In 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, the apostle Paul lists seven spiritual gifts God bestows on believers to help them function effectively and grow the body of Christ. Paul writes:
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
– Proverbs 27:17
Psalm 119:125
I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes
What is spiritual discernment?
The “discerning of spirits” Paul mentions is a spiritual gift that helps Christians distinguish good spirits from bad spirits and sound doctrine from false ones. This is exceptionally important in these last days because the Bible warns us that during the end times there will be a great deception. The devil will go all out to deceive the world, and he’ll try to turn as many Christians away from God as he can with lies and false doctrine.
Jesus says in Matthew 24:4: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” In verses 10-11 He adds, “At the time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets
will appear and deceive many people.”
Dictionary.com defines discernment as “the faculty of discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding.” In spiritual terms, discernment simply means wisdom or the ability to judge effectively.
Discernment in the life of King Solomon
After Solomon was crowned king, he soon realized he was in a difficult situation. Leading an entire nation was no easy task. He was young and inexperienced, and he felt he didn’t have the qualities required to rule Israel. So Solomon turned to God for help.
Solomon asked God for “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:9). Pleased with his request, God responded saying, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be” (1 Kings 3:11-12).
Solomon’s story teaches us the importance of discernment in every Christian’s life. There will always be enemies seeking to lead God’s children astray. Many times they will present themselves as one of the good guys, even as members of the church. They’ll preach sermons that sound good to the ears but don’t follow the tenets of the Bible. If you have a discerning spirit you’ll be able to identify them.
Receiving the gift of discernment
In the New Testament, Paul prayed that everyone in Christ would have a discerning spirit. He wrote in Philippians 1:9-19, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
The Bible emphasizes the importance of discernment. But how do we receive it? Here are three ways to receive and grow discernment:
Prayer:
Like Solomon, you can ask God for the gift of discernment. The Psalmist prayed for it, saying, “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes” (Psalm 119:125). Pray for a discerning spirit in the name of Jesus and believe that you have received it.
Scripture:
Studying the Bible is another great way to develop a discerning spirit. The word of God is filled with so many inspiring teachings and truths to help us distinguish right from wrong in the physical and spiritual realms and identify the wolves disguised as sheep in the church.
Fellowship:
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” No matter what level of faith we’re in, spending time with true believers provides us with spiritual strength. It gives us the opportunity to learn from one another and grow in wisdom and stature.
Conclusion
God gives us a variety of gifts to help us in our Christian walk. In a world where the enemy reigns and is constantly trying to deceive believers, it is important for every Christian to possess the spirit of discernment. And as we patiently await the second coming of our Lord, we must guard our hearts from false doctrines so we can finish the race strong.
Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” And according to John of Damascus, the virtue of discernment “is greater than any other virtue; and is the queen and crown of all the virtues.”
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