Discerning Spiritual Operations

About this course

When we study the Word of God, we must keep in mind that the Lord wrote the Bible in a language He intended for us to understand. Yet many of its words, like discern, must be carefully weighed to grasp the intent of the Father. In this course, Apostle Mary Banks opens the scriptures on discernment: to regard or perceive, to look at closely with the intent of identifying good and evil, truth or lie, Spirit or flesh, motive or intent.

The course traces two aspects of discerning taught in scripture. The first is the gift of discerning of spirits (I Corinthians 12:10), the ability of the measure of the Holy Ghost given to individuals in the Body of Christ to identify the presence of evil spirits. The second is the discerning of spiritual things, people, dispositions and mindsets, the comparing of spiritual things with spiritual (I Corinthians 2:13), exercised strictly by walking in the mind of Christ.

What you will study

• Lesson 1, Discerning Good and Evil: the definition and purposes of discernment, from the schoolmaster to the New Covenant.
• Lesson 2, Discerning of Spirits: the purpose of identifying an evil spirit, why every sickness is not a spirit, and the assignment of seducing spirits in the church.
• Lesson 3, Discerning Spiritual Dispositions: self-examination, the reprobate, discerning the disposition of the mind, and discerning relationships.
• Lesson 4, Discerning Spiritual Operations: the principles of listening spiritually, content, the void, spiritual assessment, touch, spiritual location, and ignorance versus rebellion.

Who this course is for

This course is for believers who desire to exercise their spiritual senses to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), especially those laboring in counseling, leadership, and the ministry of reconciliation.

How you are assessed

Each lesson ends with a chapter quiz, and the course closes with a final exam drawing on all four lessons. Chapter quizzes count for 60% of your grade and the final exam for 40%. A passing grade is 70% or higher.