The Journey: Session Three

Discernment of Spirits

Part Two

by Bob Van Cleef

The Fruit of the Spirit

One of the primary methods of discernment is "fruit inspection". That is, looking at the results of a teaching, doctrine, or instruction or examining the impact of any prophetic or spiritual manifestation or message. In particular, looking at the lives of the people who are involved, either as teachers or students. Do their lives show a holy witness to Christ?

The Works of the Flesh vs. Fruit of the Spirit in Galations 5

(Gal 5:19-21) "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, [21] envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

(Gal 5:22-23a) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control..."

There are many ways in which the spirit manifests itself in the lives of those who follow it. Anyone who claims to be following the Holy Spirit or speaking for Christ should readily pass a "Fruit Inspection." Those who are not following the Holy Spirit will fail.

(Mat 7:15-16) [Christ Speaking] "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. [16] You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?"

The fruit of the Spirit will show in the life of a teacher or the community that follows that teacher. (See 1 Corinthians 13)

If we live in Christ, our lives will bear fruit for him, so that God may be glorified.

(John 15:4) [Christ Speaking] "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."

(John 15:8) [Christ Speaking] "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

Inspect the Fruit, But Do Not Judge

Now, a word of caution. Many people get so hung up on inspecting the fruit of those around them, that they start condemning and judging in a very non-Christ like manner. Remember Christ's warning.

(Mat 7:1-5) [Christ Speaking] "Judge not, that you be not judged. [2] For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. [3] And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? [4] Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? [5] Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Fruit inspection basically only has one valid purpose, the judging the works and results of a ministry or word. It is not a general purpose tool to be used by everyone to judge or condemn others. There is a time and place for judgement, but only for those who have been clearly placed in a position of -leadership.

In the following Scripture extract, Paul clearly shows that, while God is responsible for judging the actions of non-Christians, the elders of the community are responsible for judging the actions of the members of that community. Unless you are in such a position of leadership, use the inspection of fruit only to discern the message or the ministry, not to judge the people. Only if you are called to a position of leadership over the individuals involved, such as acting as their spiritual director, do you have the right to judge. In fact, in that case it becomes an obligation.

(1 Cor 5:9-6:5) "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. [10] Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. [11] But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not even to eat with such a person. [12] For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? [13] But those who are outside God judges. Therefore `put away from yourselves the evil person.' [6:1] Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? [2] Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? [3] Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? [4] If then you have judgements concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? [5] I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?"

A note of caution. Judge only the mature fruit. Green apples may look very different when they are ripe. Especially if they are really red apples.

Witchcraft, Fortune-telling, and Magic

In spite of the approval given by our society today, the Scriptures and the Church are very clear on these false spiritual practices. Obedience to the Scriptures and the Church makes this discernment easy.

(Deu 18:10-12) There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, [11] or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. [12] For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.

(1 Sam 15:23a) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry...

(2 Ki 21:6) Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.

Divination and Magic (The Catechism)

2115 God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.

2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

2117 All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others--even if this were for the sake of restoring their health--are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.

The Journey: The Gifts of the Spirit

This is part of a collection of handouts designed for use as part of a series of teachings on The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, published by the Catholic Charismatic Center. Copyright (C) 1999 by the Catholic Charismatic Center.

Permission is granted for reproduction for use for non-commercial purposes, providing that you credit the author and the Catholic Charismatic Center.

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