PEOPLE ARE BEING SPOON-FED BY THE MEDIA ON WHAT TO THINK. THEY ARE BRAINWASHED SO OFTEN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TODAY, THAT THERE’S NOT MUCH OF A BRAIN LEFT. YET, THE CHRISTIAN HAS THE HIGH CALLING TO BE DIFFERENT. NOT ONLY ARE WE TO RESIST THE WORLD, BUT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO OVERCOME IT. HOW CAN WE DO THIS IF WE CAN’T RECOGNIZE THE HORRIBLE EVILS BEING THROWN AT US FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE ?
1. HOW IMPORTANT IS DISCERNMENT ? WHY SHOULD I DEVELOP MY DISCERNMENT MORE ?
A. THE THINGS OF GOD REQUIRE SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
B. THE STATE OF THINGS AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU REQUIRES SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT. GET INTO SEEING THE NEEDS AND ACTUAL CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE.
Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
C. GROW THE RIGHT KIND OF DISCERNMENT. GOOD, GODLY DISCERNMENT.
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GOOD DISCERNMENT REQUIRES MUCH MORE THAN PHYSICAL INFORMATION.
Genesis 27:23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
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GOOD DISCERNMENT GOES BEYOND MERE CONSCIENCE UNDERSTANDING. IT TAKES MORE.
1 Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
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GOOD DISCERNMENT COMES WITH SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
2. HOW DOES THIS DISCERNMENT BEGIN ?
2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The word “child” in 2 Timothy 3:15 refers to a baby. The Greek translations are found in the Strongs Concordance and literal translations are shown below in the excerpt.
Excerpt from Strongs Concordance
Greek for “Child”=1025 βρεφος brephos bref’-os
of uncertain affin.; TDNT-5:636,759; n n
AV-babe 5, child 1, infant 1, young child 1; 8
1) an unborn child, embryo, a fetus
2) a new-born child, an infant, a babe
PARENTS BEGIN BY MAKING THEIR CHILDREN AWARE OF THINGS AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE AGE. IF PARENTS DO NOT TEACH A CHILD TO DISCERN THINGS, THE CHILD IS DOOMED TO PLAY A GAME OF CATCH-UP THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
***When a child touches an animal, a parent must teach the child to be discerning. Some animals are very sensitive, some bite, and some cuddle. Parents who let the TV, computer, and secular music mold and shape their child’s discernment will raise children loyal to the state and not to God.
YOU CAN GET CAUGHT UP, BUT IT TAKES A DELIBERATE EFFORT AND A WILLIGNNESS TO TRY THINGS YOU HAVEN’T DONE BEFORE.
3. HOW DOES THIS DISCERNMENT GROW ?
A. DECIDE ON THE RIGHT PRIORITY FOR HOW YOU WILL USE YOUR DISCERNMENT.
DISCERNMENT GROWS FROM A DIRECT DECISION BY YOU.
Ecclesiastes 8:5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
B. LET GOD SET THE PRIORITIES FOR YOUR DISCERNMENT-
- TIME.
- JUDGMENT.
- THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND SHOULD COME FIRST IN YOUR DISCERNMENT GROWTH.
HOW DO I DISCERN “TIME” PROPERLY ?. PUTTING TOO MUCH TIME INTO THE WRONG THINGS ? THE DEVIL LOVES FOR YOU TO DO THAT.
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- DON’T WASTE TIME.
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
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- DISCERNING THE TIMES OF GOD’S GRACE AND OUR RESPONSE TO IT. ALMOST All people discern the amount of grace and mercy they give to someone else. Consider the grace shown to you by God, and share it to others. Don’t be counting the times. (“how often shall i forgive my brother ? 99 times).
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before Him:
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- DISCERN YOUR CLOSENESS TO THE COMING OF THE LORD.
Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
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- DISCERNING THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE.
1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
4. HOW IS SPECIAL DISCERNMENT OBTAINED ?
A. ORDINARY DISCERNMENT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. SOME ALLOW IT TO BE PERVERTED, SOME LET IT DIE. BUT MOST PEOPLE EXERCISE IT PERIODICALLY.
HOW CAN THEY TELL ?
1 Kings 20:41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
HE COULD TELL BY THE FACE ! THE KING SAW THE COUNTENACE OF ONE WHO LOVED GOD. IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT WHICH SURROUNDS A LOST PERSON. EVEN A LOST PERSON CAN SEE.
EVEN LOST PEOPLE CAN TELL THE REAL CHRISTIANS ONCE THEY SET THEIR MINDS TO DO IT.
Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
B. DISCERNMENT CAN COME AS A SPIRITUAL GIFT.
1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
5. HOW WE MAKE DISCERNMENT WORK FOR THE LORD.
A. RECOGNIZE WHAT IT IS, SEEK IT AS AN IMPORTANT TASK.
B. GROW IN IT.
C. EXERCISE IT.
D. GIVE PRAISE TO GOD FOR IT.