Apostolic perspectives and understanding the gift of discerning of spirits features incredible stories of this gift at work impacting churches and lives. This month I will interview Brenda Taylor. She has one of the most unique and accurate expressions of the discerning of spirits I’ve seen in over 35 years of ministry. In this interview we’ll examine various experiences through the years and how the gift operated and its impact on people’s lives and in church leadership.
This flows beautifully with last month’s rendition of Apostolic Perspectives where covered “Witchcraft and the Devil’s Devices.”
- 00:01 – Introduction & Scriptures
- 04:35 – Four types or categories of spirits
- 07:30 – Why Brenda
- 08:00 – Moving from scriptural teaching into actual operation
- 09:35 – When she began recognizing the operation of the gift in her life
- 10:00 – Romans 12:3-8 & 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
- 11:35 – 1980s – discerning a morally compromised youth pastor
- 11:50 – 4 types of spirits 12:20 – Human spirit & Hebrews 4:12-13 – Importance of God’s word
- 14:00 – Serious lesson learned from NOT saying anything
- 15:20 – Consequence of a local church leadership governed by timidity
- 15:50 – The role of a watchman 16:10 – The inner turmoil that occurs as the gift develops
- 17:40 – 2003 example – discerning a false evangelist who is in the news today
- 18:40 – Research confirmed discernment – false apostle mentored that evangelist
- 19:40 – Tim’s experience confronting that false apostle late 1990s using Matthew 18
- 21:20 – Late 1990s – Senior minister invites prophetic predator to minister
- 23:00 – The warning dream + intercession
- 23:40 – The spirit of perversion & preying on gullible women using a perverted prophetic gift
- 26:00 – The consequence of no teamwork, communication nor using the elder’s gifts
- 27:30 – Encouraging teamwork and honor of God’s gifts
- 28:00 – Who can operate in the discerning of spirits?
- 29:30 – Amazing testimonies discerning pregnancies (human spirits)
- 31:20 – They ask her to name their baby! Can you imagine the pressure?
- 33:30 – She’s never been wrong
- 34:30 – Example – Discerning of spirits aides in dream interpretation
- 37:40 – Amazing example of a death, discerning of spirits, word of knowledge, working with predictive prophecy regarding a marriage that would occur within 6 years impacting a church leader
- 41:40 – An example of the redemptive purpose of the gift
- 43:30 – The importance of being able to keep a secret
- 44:00 – Good testimony of elders exercising good discipline and intercession
- 46:20 – The most important thing to have in your life to see this gift operate
- 46:40 – How the LORD enrolled Brenda in a 10 year school of the Holy Spirit…. at work
- 49:05 – Question? Are women more intuitive than men?
- 53:30 – Scenario presented asking how to discern a minister’s message/timing.
- 56:20 – God is calling His church to mature! Can we discern between the motive & the word?
- 58:30 – The learning curve
- 1:00:30 – Creating a culture to learn to discern
- 1:03:15 – Pulpit ministry & the time for feedback or correction
- 1:05:20 – The need to teamwork in a husband and wife team & need for deliverance
- 1:07:00 – The growth of AI increases the importance of discerning of spirits
- 1:08:30 – The importance of not being enamored with a well known minister. Trust the gift in you.
- 1:11:10 – Entertainment oriented church tempts ministers to cross into performance
- 1:11:45 – An example of stealing a minister’s profile to prey on the gullible
- 1:13:00 – Christ is calling the Church up to His standard of maturity
- 1:15:35 – Those with a gift of mercy can be easily taken advantage of
- 1:16:10 – The gifts need to work TOGETHER complimenting one another
- 1:18:20 – Importance of timing – discerning when to speak
- 1:20:40 – The gift mix
- 1:22:30 – When you seek the gift, ask for wisdom.
- 1:29:15 – Prayer for the listener
Notes & Scripture
1 Corinthians 12:7 -8 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit…
1 Corinthians 12:10-11 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
It is a gift that calls for maturity. John 4:23-24 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Senses Exercised to Discern
Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The Word of God is the Main Thing
Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Four Types of Spirits
- Human spirit – Numbers 14:24 – But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
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- Zechariah 12:1. The Coming Deliverance of Judah The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:
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- Holy Spirit – 118x – mentioned 3x in OT in Psalms 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me….. and in Isaiah 63:10-11. Rest mentioned NT.
- Demonic spirit and or antichrist spirit – Matthew 8:16 Many Healed in the Evening (Mark 1:32–34; Luke 4:40, 41) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
- Luke 9:42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.
- 1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
- Angelic – Psalms 104:4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. (Heb 1:7)
1 Corinthians 2:14-15 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
Judges = discern g0350. ἀνακρίνω anakrinō; from 303 and 2919; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine: — ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search. See extended def. In Olive Tree’s Strongs def.
1 Thessalonians 5:12
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 9 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
2 thoughts on “Apostolic Perspectives & Understanding the Gift of Discerning of Spirits”
Excellent video – filled with timely and practical wisdom and much needed instruction.
Thank you Tim and Brenda.
Thanks Sue