Role of Discernment in Evaluating Spiritual Experiences
Discernment plays a crucial role in evaluating spiritual experiences, enabling believers to distinguish between genuine divine activity and other influences. The apostle John exhorts believers to "believe not every spirit," urging caution and scrutiny regarding those who claim spiritual inspiration or revelation [2]. This call to discernment is rooted in the understanding that not all spiritual manifestations originate from God.
The ability to discern is presented as a mark of spiritual maturity. The author of Hebrews notes that "solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:14 ESV) [4]. This suggests that discernment is not an innate ability but one that develops through consistent engagement with spiritual truths and experiences. The process involves recognizing the difference between right and wrong, a characteristic that defines spiritual maturity [4].
The Bible indicates that spiritual understanding and revelation come through the Holy Spirit. Paul writes that God has "revealed" spiritual truths "through the Spirit," who "searches everything, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10 ESV) [3]. This divine illumination allows believers to comprehend spiritual realities that are otherwise inaccessible. The "life of God" is understood as that by which God lives in His people, a life and light that was present in Adam before the fall and is restored in believers [1].
However, the human understanding can be "darkened" or alienated from this divine life, particularly in those who are separated from God [1]. This spiritual blindness underscores the necessity of discernment, as a darkened understanding can hinder the evaluation of spiritual experiences. The goal for believers is to "know him" (Christ) experimentally, which involves more than just intellectual assent to doctrines about Him, but a personal encounter with the Redeemer Himself [6]. This experiential knowledge, coupled with the power of Christ's resurrection, assures believers of their justification and spiritual resurrection with Him [6].
The Christian church, like ancient Israel, is depicted as facing periods of spiritual refinement, sometimes described as a "wilderness" experience [5]. During such times, discernment becomes even more vital for endurance and perseverance, as God provides refuge and escape for His people amidst trials [5].
Sources
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:18: More literally, "Being darkened in their understanding," that is, their intelligence, or perceptions (compare Eph 5:8; Act 26:18; Th1 5:4-5). alienated--This and "darkened," imply that before the fall they (in the person of their first father) had been partakers of life and light: and that they had revolted from the primitive revelation (compare Eph 2:12). life of God--that life whereby God lives in His own people: as He was the life and light in Adam before the irruption of death and darkness into human nature; and as He is the life in the rege”
- 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:1: The apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here, I. He calls the disciples, to whom he writes, to caution and scrutiny about the spirits and spiritual professors that had now risen. 1. To caution: "Beloved, believe not every spirit; regard not, trust not, follow not, every pretender to the Spirit of God, or every professor of vision, or inspiration, or revelation from God." Truth is the ”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:10: revealed . . . by . . . Spirit--The inspiration of thoughts (so far as truth essential to salvation is concerned) makes the Christian (Co1 3:16; Co1 12:3; Mat 16:17; Joh 16:13; Jo1 2:20, Jo1 2:27); that of words, the PROPHET (Sa2 23:1-2; Kg1 13:1, Kg1 13:5), "by the word of the Lord" (Co1 2:13; Joh 20:30-31; Pe2 1:21). The secrets of revelation are secret to some, not because those who know them will not reveal them (for indeed, the very notion of revelation implies an unveiling of what had been veiled), but because those to whom they are announ”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 5:14: 5:14 Being able to recognize the difference between right and wrong is a defining characteristic of spiritual maturity.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 12:6: 12:6 Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hos 2:14-15; Acts 7:38-45) and in exile (see Isa 5:13; Ezek 12:1-3), the Christian church must face its own wilderness. Revelation presents messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble and shows that God provides places of refuge and avenues of escape for his people (cp. 1 Cor 10:13). 1,260 days: See study note on Rev 11:2-3.”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10: That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Rom 4:25; Co1 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work”