Spiritual Discernment in Supernatural Experiences and the Holy Spirit
Spiritual discernment in the context of supernatural experiences and the Holy Spirit involves recognizing and understanding divine communication and activity. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in revealing truths that are otherwise hidden [8]. Daniel 2:22 states that God "discovereth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in darkness, and the light dwelleth with him" [2]. This highlights God's capacity to unveil mysteries, a function often mediated through the Spirit.
The concept of revelation itself signifies an "uncovering" or "bringing to light" of what was previously concealed [1]. God has historically made supernatural revelations of himself and his purposes, which have been recorded under the Spirit's guidance [1]. The Scriptures are considered the written form of this revelation, ensuring its preservation and propagation [1].
The Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Advocate—the Spirit of truth," who counsels and protects believers [3]. This role extends to enabling believers to experience spiritual realities and grasp insights into God's presence, the heavenly realm, and His intentions throughout history, as seen in John's experience of being "in the Spirit" [9].
Discernment is also connected to the "fruit of the Spirit," which includes "goodness, righteousness, and truth" [5, 7]. Adam Clarke describes the "fruit of the Spirit" as the "changed or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God," contrasting it with the "sinful dispositions of the human heart" [4]. This fruit is seen as a harmonious whole of righteous works [6]. John Gill notes that the "fruit of the Spirit" can also be understood as the "fruit of light," aligning with the idea of walking as "children of light" [5, 7].
The Holy Spirit not only reveals truth but also attests to it through undeniable miracles, as seen in the apostles' witness to Christ [10]. This divine attestation provides a basis for discerning genuine supernatural experiences from those that may not be from God. Calvin emphasizes that believers are "wild and useless olive trees" until they are "grafted into Christ," who, through His "living root," enables them to bear fruit by sending the Spirit [6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
- Daniel “Daniel 2:22 (Geneva1599) — Hee discouereth the deepe and secrete things: he knoweth what is in darkenes, and the light dwelleth with him.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 15:26: 15:26 But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth: Like a legal advocate, the Holy Spirit counsels and protects Jesus’ followers.”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit - Both flesh - the sinful dispositions of the human heart and spirit - the changed or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God, are represented by the apostle as trees, one yielding good the other bad fruit; the productions of each being according to the nature of the tree, as the tree is according to the nature of the seed from which it sprung. The bad seed produced a bad tree, yielding all manner of bad fruit; the good seed produced a good tree, bringing forth fruits of the most excellent kind. The tree of the flesh”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:8: For the fruit of the Spirit,.... Either of the spirit of man, as renewed, or rather of the Spirit of God; the allusion is to fruits of trees: the believer is a tree of righteousness; Christ is his root; the Spirit is the sap, which supports and nourishes; and good works, under the influence of his grace, are the fruit: the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read "the fruit of light"; which agrees with the preceding words: and the genuine fruit of internal grace, or light, is in all goodness, and righteousness, ”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 1:11: The oldest manuscripts read the singular, "fruit." So Gal 5:22 (see on Gal 5:22); regarding the works of righteousness, however manifold, as one harmonious whole, "the fruit of the Spirit" (Eph 5:9) Jam 3:18, "the fruit of righteousness" (Heb 12:11); Rom 6:22, "fruit unto holiness." which are--"which is by (Greek, 'through') Jesus Christ." Through His sending to us the Spirit from the Father. "We are wild and useless olive trees till we are grafted into Christ, who, by His living root, makes us fruit-bearing branches" [CALVIN].”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:9: fruit of the Spirit--taken by transcribers from Gal 5:22. The true reading is that of the oldest manuscripts, "The fruit of THE LIGHT"; in contrast with "the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11). This verse is parenthetic. Walk as children of light, that is, in all good works and words, "FOR the fruit of the light is [borne] in [ALFORD; but BENGEL, 'consists in'] all goodness [opposed to 'malice,' Eph 4:31], righteousness [opposed to 'covetousness,' Eph 5:3] and truth [opposed to 'lying,' Eph 4:25]."”
- 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”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 4:2: 4:2 By being in the Spirit, John could experience spiritual realities (see 1:10; 17:3; 21:10; Ezek 11:1) and grasp insights about God’s presence, the heavenly realm, and God’s intentions in history.”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 5:32: we are his witnesses . . . and the Holy Ghost--They as competent human witnesses to facts, and the Holy Ghost as attesting them by undeniable miracles.”