Discernment of spirits

[Evangelical]

Reposting this out of the adoption thread:

The genuine anointing can be discerned by applying the test of spirits:

1 John 4:2-3, 1 Cor 12:3, 1 John 4:15

It is noteworthy that no where does Paul or John direct the believers to consult Scripture for discernment - discernment of spirits requires a spiritual, not theological, solution.

These are the tests that John and Paul gave to the early Christians to be able to discern the spirits and the genuine anointing - and remember at this time Christianity as we know it today did not exist, and paganism/false Christs were more rife then that it is in our "secular Christian culture" today.

Anyone who wants to use other or non-biblical methods to discern because they think they know better are almost sure to reach the wrong conclusions. The categorical "10 ways to tell...." methods that you can find on the internet for trying to discern a good marriage partner, a good job, or even whether a pastor or church is genuine, are also non-biblical approaches and do not work for spirits because they are not spiritual.

[awareness]

Maybe it's just me. But maybe you should rework your OP to make your point clearer. Or at least add an addendum to it.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

It is noteworthy that no where does Paul or John direct the believers to consult Scripture for discernment - discernment of spirits requires a spiritual, not theological, solution.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction;
To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity;

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction;
To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity;

That is not offered as a test of spirits for other people, but for self-discernment (see the context of verse 11).

A simple practical example would suffice to show the inadequacy of God's Word for discerning the spirits.

It is impractical to test someone's spirit using God's Word.

[UntoHim]

Mr. E.

You are a follower of Witness Lee. You are a member of the Local Church of Witness Lee. You have not repudiated one single teaching, one single practice, or any of the dark, despicable sordid history of the Local Church. Therefore your discernment about legitimate Christian discernment is extremely questionable at best. None your googling and searching the web will change this fact. You are in no position to tell other Christians about disinterment.

Originally Posted by Evangelical

A simple practical example would suffice to show the inadequacy of God's Word for discerning the spirits.
It is impractical to test someone's spirit using God's Word.

So God's Word is inadequate for discerning the spirits? Do you realize how foolish this sounds? You wouldn't even know what spirits were from God and what spirits were not from God without God's Word. Who told you that we are to "test someone's spirit"? You are mixing non-biblical Local Church terminology with the terminology inspired by the Spirit of Truth. What is impractical is to use the teachings of an uneducated, apostle wannabe instead of the living and abiding Word of God.

Your guru, Acting God and Minister of The Age's legitimate, biblical discernment was extremely suspect at best. The man failed the test over and over and over again. The most extreme example of course is his discernment (or lack thereof) between true spirits that "are from God" - the one's that tried to rescue him from himself and his sons over decades - and the spirits that were not from God - the ones that apparently influenced and controlled him (for how long is a matter of debate).
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[Evangelical]

Well duh, you're just stating the obvious - anyone can see that I quoted 1 John 4:2-3, 1 Cor 12:3, 1 John 4:15 which is from God's Word. A thinking person would realize that I am not contradicting what should be obvious.

Let's think for a moment how did they discern spirits before 1 John, 1 Corinthians were written? Did they consult the New Testament? It didn't even exist yet. But they would have discerned by hearing what the mouth confessed. 1 John 4:2-3, 1 Cor 12:3, 1 John 4:15 are a record of how they tested spirits in the early church.

But I don't see many supporting the use of these scriptures for discernment. I see many arguments of man against the employment of them, and so far no one has justified why 1 John 4:2-3, 1 Cor 12:3, 1 John 4:15 should not be used or why they are insufficient.

[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Well duh, you're just stating the obvious

I see your duh, and raise you two duhs.

Did they consult the New Testament? It didn't even exist yet.

Well duh. They didn't need to consult the New Testament - they were living and learning among the very ones who wrote the New Testament (duh). Last I checked none of those fellows are out and about these days. Who do you consult, Mr. E? You are only allowed to consult Witness Lee. You are forbidden by the One Publication Bull to consult any other source. The elders of your Local Church (LSM franchise branch office) are forbidden to teach anything that did not proceed from the lips of LǐChángshòu. Therefore, your ability to discern the spirits has been severely limited, if not totally restricted altogether.

But I don't see many supporting the use of these scriptures for discernment. I see many arguments of man against the employment of them, and so far no one has justified why 1 John 4:2-3, 1 Cor 12:3, 1 John 4:15 should not be used or why they are insufficient.

You just torpedoed your own argument my man. Better give up while you can.
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[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

so far no one has justified why 1 John 4:2-3, 1 Cor 12:3, 1 John 4:15 should not be used or why they are insufficient.

1. Paul talks about "Counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ, the pseudo apostles." A counterfeit bill is going to look almost like the real thing. How to discern?

2. Jesus says 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’

3. Jesus also said 7 You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said, 8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.

It is quite obvious from the NT that there will be false Christ's and false apostles. They will do everything in their power to deceive even the elect. But evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. That means they will speak lies, they will say "lord, lord" yet they do not do what the Lord tells them to do. When you obey the Lord's speaking to you then you are proclaiming that He is Lord.