SPIRITUAL GIFTS: DISCERNMENT

Our desire is that every Christ-follower is an active member of a local church and to know what spiritual gifts God has given them for building up the church and the common good. Once you have an idea of how God has gifted you with unique manifestations of the Spirit, use the following next-step guide to help you develop and deploy your gifts as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

DISCERNMENT

The gift of discernment is the divine enablement to know with assurance whether particular behaviour purported to be of God is in reality divine, human, or satanic.

1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 5:1-11, 16:16-18; 1 John 4:1-6; Matthew 16:21-23

  • Saturate yourself in the truth of Scripture. Think of Jesus being able to respond to the Devil’s deceiving invitations in the wilderness by consistently responding “it is written”.

  • Do the “Grounded Course”, our intermediate theology course

HOW TO DEVELOP:

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

“All That’s Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment” by Hannah Anderson

“Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World and Why it Matters” by Michael Heiser

“Understanding Spiritual Warfare” by Sam Storms

"Live No Lies" by John Mark Comer

“Deliverance” by Jon Thompson

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS:

“The Unseen Realm” by Logos Bible Software & Dr. Michael S. Heiser

“Fighting the World the Flesh and the Devil ” by
Bridgetown Church

  • Start every day praying for God to use you with this gift to serve others.

  • Be alert in everyday conversations, in Life Group and in other settings.

  • Begin by offering discerning thoughts to your leaders such as Life Group leaders, church Deacons and Elders as a way to help them lead and guide the church.

  • Make the elders and deacons aware of your gift and be available to pray and share thoughts regarding upcoming decisions that need to be made.

  • If you sense there is demonic activity at play in our community in some shape or form, come straight to the elders. Over time, with a trusted track record you will be called upon to weigh in on matters and deployed to serve people in forms of deliverance ministry.

  • Consider joining the Prayer and Prophecy Ministry Team.

HOW TO DEPLOY:

GOING DEEPER

Do you have the results of your Spiritual Gifts test? Want to find out more about the results of your spiritual gifts and how you can either develop or deploy them within your community?

Our desire is that every Christ-follower is an active member of a local church and to know what spiritual gifts God has given them for building up the church and the common good.

Once you have an idea of how God has gifted you with unique manifestations of the Spirit, navigate through the various gifts below and see how you can develop and deploy your gifts as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

If you haven’t done so yet, why not give our Glorious Gifts podcast a listen where we’re currently working through what spiritual gifts are and how we can use them to glorify God.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on seapoint@commonground.co.za or via Whatsapp on +27 76 509 0238.