using spiritual gifts

James McDonald has posted about the great damage that can be caused by people using the spiritual gift of discernment in their flesh and not in the Spirit.

I have been a pastor for more than 25 years and I have heard some pretty harsh things; but the deepest wounding by far has been at the hands of people using the gift of discernment in the flesh. Most often, these are the folks that separate friends, divide churches and destroy families. It is a very dangerous gift when not under the Spirit’s control. Maybe you have experienced this personally, or worse, have been the one doing it. Here are five ways to know if you or someone you know is using the gift of discernment in their own strength and not the Lord’s.

James also says that in a larger sense, all spiritual gifts need to be exercised under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but the particular example on his mind is the gift of discernment.

Hat tip to Challies.

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