- Introduction
- When I was starting off many years ago, and first became saved in 1981, I had some pretty good discernment, at least worldly discernment, as I owned my own companies and could pretty much figure people out as soon as I would meet them.
- When I became a Christian, I was taught something different, a more intuitive type of discernment. Something more than I had ever known. My mind had to be transformed.
- My old thinking had to pass away so that God could renew my mind with the discernment that He wanted me to have. It was very different.
- In the world, your discernment is the things that surround you that are immediate, but in the Spirit, they can be immediate. They can be past, or they can be future.
- As I began to press into God and know what He wanted for me in this life as a Christian, I was baffled.
- Many times when I thought I heard the Lord’s voice, it was still my voice until one day I had a vision and I truly believed I had heard the voice of the Lord about how a particular job was going to go and how things were going to work out for me.
- It was almost like a complete forecast of exactly what I needed to discern, and I had the correct answer, but it was not the answer within me. It was the answer that came from God through a vision that shocked me but I knew it was Him.
- How did I know it was him? Because there was this presence that came over me like I had never known before. In the vision, I knew exactly what I needed to do and what to say.
- It just didn’t seem like my thinking, or even something I had ever thought about before I knew the Lord, so I knew that God was transforming me and giving me a vision and discerning spirit.
- Today I’ve drawn in to that vision that God has given me. It’s like when I want to know something or figure out something, or have the best advice I can possibly give to someone, I will lay down.
- God will begin to bring pictures to me of the situation or person, and then there will be an answer to the question I asked the Lord.
- This comes with drawing close to the Lord. This comes from studying God’s word and communicating to him. This is how you and I can live a whole and fruitful life with the Lord if you will talk to Him.
- It’s not always just talking audibly. It’s talking to Him through the Word and allowing Him to speak back. It is allowing him to take complete control and surrendering completely to Him.
- When you have done this, He will give you the discerning will, spirit, and answers. Now let us go into our study.
- What is Discernment? If I had to ask you today, what this would be, what would be your answer?
- Discernment is the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well.
- In judgment, discernment can be psychological, moral or aesthetic in nature.
- The process of discernment within judgment involves going past the mere perception of something and making nuanced judgments about its properties or qualities.
- What is the difference between discernment, and a discerning spirit?
- Discernment is being able to differentiate between good and bad, right and wrong. 1st Kings 3:9: Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? We should all pray for God to give us understanding and discernment.
- A discerning spirit, is the ability to discern what is of the Spirit of God, and what is not. 1st Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. If you are born-again, the closer you get to God, and the more time you spend walking and talking with Him, the more of a discerning spirit ou will have.
- How might one receive a discerning mind? Is this something you would like to have?
- One way you can have a discerning mind, is by renewing your mind through praying and studying God’s Word. Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove (or discern) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. When you spend time in prayer and the Word every day, you are transformed, and have more of the discerning Mind of Christ.
- Discernment comes through obtaining wisdom, which comes from God. James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. We must ask in faith, as the next verse encourages us to ask in faith with nothing wavering.
- Who in the bible had a discerning spirit or a form of Discernment? In the bible, we often see words such as wisdom or understanding, in place of discernment.
- Solomon was a man blessed with wisdom and discernment. 1st Kings 4:29: And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. Solomon had asked God to give him wisdom. Because he asked for this, rather than wealth or other things, God blessed Him greatly.
- We see a reference to men of discernment or understanding in Ezra 8:16: Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. These eleven men listed had discernment, wisdom and understanding.
- We see characteristics like wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in Daniel and others of the Children of Israel. Daniel 1:3 and 4: And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. These children of Israel were blessed of God and got the attention of the king because of these qualities.
- Have you ever had a vision that also gave you the answers inside the vision for yourself or someone else?
- God used visions and dreams to guide Joseph, when Jesus was born. In this first instance, Joseph had found out that Mary was pregnant, and was going to divorce her. Matthew 1:20: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Joseph was pondering what he should do, and God gave the answer in a dream.
- God used a dream to bring a warning to Joseph. Matthew 2:13: And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. God used a dream to give Joseph discernment to know that he needed to take his family to Egypt. Later, in another dream, God showed him that it was safe to come back.
- What did Jesus say in regards to discernment?
- Jesus talks about having discernment in John 7:24: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Discernment is being able to look beyond the appearance and judge what is of God’s righteousness, or not..
- If you draw close to God, His Spirit will lead you into all truth, and show you things to come. John 16:13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. When I spend time in prayer, the Spirit of God speaks to me about people and situations, and shows me things that will soon come to pass.
- Jesus stresses the importance of discerning the times that we are in. Matthew 16:3: And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Jesus is coming soon. Just look at the news and everything going on around the world today. Are you ready for that trumpet to sound, and the Lord to snatch us home? It could happen before the end of this service.
- Conclusion
- Would you like a discerning spirit?
- Are you willing to pray for discernment?
- Will you read and study God’s Word to show yourself approved and know that all approval comes from God Himself in every desire and hope and every final conclusion?
