Discernment

Revelatory / Sign Gifts

Literal Meaning

To separate or make a distinction, to differentiate.

Description

The gift of Discernment is the divine enablement to distinguish between truth and error. It is able to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong.

Distinctives

People with this gift tend to:

  • •Distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure.
  • •Identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness.
  • •Determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic.
  • •Recognize inconsistencies in teaching, prophetic message or interpretation.
  • •Are able to sense the presence of evil.

Common Traits

PerceptiveInsightfulSensitiveIntuitiveDecisiveChallengingTruthful

In Practice

Sensing spiritual atmospheres, identifying false teaching, protecting community from deception

Cautions

Every gift can be misused or overextended. Here are some things to watch for:

  • ⚠May struggle with how to express their perceptions, feelings or insights.
  • ⚠Could be harsh when confronting others, instead of speaking the truth in love.
  • ⚠Need to confirm their perceptions before speaking.

Scripture References

Biblical foundations for this gift:

1 Corinthians 12:10Acts 5:1-4Matthew 16:21-23

Curious if this is one of your gifts?

Take our comprehensive assessment to discover your unique Gift Mix

Take the Assessment