Discernment: What It Is and Is Not
Discernment in the life of the believer is absolutely vital. We have to know what is God and what is not. We have to know what flows from His nature and what does not. In order to truly operate in discernment, we need to make sure we understand what it is according to what was written.
Discernment doesn’t just have one function - it has many different functions which I attempt to summarize here:
Discernment as a tool for all believers. See Philippians 1:9-10; Hosea 14:9.
Discernment as a spiritual gift not given to all but available to those who ask. See 1 Corin. 12:7.
Discernment as the ability to distinguish between good and evil. See 1 Kings 8:9; 1 John 4:1; Hebrews 5:14.
Discernment as the ability to ascertain the revelation and the wisdom of God. See Romans 12:2; 1 Corin. 2:14.
The word ‘discern’ means “to separate” in Latin. The Oxford definition of the word is to “perceive or recognize (something)” or to “distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.” Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word 'discernment’ is “the quality of being able to comprehend what is obscure.”
Embedded in these definitions is the acknowledgment that discernment applies to what isn’t easily or immediately seen. The difference between the colors pink and white, for example, is obvious. You don’t need discernment to tell the difference between those two colors and the ability to tell the difference between those two colors is not discernment. On the other hand, the difference between two shades of pink - like pink that’s more rose colored versus a shade that’s more of a light pink - is more obscure. The difference is not immediately apparent and requires heightened attention in order to be distinguished.
The same is true of discernment. Discernment is such an important tool for all believers because it helps us to make the right choices in life. It allows us to "approve the things that are excellent.” See Phillipians 1:10. It helps us make the decisions that shape our lives: what job to take, where to live, who to befriend, who to marry and more. Most importantly, and the reason I’m sharing this message right now, discernment allows us ascertain what is actually of God and flows from His Spirit; it helps us to know what to believe. How do we gain and grow in this tool? Reading God’s word and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
His Word. See Hebrews 4:12. There’s this saying that people who study counterfeit money don’t study the fake versions of the bill. Instead, they focus on studying all the intricate detail of the real bill so that when they come across a counterfeit they immediately know because they are so familiar with the real thing. Similarly, if we devote ourselves to studying the word of God - His written word and His character and heart - it becomes easy to discern what doesn’t align. I say both His written word and His character and heart because God is His word. See John 1:1. You cannot learn His word without also learning His heart for you and others. You cannot learn His word without also learning the character He demonstrates and asks us to demonstrate. This is how scripture is easily weaponized. People use the words and leave His heart and His character on the table. We need to seek after them all. See, for example, Jeremiah 9:24; 1 John 4:7-11; Acts 13: 22; and Ephesians Ch. 4.
His Spirit. You cannot be discerning as a Christian without the Holy Spirit. It’s like trying to drive a car without any gas. The Holy Spirit is our helper who guides us to all truth and speaks only according to the will of God. See John 16:13-15. If discernment is the ability distinguish between what is of God or not, how then can we know that we’ve made the correct determination? In addition to confirming with His word we have to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit. This is a wonderful prayer point to have. Ask God to increase your sensitivity to the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life. Ask God to drown out the noise so that you may hear Him clearly. Ask God to make you more discerning. See Luke 11:13.
It’s also important to know what biblical discernment is not. Here, I say biblical discernment intentionally, rather than just discernment because as believers, we need to ensure that we are using the terms as intended in the Bible, not what they have become in society. Biblical discernment is not our opinion. Biblical discernment is not a passionate emotion. Biblical discernment is not our perception. Rather, it is our ability to perceive according to the word of God and guidance of His Spirit. Perception without the guidance of the Holy Spirit is just an opinion or observation. Perception that flows from the direction of the Holy Spirit, and confirmed by the word of God, is discernment. Why? Because the Holy Spirit knows all things and speaks only according to the will of God. We do not know all things. In order to know whether something is God or not, we need to be directed by His word and by His Spirit - not our opinions and emotions.
Finally, discernment is not a weapon. Anything that comes from God is intended to make you more Christlike. Discernment is part of this toolbox. If we’ve discerned that something is not of God or that something is wrong according to God’s Spirit, what’s the next step there? Pray. Intercede. Cover. Give grace. Exude the love of God. Discernment is not a way for us to make ourselves better than anyone. Discernment is not an opportunity to shame or “other” people based on what God has revealed. Operating in discernment should not make us more prideful - it should make us more prayerful. In some cases, separation is necessary based on what you discern. In some cases, it will be necessary to guard your heart and mind from what you’ve discerned. But your heart posture should always be that of a servant - ready and willing to exude the love of God always.