#27 DISCERNMENT VERSUS JUDGMENT
Discernment is one of nine gifts which the Holy Spirit gives as He sees that we need them. All are available from Him to each of us. He does not withhold them. Discernment is not about a process of determining the origin of a spiritual entity (be it holy or unholy) by analytics or reasoning. It is a manifestation from the Holy Spirit. He opens the eyes of the soul to recognize the presence of beings in the spiritual realm, both holy and unholy. We simply discern. Through discernment everything we can see and hear is in the spiritual realm and is received in our understanding. There is no emotion or reaction to interfere with the perception going on. There is only the reality of what we discern as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Satan also has his version of discernment. Those are demons called judgment. In judgment, he gives a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit’s gift. The counterfeit of discernment accuses and blames and takes account of another person’s behavior. It will evaluate and give credence or disapproval to actions and lets opinions be voiced as fact. Satan doesn’t want the demons revealed by discernment. That is why he has hidden the truth of the spiritual realm from us essentially protecting his domain from exposure and expulsion from the human soul. Strongholds rise to the occasion to resist the word or truth that threatens their existence.
Satan works to destroy peace at home, work, church, school, etc. He sets up situations for his purposes. Through discernment we can recognize and take authority over demons wherever we go essentially stopping any plan or scheme and putting demons on notice in the spirit. We bind them up and forbid their activity. Then we set the boundaries. This is not a battle of flesh and blood. It is spiritual warfare and we do not allow physical manifestations against us or others. We proclaim the power of the Lord into the location or situation and ask the Holy Spirit to inhabit the place for His will to be done. We offer our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to Him, which is our reasonable spiritual service of worship. Then we follow Him as He speaks to us to do His will. It is good to discern a set up before darkness is able to pull it off in our souls and we have a mess to clean up spiritually.
Satan keeps us from moving forward with God by bringing up past mistakes and failures and accusing us. The demons keep us focused on situations and circumstances and hinder our freedom. They know which of their cohorts are in our souls and keep setting up conflicts to create new and ongoing difficulties. Each situation or set up is orchestrated by darkness as a smokescreen to keep us from looking at the truth. That focus keeps us from seeking the gift of discernment from the Holy Spirit which would reveal their presence and threaten them. They do not want to lose their homes, our souls! We are to be seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Talk to the Lord and He will direct you in the gifts. Spend time with God speaking in your prayer language. Hear from Him. Learn the tactics of the enemy and let God set you free. There is never a split second when spiritual dynamics are not occurring. Always be on the alert!
