This is why you need Discernment

 

God has placed discernment in us to play significant roles in our lives, especially in matters of morality, truth, and spirituality. Like a lens, discernment helps us clearly and accurately perceive these matters of life. In complicated situations where we need to make sound judgments such as contrasting between right and wrong, and truth and falsehood, requires its application. Discernment is very important and the Bible speaks extensively about it.

Some Key Aspects of Discernment

A Gift of the Spirit
Discernment is one of the gifts of the Spirit of God. In Paul's letter to the Church of Corinth in chapter 12 and verse 10, he made mention of the discernment of spirits as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He said, "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;..." 

This indicates that discernment is a spiritual gift, and since the Christian life is a spiritual walk, there is a need for believers to have it to help distinguish between what spirit is from God and what is not.

Decision Making
One other key aspect of discernment is the role it plays in our decision-making. It helps us to consider the consequences of our choices and to decide the best course of action based on prudent consideration of all factors involved. God gave Solomon a wise and discerning mind (I Kings 3:12), and it helped him make wise decisions.

Philippians 1:9-10 (NKJV) said, "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,"
Discernment helps in making moral and ethical judgments that align with the Will of God.

Testing of Spirits
One of the most important things that I believe a Christian must always do is to protect his faith from spiritual influences that always seek to overthrow it. This is why discernment is crucial to help us recognize the presence and guidance of God, as well as to distinguish between influences that are from God and those that are not. We are told not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits to see whether they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). Why must we not believe every spirit? Because satan himself can transform into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14) to deceive us. How do we test these spirits to see whether they are of God or not? We do that by looking through the spiritual lens of discernment to clearly discover which spirit from the pit of hell has transformed into an angel of light to deceive us and subsequently destroy our faith in Christ.

Link to Wisdom
Discernment is closely linked to wisdom. Wisdom is like a great sophisticated machine that has the power to solve problems, but discernment is the ability to perceive or understand wisdom (sophisticated machine) to solve issues. Thus, the practical application of wisdom to make informed judgments or decisions is discernment.
Discernment enables us to see beyond the surface of a situation and recognize the deeper truths or implications.

Here are 10 Bible Verses about Discernment

1. 1 Kings 3:9

"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?"

 

King Solomon in this verse made a request to God for wisdom and a discerning heart to lead the people of God wisely.

 

2. 1 John 4:1

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Because of deception, this verse calls for discernment in distinguishing true from false spirits.

3. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

"Test everything. Hold on to the good, reject every kind of evil."

We are encouraged to discern and test everything, keeping what is good.

 

4. Proverbs 3:2

"My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion."

 This verse teaches us not to forsake wisdom and discernment. It encourages us to seek and preserve them since they are crucial in navigating life.

 

5. Hebrews 5:14

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

Discernment is seen as a mark of spiritual maturity. It can help us navigate complicated situations with greater assurance and clarity.

6. James 3:13-16

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."

Wisdom and understanding (discernment) according to James are not only about our intellectual prowess but our behavior also. Thus conduct or deeds which are done in humility.

7. Proverbs 28:2

"When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order."

Too many voices from people who lack discernment and understanding cause distraction and make things unmanageable. You will be able to manage and maintain orderliness in your life if you don't easily fall for every voice.

8. James 1:5

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

This scripture teaches us to seek wisdom and a discerning heart from the Lord who is willing to give to us freely.

9. Ezekiel 22:26

"Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them."

Discernment will help us distinguish between holy and common things, clean and unclean so that we will do the right thing in our service to God.

10. Colossians 2:8

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ."

Paul warns against being deceived through vain human philosophies, emphasizing the need for discernment in the face of false teachings and false prophets.

 

(Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version)