Discernment of Spirits for an Intercessor by Bola Olu-Jordan
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
(1Jn 4:1)
Nine gifts of the spirits are mentioned in 1Cor. 12:8-10: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues. One of the most pricey and outstanding of these gifts to a prayer warrior or intercessor is the gift of the discernment of Spirits.
As the name sounds, it is discernment of spirits, not just spirit. It is the ability to see into the spirit realms of both the kingdom of darkness and kingdom of light. If a believer only sees demons or only angels, or only sees what the devil is planning to do or is doing, he or she is not operating in the gift of discernment of spirits.
Discernment of spirits is the ability to see through the satanic realms, angelic realms, disembodied spirits’ realm and even sometimes the human spirits’ realm. This may be spirits of warlocks, warlords, witches, shamans and so on. There are other spirits of human origin who projects. This is a higher dimension of warfare for a believer or intercessor because sometimes you may bind all spirits and nothing happens. It is perhaps because the spirit in operation is a projecting human spirit among other reasons (Mat. 17:21). Many times, this type does not respond to binding and losing because they have not been defeated at the cross yet, unlike the demonic spirits who have been (2Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6). You must also be aware that demons are different from fallen angels and so have different activities and operations.
The purpose of discernment for a believer, especially an intercessor is to KNOW the spirits and to SEE the activities and operations of the spirits at any given time. This is in order to effectively take authority over them in warfare. It is not for fascination, fear or head knowledge (Luke 10:19). The realm of the spirit is a dangerous realm and must not be entered in casually. Read Eph. 6; Jude 1:8-10; 2Pet. 2:11. They are legalistic spirits and possess higher knowledge of the spiritual status of every believer (Mark 1:24; Acts 19:14-16). These spirits are drama queens, shape changers and are very good in make-believe appearances. They can appear as angels of light to deceive (2Cor. 11:14).
Another devious activity of these demonic spirits is that sometimes they speak the truth (Luke 4:34; Acts 16:16-18). They even quote the scripture rightly (Mat. 4:6) and believe (Jas 2:19). But all these are in order to manipulate. If you believe the truth the devil speaks because it is the truth, you have not believed the truth, you have believed the devil. You must discern when they speak the ‘truth.’ You must tell them to keep quiet; otherwise, they will persuade you away. Paul almost fell into this charade (Acts 16:16).
Intercessory prayer is not dependent of the length of the prayer. It is a strategic, on-point and targeted prayers through revelation. They do not pray like beating the air, hoping the punch will hit a target like regular people do. God relies on the activities of the intercessors in the church to do what He will do because they enforce the kingdom of God on earth. Intercessors are willing people, not those co-opted into the group to fulfill religious activities. They know that their life is on the line as they stand in the gap, so they are always prepared. Without a holy life and the gifts of the Spirit, especially, discernment, intercessors are a danger to themselves.
Vision is a useful tool for intercessors but without discernment, vision can lead astray; so also speaking in tongues without interpretation (1Cor. 14:27-28). The lower realms can manipulate these including prophecy and knowledge (1Cor. 13:8), and indeed all gifts. The gifts of the word of knowledge and words of wisdom are very powerful gifts for an intercessor. They help the intercessor to KNOW the spirit in operation and also how to approach them in warfare. However, they must be subjected to testing (1John. 4:1; 1Cor. 14:29). If you SEE the spirit in your presence, external to your body or in your mental vision (“mind’s eye”), that is the operation of the gift of discernment of spirits. Examples: Mt. 17:2; Acts 16:9.
Intercessors are bold people. They operate in love, power and sound mind (2Tim 1:7). They do not fidget or panic when God opens their eyes to see the oppression and operation of the demonic forces. They see in order to subdue. They subdue by a delegated authority of Christ in them through faith in the spoken words. They stand on the authority of the word and issue commands to stop activities of demons.
Having the tight tool always make the work easily done. Having the knowledgeable on the warfare verbiage and prayer vocabulary is important. Intercessors possess an unending and insatiable appetite, reservoir and depository of the word of God in them in order to retain and build prayer vocabulary. They are “it is written people.” (Rev. 12:11). They do not just read or study but constantly soak-in and saturate in the word of God because the word is their primary weapon of warfare (Jos. 1:8). The amount of the word they have determines the amount of victory they get. Repetition, not memorization is mother of retention.
In physical warfare, commands are technical languages for action or inaction. They are issued with clarity and authority recognized by the soldiers. So also in the spirit, the hosts of heaven who do the battle in the spirit realm only respond to your command when it is issued with clear commands, the right verbiage, prayer vocabulary and the authority of Jesus. They cannot resist or question these. Do not beg God to come and help you do what He already gave you the power and authority to do. It is a sign of lack of knowledge in spiritual matters. The enemy will capitalize on your ignorance. This is one and the same as when you ask a demon to die. It is the height of spiritual ignorance. Even Jesus recognized this (Mat. 8:29-31). Never display spiritual ignorance in the presence of your lawful captive. They are legalistic spirits and will cash in on your ignorance.
One thing intercessors must not depend on is feelings. There could be a spiritual awareness of the environment but it must not be by feelings. Feeling in momentous but discernment is reality. Discernment is the gift of the spirit but feeling is an element of the soul. Satan can manipulate feelings to his advantage but has no hiding place with discernment. The gift of discernment is non-negotiable for a believer especially an intercessor. Desire it.
