DISCERNMENT (SUPPORT GIFTS)

The God-given special ability to serve and strengthen the body of Christ by recognizing truth or error within a message, person, or event.

People with this gift:

• Distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure.
• Identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness.
• Determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic.
• Recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message or interpretation. Perceives when the truth is twisted or communicated with error.
• Are able to sense the presence of evil. Recognizes the spiritual source of a message -whether it is from God, Satan, or man.
• Find it easy to “read” others, and are most often right. Easily identify people’s true motives and agendas.

Traits: Perceptive, insightful, sensitive, intuitive, decisive, challenging, truthful

Cautions: People with this gift:

• May struggle with how to express perceptions, fillings or insights.
• Could be harsh when confronting others, instead of speaking the truth in love.
• Need to confirm their perceptions before speaking.

References: I Cor. 12:10, Acts 5:1-4, Matt. 16:21-23