NINE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT 7 | DISCERNING OF SPIRITS

1. Nine Spiritual Gifts 

a) There are nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter twelve:

i) Word of Wisdom.
ii) Word of Knowledge.
iii) Faith.
iv) Gifts of Healing.
v) Working of Miracles.
vi) Prophecy.
vii) Discerning of Spirits.
viii) Divers (or different) kinds of Tongues.
ix) Interpretation of (different) Tongues.

b) Paul tells us that “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them” (1 Corinthians 12:4). No two gifts are the same and generally no two believers have exactly the same gifts but always these gifts are given for the good of the church (1 Corinthians 12:7).

c) Here is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit.

2. Discerning of Spirits 

a) The gift of “distinguishing between spirits” is having the gift of discernment. It is able to discern scriptures and their application to believers in the church. It is also being able to tell whether someone is earnest and sincere, or they appear to have an agenda. 

b) Peter displayed this in Acts chapter five when Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property and kept back part of the money and brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet but lied saying they had given it all to the church (Acts 5:1-10). Those with this gift of discernment or “distinguishing between spirits” may be able to know whether the church should or should not do particular things.