THE GIFT OF DISCERNING OF SPIRITS:
I Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV
[7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: [8] for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
The gift of discerning of spirits is the supernatural insight into the realm of the Spirit in order to identify the source, nature, and purpose of the spirits behind any manifestation and display of power. It is a gift to enable an individual to identify both good and bad spirits. A good example of this gift in manifestation is when Paul identified and dealt with a girl with a fortune-telling spirit (Acts 16:16-18).
You see, evil spirits have power too and often mimic various manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in order to deceive. The magicians of Pharaoh also performed miracles (Exodus 7:8-13, 19-22, 8:1-7 & 8:16-19) and a sorcerer was able to call up the spirit of Samuel from the dead (1 Samuel 28:7-22), but the power of God is far mightier than theirs. So God strategically placed the mention of this gift after the two other gifts of revelation and the three power gifts to help us from being deceived.
The gifts of God are freely given and must be freely used to help others (Matthew 10:5-8). Those who use their gifts to make money from vulnerable people are deceived. They must repent or else will end up in the lake of fire.
Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
[21] “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [22] Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ [23] And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
May this never be you in Jesus’s name. Amen!