In The Age of Deception: You Need The Gift of Discernment of Spirits

"...to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues."     -1 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)

The Age Of Deception

Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. - Matthew 24:23–25 (ESV)

Satan is the deceiver of the whole world. - Revelation 12:9

"...and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

— 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (ESV)

3 Ways to Discern The Spirits

Test the spirits because many false prophets have gone into the world. -1 John 4:1

  1. The Real Jesus vs Fake Jesus

"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." -1 John 4:2–3 (ESV)

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed."

— Galatians 1:8–9 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

  1. A Sober View of Sin

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." -1 John 1:8–10 (ESV)

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."  -1 John 1:8 (ESV)

"Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." -1 John 2:4 (ESV)

 

  1. Know The Bible

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." -2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." - Acts 17:11 (ESV)

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

— 1 John 4:4 (ESV)