Use this section when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
Ministry method: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
Section control: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
16 operational passage entries
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
1 If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
2 and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,”
3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.
5 Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
Matthew 7:15-23
15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
Matthew 24:4-5,23-27
4 Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
23 At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
25 See, I have told you in advance.
26 So if they tell you, ‘There He is, in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
John 7:17
17 If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
Acts 17:10-12
10 As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11 Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
12 As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
Romans 16:17-20
17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
1 Corinthians 14:29-33
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4,13-15
3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
4 For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
Galatians 1:6-9
6 I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
19 Do not extinguish the Spirit.
20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
2 Timothy 3:13-17
13 while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them.
15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
1 John 2:18-27
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
21 I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth.
22 Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
24 As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.
26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.
Revelation 2:2
2 I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
- Use when: Use when revelations, prophecies, inner voices, manifestations, unusual experiences, or ministry claims need evaluation.
- Use how: Test confession about Jesus, agreement with Scripture, moral fruit, wisdom, accountability, and facts. Seek multiple mature witnesses and remain teachable.
- Context and caution: Discernment is not suspicion without evidence. Mental-health symptoms, trauma reactions, neurological events, or ordinary mistakes must not automatically be labeled demonic.
Berean Standard Bible · public domain · read the complete surrounding passage in context.