Read Verses: Psalm 119:121-128 1 Corinthians 2:14, 11:31
Key Verse: I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.
In our prayers, do we ask for discernment? But wait, isn't discernment a spiritual gift? Yes, and so is faith. It is both a gift some people have in abundance, and something we all have by trusting in Jesus. Same with discernment. Some have a great gift of discernment, but all of us should be able to discern. The Holy Spirit working in our lives helps us discern. It is really Him who has been giving saints insight into God's Word since the beginning of time. Ask for discernment every time you open the Word. Every time you read the World of God ask for the Spirit to guide you into a good application of the text...which is wisdom. Prayer opens the door for a deeper insight into God's Word. You can study the bible like a book, or you can allow the Holy Spirit to allow the living Word of God to illuminate your heart. When was the last time you asked for discernment?
"Someone with discernment must be able “distinguish good from evil” but “their powers of discernment” come through diligent training and that training in the Word of God. The more someone knows the Bible, the more they will be able to discern truth from error and good from evil. This is what Paul essentially wrote about in Philippians 1:9-10 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” It is easier to approve of what is excellent or truthful and free from error if you have discernment but this discernment comes from experience and from biblical knowledge, but ultimately it is a gift of the Spirit. Even so, the better you know the Word the more you’ll be able to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). If a person is consistently in the Word of God and prayer they can acquire discernments skills since “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12)."
Solomon knew the value of discernment and wisdom when he asked God "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between Good and Evil, for who is able to govern this your great people." God was pleased with Solomon and gave him such a heart. He could have asked for money, power, love...anything. But he knew the value of being guided by the Spirit. A pastor needs discernment if he is going to lead and preach. In fact, all leaders in the church, and all members for that same reason need to develop this ability/gift. There is so much error out in the world today. So many people coming together trying to mix religions together, and Gods, and ethics. So many people getting into a way of thinking which says "what's truth to you might not be truth for me." But truth is absolute. What is true about God is always true about God. What he has revealed he has revealed. Who He is is who He has always been. There are wolves trying to infiltrate the church. Now, those wolves need to be saved as well, even God loves the wolves. But they need to be taught and helped to understand God's love for them. Unguarded, they can do great damage to God's people. Loved, they might be won for God.
Do you have an unusual ability to read between the lines? Do you have an uncanny ability to sense something isn’t right? Are you able to uncover false teachings fairly easily? Do you have a great hunger for biblical knowledge and teachings? Are you able to discern the truth from a lie? Jesus warns us to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt 7:15). Yep, they are all around us. We've met some, they deny the master who bought them. Some even disguise themselves as workers of Christ. Some even are on TV.
But discernment has another aspect to it. It not only something we ask for in prayer. It is necessary in prayer in order to listen to the voice of God. I am convinced the real prayer warriors and giants of the past have had this gift in spades. We need this gift, and I believe God will give us this gift depending on how we handle God's word and who we handle prayer. Someone who thirsts for truth and longs to get closer to Jesus in prayer will come to know this gift. Discernment is developed in all relationships. What parent can't tell there is something wrong with their kid? !!discernment!! What husband can't tell there is something wrong with their wife? !!discernment!! With great love comes great discernment. Do you love God? Do you love studying his word and getting truth from it? Do you love listening to God in prayer? With great love come great discernment. Love God...Ask for Discernment...Study the Word...Pray without Ceasing.
Lord Jesus, we love you. We've loved you since you lifted the burden of sin from out souls. We haven't always been able to listen or learn about prayer, but we do love you. Open our eyes as we seek You in Your Word. Give us insight, sharpen our minds, give us discernment. And I pray that you help us to distinguish between the voice of truth and all the other voices we hear. Both in the world around us, and in prayer. Guide us into your presence where all thirst ends. AMEN
Key Verse: I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.
In our prayers, do we ask for discernment? But wait, isn't discernment a spiritual gift? Yes, and so is faith. It is both a gift some people have in abundance, and something we all have by trusting in Jesus. Same with discernment. Some have a great gift of discernment, but all of us should be able to discern. The Holy Spirit working in our lives helps us discern. It is really Him who has been giving saints insight into God's Word since the beginning of time. Ask for discernment every time you open the Word. Every time you read the World of God ask for the Spirit to guide you into a good application of the text...which is wisdom. Prayer opens the door for a deeper insight into God's Word. You can study the bible like a book, or you can allow the Holy Spirit to allow the living Word of God to illuminate your heart. When was the last time you asked for discernment?
"Someone with discernment must be able “distinguish good from evil” but “their powers of discernment” come through diligent training and that training in the Word of God. The more someone knows the Bible, the more they will be able to discern truth from error and good from evil. This is what Paul essentially wrote about in Philippians 1:9-10 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” It is easier to approve of what is excellent or truthful and free from error if you have discernment but this discernment comes from experience and from biblical knowledge, but ultimately it is a gift of the Spirit. Even so, the better you know the Word the more you’ll be able to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). If a person is consistently in the Word of God and prayer they can acquire discernments skills since “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12)."
Solomon knew the value of discernment and wisdom when he asked God "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between Good and Evil, for who is able to govern this your great people." God was pleased with Solomon and gave him such a heart. He could have asked for money, power, love...anything. But he knew the value of being guided by the Spirit. A pastor needs discernment if he is going to lead and preach. In fact, all leaders in the church, and all members for that same reason need to develop this ability/gift. There is so much error out in the world today. So many people coming together trying to mix religions together, and Gods, and ethics. So many people getting into a way of thinking which says "what's truth to you might not be truth for me." But truth is absolute. What is true about God is always true about God. What he has revealed he has revealed. Who He is is who He has always been. There are wolves trying to infiltrate the church. Now, those wolves need to be saved as well, even God loves the wolves. But they need to be taught and helped to understand God's love for them. Unguarded, they can do great damage to God's people. Loved, they might be won for God.
Do you have an unusual ability to read between the lines? Do you have an uncanny ability to sense something isn’t right? Are you able to uncover false teachings fairly easily? Do you have a great hunger for biblical knowledge and teachings? Are you able to discern the truth from a lie? Jesus warns us to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt 7:15). Yep, they are all around us. We've met some, they deny the master who bought them. Some even disguise themselves as workers of Christ. Some even are on TV.
But discernment has another aspect to it. It not only something we ask for in prayer. It is necessary in prayer in order to listen to the voice of God. I am convinced the real prayer warriors and giants of the past have had this gift in spades. We need this gift, and I believe God will give us this gift depending on how we handle God's word and who we handle prayer. Someone who thirsts for truth and longs to get closer to Jesus in prayer will come to know this gift. Discernment is developed in all relationships. What parent can't tell there is something wrong with their kid? !!discernment!! What husband can't tell there is something wrong with their wife? !!discernment!! With great love comes great discernment. Do you love God? Do you love studying his word and getting truth from it? Do you love listening to God in prayer? With great love come great discernment. Love God...Ask for Discernment...Study the Word...Pray without Ceasing.
Lord Jesus, we love you. We've loved you since you lifted the burden of sin from out souls. We haven't always been able to listen or learn about prayer, but we do love you. Open our eyes as we seek You in Your Word. Give us insight, sharpen our minds, give us discernment. And I pray that you help us to distinguish between the voice of truth and all the other voices we hear. Both in the world around us, and in prayer. Guide us into your presence where all thirst ends. AMEN
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