Disc
1 Kings 3:3-15 (NIV) Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings…
Psalm 32:8 (NLT) The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
What is discernment?
To be clear, discernment is NOT…
a “holy” suspicion
a gift of criticism
common sense
weighing the pros and cons
sharp intellect or clever reasoning
rooted in our feelings or personal opinions
reserved for the “super-spiritual”
Discernment is…
revelation, not information
distinguishing between right and wrong
judging rightly between good vs. evil
seeing truth in the midst of deception
gaining clarity in confusion
hearing God through the noise
a deep sense of “knowing” this is the way…
one of the gifts of the Spirit
available to anyone who want to walk with God
Discern [diakrisis] — “separate thoroughly.”
“Discernment is the spiritual ability to recognize God’s voice, understand His direction, and respond with obedience and clarity — even when the path isn’t obvious.”
Why do we need discernment?
Not every voice is speaking the truth.
Spiritual deception is real.
The enemy has schemes.
Not every open door is from God.
Not every feeling we have should be followed.
We need to make wise choices.
We need to know God’s will.
We need help to love and serve others.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Philippians 1:9-10 (NIV) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best…
“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” —Charles Spurgeon
1 Samuel 1:12-16 (NLT) As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” 15 “Oh no, sir! she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”
Neglecting God’s Word (Mt. 22:29)
Lack of prayer (Gal. 5:25)
Being too distracted (Ps. 46:10)
Unconfessed sin (Ps. 66:18)
A hardened heart (Eph. 4:18-19)
Pride (Prov. 3:5-7)
Fear (Jos. 1:9)
Influence of worldly thinking (Rom. 12:2)
Spiritual laziness (Heb. 5:11-12)
Reacting from emotion (Js. 1:19-20)
False teaching (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
Isolation from godly counsel (Prov. 15:22)
Spiritual immaturity (Heb. 5:14)
Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV) We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good evil.
How does discernment grow?
1. Be hungry for God
Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
2. Get (and stay) rooted in God’s Word
Hosea 14:9 (NIV) Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them…
Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
3. Pay attention to the inward witness
Romans 8:16 (NKJV) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Acts 27:10 (NKJV) “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo, but also our lives.”
Proverbs 20:27 (ESV) The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord…
Galatians 5:25 (NKJV) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8:14 (NKJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
4. Ask for it
James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom {discernment}, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
5. Learn to linger in His presence
Colossians 3:15 (AMP) Let the peace of Christ rule [act as umpire continually] in your hearts…
“Discernment is the spiritual ability to recognize God’s voice, understand His direction, and respond with obedience and clarity — even when the path isn’t obvious.”
Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV) Show me you ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”