19/06/10

Discern

Deuteronomy 1:13 - Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.'


Yesterday was with a Bro. in the Lord, he was talking to me about a person in his extended family whom he considered as his own son and had hurt him deeply. From the start (which was many days before) when he had started telling me about this boy all the time I felt in my heart and could see spiritually that the problem was not with the boy. Though he did make some grave mistakes yet the real problem was not in him. This Bro. went to the extent that words like 'he needs deliverance' were spoken about this boy and I laughingly said to this brother 'someone else needs deliverance not him'. To confirm what I was speaking I asked him to go home, pray and open the Bible to any random page and put your finger anywhere on the page and the Lord will speak to him.

Yesterday when I was at his place and he was again talking of the boy he slowly disclosed what the message was; the message was not only confirming what I said but directly telling him where the problem was.

It was not that I was judging anyone but just discerning the good from bad.

Please understand judging and discerning are two different things. When a person uses words like 'you will never change', 'you will be a good for nothing all your life', 'you are doomed', these are words of judgment.

In the message the Bro. had receive the Lord called the boy 'my righteous servant'. Although the boy had many, many problems and also did many grave mistakes like hitting his own father not once but twice, yet the Lord called him 'my righteous servant'. The Lord does not see what a person is but what he will become - the finish product. Since we do not know the future (forget of others even our own) we therefore cannot judge but the Lord alone can. Even when Jesus was man on earth He said He has not come to Judge and even when He comes again to judge, He said He would do so with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Correcting someone when a person is doing wrong or going the wrong way is not called judging but discerning.

We all discern each and every moment of our lives as we walk on the street, eat anything, speak to people, etc. People discern better as they grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Since there are two types of knowledge - worldly and spiritual and two kinds of wisdom - one out of experience (learning from mistakes) and other given by God; thus we have varying discernments. The reason why many fall or are astray, is only because they lack discernment or their leaders do so.

To receive good discernment one needs to be knowledgeable of the Word, be blessed in wisdom and have the Spirit of Discernment (which one receives by believing in Jesus Christ).


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we pray that You bless all of your people with your Spirit of Discernment. We all are weak and astray only because we lack knowledge of your Word, wisdom and discernment. Lord we specially pray for the gift of discernment for all the leaders of your Church, that they lead your sheep well...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen


[ Reference Scriptures ]
1 Corinthians 11:29-32
29 For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.
30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
31 But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Hebrew 4:12
12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrew 5:13-14
13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.
14 But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

John 5:25-32
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

Matthew 7:1-2
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.

Luke 12:54-57
54 And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass.
55 And when ye see a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?
57 And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

John 8:14-16
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)