many will face even death as martyrs for Christ in these last days, but we will not leave this earth in weakness and fear, but in victory and faith!

I know the Lord will pour out His Spirit again because He told me so, it's just a matter of time and preparation. He will send His apostles and prophets once more to walk this earth again, to prepare the way for His coming. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in ALL the world as a witness, that means boots on the ground! In every nation on this earth the gospel will be proclaimed, and no one will have any excuse on judgment day, they won't be able to say I didn't hear it.

And in order to stand and face Goliath we will have to be STRONG IN THE LORD! Able to stand against the hatred of the enemy and those who hate God and the name of Jesus. We will have to be strong in the face of opposition and those who right now consider the gospel hate speech. But we will not face Goliath divided, oh no! All God's people will be unified by the Spirit of the Lord, we will be separated from this world, and we will love one another, and by this ALL will know that we are disciples of Jesus!

True signs and wonders will be done by God through the hands of the apostles and prophets in the midst of the people, like it was in the first century, and the Azusa Street revival. Yes, we will face Goliath, but not with guns, violence, and protests, but with the belt of truth around our waist, with the breastplate of righteousness on our chest, and the helmet of salvation on our heads, and the shield of faith in our hands.

Ephesians 6:10-17

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

In Jesus,

Tyrone

What Does It Mean To Be Led By The Spirit?

*** A word for the mature and those with ears to hear ***

Romans 8:14 

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

It's easy for someone to tell you, 'you must be led by the Spirit', but to live out the scriptures and bring this truth into our reality is something else altogether. So just how are we led by the Spirit? Let's take a look at our perfect example, the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 3:11,13-17

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The first thing we need to understand is that you can't be led by the Spirit if the Spirit of God is not in you. Jesus who set aside His divinity and humbled Himself becoming a servant of all, gave us the example that we should follow, even though He was God manifested in the flesh, He was baptized by John in the Jordan river to fulfill all righteousness. This righteous act of faith pleased the Father and John was allowed to see Heaven opened and the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus.

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus was LED by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matthew 4:1

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

This is the same thing that happens to those who are truly born from above, who have the Spirit indwelling their vessels. They will be tempted, tested, tried, afflicted, chastened, rebuked, sanctified and purified in the refining fires before they are sent out by God. The time in the wilderness is where they receive training and discipline, it's where they come to know their Creator and His voice.

Matthew 4:17

"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

During the earthly ministry of Jesus He preached the word He received directly from His Father, from the Heavenly throne. Jesus said, "I always DO the things pleasing to Him", (John 8:29)

John 12:49-50

"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Jesus heard the voice of the Father speaking to Him through the Spirit. Jesus didn't go around quoting only the Law and the Prophets, He spoke the words He received from above which had never been heard by the Pharisees and Jews of His time, this is why they called Him a deceiver. What He spoke they couldn't understand because their minds were carnal and the words Jesus spoke were spirit and life. They had the Law and the Prophets which contained the ten commandments and the rest of the laws of Moses, but Jesus took the physical commandments much further with the spoken word He received directly from the Father.

Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-35, 38-39 , 43-44 

"“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old,‘You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;  nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King."

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

These words of Jesus had not been heard before He spoke them and they were not written down until years after His death, resurrection, and ascension. So how did His disciples manage to remain faithful with only the Law and the Prophets written down? The Holy Spirit!!!

John 14:25-26

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

Jesus was present with the disciples for three and a half years teaching them, imparting knowledge, mysteries of the kingdom, and doing the works of the Father, it would have been impossible for the disciples to remember every single word He spoke and all the things He did during His earthly ministry. This is why they needed a Helper, another Comforter, Teacher, Guide, and Friend, the promised gift of the Father, the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit of God who would supernaturally remind the disciples of everything that Jesus said.

John 16:12-15

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

Does the Spirit have a voice? Has anyone ever heard the Spirit speak to them what He has heard from the throne? Has anyone ever been shown or told what is yet to come? Yes, yes, and yes! He spoke audibly to the disciples in the first century, and He still speaks audibly to those whom God has chosen today!

Mark 13:9-11

“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

The disciples didn't have to worry about what they would speak to rulers and kings, they didn't need a scroll of the Law and the Prophets to recite from, because the Holy Spirit would give them a direct word from God to speak in the same hour! This is being led by the Spirit!

John 10:27

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

Jesus doesn't only speak to us through scriptures, but He said His sheep HEAR HIS VOICE! Those who are truly being led by the Spirit will hear the audible voice of the Lord speaking to them, the same way He spoke to the apostles, prophets, and saints of old.

Hebrews 13:8

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

When Jesus commanded the apostles to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them EVERYTHING that He commanded them, how do you think that would be possible? Without a scroll? Without anything written down on parchment? The Holy Spirit of God!!!

Hebrews 10:16

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”

These scriptures in Hebrews tell us that God Himself would make a New Covenant, and instead of having physical tablets of stone with the laws engraven on them, God would spiritually put His laws into our hearts and write them in our minds! How, you ask? By His Spirit!!!

2nd Corinthians 3:1-3

"Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

When the apostles were sent out into the world they were not walking around with scrolls of the words of Jesus, the gospels hadn't even been written yet! But the word of God as taught by the WORD Himself was written upon their hearts and minds. After they were empowered by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they were able to impart all the teachings and commands of Christ to those who believed the good news, and they did it all orally!!!

Acts 2:40-42

^"And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (teaching) and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Philip the Evangelist was spoken to by an angel of the Lord, and the Spirit, who gave him directions and instructions concerning the Ethiopian eunuch.

Acts 8:26-29

"Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.  So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

When Peter had a vision of a new thing God was doing with the Gentile nations, the Spirit spoke audibly to him, telling him what he needed to do.

Acts 10:17-20

"Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

The Holy Spirit reminded Peter of the words of Jesus as he recounted the salvation experience of Cornelius.

Acts 11:15-16

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

The Spirit spoke through the prophets and teachers in Antioch.

Acts 13:2

"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

The Holy Spirit led Paul and Silas during their missionary journey.

Acts 16:6-10

"Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.  After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.  So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Those who have the Spirit of God indwelling them, will be led by Him, comforted by Him, corrected by Him, guided by Him, spoken to by Him, and taught by Him using the scriptures, life experiences, etc... and if there ever comes a day when a Spirit filled believer has no access to a bible, then the Spirit will teach them, and guide them into all truth by revelation, the same way Paul received the gospel!

Galatians 1:11-12

"But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."

In these last days we need the Spirit more than ever, as the world is being flooded by darkness and the false teachings of man abound. Let us all humble ourselves, crucify the flesh, purify our hearts, and obey the words of Jesus, so that our earthen vessels may be filled to the fullness with the Spirit of the Living God!

In His Love,
Tyrone