Discernment II

"What the Bible Teaches About Discernment"
Catherine Brown, Scotland

One Million Hours of Praise
www.gatekeepers.org.uk

NEHEMIAH

Not content with distraction and delay, Nehemiah's enemies turned their hand to outright intimidation with a death threat against his life.

"One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, 'Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you--by night they are coming to kill you.'" --Nehemiah 6:10

Well, what a bunch of bullies! Nehemiah responded to enemy aggression in his usual stalwart fashion, determined to trust God and not allow anything or anyone to deflect him from his God-given assignment.

"'Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!' I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me." --Nehemiah 6:11-13

Nehemiah correctly discerned the plan of his enemy and refused to run away. Discernment is a wonderful gift and operates in grace and faith. Discernment enables us to flow in agreement with God's governmental authority and wise counsel. We do not need to strive to attain discernment because it is a gift (1 Corinthians 12:1-12).

Godly discernment enables us to make decisions based on God's truth and not on our own opinion. I firmly believe that discernment is about agreeing with the heart of God on a matter. Suspicion and condemnation have no part in discernment because they are rooted in opinion, falsehood (lies), mistrust, rejection, and fear. When operating in discernment, it is important to make a decision not to withdraw--but to follow--the witness in one's heart.

The Bible teaches in relation to discernment that:

IT IS NECESSARY TO DISCERN

"Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." --1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

DISCERNMENT IS A GIFT OF THE SPIRIT

". . . Distinguishing between spirits. . ." --1 Corinthians 12:10

God has given discernment to the body of Christ as a gift.

OPERATING IN INTEGRITY

DISCERNMENT AND HUMILITY MUST GO HAND IN HAND

". . . Knowledge puffs us up. . ." --1 Corinthians 8:1-3

LOVE BUILDS US UP

"The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know what he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God." --1 Corinthians 8:2-3

"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." --1 Corinthians 8:9

We must be careful not to harm. Love must be our motivation, or it will be false discernment. Our motivation will reveal if our discernment is counterfeit or genuine.

FEAR IS A STUMBLING BLOCK

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." --1 John 4:18

Fear is the counterfeit of love and faith. A person under the curse of fear is unable to operate in a high degree of love. Fear creates an image of Satan that is bigger than God.

DISCERNMENT FOR LIFESTYLE

"Be imitators of God. . . " --Ephesians 5:1-2

Discernment is about hearing God's voice in a situation and responding with humility, love, and obedience. We are called to live a lifestyle of love of which discernment is a part.

APPLICATION OF DISCERNMENT

The Scriptures also help us to comprehend and apply discernment in our lives:

DISCERNMENT OF DOCTRINE

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." --Ephesians 4:14

Discernment and maturity go hand in hand. The Bible teaches that young children lack discernment (Deuteronomy 1:39). In the same way, younger, less mature Christians may also lack discernment, but as one matures as a Christian, so also will the gift of discernment mature in the believer. The five-fold ministry offices (apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher, and pastor), as well as the local church government (including elders) will be able to assist in discernment of doctrine as to whether it is from God or not.

DISCERNMENT FOR LIFESTYLE/DECISION MAKING (PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY)

Develop your own gift of discernment--it is wise to take counsel from leaders but don't let this prevent you from personal development of discernment. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you differentiate between your mind, will, and emotions, and ask Him to help you to learn to recognize His voice in the area of discernment. Ask the Lord to reveal any deceit or darkness in your life, so that you may yield totally to the Spirit of God and not be duped by the spirit of the world.

DISCERNMENT FOR TESTING DREAMS/PROPHECIES/PROPHETS/TEACHING

The gift of discernment helps us to prophetically discern the times, our dreams, and our visions and also whether a prophet has been sent from the Lord. Prophetic discernment enables us to discern false theology and prophecy/prophets, as we see from Nehemiah's response to the prophecies given to him at the house of Shemaiah (See also Deuteronomy 13:1-3; 18:21-22; 1 Corinthians 14:29)

DISCERNMENT AND PROPHECY

"Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." --1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Discernment is necessary to understand whether a prophetic word or teaching is from the Lord or not.

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS

1 Corinthians 12:10 reveals that discernment is a gift from the Holy Spirit to serve the Church in the area of discerning counterfeit spirits from the Spirit of Truth, the manifestation of which is for the good of the whole body.

DISCERNMENT AND ANTICHRIST (FALSE SPIRITS), 1 John 4:1-6

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. . . " --1 John 4:1a

Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and enables us to discern the spirit of antichrist and other false spirits.

DISCERNING THE COUNTERFEIT

Two further Old Testament examples which relate to discernment of counterfeit spirits include when Micaiah discerns a lying spirit is responsible for false prophecy (1 Kings 22:19-23). In the book of Jeremiah, chapter twenty three, the prophet speaks out with regard to false prophetic messages, which are not from God (verses 16-22).

