The Need for Discernment

Intro

Text - Matthew 16.1-3

Matthew 16:1–3 NKJV

1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

Philippians 1:9 NKJV

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

Definition

Basic

Discernment - It is the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure

Discern

to recognize or identify (something) as separate and distinct: discriminate

to make a distinciton between right and wrong

Sermon Summary

There is a great need for discernment for the people of God in this day and age.

Life is much more complex -

the choices are too many

the distinctions between right and wrong, good and evil, clean and unclean, light and darkness, have become obscure and clouded

the devil is playing tricks of the human senses

In fact many believers and churches are becoming victims of the devil’s tricks because of lack of discernment

lack of discerment has led many to become Compromisers, not Overcomers!

Yes, we NEED discernment today if we are going to be OVERCOMERS!

We need the right kind of discernment

The Jews of Jesus’ time had discernment, but not the right one.

Matt 16.3 “3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.”

their discernment was limited to physical things

business sense - good and bad business

skills sense

The right kind of discernment is the biblical discernment

it is grounded on Bible truth

Ex. the Jews read the Scripture but ignored the signs that point them to Jesus

John 5:39–40 NKJV

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

The right kind of discernment is spiritual discernment

it is discerning that is guided by the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 NKJV

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

There are three COMPELLING reasons why we need to have discernment today:

because our time requires that we have discernment

because our spiritual growth requites that we have discernment

because the church and ministry demands that we have discernment

We need discernment because our time requires it

Again, the Jews in Jesus’ time could not discern the signs of the times!

Jesus wept over Jerusalem

Luke 19:41–44 NKJV

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The wise discerns the time

Ecclesiastes 8:5 NKJV

5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,

wise businessman - knows when to buy and sell in the stock market

wise farmer - knows when to plant the right kind of seed in the field

Spiritual discernment helps us understand the spiritual condition around us -

the condition of the world

the condition of the churches

WMB - “modern events are made clear by prophecy”

the problem of Laodicea is her failure to discern her own spiritual condition

Revelation 3:15–17 NKJV

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

a church who cannot discern her own condition, will most likely fail to discern the world around her!

We need discernment because our spiritual growth needs it

Discernment separates the wise from the simple and foolish

lack of discernment is a mark of a child and the simple

hence - cry for discernment! - Proverbs 2.3 “3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,”

discernment goes hand in hand with maturity

ex - a child’s perception of color is basic compared to the eye of an adult

the deeper we can we can distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error, the mature and wiser we become

Proverbs 15:21 NKJV

21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

Discernment grows with practice

Hebrews 5:12–14 NKJV

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

senses = perception; discernment

when the senses are used frequently, it becomes “sensitive”

sadly, we become sensitive to offenses we our senses are used more on “likes” and “dislikes”

We need to practice our senses to discern the more important things!

Philippians 1:9–11 NKJV

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

things that are “excellent” - grk. diaphero, superior

life that is sincere

without offense - not causing others to stumble

filled with the fruits of righteousness - righteous acts/good works

Discernment connects us to the things of the Spirit of God

1 Corinthians 2:14–15 NKJV

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

the things of God become yours to receive and enjoy

the spiritual is able to judge all things

judge = discern; evaluate

ex - a gold appraiser; a house appraiser

We need discernment because the church and ministry demands it

We are members of the church of Christ.

Therefore, our life - actions, behaviors, growth - will affect the church for better or for worse.

We need leaders who have discernment!

a discerning leader can do great things to the body of Christ

Ex. Solomon’s reign was Israel’s golden age

His prayer: give me an understanding heart, that I may discern between good and evil

Ex. Joseph helped Egypt through 7 years of famine and saved many lives

his advice - Gen 41.33-36

Genesis 41:33–36 NKJV

33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”

Pharaoh’s decision - Gen 41.39-40

Genesis 41:39–40 NKJV

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

We need members who have discernment!

church members who lack discernment can do harm ito the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:29–31 NKJV

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

Discerning leaders and members will both contribute to steadfast church!

Ephesians 4:14–16 NKJV

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Conclusion

Discernment will help you become an overcomer in the last days.

2 types of churches and Christian in the end-time

the compromiser - Laodicea; she lacks discernment

the overcomer - Bride; she has discernment

to be an overcomer, Laodicea must do three things

discern her spiritual condition

recognize the voice of Christ

open her life to Christ

Discern the time!

the wise virgins discerned the time

they brought extra oil with their lamps

Song - Burning the midnight oil