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Scripture Reading
Introduction
This morning, I want to draw our brief look at Spiritual Discernment to a close.
This has been a brief study on a very important subject.
Spiritual Discernment is a seriously needed quality in our day.
And while it is true that there are those who are particularly gifted with the Spiritual gifting of discernment, there is an urgent need for all who love Christ to be sharpening their own discernment skills.
It is essential that we develop a discerning ear for doctrinal accuracy.
We need to be sure that what we believe and hold to, and what those who we listen to are teaching is aligned with Scripture.
A sound view and interpretation of Scripture is thus essential in this act of discernment.
This morning, as we close off this short series, I want to use this as a practical call to each of us to exercise discernment.
[[The main headings in what I say this morning are taken from Tim Challies’ book “the Discipline of Spiritual Discernment” - I’d encourage you to read that book if you are able to get hold of a copy.]]
We’re going to look at this subject this morning under 3 main headings:
The Commitments for Discernment
The Character of Discernment
The Clarity Required in Discernment
1.
The Commitments for Discernment
When we began this study on spiritual discernment, we looked at Proverbs 2, a passage which has a father’s exhortations to gain wisdom and understanding.
I’m going to just turn our attention back to the first 5 verses of Proverbs 2, and draw some important aspects in terms of our commitments towards discernment.
Proverbs 2 has this father speaking to his son, giving a number of “If” and “Then” statements.
In other words, the writer of the Proverbs explains to his son that if he will do certain things, then there is an expected or anticipated result that will flow out of this.
With these words in mind, let us consider 3 truths that flow out of this text in terms of what our commitments should be regarding discernment.
1.1.
Pursue Discernment
Firstly, we are to pursue discernment.
As believers, we are to be taking active steps towards gaining discernment in our faith.
In verse 1, the writer of these proverbs says to his son...
There are multiple words in those verses that speak about the actions that we are to take in our pursuit of wisdom.
We are to accept / receive the words of the wise counselor.
We are to store up the commands of God.
We are to turn our ear to wisdom
We are to apply our heart to understanding.
In all of these instructions, there is a definitive emphasis on the action that we are to take, the diligent work that we are to be engaging in if we are to obtain wisdom, or find the knowledge of God.
We live in a time where more than ever, people have things so much easier, and with less effort.
It’s like the world is geared towards making life easier for ourselves.
And while I must say, I love some of the benefits of a world that’s just a little bit easier to live in, the downside is that people tend to become a whole lot lazier.
If there is one thing that the Christian life cannot be, it is a life of laziness.
We learn from Scripture that in the physical world, laziness will lead to poverty, while diligence will lead to reward.
That’s God’s economy… as a general principle of life.
Well the same is true of our spiritual lives.
If we are lazy in our spiritual lives, then we will live spiritual lives that impoverished.
If we are lazy in our pursuit of wisdom, knowledge, godliness, the fruit of the Spirit - then we must realise that we will not obtain it.
Proverbs 13:4 says...
We may crave spiritual growth.
We may crave wisdom.
We may crave discernment, godliness, etc....
Craving after something does very little to actually obtaining it.
Only when we become diligent in our pursuit of this discernment and understanding, will we actually begin to see that we are moving towards obtaining the desires of our hearts.
As Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy, he exhorted Timothy to be very diligent in matters concerning his life and doctrine.
Listen carefully to the seriousness of the exhortation from Paul...
Firstly, in 4:13, Paul says this:
Notice how Timothy was told that he was to watch his life and doctrine, and how he was exhorted to be devoting himself to this task.
He was told that he needs to be diligent in these matters.
He was told that he needed to give himself wholly to them.
Not only that, but he was told that by doing this, and by persevering in these things, he would save himself and his hearers...
I wonder if you get a sense of the importance of the task?
“Well,” you might argue, “I’m not a Timothy that has been given the gift of preaching and teaching.”
That may be true, but that doesn’t exclude you from the multiple commands in Scripture to pursue a knowledge of God, and growth in your own salvation.
The fact is, as children of God, and as those who have come to know God, we are to diligently pursue our knowledge of Him.
The writer to the Hebrews rebuked his audience for their slowness to learn.
As Christians, discernment is critical, as it forms a fundamental part of this growth in maturity.
We are called to pursue discernment.
We are called to pursue a deeper, and a more accurate knowledge of God.
We are to engage in that with all diligence.
1.2.
Desire Discernment
Notice further, however, that we are not merely to pursue discernment, but we are to desire discernment.
I don’t really need to explain this concept in too much detail...
I think we all intrinsically know the value of Gold and silver.
We all understand the idea of searching for hidden treasures.
In the physical world, this is quite obvious - if you know of the treasure that is hidden somewhere, you’re going to look for it!
You’re going to search for it.
“We must value it as being much greater and much nobler than any amount of wealth.”
This was what Solomon did.
When God offered Solomon any desire of his heart, Solomon didn’t ask for wealth and riches.
Rather, Solomon recognised that if he was going to lead this great nation Israel, his greatest need was a wise and discerning heart.
We know well, that because Solomon asked for wisdom rather than riches, God was pleased to bless Him with this wisdom.
Friends, we must come to the realisation that we are as much in need of wisdom in this world as Solomon was.
We may not need to lead a great people.
We may not have the kind of responsibility in terms of the lives of others that Solomon had.
But we do live in a sin-cursed world.
We live in a world in which Satan is actively at work to bring deceit.
There is a spiritual battle on the go that at it’s core wants to lead us away from God, and from the true knowledge of God.
We have an urgent need for a true knowledge and understanding of God.
We should thus desire discernment.
In our Bible Study this past week, we looked at 1 Peter 2:1-3, where Peter writes...
The spiritual milk that Peter speaks of there is a knowledge of God through His word.
We as Christians are to be craving this knowledge of God, now that we have tasted that the Lord is good.
We know that He has given us a beautiful and wonderful salvation.
We’ve tasted something of His love, and His mercy towards undeserving sinners.
We now realise the great price that was paid in order for us to be reconciled to God.
And so we must crave a deeper knowledge and understanding of God, and who He is.
1.3.
Pray for Discernment
Thirdly and finally in terms of this commitment to discernment, we are to pray for discernment.
As part of our commitment to pursuing discernment, a deeper knowledge of God, we must be crying out to God that He would give us insight into these important spiritual matters.
We are to cry aloud for this understanding.
Prayer is that great demonstration of our humility before God.
We do not come to God in order to coerce Him into doing something for us.
We come before God in prayer because we know that without His divine power at work in us, we are weak and unable to come to an understanding and knowledge of the truth.
Without His divine revelation of His words to us (the Scriptures) we remain blinded by the deceitfulness of our own hearts.
The Psalmist prayed in Psalm 119:18:
Then he prayed it from the negative perspective...
God is able to open our eyes to see, and He is able to close our eyes, so that we are unable to see.
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