Discernment: resources, a great conference, and some appreciation - By Elizabeth Prata

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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Some more misinformation on the gift of discernment, and "discernment ministries."

The author wrote a much better article on the same topic a couple of years ago.
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The Spirit delivers His gifts to all that are converted, ("Converted" is an odd word choice.)

and in quantities He chooses, to whom he pleases. The spiritual gifts are listed in several places, but they are by no means exhaustive. Romans 12:6–8, 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 1 Peter 4:11 are a few of the places these gifts are mentioned.

They are gifts of service, rendered unto God. (Let's actually quote these references: 

Ro. 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

1Co. 12:8-10 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1Pe. 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

These references contain material the author as a cessationist does not believe. In addition, we look in vain for the idea that these gifts are service "rendered unto God.")

It's why we must gather in the local congregation, so as to employ these gifts as part of a body working together to glorify Him and to edify each other. The gifts are not meant to be operated in isolation or solely for the recipient's benefit. The Spirit's ministry is to point to God and He instills these gifts as part of that ministry, (The author tells us that discernment is a gift imparted by the Holy Spirit, which is correct. That is, the Holy Spirit empowers the believer with this gift. It is not a natural ability to analyze and divide truth from error. The Holy Spirit imparts information during discernment, which is revelatory. 

But as a cessationist, the author does not believe in contemporary revelation.)

so that we may in turn point to God. (John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:13-15). (Again we shall quote the verses, since the author seems reluctant:

Jn. 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Jn. 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Jn. 16:13-15 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Again we look in vain, this time for any reference to spiritual gifts.)

As Charles Spurgeon wrote in his sermon, The Holy Spirit's Chief Office,

IT IS the CHIEF office of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ. He does many things, but this is what he aims at in all of them, to glorify Christ. Brethren, what the Holy Ghost does must be right for us to imitate: therefore, let us endeavour to glorify Christ.One way we do that is to employ our gifts obediently and wisely.

Discernment, or distinguishing between spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10) is one of those gifts. (Again we quote the verse:

1Co. 12:10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.)

It is given to some. We all have a responsibility to discern, we don't stay on milk forever but grow and mature. (Again we note that some of the gifts listed here are not part of the author's doctrine. Yet she appeals to the verse to support discernment.)

But to some believers the Spirit gives discernment as your local body's 'early warning system'. You hear the tornado siren before you see the tornado. The discernment person hears the false creeping in before many other do and does his or her best to warn. (This is correct. The gift of discernment does this, in the local congregation.)

In the verse 1 Corinthians 12:10 the word distinguishing used in 'distinguishing between spirits' is diakrisos, literally meaning according to Strong's Greek Lexicon, "deciding, passing sentence on; the act of judgment, discernment." (We note with joy that a "doctrinal police" person has actually quoted the Greek meaning.)

So when naysayers tell me or others who speak of, write about, or preach a discernment issue against so and so teacher or doctrine, they're literally telling us not to make a judgment. (Maybe, maybe not. We actually think the problem is the attitude of certain discernment ministers. They excuse themselves from biblical requirements. They think they have carte blanche permission to micro-analyze pastors a 1000 miles away, when the gifts are actually to minister within the local church. They sometimes criticize with terminology that would make a person blush.

No, we are pretty sure it's not discernment, per se, but rather the practices and attitudes of these people.

And we note the author wants to defend her "ministry" again.)

It's the same as telling us not to use our spiritual gift (No it's not. And by the way, the author has frequently been critical of prophecy. She doesn't want this spiritual gift used.)

and it means the person is saying they know better than God who gave the gift, for the Holy Spirit IS God. (No, it might mean that the way discernment is being wielded might be the problem.)

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