In the New Testament, we see the gift of discernment operating in many situations. In Acts 5, Peter discerns that Ananias' heart has lied to the Holy Spirit. Later, Peter discerns that Simon the Sorcerer is full of bitterness and is captive to sin (Act 8:23). Paul discerns the demonic source behind the slave girl's ability to tell people's fortunes, and he commands the evil spirit to leave her (Acts 16:18).

DISCERNING CHRIST

Evil spirits are able to discern the Person of Christ and the work of Christ.

"Just then, a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!'" --Mark 1:23-24

"'What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!' For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. . . " --Luke 8:28,29

"This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.'" --Acts 16:17

"One day, the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?'" --Acts 19:15

These Jews were not true believers, and the evil spirit was able to discern this. Discernment and authority are joined in the supremacy of Christ. The evil spirit attacked the seven sons of Sceva because the name of Jesus was only spoken on their lips without being fully written on their hearts. We can only operate in Christ's authority if our lives are totally surrendered to Him. Then His delivering power works miracles.

LEADERSHIP AND DISCERNMENT

Godly discernment is essential for leaders in order that they can make decisions; develop teams, strategy, vision, plans, implementation, and consolidation; and give direction, inspiration, council, and discipline. Some Scriptural examples of this include the battle strategy given to Gideon (Judges 7) and Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20), the plan for survival given to Joseph for the whole nation during the seven years of abundance--followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41), King Jehoshaphat' discernment of the four hundred lying prophets, King David's discernment of Joab's ruse (2 Samuel 14:18-20), and the apostles and elders meeting of the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).

RULING/GOVERNMENT

Discernment and wisdom operate side-by-side. We see evidence of this in the life of Joseph as it is acknowledged publicly by Pharaoh, just prior to Joseph being put in charge of the whole land: "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.'" --Genesis 41:39-40 (See also Acts 7:10)

LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS

Joseph was sent by God ahead of the famine to preserve life (Genesis 41); Solomon was given wisdom during a dream and immediately upon waking was asked to make a ruling over a situation to discern the true mother and spare the life of her child (1 Kings 3); Nehemiah saw through the plot against his life and his Kingdom commission (Nehemiah 6:12-13).

EXERCISING JUDGMENT IN KINGLY RULE

Solomon asked for wisdom, and God said, ". . . I will give you a wise and discerning heart." --1 Kings 3:12

STRATEGIZING/INTERCESSION

Discernment helps us to "spy out the land" as we make prayer reconnaissance trips, and it enables us to lay hold of a corporate prayer strategy for any given situation.

HOW DO WE DISCERN?

We cannot discern without the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth and enables us to understand spiritual truths in spiritual words (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13). We also learn discernment through God's word (Hebrews 4:12-13; Psalm 19:7). We discern through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:15-16). We operate in discernment through relationship with Christ. According to Psalm 119, we can ask the Lord for knowledge and good judgment (verse 66). And of course, we receive discernment because it is a gift from our heavenly Father.

JESUS' DISCERNMENT IS PERFECT

Jesus has perfect discernment of right and wrong. What a wonderful reflection of the Father's heart! The Samaritan woman at the well is a good example of Jesus operating in the gift of discernment, along side of wisdom and compassion (John 4:18). In John chapter two, Jesus accurately discerns the motivation of those in the temple courts, and later, He discerns the thoughts of the teachers of the law (John 8). Jesus discerns when Simon Peter speaks by the Spirit of God and also when Peter's words are later influenced by Satan (Matthew 16:17, 23). Jesus discerns the true motive of the questions asked of Him (taxes to Caesar, Matthew 22:18); Jesus discerns the heart of Nathaniel, ". . . Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false." John 1:47

SUMMARY
The Bible teaches us that to lack discernment is to lack sound judgment (Proverbs 6:32; Proverbs 10:21; Proverbs 7:7, 9:4, 12:11, 18:1, 24:30).

DISCERNMENT IS SOUND JUDGMENT WHICH ENABLES US TO:

Understand the times and significance of world events and events in our own lives
See beyond outward facades or appearances to the heart of the matter or to the heart of a person
Distinguish between what is good and what is evil
Recognize God's ways, His deeds and actions for his people
Comprehend spiritual realities and spiritual truths
Establish God's righteous government on the earth, affirming Jesus' legal right to reign and rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Avoid the schemes of the enemy, and therefore, avoid life's pitfalls
Make wise and Godly decisions, both on a personal and community level

Discernment is not about instinct, intuition, sixth sense, imagination, a good guess, or a game of hit and miss--Godly discernment hits the mark every time! It is about seeking council from God. The discernment of Jesus is totally trustworthy and a source of infinite wisdom upon which we can fully depend for any and all of our life situations.

Discernment is part of the process of transformation of maturity in every believer as our minds are renewed.

"Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will." --Romans 12:2

Don't be daft--be discerning!
Blessings of peace and grace,