Discernment

1 Corinthians 12:10 – Everyone who’s experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit has the potential equipping of
“distinguishing between spirits”.
Why is discernment important?
Judges 13:15-22 – Manoah didn’t realize he was talking to God and almost died.
1 Kings 22:19-23, 34-35 – Ahab had poor discernment and ended up dead.
1 Chronicles 21:1, 14 – David didn’t realize his desire had come from Satan; he did a wicked thing in God’s sight
resulting in many deaths.
Luke 1:18-20 – Zechariah didn’t discern properly who was talking with him; this resulted in consequences.
Mohammad with his demons:
Ibn Sa'd, (d. 852 A.D.), "Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir", (Book of the Major Classes), page 225, translated
by S. Moinul Haq, Pakistan Historical Society – "O Khadija, I see light and hear sounds and I fear I am mad".
Ibn Ishaq, (d. 782), "Sirat Rasulallah", compiled by A. Guillaume as "The Life of Muhammad", page
106, Oxford, London, 1955 –
"So I read it, and he departed from me. And I awoke from my sleep, and it was though these words were written on my
heart. (Tabari: Now none of God's creatures was more hateful to me than an (ecstatic) poet or a man possessed: I could
not even look at them. I thought, Woe is me poet or possessed - Never shall Quraysh say this of me! I will go to the top
of the mountain and throw myself down that I may kill myself and gain rest. So I went forth to do so and then) when I
was midway on the mountain, I heard a voice from heaven saying "O Muhammad! thou are the apostle of God and I am
Gabriel."
2 Corinthians 11:14 – Without discernment we are in very real danger of being deceived. (Today there are so many
things out there – the Florida revival, angel feathers, gemstones, gold dust, etc.)
Rules to follow when discerning
1. Doctrinal Discernment
Proverbs 30:5-6 – Because God’s word is perfect we must trust this as our foundational source of doctrine. If you
can’t back up what you believe with systematic theology from Scripture, then you’re in danger of being deceived.
Galatians 1:6-9 – The gospel message given in the Bible is the greatest source we can use for our understanding of
Jesus. This source trumps all others.
2. Spiritual Discernment
1 John 4:1-3 – Test what you hear and who says it. If your source isn’t opening declaring the truths of the gospel then
reject it immediately.
1 Timothy 4:1-7 – People come up with so many traditions and ideas and the Bible says much of this is really coming
from demons.
3. Prophetic Discernment
1 Corinthians 14:3 – Personal prophetic discernment.
4. Personal Discernment
Matthew 16:21-23 – Many people want to tell you what God has told them about you in order to steer your life into
something of their liking. If you start to hear the sound of the Accuser – e.g., you can’t do this, or you did that. Realize
it’s not them but the enemy through them. Avoid foolish and stupid arguments – 2 Timothy 2:23-26 – instead of
arguing pray for that person to be freed from Satan’s grasp.
5. Monetary Discernment
Luke 12:15 – Avoid greed. Best way to avoid greed is by giving – Acts 2:44-45.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 - Be a cheerful giver. The purpose of becoming rich is to give it all away – 2 Corinthians 9:11.
2 Corinthians 8:13-14 – Giving isn’t so you’ll become poor.
1 Timothy 6:3-10 – Be weary of any preacher who tells you about financial ways to be rich in this life that don’t agree
with the getting-to-give principle.
6. Relational Discernment
2 Corinthians 6:14-16 – first and foremost, if you’re a Christian you must only have a love relationship with a
Christian.
Ephesians 5:22 – If you don’t respect your husband to be or potential one day husband as much as you respect the
Lord then why are you in that relationship?
Ephesians 5:25 – If you don’t see yourself loving your wife to be or potential one day wife as much as Christ loves the
church then why are you in that relationship?