Dealing with the topic of “spiritual gifts” apostle Paul mentions “distinguishing between spirits” as one of them (1Corinthians 12:7-11). It is important to note that Paul describes spiritual gifts as “manifestations of the Spirit” or “the work of the one and same Spirit.”
Take time to go through the list again and answer the following question: Which one would you go for? Let me guess that you did not think of the gift of distinguishing between spirits or spiritual discernment. Let me tell you, however, the gift that most of us Christians hardly think of is, in my opinion, the most important, especially in these last days. The need for spiritual discernment is less appreciated, sad to say, to the church’s detriment….
Please note that Satan the devil (enemy) seems to have free ride in churches and families nowadays because most of us Christians, including church leaders, lack in spiritual discernment and therefore cannot distinguish the work of God from the work of Satan -we often fail to notice when the devil disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
Matthew 16:23 comes to mind: “Jesus said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” This verse is significant especially when compared to Matthew 16:17, “Jesus replied, ‘blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah [Peter], for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
How could Jesus describe “blessed” Peter as Satan shortly after? How come that the same Peter spoke both from God and Satan? I don’t know about you but for me it is scary to even consider the possibility, but we cannot deny the fact…. I learn here that the fact of being used by God does not preclude the possibility of the devil sneaking in to do the same, and no one is exempted. Hence, we cannot be safe without spiritual discernment -Imagine what could have happened if Jesus did not use spiritual discernment in the situation!
What we read in Matthew 16 is not really surprising for anyone familiar with Moses. Moses predicted this kind of situation: Deuteronomy 13:1-3, “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not known) and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your soul.”
Please note that a prophet’s credibility must be established always on what he or she says rather than what he or she does, which is the reversal of what happens often…. And, what the prophet says must be consistent with the whole of God’s revelation and must lead to deeper appreciation of God and the desire to serve and live for Him.
Just as Jesus said to Peter “get behind me Satan!” Moses instruct the people of God to “not listen to the words” of any prophet who would lead them to other gods (idols), and there are so many gods today (money, power, prestige, etc…) -in fact such a prophet was to be put to death as to suggest the threat that they represented for God’s people and His kingdom.
I pray that just as Jesus could distinguish the sources of Peter’s utterances, the Lord will grant us the grace to distinguish between spirits: Lord we need you to stir up within us the desire for spiritual discernment for the stakes are high for the church and our families especially in these last days, in Jesus’ name!
