Discernment
I. Dilemma in church today
A. Confusion, fears, doubts, chaos, anger, unforgiveness
B. What is God’s will? Who do I trust? Where is God in my issues?
Why is everything so hard? Am I supposed to judge; do I have to love everybody?
C. right vs wrong; legal vs illegal; fair vs unfair; ethical vs unethical; truth vs lies;
good vs evil
II. Dilemma of Discernment (or lack thereof)
A. A major factor in the dilemma is a lack of discernment by the body
B. Discernment is expected of the mature body members (Heb 5:14)
C. If we discern then Eph 1: 18 = eyes of our understanding (heart) would
be enlightened and we would know the hope of God’s calling and the riches
of the glory of His inheritance and the exceeding greatness of His power
toward us
D. Discerning is a sifting through, close examination, perceiving,
understanding, scrutiny, discriminating deciphering thought
III. Tree of knowledge of good and evil {Genesis 3: 5-6} appeals to the soul
A. be like God
B. appealing to senses (see, good to eat) and desirable to make one wise
(so we can decide what is good and what is evil)
C. can’t trust feelings (Jer 17: 9) for out of heart comes the issues of life
(Prov 4: 23)
D. Discerning meant to be spiritual. If we use it in soul, we find ourselves.
judging with bias. In the flesh we are condemning
IV. To discern, we must trust in God and not lean on our understanding (Prov 3: 5)
A. vs 7: not wise in own eyes
B. vs 13, 18: find wisdom, gain understanding – tree of life
V. Not discerning Joshua and the Gibeonites (Josh 9)
A. crafty vs 4
B. not discern 14
C. forced to defend and protect enemy; site of high place where Saul placed
tabernacle
VI. Examples of discern
A. Eli for Samuel (boy) who did not know God or His Word `1 Sam 4
B. 1 Kings 3: 4 Solomon asks; 12 God gives; 16 Solomon puts into practice;
exceedingly great understanding (4: 29)
C. Acts 16: 16 Paul discerns spirit of divination even though it spoke
accurately
D. Acts 13: 9 Paul studies intently to realize the opposition of Elymas
E. Jesus realizes the entrapment (Luke 20:23) by hypocrites (Mark 12: 15)
and perceived their wickedness (Matt 22: 18)
F. Nathaniel without guile (John 1: 47)
G. Jesus perceives people want to make Him king (John 6: 15)
VII. Luke 12: 54-56 Jesus asks why we can discern weather and weather changes but not discern the time
A. Father gives Matt 11: 25
B. Priests teach Ez 44: 23-24
C. Word of God Heb 4: 12
Spiritually discern 1 Cor 2: 14
D. Exercise senses, as mature Heb 5: 13-19
E. manifestation of Holy Spirit discern spirits 1 Cor 12: 10
F. Test spirits 1 John 4:1 for spirits masquerade as angels of light
2 Cor 11: 14-15
VIII. Results from learning to and actually discerning
A. examine everything and hold on to good 1 Thes 5: 21-22
B. Phil 1: 9-10 love abound with knowledge and discernment
C. Rom 12: 2 renewed, discerning mind prove good, acceptable, perfect
will of God.
D. Prayer (from Phil 1: 9-11)
E. Song
Open the eyes of my heart Lord. Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see You. I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart Lord. Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see You. I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up, Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love As we sing holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy, I want to see You.
Feb 2024
