HOUSE FELLOWSHIP LEADERS’ MANUAL – SUNDAY 17TH OF DECEMBER, 2023 – LESSON SIXTEEN (16) – TOPIC: DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
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HOUSE FELLOWSHIP LEADERS’ MANUAL
SUNDAY 17TH OF DECEMBER, 2023
LESSON SIXTEEN (16)
TOPIC: DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
HOUSE FELLOWSHIP ANTHEM
- I love this family of God,
So closely knitted into one,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I bless this family of God,
So greatly prospered by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I know this family of God,
So deeply rooted in the word,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I see this family of God,
So highly lifted above all,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family - Come, join this family of God,
So highly favoured by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family.
OPENING PRAYER: Father, please endow me with the gift of discerning of spirits
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Leader should remind members of who can hear from God and how to hear from God.
MEMORY VERSE: “To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits. “I Corinthians 12:10
BIBLE TEXT: Acts 16:17-18; 1 Kings 13:14-18
Acts 16:17-18
[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.
1 Kings 13:14-18
[14]And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.
[15]Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
[16]And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
[17]For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
[18]He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Discerning of spirits is a special gift of the Holy Spirit that enables someone to know the spirit operating at a certain time, event or place, whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking or operating. This gift silences demonic manipulation, enthrones righteousness and validates believers’ sonship in Christ. Every believer should crave to flawlessly and impactfully distinguish between the utterances of true spirits and false ones.
LESSON AIM: To ensure that members would be able to differentiate operations of different spirits and be guided in their operations.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, members should be able to know:
- the manifestation of discerning of spirits.
- the dangers of not being able to discern.
TEXT REVIEW: Acts 16:17-18; I Kings 13:14-18
a. There will always be deceptive spirits to hinder divine assignment.
b. Their assignment is to distract believers from their purposes and stop them from actualizing them.
c. The Devil is seeking whom to devour – I Kings 13:18.
d. To win the battle of deceptive spirits be vigilant – I Peter 5:5.
LESSON OUTLINE ONE
MANIFESTATION OF DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
This is God revealing to believers details of the presence or the non presence of spirits i.e. the Holy Spirit and demons and also knowing the identity of demons in operation -Acts 16:17-18.
What is the Manifestation of Discerning of Spirits and the Benefits?
I. It is divine information and power that flows from God to the believer to know the operation of spirits.
II It also endows the believer to know which strategy is required to win the battle of spirits.
iii. It also confirms believers’ sonship and right in Christ – Heb. 13:5; I Pet. 5:5.
iv. Believers are motivated and empowered to cast out evil spirits and enthrone righteousness – Mark 16:17;9:38-39.
v. It helps to judge dreams, visions, miracles, prophecies, etc.
vi. It aids the growth of the church.
LESSON OUTLINE TWO
DANGERS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO DISCERN
- Exposure to attack and deceit – I Kings 13:17-18.
- Loss of vision and calling -I Kings 13:23-24.
- Living in darkness and uncertainty -II Kings 8:15.
- Withdrawal of divine support.
- Increase in demonic merchandize – Acts 16:16.
- Increase in demonic activities and unlawful gains -Acts 16:19.
- Loss of divine presence and backsliding – Judges 16:20; I Kings 13:9.
ACTIVITY: What are things that limit the grace of discernment?
SUMMARY: There is a lot of deception nowadays. We really need the gift of discerning of spirits.
CONCLUSION: “And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him, ” Genesis 27:23
PRAYER POINTS
- Father, let your fire consume every merchandise of darkness operating in our churches, community and nation in Jesus name.
- Father, let revival be unleashed in our churches for spiritual re-awakening.
- Lord, begin spiritual cleansing in all parishes of RCCG.
- Father, please remove all barriers to manifestation of discerning of spirits.
- Lord, equip me with Your spiritual gifts.
- Your personal request.
ASSIGNMENT: Study Paul’s experience in Acts 1 6: 16-1 8 and covet such.
GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: Iniquity can perverse the grace of discernment – Job 6:30.
TUESDAY: Holy and profane things can be discerned by God’s gift – Eze. 44:23.
WEDNESDAY: Lord’s body can be discerned when taking Holy Communion -I Corinthians 1 1:29.
THURSDAY: O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear – Psalms 84:8.
FRIDAY: Pray for Men of God to be endowed with the gift of discernment.
SATURDAY: Pray that God will expose wolves in sheep clothing in church.
SUNDAY: May the eyes of our understanding be opened.
Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
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