Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Spiritual Discernment

 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21

Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4394

Prophecies: the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth; divinely-empowered forthtelling (asserting the mind of God) or foretelling (prediction)

Forthtelling is speaking what is current. Foretelling is speaking what is to come. 

Discernment Is Godly Wisdom

Isaiah 8:20

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:7, 8

For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness. Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.

The Benefit of Prophecies

1 Corinthians 14:3

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:12

It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1381

Test:  I put to the test, prove, examine; I distinguish by testing, approve after testing; I am fit. By implication, to approve. To show something is acceptable (real, approved); put to the test to reveal what is good (genuine). Allow, examine, discern. 

If the word(s) being spoken lines up with the Word that is known and received by the Spirit as Truth, then that prophecy or prophecies is to be accepted as fact. What builds the church up spiritually and draws us closer to God in Christ is going to be prophecies. What tears the church down and apart is not always from God, but from the enemy of our souls, the devil, Satan. 

Test All Things (Spoken)

1 Corinthians 14:29

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 

1 John 4:1

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

In order to know whether or not the word(s) being spoken is from God, we must first know the Word of God and be hungry for it. Therefore, we must read our Bibles every day and seek to know what the Word means. Praying and asking for the Author's disclosure to us of godly wisdom, godly discernment (more than just knowing right from wrong, but Good from Evil). Praying for retention of knowledge (what we learn) and allowing the Word to grow in us, that we may become ever more fruitful in our service to God.

Hold Fast To What Is Good

Romans 12:9

Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 

1 Thessalonians 5:22

Abstain from every form of evil.

Proverbs 3 

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments;

for they will add length to your days,

years and peace to your life.

Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will find favor and high regard

in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

This will bring healing to your body

and refreshment to your bones.

Honor the LORD with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will overflow with new wine.

My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,

and do not loathe His rebuke;

for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,

as does a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

the man who acquires understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver,

and her gain is better than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire compares with her.

Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

All her ways are pleasant,

and all her paths are peaceful.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,

and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom

and established the heavens by understanding.

By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open,

and the clouds dripped with dew.

My son, do not lose sight of this:

Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

They will be life to your soul

and adornment to your neck.

Then you will go on your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not fear sudden danger

or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

for the LORD will be your confidence

and will keep your foot from the snare.

Do not withhold good from the deserving

when it is within your power to act.

Do not tell your neighbor,

“Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—

when you already have the means.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor,

for he trustfully dwells beside you.

Do not accuse a man without cause,

when he has done you no harm.

Do not envy a violent man

or choose any of his ways;

for the LORD detests the perverse,

but He is a friend to the upright.

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,

but He blesses the home of the righteous.

He mocks the mockers,

but gives grace to the humble.

The wise will inherit honor,

but fools are held up to shame.

Heart of Discerning

 

HEART OF DISCERNMENT
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
Who has the heart of discerning?

                                               The believer. (Romans 10:9)

                                                          What is the heart? 

             The soul: our will, our attitude, our intelligence/intellect.                                             (Romans 10:10)

How do we acquire knowledge?
From God. (Daniel 1:17).

                              And through spending time with God in prayer and                                        daily Bible reading. (Deuteronomy 4:29;                   Psalm 27:8; Psalm 119:2; Isaiah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:13;

1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; 2 Timothy 1:3)

Who are the wise?
They who fear the LORD (Proverbs 9:10).

                      How do we hear this knowledge we are seeking?

Through the hearing of the Word, whether we read our Bibles out loud or when we hear the full Truth of the Word preached in our churches. (Romans 10:17)

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Today's Thought From The Word - Discernment

DISCERNMENT

Synonyms are words that better aid in knowing what a word means and how to use that word. Some synonyms for Discernment would be:

Insight

Perception

Comprehension

Understanding

Wisdom

The Bible tells us that 'to discern' is to understand; consider carefully, gain understanding; pay close attention to; investigate. So, let's investigate.

The dictionary tells us that 'to discern' is to be able to distinguish one object from another, whether that object is intellectual knowledge or physical knowledge. 

For example, intellectual knowledge is the ability to make decisions based on what we know. While physical knowledge is how we obtain what we know through the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. 

We can discern what is right from what is wrong through obtained wisdom, which an only be found in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures. Wisdom comes from God and we need only ask for it. As Solomon did when he became King of Israel and had this conversation with God, so to speak:

God: "What shall I give you? Ask."

Solomon: "Give me an understanding heart, that I may judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad."

God, who was pleased with Solomon's request, replied: "Because you asked for this and not long life, nor riches for yourself, nor the lives of your enemies, I will give you wisdom and so much more."

We are living in uncertain times and we need this same wisdom that King Solomon asked for. We need to be able to discern the times in which we live and make wise choices, judgments, for ourselves. Knowing right from wrong, common sense from crazy  sense.

God also promised Solomon that if he would walk in God's ways, keep God's statutes and commandments, then God would also lengthen his days. This promise is for us, too. We need to walk in God's ways, keep God's commandments and live accordingly. However this cannot be done on our strength. We need Christ in our hearts to bring us to God and we need the Holy Spirit in our hearts to make us presentable, holy, that we might stay for ever in God's presence. All we have to do is ASK.

And God will give us what He promises  He will give us.