於2015-12-03發佈

主題:屬靈恩賜系列(七): 在辨別中成長
日期:2015年11月16日
作者:Diane Lake

不可按外貌斷定是非,總要按公平斷定是非。“(約翰福音7:24)

敬虔的辨別是從神而來能正確判斷正在發生的事情的能力。從廣義上而言,辨別是與智慧密切相關,同為神的靈的一種表達。藉著聖靈,我們可以用如同耶穌這樣的方式來運作,“祂行審判不憑眼見,斷是非也不憑耳聞;”(參賽11:2-3)。

作為信徒,我們永遠應該要追求智慧。更重要的是,如同雅各書1:5,和1:6這裏的經文所提醒我們的,我們可以肯定當我們憑著信心求就會得著!

辨別能力會隨著我們閱讀和學習神的話語,過著神所希望的聖潔的生活,禱告和請求,並獲得經驗而增長。(注1)

一種更特殊的辨別形式,辨別諸靈,是由聖靈分賜而來的屬靈恩賜(參林前12:10)。這也是與智慧息息相關的,但因為它涉及超自然知識的賜予而有所不同。也因此,辨別的恩賜有時被認為是知識的言語的一種特殊表現

分辨來源

親愛的弟兄啊,一切的靈,你們不可都信,總要試驗那些靈是出於 神的不是…”(約翰一書4:1)

辨別諸靈包括對於屬靈的動機和活動三種可能的來源將之分辨出來:

- 的靈:最重要的是能夠辨別出聖靈的活動;祂也會賜與能力讓人們能夠來辨認出天使的活動和顯現。(注2)

- 人的靈:辨別人的靈,涉及察覺一個人言行後面真實的動機或意圖。舉例來說,彼得認為西門要求得著為人按手分賜聖靈的權柄這樣的心態是不正確的(參使徒行傳8:17-24)。

- 撒旦的靈:辨別撒旦或魔鬼的靈,包括當某人有邪靈的問題時識別出來,或是確定某事是來自撒旦,而不是神。當耶穌責備彼得時祂展現了這種類型的辨別,祂說,“撒旦,退我後邊去吧!”。祂正確地決定彼得所言是出自撒旦,並與神的目的恰恰相反。(參太16:22-23)

識別目的

當然,神不會無緣無故賜給我們這項辨別的屬靈恩賜。其主要原因是:

- 要測試屬靈上的張顯其背後真實的靈。這是最主要的應用 - 要知道那些是承認基督的,並認知聖靈的行動而與之同行。(注3)

- 從邪靈的壓制中得釋放耶穌常常這樣做的時候,如在馬可福音9:25當祂斥責聾啞的鬼時。

我曾經是一個婦女禱告團契中的一份子。在一次會議結束時,一個婦女按手在另一個已經咳嗽了一陣子的婦女身上。那位生病的女人立刻開始感覺身體好些了,但奇怪的是,那位為她按手禱告的婦女,不久後就開始感覺很不舒服。

我並沒有參加那次的聚會,但與那第二位婦女連絡上並得知她正要因支氣管炎去住院時,我辨別出一個疾病的靈已經從第一位婦女身上過到她那兒去了。我與她碰面,讀了一些經文,把靈趕出來,她立刻就得痊癒! (不要讓這件事使你不敢為病人禱告 - 這是極不尋常的事件!)

最近,當我們為國家禱告之旅準備時,神一直賜給我異夢,顯露出地區性的邪靈(我們來自蒙大拿州)。例如其中的一個,涉及偷牛的時代,這釋放了搶劫的靈!

- 在服事的場合中辨別天使或是魔鬼的出現。在新約中,保羅非常有效地確定使女話語的來源 - 從表面上看,似乎是從神而來的,但它實際上是來自魔鬼並在他們中間造成了極大的破壞(參徒16:16-18)。

- 為了揭發騙子/欺騙和錯誤。當我們越到末日,這將變得越來越重要。(注4)

培育恩賜

惟獨長大成人的才能吃乾糧;他們的心竅習練得通達,就能分辨好歹了。”(希伯來書5:14)

主為祂的子民帶來一個新的水平的辨別 – 辨別就如同武器,你可以發射並經常使用。如果你希望在辨別的恩賜中成長:

- 請求!我們有一位很好的天父會賜下很好的禮物。

- 與那些在你獲得經驗的當中可以來幫助引導你的信徒們團契。

- 追求智慧。

- 請記住,如同所有與先知性有關的恩賜,辨別的目的是帶來生命以及建造基督的身體 - 不是來摧毀。我們必須認知,不被論斷的靈引導,也不是猜忌懷疑。

加速豐收的季節即將開始,正如神的子民將要到達成熟的階段。使用敬虔的辨別力,我們將能夠揭露欺騙,並認知天使的出現,以便與他們合作帶來豐收!

