The Open Heaven 13 November 2025 devotional for today is DISCERNING OF SPIRITS I
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 13 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: DISCERNING OF SPIRITS I
MEMORISE:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
READ: 1 John 4:1-3:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 13 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Many children of God have fallen into the devil’s trap because they lacked the gift of the discerning of spirits. Usually, the messengers that the devil sends to believers appear as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
They usually seem harmless and very likeable, such that believers let their guards down around them and put their trust in them. By the time such believers realise that they are dealing with the devil’s agents, major damage would have been done, and they would have lost ground to the devil where their destiny is concerned.
However, if such believers have the gift of the discerning of spirits, they will get an inward witness, warning them about the devil’s agents.
Some Christian ladies have married occultic men who disguised themselves as born-again Christians because they did not have the gift of the discerning of spirits. Likewise, some believers have engaged in businesses with the wrong people because they lacked the gift of the discerning of spirits.
Christian employers should not only look at the qualifications of the people they intend to employ; they should also be sensitive to discern the kind of spirits they carry so they do not impact their organisations negatively.
In 1980, I attended the wedding ceremony of one of my three close friends at the time. When I got to the venue, one of the other two friends welcomed me warmly and was doing everything to make me comfortable by offering me all kinds of drinks, food, and souvenirs.
Suddenly, I heard God say, “He is your enemy.” I was shocked because I was really close to him and thought I knew him so well. However, I started treading carefully around him from that day on. Sometime later, I confronted him with what God told me, but he denied being an enemy.
Some months later, we met again to discuss issues concerning the church after the death of my Father in the Lord. There, he showed his true colours and said, “From the day you came into this church, I hated you.”
Beloved, if you don’t have the gift of the discerning of spirits, you most likely will commit the error of making an enemy a friend and a friend an enemy. This is why you must ask God for the gift of the discerning of spirits so you can truly know the spirits controlling the people around you. I pray that every devil disguised as an angel of light around you will be exposed, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please give me the gift of the discerning of spirits.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Acts 6-7
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 13 NOVEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
This verse unveils the core strategy of the enemy: deception through disguise. Satan does not always present himself as a grotesque monster; his most effective attacks come through attractive, reasonable, and even “spiritual” facades that are designed to bypass our spiritual defenses.
BIBLE READING: 1 John 4:1-3
This passage provides the biblical mandate and method for spiritual discernment:
- v. 1: A direct command: “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.”Discernment is not an option; it is a necessity for every believer.
- v. 2-3: The foundational test: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. The spirit of antichrist denies this truth. This tests the spirit’s allegiance to the core truth of the Gospel.
The Divine X-Ray: Discerning the Spirit Behind the Smile
Pastor E.A. Adeboye moves from the internal character issue of pride to a critical external spiritual skill: discernment. He teaches that in the spiritual regime of the Holy Spirit, believers must be equipped to see beyond natural appearances to perceive the true spiritual forces at work, especially when they are cloaked in light.
1. The Enemy’s Primary Strategy: Deceptive Packaging
Angels of Light, Not Darkness:
The greatest threats to a believer’s destiny rarely come from obvious sources of evil. The devil’s most effective agents are charming, likable, and often appear to be “harmless.” They gain access through trust, friendship, and the appearance of virtue, making their eventual betrayal or negative influence all the more devastating.
The High Stakes of Discernment:
Daddy Adeboye outlines the catastrophic consequences of lacking this gift:
- Marital Destruction: Christian women marrying men who are secretly occultic.
- Financial Ruin: Believers entering business partnerships with the wrong people.
- Organizational Sabotage: Employers hiring qualified but spiritually toxic employees.
In each case, “major damage” is done before the true nature is revealed.
2. The Nature of the Gift of Discerning Spirits
Beyond Natural Suspicion:
This is not a hyper-critical spirit or paranoia. It is a supernatural revelation from the Holy Spirit that exposes the true spiritual identity or agenda behind a person, situation, or teaching. It is an “inward witness,” a divine alarm bell that rings when something is not of God.
A Necessary Component of the Spirit-Filled Life:
While all believers have a measure of discernment through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:15), the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10) is a special manifestation granted for specific situations. It is not for judging motives, but for identifying the spirit at work—whether it is of God, of the flesh, or of the devil.
3. A Personal Testimony: The Friend Who Was an Enemy
The Shock of Divine Revelation:
Daddy Adeboye’s personal story is a powerful case study. His friend’s outward actions were warm, generous, and welcoming. By all natural appearances, he was a close ally. The divine revelation, “He is your enemy,” was therefore shocking and counter-intuitive.
The Confirmation of True Colors:
The initial denial was part of the deception. However, in a moment of truth, the friend’s hidden hatred was revealed, confirming the divine warning. This testimony underscores that the gift of discernment is not based on evidence but on revelation, and it often protects us long before the enemy’s plan is fully manifest.
How to Cultivate and Operate in Spiritual Discernment
1. Ask for the Gift Diligently:
This gift is crucial for protection. Follow the biblical pattern and ask God for it (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1). Be persistent in your request, understanding its importance for your destiny.
2. Stay Sensitized Through Holiness:
A heart cluttered with sin and worldly compromise muffles the Holy Spirit’s voice. A life of holiness, prayer, and intimacy with God keeps your spiritual senses sharp and able to detect even subtle deceptions (Hebrews 5:14).
3. Test Every Spirit by the Word:
The ultimate plumb line is Scripture. Does the person, teaching, or opportunity align with the truth of God’s Word? The first test, as in 1 John 4:2, is the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord come in the flesh. Any deviation from core biblical truth is a red flag.
Warning: The Cost of a Dull Spirit
Living without active discernment is like walking through a minefield blindfolded. You will commit the fatal error of “making an enemy a friend and a friend an enemy,” trusting the wrong people and distrusting the right ones. This leaves you vulnerable to catastrophic spiritual, emotional, and financial damage.
Conclusion: Your Prayer for Divine Exposure
Pray this:
“Holy Spirit, my Teacher and Guide, I ask You for the gift of discerning of spirits. Sharpen my spiritual senses to perceive the true nature of the spirits and people around me. Expose every agent of the devil disguised as an angel of light. Let no deceptive friendship, partnership, or opportunity derail my destiny. I rely on Your revelation to walk in safety and wisdom, in Jesus’ name.”
Action Steps:
- Pray for Key Relationships: Bring your close friends, potential spouse, and business partners before God and ask Him specifically to reveal any hidden deception.
- Study Deception in Scripture: Read about Judas Iscariot (John 12:4-6), the story of Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27), and the “false apostles” in 2 Corinthians 11. Note the patterns of deception.
- Practice in Prayer: When you feel uneasy about a situation or person, don’t dismiss it. Pray into it. Ask the Holy Spirit for clarity. Journal what you sense and watch for confirmation.
Remember: In the regime of the Holy Spirit, you are not called to be gullible. You are called to be as harmless as a dove but as wise as a serpent (Matthew 10:16). The gift of discerning of spirits is a key part of that serpentine wisdom.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1). This is your command and your protection.
Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow
Download Open Heaven 13 November 2025 Devotional PDF
Leave a Reply