Revelation
Gifts – Part 7
Memory Verse: “I know a
man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether
it was in the body or out of the body I do not know – God knows.” (2 Cor.
12:2. NIV.)
We want to know the purpose
behind the gift of discernment of spirits. But the first step is the reminder
that we need to get into the spiritual realm from where we receive spiritual
instructions.
A careful reading of 2 Cor 12:1-12 confirms
Paul was talking about a special experience he underwent some 14 years earlier.
He talks of being “caught up (or ‘raptured’) to the third heaven”, v.2, “caught up to paradise …where he heard
inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell”, v. 4.
The Bible considers the atmosphere
(where the birds and airplanes fly) as the “first heaven”. The sky where the
moon, the sun and the stars are (what we today call “space”) is considered as
the “second heaven”. From today’s knowledge, the second heaven is limitless.
But outside of these two heavens, we have paradise, where God’s throne room is.
That is what Paul calls the “third heaven” in this passage. There he
experienced the highest spiritual conversation, so high “that man is not
permitted to tell”, v.4.
2 Cor. 12:1 talks of “visions and revelations”
as the foundation on which Paul was caught up to the third heaven. Following this
experience, Paul could talk of his having received “surpassingly great
revelations”, v.7. Indeed as
the believer gets into the heavenly realm, he will hear heavenly confidential
information, v.4, thus
enlightening and enabling us to discern spirits.
“Seeing” and “hearing” play a
dominant role in learning. As the spirit realm is real and highly organized (Eph. 6:12), it
requires that we have spiritual eyes and ears before we can “see” and “hear”
spiritual conversation. See Matt. 13:13-16; Mark 8:17-18a; Luke 24:13-32, but refer to vs.
28-32.
Now to know which spirit is in
operation, one needs to see that spirit working or talking (through the person
in whom the spirit lives). Consequently one’s spiritual eyes and ears must be
opened to be able to discern the spirit in operation.
Think of the experience of Elisha’s
servant when they were surrounded by the Syrian army, 2 Kings 6:15-17.
Lesson Outline 1: What are the purposes of the Gift of Discernment of
Spirits?
q
The Lord can use it to reveal the future to His people.
o
Abraham came to know about the impending judgment on Sodom
and Gomorrah, and was able to plead for the cities and save Lot his nephew and
family because he possessed the gift of discernment of spirits. He not only
recognized the three passers-by as special men, but also recognized the Lord
Jesus Himself in one of His pre-incarnate appearances, Gen.
18:1-5; 16-22.
q
The Lord can use it to communicate special instructions to
His own, instructions which ordinarily would not be believable or normal.
o
How did Joshua come up with the most unusual strategy for
subduing the impregnable city of Jericho? He discerned that the One Who met and
gave him instructions outside the walls of Jericho was none other than God
Himself – yet another pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus. See Josh
5:13-6:5.
o
Without his wearing a name-tag or introducing himself,
Manoah’s “sterile and childless” wife (Samson’s mother) discerned that it was
indeed an angel of God who gave her some incredible news and unusual instructions
concerning the birth and life of Samson. Judges 13:2-7.
q God can
also use it to announce some special events that have occurred.
o
The shepherds quickly discerned it was indeed God’s angel that
had brought them the incredibly exciting news that the long-desired Messiah,
i.e. the Christ or the Anointed One, was born in Bethlehem, the City of David. Luke
2:8-15.
Lesson Outline 2: Special Warriors need Special Equipment.
q
God equips His warriors with the gift of discernment of
spirits to assure them of His presence with them at the time of grave danger.
o
Though surrounded by a huge Syrian army, did Elisha
experience any fear? Why not?
2 Kings 6:11-17. His
spiritual eyes were indeed open.
o
When Paul was in danger at sea in the midst of a severe
storm that lasted many days, he spoke up to encourage the other 275 men on
board the ship, assuring them that though the vessel would be destroyed, none
of them would lose their lives. He said so because he discerned that it was the
angel of God, and not just his wishful thinking, that gave him the message. Acts
27:21-24.
o
While he was exposed to persecutions, trials within and
troubles without, Paul was granted the opportunity to see the glory that awaits
him in heaven, 2 Cor. 12:2-4. That was a great booster to his
faith as he continued to serve the Lord fearlessly and without complaining or
self-pity.
Summary: The gift of discernment of spirits
allows God’s people to receive divine instructions and be specifically equipped
for the battles ahead.