為進一步研究請參考:

1.  參提後 2:15;彼得前書 1:13-19;馬太福音 7:7-11.
2.  約翰福音1:32-34;馬太福音4:11
3.  哥林多前書12:3;約翰福音3:8
4.  馬太福音24:24;哥林多後書11:13-15;提前 4:1-2



Growing in Discernment
November 16th, 2015
By Diane Lake
http://www.generals.org/articles/single/growing-in-discernment/


“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

Godly discernment is the divine ability to rightly judge what is going on. In its broadest sense, discernment is closely related to wisdom as an expression of the spirit of God. By this Spirit, we can function in the manner that Jesus did: “He [did] not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears” (Isa. 11:2-3).

As believers, we should always seek after wisdom. What’s more, as James 1:5 and 6 remind us, we can be sure we’ll receive it when we ask in faith!

Discernment grows as we read and study God’s Word, practice holy living as God desires, pray and ask, and gain experience.1  

A more specific form of discernment, discerning of spirits, is a spiritual gift imparted by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:10). It is also closely related to wisdom, but it is somewhat different in that it involves specific knowledge given supernaturally. Because of this, the gift of discernment is sometimes considered a special expression of the word of knowledge.

Distinguishing the Source

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God…” (1 John 4:1)

Discerning of spirits involves distinguishing between the three possible sources of spiritual motivation and activity. The three areas of spirit activity are:

- The Spirit of God: Most important is being able to discern the activity of the Holy Spirit; He will also give the ability to recognize the activity and presence of angels.2

-The spirit of man: Discerning the spirit of man involves perceiving the true motivation or intent behind a person’s words or actions. Peter, for example, determined that Simon’s heart was not right in asking for authority to lay hands on individuals to impart the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17-24).

- The spirit of Satan: Discerning the spirit of Satan or demons includes identifying when someone has a demonic problem, or determining when something is from Satan rather than God. Jesus demonstrated this type of discernment when He rebuked Peter by saying, “Get behind Me, Satan.” He rightly determined that Peter’s declaration came from Satan and was contrary to God’s purpose (Matt. 16:22-23).

Identifying The Purposes

Of course, God would not give us the spiritual gift of discernment for no reason. The major reasons are:

- To test the genuineness of the spirits behind spirit manifestation. This is the most primary application—to know those who acknowledge and confess Christ and to have knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s movement so as to cooperate with Him.3

- To enable deliverance from demonic spirits. Jesus did this often, as in Mark 9:25, when He rebuked the deaf and dumb spirit.

I was once part of a small group of women who met for fellowship and prayer. At the end of one meeting, a woman laid hands on another woman who had been ill for some time with a lingering cough. The sick woman began feeling better right away, but oddly enough, the woman who had prayed for her began feeling poorly shortly after.

I had not been present at this meeting, but after being contacted by the second woman and learning she was about to be hospitalized with bronchitis, I discerned that a spirit manifesting as sickness had passed from the first woman to her. I met with her, read several scriptures, cast out the spirit, and she was healed immediately! (Don’t let this make you afraid to pray for the sick—this was extremely unusual!)

More recently, the Lord’s been giving me dreams revealing regional spirits as we prepare for a state prayer journey (we’re from Montana). One, for instance, involved the era of cattle rustling, which released a spirit of robbery!

- To discern the presence of angels or demons at a service or occasion of ministry. In the New Testament, Paul very effectively determined the source of the slave girl’s words—on the surface, it seemed of God, but it was actually demonic and causing great disruption in their midst (Acts 16:16-18).

- To expose deceivers/deception and error. This will become increasingly essential as we move toward the end of the age.4  

Cultivating The Gift

“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age… who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14)

The Lord is bringing new levels of discernment to His people—discernment is like a weapon you can shoot and use often. If you desire to grow in the gift of discernment:

- Ask! We have a good heavenly Father who gives good gifts.

- Determine to fellowship with believers who can help guide you as you gain experience.

- Seek after wisdom.

- Keep in mind that, like all gifts related to the prophetic, the purpose of discernment is to bring life and to build up the body of Christ—not to tear down. We must be cognizant, not critical—Spirit-led, not suspicious.

A season of accelerated harvest is about to begin, just as the people of God are about to reach the age of maturity. Using godly discernment, we will be able to unmask deception as well as recognize the presence of angels in order to cooperate with them to bring in the harvest!

For further study:
1. See also 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet 1:13-19; Matt. 7:7-11.
2. John 1:32-34; Matt. 4:11
3. 1 Cor. 12:3; John 3:8
4. Matt. 24:24; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 1 Tim. 4:1-2