Sunday, March 20, 2016

Discernment pt.2

Discernment Pt.2


We are continuing in our series on discernment. We need to be knowledgable of what is taking place in the world today. We also need to have discernment to be able to navigate today's world with wisdom from God.
It is important to know what discernment is based on in its definition. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the worddiscern as 
a careful analysis, to be able to detect with senses other than vision, the ability to identify right from wrong and to sift apart the useful out of the rejected.
We are bombarded on a daily basis with situations that need to be discerned. As Kingdom citizens, we need to be able to look at a contrary situation and see it for what it is. The enemy is looking for a way to manifest his will into this situation. We have to allow God to manifest His will through us so that God's will is done here in the situation.
 
1 John 4:1 NLT “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”
 We cannot test the spirit if we are not familiar with the Word of God. As a Kingdom citizen, the study of God’s Word is not an option. How will you know if something you hear is false if you don’t study it for yourself?
 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
 Knowing God’s Word is necessary to be able to discern when something is false. God’s Word always points us to the truth. Knowing God’s Word protects us from those who would try to take the Word and twist it.
 Hebrews 4:12 KJV “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
 ASV “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.