DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” II Corinthians 11:3-4 NKJV
The Gospel is so simple that its simplicity can easily be mistaken for insufficiency.
Scripture constantly exposes us to things that may seem or feel diminishing, sometimes hurtful to our inflated egos. But that is only because they are designed to kill the flesh while nourishing the spirit.
In our theme scripture, Paul likens the lie of Satan in the garden of Eden to the false teachings circulating about Christ and the Holy Spirit. He is reminding the church that deception does not always come loudly. It often comes through teachings that shift our focus away from the Christ and onto something else, whether it is self, works, emotions, or spiritual experiences that have no anchor in the Word.
Discernment, then, is simply the ability to hold everything up to the truth of Christ. Not chasing mystery. Not feeding curiosity. Not accepting every spiritual expression as from God. But staying rooted in what Jesus taught, who He is, and what the Scriptures plainly reveal. The more we grow in the Word, the quicker we recognize when something carries a different spirit or a different gospel.
This is why Paul urges the church to guard their minds. The enemy’s first strategy was, and still is, corruption through subtle distortion. But the simplicity of Christ is our safeguard. When our hearts remain fixed on Him, we are not easily moved by teachings that present another path, another power, or another version of the Gospel.
Staying with Christ is the highest discernment. And you cannot
Prayer: My Father, I thank you for anchoring my heart in the simplicity of Christ. My mind is guarded from anything that draws me away from the true Gospel.
By your spirit I have discernment because I am grounded in your Word. Help me recognize Your voice above every other influence, and keep my devotion fixed on Jesus pure, steady, and obedient, to the glory of your name. Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• 1 John 4:1
• Galatians 1:6-8
• Acts 17:11
