Who Me, Gifted?Sample

## The Importance of Discernment Those to whom the gift of discernment is given must exercise it diligently and urgently. Today, more than any other time in our lifetime, discernment is needed. The Bible, particularly in the New Testament, warns us repeatedly against false teaching and false teachers. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and his servants will disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. If Satan cannot stop people from believing, he will send his deceivers to keep them from becoming growing believers in Jesus Christ. Discernment is a quality that all believers must cultivate, but the Word of God tells us that the Holy Spirit gives some in the body an extra measure of discernment. The person with the gift of discernment is able to quickly and speedily distinguish between truth and error. Even if the error has a veneer of truth around it, those with the gift of discernment are able to immediately unmask Satan and his trickeries. In a time when churches are being led away from Biblical Truth, those with discernment are needed to discern who is at work in a situation and firmly and lovingly address deceivers. Those with the gift of discernment understand our "struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12) They are able to discern the spirits at work in a particular situation. Prayer: Father, help us to be mindful of the importance of discernment. May we not be deceived by false teaching. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).