First impressions count because they are intuitive snapshots. When a woman distrusts a man whom she has met for the first time, her character assessment is usually correct. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” I discerned a spirit of lust in an actor while viewing a movie and later read that he was having an affair with his leading lady at the time. I watched the movie another time and saw nothing. I saw a cunning, deceptive spirit in a world leader while watching the news on television. I saw the video clip again later that evening and discerned nothing. I viewed a newsclip of a communist leader who was visiting Brisbane and saw the furtive smile of a cunning rat. I saw the same clip later that day and saw nothing.
Become familiar with the quiet voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:2-5) and you’ll recognize “the voice of a stranger” — the lies of one who is deceptive. How quickly you spot such lies will depend on how familiar you are with truth. God will never inspire anyone to say anything that contradicts His Word.
Renew your mind until it becomes the mind of Christ (Ephesians 4:23; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5). Doing this involves action as well as words. “Let him who stole steal no more but rather let him labour, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have to give to him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28).
The “put off” vice was stealing; the “put on” virtue is to be giving. (The virtue is the thing opposite to the vice.) The renewing of the thief’s mind takes place as he learns the value of money that has been earned by hard work. The former thief quits stealing and becomes a giver! His giving is not just due to the fact that he has stopped stealing; it is a product of the truth revealed to him through work that has renewed his mind.
Wash your own window, or you won’t know which window is dirty – yours or the other person’s (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31). If you have confessed your sins and are walking in the light of God’s Word, the problem you are discerning is not your own but the other’s.
Don’t mistake all sexual desire for sinful lust. Desire is a legitimate emotion (1 Corinthians 12:31 & 14:1). What you might be discerning is a woman’s desire for a husband, and you are mistaking that for lust.
There are no positive or negative emotions, only emotions that are expressed either positively or negatively. It is as right to hate sin as it is wrong to love it. Our emotions are as neutral as our hands, which can be used rightly or wrongly. The fist that is clenched can also be an open hand.
Don’t judge people or things prematurely (1 Corinthians 4:3-5). Every secret will be revealed and every motive will be exposed on the Lord’s Day. Until then there will be much that we don’t know, and in some cases it’s better that we don’t.
Take captive and imprison every thought that contradicts or opposes the truth of God’s word (2 Corinthians 10:5). Do not entertain thoughts that are contrary to or rebellious against what you know to be true.
Reject humanistic suggestions that are alien to God’s purpose, and which oppose the Lord’s personal leading in your life (Matthew 16:21-23). That humanistic thought expressed in words might be as big a hindrance as Peter’s.
Don’t dismiss the unthinkable as very unlikely. A prophet discerned a despicable intention lurking in the heart of a king’s servant. The servant reacted with “Am I a dog that I would do such a thing?” But he was a dog at heart – and soon after proved it (2 Kings 8:7-15). Don’t become over-suspicious though because it will cloud your gift of discerning. But do bear in mind that people will always surprise you — even if you think you’ve seen it all because you haven’t. People will be people.
Know your own spirit (Luke 9:54-56). If you don’t, how will you discern the difference between your spirit and the Spirit of God? (1 Corinthians 2:11)
Guard the entry-points to your life. The wall of any city is only as strong as its weakest gate (Psalm 141:3; Psalm 119:36, 37). Demons use television pornography as an easy point of entry.
Don’t mistake information for intelligence (2 Sam. 18:19-32). Intelligence is information gathered, separated and assessed, and in the process much of the information gathered is discarded.
Appearances can be deceptive, so make sure you ask the Lord about who is who isn’t, and what is and what’s not (Joshua 9:3-15). Don’t merely assume it — test it and prove it!
Who has the Naming Rights to a tall office building? The major tenant has! (Mark 5:9) Legion spoke for the man because the demonic spirit had taken him over. Jesus asked the man for his name, not the demon its name. When Legion replied Jesus knew it was living from the top floor down to the lower floors of the man’s life, so to speak, and had relegated the unfortunate man to the basement.
Identify and list known offenders. An adulterous spirit in a woman is often heard in her spiteful voice, and a lying spirit in a man’s proud words. An envious voice may express criticism or accusation. After you’ve heard these and other voices a few times, you’ll identify them with past encounters. The more you observe the more things become obvious.
Don’t prophesy or encourage what you have discerned in a person. It’s possible to discern a strong-willed woman and prophesy a valiant Deborah. In so doing you might release a destructive Jezebel on an already intimidated church congregation and a spiritually besieged pastor!