Discernment
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Intro
Intro
Definition of Discernment: the power or faculty of the mind to distinguish one thing from another as truth from falsehood
Someone says, “You know what I’m thinking because I say whatever is on my mind.”
The Bible calls you a fool…
11 A fool uttereth all his mind:
But a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Discernment is necessary if you want to:
Raise a family in this society
Be a successful witness
Keep your marriage
Serve the Lord
Say the right thing or don’t say the wrong thing
1. Discernment is required for spiritual growth
1. Discernment is required for spiritual growth
Hebrews 5:12–14 (KJV 1900)
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 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.
“By reason of use…”
God never intended for us to sit on the middle of the fence about everything…
He intends for us to exercise our discernment to discern between good and evil…
Discern between good music and evil music
Discern between the right spirit vs. the wrong spirit
Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge God’s people to discern between good and bad…
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
And with all thy getting get understanding.
7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
The passage (Hebrews 5) is speaking of spiritual immaturity…
An infant will put anything into their mouth…
A spiritually immature person will do the same…
They will treat church like a social club and listen to whomever they find on YouTube that sounds good…
Why? THEY’RE IMMATURE!
2. Discernment is required for right Bible study
2. Discernment is required for right Bible study
18 Open thou mine eyes,
That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
2 Timothy 2:15–18 (KJV 1900)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Profane and vain babblings will increase to more ungodliness
It will eat away at you, your family and your church as a canker (same word we get “gangrene” from)
Right division is required in order to effectively study God’s Word…
God gave the Bible to all, but He did not write it to all.
God did not tell me to build an ark…
But it is there for our profit…
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God did not tell me to build a tabernacle and carry it around…
God did not tell me to sacrifice my son…
God did not tell me to sacrifice an animal on an alter for my sins… (different dispensation)
Vs. 18 - they couldn’t discern the times…
The rapture of the church has NOT happened yet
And this is NOT the tribulation…
How do you get there? Right division of the Word…
3. Discernment is required for right worship
3. Discernment is required for right worship
1 John 4:1–6 (KJV 1900)
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. 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.
a.) The Deception of false spirits
a.) The Deception of false spirits
Ephesians 2:2 (KJV 1900)
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV 1900)
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Revelation 12:9 (KJV 1900)
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Maniac of Gadarenes, “My name is Legion: for we are many.” Mark 5:9
1 John 4:1 (KJV 1900)
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.
Don’t believe every “spirit”
“Spirit” means current of air, breath or wind…
Sometimes you may “Feel God” like a breath of wind or fresh air coming over you…
Emotions make you feel a lot of things. We’re in danger if we associate everything that feels good with God
A “spirit” is defined as “current of air, breath or wind”
Ephesians 4:14–16 (KJV 1900)
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Doctrine can be deceptive and given by those who wish to deceive
Ephesians 2:2–4 (KJV 1900)
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Satan is the prince of the power of the “air”
He gives a “spirit” that no worketh in the children of disobedience
This is the great deception of satan…
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Satan likes to camouflage and counterfeit his way into our lives….
Job 1:19 (KJV 1900)
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Satan used a “great wind” to afflict Job
JUST TRYING TO SAY - DON’T BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT
INSTEAD, do what?
“…try the spirits whether they are of God…”
“Try” means to test or prove or examine…
IT MEANS TO DISCERN
WHY?
“…because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
“Many”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Elijah had to discern between the wind, earthquake, fire and still small voice for God…
God wasn’t in the:
wind (the rush of force that felt powerful) “It felt so powerful”
earthquake (the ground moving, sense shaking “I felt like I was hovering off the ground”
Fire (the all impressive theatrics) “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
God wasn’t in these.... He was in the still small voice!
Elijah had to discern between all these impressive looking things, so do we.
Don’t blindly believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…
Final illustration:
There was a farmer who put 10% saw dust in with the mule’s grain… He gave it to the mule and it seemed to have 0 effect on the mule… So, the next day he decided he would try again with a little bit more and save more money… He mixed in 25% saw dust and 75% grain… The mule ate the grain as if nothing was different and everything was fine… the next day he mixed in 75% saw dust and 25% grain… again, to the farmer’s amazement, the mule was fine and ate the food as if there was nothing different… Finally, the farmer used 100% saw dust, the mule ate the food like normal and the mule fell over dead….
Satan likes to mix in a little evil with a lot of truth little bits at a time…
It seems harmless, it feels harmless and everything seems to be normal until suddenly it’s 100% evil…