“For the ear tests words, as the tongue tastes food. Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.” (Job 34:3 and 4)

In the garden of Eden, the serpant said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)

Eve fell into temptation as whatever the serpant said seemed good to her. Eve ate and gave some to Adam, thinking she was blessing Adam by giving the fruit. We all know what happened later. They were thrown out of Eden, as they opened door to sin. That sin is still passed on through every generation unfortunately.

Eve and Adam were unable to test what they heard. They were unable to discern and fell into sin. Enemy never tells us that it is attacking us. Enemy always tries its best to attract us with its sweet, innocent act. Sadly, most of us fall into it and never realize.

Many of us pass on information to others thinking that it will definitely be a blessing to others. Most of us tend to receive what is passed on instead of testing it, instead of praying about it. Hardly people’s eyes are opened even after all the losses they face.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (Acts 5:1-3)

Peter knew in his spirit that both Ananias and Sapphira lied to him. They died immediately as they lied to the man filled with Holy Spirit. How did Peter know without anyone telling him? Peter had the Spirit of discernment in him.

The Spirit of discernment reveals to us the deception in people. It reveals to us the intent of the people. God shows us in visions or in dreams their real intent, their real color.

Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”

But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away. (Matthew 22:15-22)

We see that people tried to trap Jesus, but Jesus knew they were trying to trap him with questions. Jesus knew their intent, because Jesus had the Spirit of Discernment. Since Jesus had the Spirit of Discernment he was able to test the spirits and answer them accordingly.

Many people like Pharisees- the so called false prophets, false teachers are around us today with lot of head knowledge, but they lack the Holy Spirit. Many of us fall prey to them, since we cannot discern such people since they act so holy and saintly.

That’s why Apostle John says to people like us without us discernment, 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.(1 John 4:1)

When we talk about the topic of discernment with others, many of us question, how do I know if this spirit is true or not? We are entangled in lies that all lies seems true to us. Not many of us know that our lives, our future is at stake because of our ignorance.

Apostle Paul says, And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.(Philippians 1:9–10)

Apostles will not write about all these if it were not true. Bible is our instruction manual. Let us read Bible and do what it says.

Let us take this seriously, let us not give up until God shows that what we are doing is right or wrong. It is good to know that we are in right standing with God.

Sinning without knowing it is a sin, is still a sin.
Remember that Adam and Eve ate without knowing what it would cost them. God warned them not to eat. But they fell into trap. They lost fellowship with God, they sinned in ignorance, they were sent out of Eden. What they did led to a generational curse without their intent.

God warned us through the instructions in Bible to test every spirit. We don’t want to sin out of ignorance. We don’t want any curse upon our lives and pass down any curses to our future generations.

Let us ask God and not give up till we receive the Spirit of Discernment. Let us save our lives from every trap.

✍ Anita Thumma