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Scripture Reading:  Philippians 1:3-11

 

Spiritual Discernment

 

Intro.

1.  We need spiritual discernment in order to please God:

  a.  Things of the Spirit (revealed truth) are spiritually discerned (examined, judged, anakrino), 1 Cor. 2:14.

  b.  To discern / judge (diakrino) what is right – Lk. 12:56-57.

  c.  To distinguish/judge between (diakrisis) good & evil – Heb. 5:14.

  d.  To have judgment/perception (aisthesis) to approve right things – Phil. 1:9-10.

2.  Discernment has two parts:  Examination & judgment (based upon the examination) – cf. Acts 17:11-12 (searched, anakrino).

3.  Discernment is “an intensive investigation which closely examines the evidence & then distinguishes between right & wrong.”

4.  To be faithful to God we must use spiritual discernment.

 

I.  WE NEED DISCERNMENT (Judgment) IN OUR LIVES.

  A.  Its Necessity is Obvious.

    1.  Cooking (difference between cooking oil & Mr. Clean); Doctor (insulin & glucose); Pedestrian (red or green light).

    2.  1 Kgs. 3:9, 11 – King Solomon:  Discern good & evil…justice.

    3.  We need discernment to examine & judge the evidence before us so that we can live by faith & be saved – Lk. 12:54-59.

  B.  Discernment is Needed for Godly Living Phil. 1:9-11.

    1.  Judgment / perception enables us to approve (scrutinize to see if something is genuine) excellent (valuable) things (distinguish the things that differ), to avoiding sin (1:10) & to bear the fruits of righteousness (1:11).

    2.  We must be willing to practice discernment (diligence).

    3.  Without discernment we cannot (Phil. 1:9-11):

      a.  Approve excellent things, 1:9-10.

      b.  Be sincere & w/o offense (pure & no cause of stumbling), 1:10.

      c.  Be filled with the fruits of righteousness, 1:11.

 

II.  THINGS WE MUST DISCERN.

  A.  We Must Discern TruthJno. 18:38 (14:6; 8:31-32); 1 Cor. 2:13-16.

    1.  1 Jno. 4:1 – Warned against believing everything we’re taught (1 Ths. 5:21-22).

    2.  How?  Acts 17:10-12 – Examine (discern) scriptures (1 Jno. 4:6).

    3.  Plan of salvation; work & worship of church; morality; good works; etc. (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

    4.  cf. Rev. 2:2-3 – Result:  Stand in truth.

  B.  We must (can) Discern Good & Evil Heb. 5:14 (cf. Messiah, Isa. 7:15; 11:3).

    1.  To make moral decisions:  Some sins are directly condemned (Gal. 5:19-21); others are discerned to be sin because of the stated principles (5:21:  “and the like”).

      a.  Will it put me in immoral company?  (1 Cor. 15:33)

      b.  Will it harm my body?  (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

      c.  Does it violate my conscience?  (Rom. 14:23)

      d.  Does it place a stumbling block by causing one to violate his conscience?  (Rom. 14:13)

      e.  Will it damage my influence for good?  (1 Pet. 2:11-12)

      f.   Is it in conflict with my duty as Christian?  (Matt. 6:33)

      g.   Would Jesus do it? Would I do it in His presence? (1 Pet. 2:21)

    2.  Discern evil: Clothing, language, entertainment, illegal drug use, gambling activities (lotteries), gossip…

    3.  Discern good:  Bible study, worship, prayer, encouragement…

  C.  We must Discern the Lord’s Body in the Lord’s Supper – 1 Cor. 11:29.

    1.  Examine His death & judge its benefits  when eating – 11:24-25.

    2.  All worship should be approached this way (Jno. 4:24).

  D.  We must Apply Discernment to Ourselves 1 Cor. 11:28, 31.

    1.  Judge, distinguish our motives for & conduct in eating the LS.

    2.  2 Cor. 13:5 – In the faith?  Is Christ in you?

    3.  Gal. 6:4 – Life approved?

    4.  1 Ths. 5:21-22 – All we believe & practice.

    5.  1 Cor. 2:15 – The spiritual person judges (discerns) all things.

 

Conclusion

1.  Israel was to distinguish (discern) between clean & unclean to be a holy people – Lev. 20:25-26.

2.  Priests in the house of God (Christians) must know & teach difference between holy & unholy – Ezek. 44:23.

3.  Phil. 1:9-11Without discernment:

  a.  We will be deceived by sin, &

  b.  We will not bear righteous fruit in our lives.

4.  Obey the word of God (use it) to develop spiritual discernment – Heb. 5:13-14.