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 Truth – Jno. 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. 1:9-11 – Without 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.