As the name sounds, it is discernment of spirits, not just spirit. It is the ability to see into the spirit realms of both the kingdom of darkness and kingdom of light. If a believer only sees demons or only angels, or only sees what the devil is planning to do or is doing, he or she is not operating in the gift of discernment of spirits.
Discernment of spirits is the ability to see through the satanic realms, angelic realms, disembodied spirits’ realm and even sometimes the human spirits’ realm. This may be spirits of warlocks, warlords, witches, shamans and so on. There are other spirits of human origin who projects. This is a higher dimension of warfare for a believer or intercessor because sometimes you may bind all spirits and nothing happens. It is perhaps because the spirit in operation is a projecting human spirit among other reasons (Mat. 17:21). Many times, this type does not respond to binding and losing because they have not been defeated at the cross yet, unlike the demonic spirits who have been (2Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6). You must also be aware that demons are different from fallen angels and so have different activities and operations.
The purpose of discernment for a believer, especially an intercessor is to KNOW the spirits and to SEE the activities and operations of the spirits at any given time. This is in order to effectively take authority over them in warfare. It is not for fascination, fear or head knowledge (Luke 10:19). The realm of the spirit is a dangerous realm and must not be entered in casually. Read Eph. 6; Jude 1:8-10; 2Pet. 2:11. They are legalistic spirits and possess higher knowledge of the spiritual status of every believer (Mark 1:24; Acts 19:14-16). These spirits are drama queens, shape changers and are very good in make-believe appearances. They can appear as angels of light to deceive (2Cor. 11:14).
Another devious activity of these demonic spirits is that sometimes they speak the truth (Luke 4:34; Acts 16:16-18). They even quote the scripture rightly (Mat. 4:6) and believe (Jas 2:19). But all these are in order to manipulate. If you believe the truth the devil speaks because it is the truth, you have not believed the truth, you have believed the devil. You must discern when they speak the ‘truth.’ You must tell them to keep quiet; otherwise, they will persuade you away. Paul almost fell into this charade (Acts 16:16).
Intercessory prayer is not dependent of the length of the prayer. It is a strategic, on-point and targeted prayers through revelation. They do not pray like beating the air, hoping the punch will hit a target like regular people do. God relies on the activities of the intercessors in the church to do what He will do because they enforce the kingdom of God on earth. Intercessors are willing people, not those co-opted into the group to fulfill religious activities. They know that their life is on the line as they stand in the gap, so they are always prepared. Without a holy life and the gifts of the Spirit, especially, discernment, intercessors are a danger to themselves.
Vision is a useful tool for intercessors but without discernment, vision can lead astray; so also speaking in tongues without interpretation (1Cor. 14:27-28). The lower realms can manipulate these including prophecy and knowledge (1Cor. 13:8), and indeed all gifts. The gifts of the word of knowledge and words of wisdom are very powerful gifts for an intercessor. They help the intercessor to KNOW the spirit in operation and also how to approach them in warfare. However, they must be subjected to testing (1John. 4:1; 1Cor. 14:29). If you SEE the spirit in your presence, external to your body or in your mental vision (“mind’s eye”), that is the operation of the gift of discernment of spirits. Examples: Mt. 17:2; Acts 16:9.
Intercessors are bold people. They operate in love, power and sound mind (2Tim 1:7). They do not fidget or panic when God opens their eyes to see the oppression and operation of the demonic forces. They see in order to subdue. They subdue by a delegated authority of Christ in them through faith in the spoken words. They stand on the authority of the word and issue commands to stop activities of demons.
Having the tight tool always make the work easily done. Having the knowledgeable on the warfare verbiage and prayer vocabulary is important. Intercessors possess an unending and insatiable appetite, reservoir and depository of the word of God in them in order to retain and build prayer vocabulary. They are “it is written people.” (Rev. 12:11). They do not just read or study but constantly soak-in and saturate in the word of God because the word is their primary weapon of warfare (Jos. 1:8). The amount of the word they have determines the amount of victory they get. Repetition, not memorization is mother of retention.
In physical warfare, commands are technical languages for action or inaction. They are issued with clarity and authority recognized by the soldiers. So also in the spirit, the hosts of heaven who do the battle in the spirit realm only respond to your command when it is issued with clear commands, the right verbiage, prayer vocabulary and the authority of Jesus. They cannot resist or question these. Do not beg God to come and help you do what He already gave you the power and authority to do. It is a sign of lack of knowledge in spiritual matters. The enemy will capitalize on your ignorance. This is one and the same as when you ask a demon to die. It is the height of spiritual ignorance. Even Jesus recognized this (Mat. 8:29-31). Never display spiritual ignorance in the presence of your lawful captive. They are legalistic spirits and will cash in on your ignorance.
One thing intercessors must not depend on is feelings. There could be a spiritual awareness of the environment but it must not be by feelings. Feeling in momentous but discernment is reality. Discernment is the gift of the spirit but feeling is an element of the soul. Satan can manipulate feelings to his advantage but has no hiding place with discernment. The gift of discernment is non-negotiable for a believer especially an intercessor. Desire it.