7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

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Discerning of spirits is the supernatural ability to know the identification of the nature and character of spirits, unseen or seen. The discerning of spirits can operate in four areas the divine, angelic, demonic and human. Discerning of spirits give insights into the realm of spirits. The discerning of spirits may include visions and dreams. It is the ability to discern spirits whether they are good or evil.

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Discerning of Spirits in the Old Testament

8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes  of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

--- 2 Kings 6:8-17

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In this story the prophet Elisha operated in two revelation gifts the word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits. Through the word of knowledge he was able to know the battle plans and strategies of the king of Syria. As he saw them through the gift of the word of knowledge he would the warn the king of Israel. He warned the king of Israel on a few occasions who used the information for his advantage which caused the king of Syria to believe he had a spy in his camp. The king of Syria called a meeting and suggested that there must be a spy among them, but a soldier stepped forward and told him about how that the prophet Elisha knew his plans and would inform the king of Israel. 

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After the king knew what the prophet Elisha was doing he sent part of his army to go take Elisha captive. The morning they arrive to where Elisha was dwelling the servant of Elisha named Gehazi saw the army approaching and was terrified by the site. Through the gift of the discerning of spirits so that God had sent him an army of a host of angel. Seeing that Gehazi was terrified Elisha prayed that God would open his eyes to see the angelic host which God did for him. Through the discerning of spirits Elisha and Gehazi saw and knew they were protected. 

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Discerning of spirits in the New Testament

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

--- Acts 16:16-18

 

Paul and Silas had travelled to Philippi and preached there for several days a woman with a spirit of divination followed them. Paul eventually through the discerning of spirits knew that she had a demonic spirit controlling her and he cast it out of her. 

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