MHeath said:
There are also those that say that the devil can perform signs and wonders as well.. so we were supposed to sort out who actually performed the sign or wonder (that didn't actually happen anyway.)
Michele
I remember being taught that there were some who had "the gift of discernment" who could tell us whether a "word" or a sign was really from God or not. But then, how did anyone know
they were telling the truth?
Scripturally, though, it was called "discerning spirits," not discern
ment, and the difference is profound. The sign gift of discerning spirits was the ability to "see" (or discern) angels or other stuff in the spiritual realm. An example would be Stephen's vision as he was being stoned to death, or Elija's prayer for God to open Elisha's eyes to see the angelic army protecting the two of them (2nd Kings 6:16-17).
Discern
ment is the inheritance of every Christian, and it has nothing to do with seeing angels and other visions. It is the inward familiarity of the regenerate with their Father. Jesus described it this way:
...the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him because they do not know the voice of strangers (John 10:3-5 NASB, emphasis mine).
And that's why we're here. We followed His voice to this place of safety, having fled from the voice of strangers. Praise God for His gift of discernment!
-Robin
