gifts, the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. That is because its revelation is limited
to a single class of objects — spirits.
The revelation that the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge brings is broader and
applies to people, places, and things. The discerning of spirits gives us supernatural insight
only into the realm of spirits. Remember, the discerning of spirits is seeing or hearing into the
spirit world. It also reveals the kind of spirit that is in operation behind a supernatural
manifestation.
What the Discerning of Spirits Is Not
Someone has said that the best way to find out what something is, is to find out what it is not.
So let's discuss what the discerning of spirits is not. It is not discernment. I've heard people
say, "I believe I have the gift of discernment."
Actually, there is no such thing mentioned in the Bible as the gift of discernment. It is the
discerning of spirits. Many times what people call the gift of discernment is really the gift of the
word of knowledge in operation.
In other words, sometimes people know things by the Spirit of God and call it discernment. But
that doesn't mean it is really discernment. It is actually the word of knowledge in operation.
Also, the discerning of spirits is not a kind of spiritual mind reading. And the discerning of
spirits is not psychological insight, nor is it mental "penetration." It is not the power to discern
the faults of others.
You will find that the power to discern faults in others is possessed not only by believers but by
unbelievers a 2vV