“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14)
The spirit of discernment is not a magic wand that enables carnal foresight or instincts but it is a distinguishing spirit that empowers us to know what the Lord wants in any given situation while granting us a compelling grace to obey the word of God.
How do we receive this spiritual gift? The more we read the word of God and put the word to practice the sharper the spirit of discernment become in our daily life.
If we don’t take time to listen or read the word of God or scarcely put it to use in a living way, we become increasingly undiscerning and become more and more like the person who looks in the mirror of the word but sooner than later returns to his carnal lifestyle. (James 1:23).
If we must develop a discerning spirit we must be willing to respond to the truth of God that we hear and read and in doing so we will experience an intimate relationship with God.
Obedience to his word enables the voice and prompting of the Holy Spirit to further conform us to the image of God in holiness. In the books of Romans 12:1-2, we read: “Do not conform yourself to this age…that you may discern what is the will of God”.
The discerning spirit of the Lord, aside from sharpening our inner man also opens us up before the Lord in a holy vulnerability. This can only be experienced in a two-way communication with the Lord in prayer and in deep meditation on his word.
As we tarry in prayer and deepen our meditation in his word, we experience a holy diagnosis of our own faults and a consequent need for urgent repentance. This is how consecration is deepened through the discerning spirit.
In this regard, the Bible says “for the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”. (Hebrews 4:12).
Above all, why do we urgently need the spirit of discernment? Simply because the last days are here. The last days are the days of massive satanic operations with the sole purpose of deceiving believers.
This task of the devil becomes even more destructive through deception and seduction because he knows that his time is short. Revelation 12:12 reveals this dangerous scene saying, “But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short.”
In these last days, we need the spirit of discernment more than anything else in order to counter the advancing army of the devil whose influence comes from seduction and deception of all sorts.
Apostle Paul reminded Timothy that in the latter times “some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…”(1 Timothy 4.1).
This massive influence of satanic deception is presently magnified and expressed through our movies, arts, music, conversations, and dressing and it calls for the urgent need for a sharp discerning spirit.
We must therefore dedicate more time to prayer, meditation, and reflection and then ask the Lord to give us the spirit of discernment.
We will conclude with the words of Apostle James for all who sincerely desire the discernment of the Holy Spirit in these last and slippery days of deception:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5).
Reading
1 Corinthians 10: 1-13
