Discernment

God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.

Oswald Chambers

First, the source of knowledge is study; the source of wisdom is discernment.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

2805 Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to faultfinding.

Corrie ten Boom

A person’s spiritual maturity is revealed by his discernment.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Discernment is the process of training ourselves to distinguish between right and wrong by disciplining our consciences, minds, senses and bodies. The Bible tells us that discernment is necessary to mature in our faith (Hebrews 5:12-14). In fact, it says that recognizing the difference between right and wrong is a developed skill. When we grow and mature in our faith, we are able to recognize temptation before it has engulfed us. We can also learn to recognize truth from falsehood, and God’s voice from other voices. Knowing the Scriptures helps us discern false teaching when someone is using a passage of Scripture incorrectly. When we practice discernment and train ourselves to detect right from wrong, we can avoid the pitfalls and confusion so many people fall into. Life works better and we live better because we are following the way God created life to work.

Golf illustration for discernment

What is discernment

Discernment is simply the ability to define and act upon the difference between right and wrong, or, as Charles Spurgeon said, between “right and almost right.” It’s looking out over the landscape of your life; examining everything you encounter; and judging between good and bad, between biblical and false doctrine, between edifying and harmful entertainment, between holiness and sin. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, we’re told to “test everything; hold fast what is good.” Growth and discernment are like a self-feeding cycle, a precious circle. Where there is spiritual growth, there will be spiritual discernment.

Knowing the difference between the truth and falsehood

Hebrews 5:14 KJV 1900

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 John 2:21 KJV 1900

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Isaiah 11:2 KJV 1900

2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

Psalm 119:125 KJV 1900

125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies.

1 Corinthians 2:12–16 KJV 1900

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 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. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Why is it important to be discerning and how do we get it

Caring for plants reminds me that growth takes a lot of work. Water, sunshine, fertilizer. But growth is also a necessary survival mechanism for all living things. If a flower grows, it’s alive. If it stops (or never starts), it withers and dies. That’s basic biology.

The same is true for Christians. When the gospel saved us, it made us alive in Christ, breathing life into our dead hearts (Col. 2:13). We became wide awake and hungry spiritual newborns, thirsty sprouts, with eyes freshly opened to the world. And immediately, we started growing.

But we cannot grow without discernment. The two are inextricably bound together.

Psalm 14:2 KJV 1900

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

Proverbs 4:7 (KJV 1900)

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

And with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 16:16 KJV 1900

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

and understanding than silver!

Discernment is a valuable compass for daily living, and cultivating it should be a priority in our lives. It points us to God’s wisdom rather than human foolishness.

We get discernment from God’s word

Example of bad discernment

Matthew 16:23 KJV 1900

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Savourest means to set your mind on

“God has written down his truth in Scripture, and we have unlimited access to it. By studying it, we’re able to use it as an objective standard and measuring stick to evaluate the teaching we encounter. If you want more discernment, read the Bible. If you want your teens to grow, teach them to read it.” thegospelcoalition.org

We can pray for discernment

1 Kings 3:5–9 KJV 1900

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 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?

If we stop using discernment we will without question stop growing as well. Growth and discernment are not able to be separated.

1 John 4:1–6 (KJV 1900)

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. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

Promises from God about discernment

Psalm 119:125 KJV 1900

I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies.

Proverbs 3:13 KJV 1900

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs 4:12 KJV 1900

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Proverbs 9:11 KJV 1900

For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.