Spiritual discernment means being able to know the difference between truth and error, good and evil, and sound teaching and false teaching. God does not want His people to believe everything they hear. He wants us to test every message by His Word.
First John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” John speaks to believers with love and concern. The word “beloved” reminds us that God loves His people, and because He loves us, He warns us to be careful.
Do Not Believe Every Spirit
The Bible warns us not to be gullible in spiritual matters. Not every sermon, book, song, video, or religious message comes from God. Some people may use Christian words and even quote Bible verses, but their message may still lead people away from the truth.
Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Peter also warned that false teachers would secretly bring in destructive teachings (2 Peter 2:1).
Test the Spirits
To “test the spirits” means to examine the source and message of a teaching. We ask, “Does this agree with the Bible? Does it honor Jesus Christ? Does it lead people to obey God?” The final test for every teaching is God’s Word. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Second Timothy 3:16-17 teaches that all Scripture is given by God and equips us for every good work.
The Bereans are a good example. Acts 17:11 says they received the word with readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were true. They listened carefully, but they also checked the teaching by Scripture.
The Gift of Distinguishing Spirits
First Corinthians 12:10 says that the Holy Spirit gives “the distinguishing of spirits.” This means the Spirit helps believers recognize what is from God and what is not from God. Spiritual gifts are given by God to build up the church and help others, not to make anyone proud.
Every gift comes from the same Lord, the same Spirit, and the same God (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). If God gives us knowledge, wisdom, or the ability to recognize error, we must use it humbly and give Him the glory.
Discernment and Spiritual Maturity
Hebrews 5:14 says, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” In simple words, mature Christians learn to recognize what is spiritually healthy and what is spiritually harmful.
Discernment takes practice. The word “exercised” means trained by use. Just as the body grows stronger through exercise, believers grow in discernment by reading Scripture, obeying God, praying for wisdom, and learning from sound Bible teaching.
A baby may put anything into his mouth because he does not know what is good or harmful. In the same way, an immature believer may accept any teaching without testing it. But a mature believer learns to judge carefully by the Word of God.
How to Grow in Discernment
- Study the Bible regularly (Psalm 119:105).
- Pray for wisdom (James 1:5).
- Compare every teaching with Scripture (Acts 17:11).
- Hold firmly to sound doctrine (Titus 1:9).
- Be careful of teachings that deny Christ or twist the gospel (Galatians 1:8-9).
- Stay connected to faithful believers and biblical teaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Why False Teaching Is Dangerous
False teaching is dangerous because it can sound close to the truth while leading people away from Christ. Paul warned that some would preach “another gospel,” and he said such a message must be rejected (Galatians 1:8-9). Second Corinthians 11:13-15 says false teachers can appear to be servants of righteousness.
That is why Christians must be watchful. We should not judge by personality, popularity, emotions, or large crowds. We must judge teaching by the truth of Scripture.
Conclusion
Spiritual discernment is needed in the church today. God calls believers to test the spirits, examine every teaching, and hold tightly to the truth. Discernment is not about being harsh or proud. It is about loving God, loving His Word, and protecting the church from error.
As we grow in Christ, we should become more careful, more biblical, and more mature. First Thessalonians 5:21-22 says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
Minister A Francine Green, August 2026