Discerning the spirits is the ability given by the Holy Spirit to perceive whether a spirit manifesting is from God or from demonic sources. It is an important gift for believers to have in these last days when deception is running rampant. There are several keys to properly discerning the spirits that every Christian should understand.
Test the Spirits Against Scripture
The Bible tells us clearly in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” We are instructed to test all spiritual manifestations against the standards of Scripture. Anything contradicting the Bible can immediately be identified as false.
God’s Word is the ultimate authority and the Holy Spirit will never contradict His own inspired Word that He provided for us. We have been given the Scriptures for a reason – to provide an objective standard against which all teachings and prophecies can be compared.
Examples of testing spirits against Scripture
- If a spirit promotes salvation by works rather than by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), it fails the test
- If a prophecy contradicts clear biblical teaching, it should be rejected (Deuteronomy 18:22)
- If a teaching denies Christ or twists major doctrines about Him, it should be rejected (2 John 1:7)
The Bible is the litmus test for discerning all spirits – we are called to be like the Bereans who examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching was true (Acts 17:11).
Examine the Fruit
Jesus taught us that we will recognize false prophets by their fruit:
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (Matthew 7:15-17)
We are not just to evaluate the teaching itself, but also the character and lifestyle of those delivering the supposed revelation. Do their lives reflect the Spirit of Christ? Do they exhibit the fruits of the Spirit like “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22)?
Or do they consistently display the works of the flesh: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21)?
Their spiritual state will inevitably impact the type of message they deliver.
Examples of examining fruit
- A self-proclaimed prophet who extorts money, manipulates people, and lives in unrestrained sin should be rejected
- Someone who delivers an accurate word but their life reflects greed, anger, and impurity likely has mixture that needs to be addressed before accepting their ministry
- A spirit promoting supernatural experiences with no emphasis on repentance and deeper intimacy with Jesus is suspect
Examine more than just the teaching itself – look at the whole package including the lifestyle and fruit of the messenger.
Listen to the Holy Spirit’s Witness
As born again believers, each of us has the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside us. He will bear witness with our spirit when a teaching or spiritual experience aligns with God’s truth:
But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. (John 15:26)
Part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to guide us into truth and “testify of Christ.” He provides an inner witness to confirm when a message or experience genuinely comes from the Father.
At times this will be a supernatural knowing or discernment that we cannot explain rationally but we sense strongly in our spirit. Learning to recognize the inner voice and prompting of the Spirit is crucial.
Examples of the Spirit’s witness
- An uneasiness or grieving in your spirit when listening to a teaching
- A supernatural joy arising in your spirit when receiving a Spirit-inspired word
- An inner knowing that a prophecy or message aligns with the Father’s heart
The Spirit and the Word always agree. As we stay sensitive to the Spirit’s inner promptings, we can readily identify false messages.
Consider the Source
Another important key in discernment is considering the source – where does this spiritual experience or teaching come from?
Jesus warned there would be many false prophets arising, especially as the end draws near:
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)
There are lying and deceiving spirits who disguise themselves as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). We can guard against them by carefully considering their origins and fruits.
Some important questions to ask:
- Does this message arise from an involved occultic background that was never repented of?
- Is it connected to spiritual practices condemned in Scripture like divination and sorcery?
- Is it coming from someone walking in unrepentant sin or deception?
- Does it originate with a religion contradicting biblical truths about Jesus?
While we don’t want to fall into condemnation or judgment, wisdom requires us to prayerfully consider the source.
Examples of examining the source
- Messages from those engaged in practices like astrology or psychic readings should raise discernment
- Prophecies confirmed to arise during occultic rituals or séances are extremely dangerous
- Teachings from leaders in sexual sin or deceit should be avoided
Since the Holy Spirit will never contradict Christ, any supposedly “Spirit-given” word originating from anti-Christian sources should be refused.
Consider the Motivation
In discerning spiritual influences, we should ask: What is the motivation behind this message? Does it aim to glorify Christ or glorify man?
Teachings or prophecies given to produce fame, manipulate people, or generate greed should be rejected. The true gifts of the Spirit are to edify and build up Christ’s Body, directing everything to the exaltation of Jesus:
Let all things be done for edification. (1 Corinthians 14:26b)
Any message that creates confusion, fosters fear, or takes our focus away from building God’s Kingdom with love should raise discernment.
The Holy Spirit always leads us with love and humility, desiring to see Jesus glorified through us.
Examples of examining motivation
- Messages focused on money, fundraising, or prophet’s glory are suspicious
- Prophecies generating confusion and blindness to God’s purpose should be avoided
- Teachings aiming to create fear, condemnation, or hype are unprofitable
Loving motivation focused on deepening intimacy with Christ and expanding His Kingdom is a sign of the Spirit’s inspiration.
Wait, Watch, and Evaluate the Fruit
After testing a spiritual experience or teaching, we should wait, watch, and continue to evaluate its fruit:
You will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:16a)
Because deception can have mixture, we need patience and wisdom not to jump to premature conclusions. We should give room for the Holy Spirit to continue revealing truth as we observe over time.
Some important questions to consider during this period:
- Does this teaching produce lasting spiritual fruit of righteousness?
- Does this prophecy come to pass accurately or lead people astray?
- Does this ministry result in repentance, salvation, and restoration?
- Does it alignment more and more with Scripture as we patiently observe?
We can save ourselves much grief by not making hasty judgments. God’s truth and the deception will only become more apparent with time and observation of the outcomes.
Act in Love, Not Condemnation
As we grow in discernment and encounter false teachings, our posture is vitally important. We must abide in God’s love, which “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6).
Our motivation should not be proving how right we are, but contending earnestly from a place of love to protect the precious Bride of Christ from deception.
Even when we know a teaching or spirit is in error, we can still respond in the humility and compassion of Jesus. We contend and speak the truth, not to condemn people but to help set them free by God’s grace.
Rely on the Body, Not Just Yourself
Since we each only see and prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9), it’s wise to have trusted brothers and sisters also helping us discern spiritual influences. This provides protection from blind spots, pride, and doctrinal errors on our end.
Proverbs 11:14 reminds us that “in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” Seeking input from spiritually mature believers who know your life adds an important layer of accountability.
It’s unhealthy to make big spiritual decisions solely by what you think the Holy Spirit is saying without getting confirmation from others who know you and love you in Christ. Submitted relationships provide necessary checks and balances so we can more clearly assess God’s truth together.
Stay Dependent on the Holy Spirit
While we have biblical tools for discernment, we should stay dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit in navigating these issues.
He is the one who reveals truth to us, guides us into all truth (John 16:13), and teaches us spiritual realities (1 Corinthians 2:10-14). Any abilities we have to discern are by the Spirit’s grace and enabling.
Walking in humility, prayer, worship, and obedience positions us to hear His voice clearly and recognize counterfeits. By staying surrendered and open to the Spirit’s conviction, He will lead us to rightly discern all things.
Conclusion
In summary, here are key principles to remember in discerning the spirits:
- Test all messages against the truth of Scripture
- Examine the lifestyle and fruits of the messenger
- Listen to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit
- Consider the source – its background and origins
- Evaluate the motivation – does it glorify Jesus?
- Allow time to observe the outcomes
- Respond in love, not condemnation
- Seek the Body’s discernment, not just your own
- Stay dependent on the Spirit’s guidance
As we walk in humility, love, wisdom, and God’s Word, the Lord promises we will not be fooled by false prophets and teachers.
By relying on the Holy Spirit’s discernment, we can avoid deception and live in greater intimacy with Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).