Developing Spiritual Discernment in a Confused World

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment as a Spiritual Skill

Discernment is the ability to distinguish truth from error, honed through the practice of applying scriptural principles to life. It requires moving beyond generalities to a deep understanding of God's Word. [02:34]
In a world filled with conflicting messages and ideologies, the ability to discern truth from error is crucial for spiritual growth. Discernment is not an innate ability but a skill that is developed through consistent practice and engagement with the Word of God. Hebrews 5:14 highlights the importance of training our spiritual senses to accurately perceive truth. This involves moving beyond a superficial understanding of scripture to a deeper, more nuanced application of God's Word in our daily lives. As believers, we are called to diligently study the scriptures, allowing them to shape our thoughts, actions, and decisions. By doing so, we cultivate a discerning spirit that can navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and clarity.
Hebrews 5:14 (ESV): "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle to discern truth from error. How can you apply scriptural principles to gain clarity and understanding in this area today?

Day 2: The Church's Struggle with Pragmatism

The church today often mirrors the confusion of the world due to a history of pragmatic teaching that has compromised the truth. This has led to a form of humility that avoids definitive truth, which is actually a form of pride. [06:16]
In recent times, the church has often found itself reflecting the confusion and chaos of the world around it. This is largely due to a legacy of pragmatic teaching that has diluted the truth of scripture. In an effort to be relevant and inclusive, the church has sometimes prioritized tolerance over truth, leading to a reluctance to speak definitively where God has been clear. This has resulted in a form of humility that is actually a disguise for pride, as it avoids the hard truths of scripture under the guise of open-mindedness. True humility involves submitting to the authority of God's Word, even when it challenges our preconceived notions and cultural norms. By doing so, the church can stand as a beacon of truth and clarity in a world of confusion.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV): "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you prioritized being open-minded over standing firm in biblical truth. How can you cultivate true humility by submitting to God's Word in similar situations?

Day 3: True Humility in Engaging Scripture

True humility involves opening the Bible and engaging with it in its context, even if it challenges our preconceived notions. This approach fosters unity and growth within the body of Christ. [14:03]
True humility is demonstrated when believers approach the Bible with a willingness to be challenged and transformed by its teachings. This involves engaging with scripture in its context, allowing it to speak for itself rather than imposing our own interpretations or biases. By doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's Word, which fosters unity and growth within the body of Christ. Engaging with scripture in this way requires a posture of humility, recognizing that God's wisdom far surpasses our own understanding. As we submit to the authority of scripture, we are equipped to navigate the complexities of life with grace and truth, building up the church in love and unity.
James 1:21-22 (ESV): "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: Consider a passage of scripture that challenges your current beliefs or lifestyle. How can you approach it with humility and allow it to transform your understanding and actions?

Day 4: The Role of the Local Church in Discernment

God's plan for discernment involves the local church as the primary means of equipping believers. Preaching and teaching within the church are essential for fostering unity and maturity in the faith. [16:14]
The local church plays a vital role in God's plan for the growth of discernment among His people. Through the preaching and teaching of God's Word, believers are equipped to distinguish truth from error and grow in spiritual maturity. The church provides a community where believers can learn, grow, and be held accountable in their faith journey. It is within this context that discernment is cultivated, as believers are encouraged to apply scriptural principles to their lives and engage with the truth of God's Word. While discernment ministries and blogs can offer additional insights, they should never replace the foundational role of the local church. True discernment is fostered in community, under the guidance of shepherds who are committed to the truth of God's Word.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV): "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in your local church to grow in discernment and contribute to the unity and maturity of the body of Christ?

Day 5: The Balance of Discernment Ministries and the Local Church

Discernment ministries and blogs can be helpful but should not replace the role of the local church. They should direct believers back to their local church for guidance and growth in discernment. [20:23]
In today's digital age, discernment ministries and blogs have become popular sources of information and insight for many believers. While these resources can be valuable in providing additional perspectives and understanding, they should never replace the foundational role of the local church. The local church is God's primary means of equipping believers for discernment, providing a community where believers can learn, grow, and be held accountable in their faith journey. Discernment ministries and blogs should serve to complement the teaching and guidance provided by the local church, directing believers back to their local community for support and growth. By maintaining this balance, believers can cultivate a discerning spirit that is rooted in the truth of God's Word and nurtured within the context of community.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (ESV): "But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
Reflection: Reflect on your consumption of discernment ministries and blogs. How can you ensure that these resources complement, rather than replace, the teaching and guidance of your local church?

Sermon Summary

In our discussion today, we delved into the critical topic of spiritual discernment, a theme that is both timely and timeless. Discernment, as defined from a biblical perspective, is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error. It is a skill that is honed through practice and the application of scriptural principles to our lives. Hebrews 5:14 speaks to this, emphasizing the importance of training our spiritual senses to perceive truth accurately. This process involves moving beyond a superficial understanding of scripture to a deeper, more nuanced application of God's Word.

In today's world, marked by confusion and chaos, the church is often caught in the same turmoil as the culture around it. This is partly due to a legacy of pragmatic teaching that has diluted the truth, leading to a generation that struggles with discernment. The church has sometimes prioritized tolerance over truth, resulting in a reluctance to speak definitively where God has been clear. This has led to a form of humility that is actually a disguise for pride, as it avoids the hard truths of scripture under the guise of open-mindedness.

God's plan for the growth of discernment in His people is primarily through the local church. The preaching and teaching within the church are designed to equip believers, fostering unity and maturity in the faith. While discernment ministries and blogs can offer additional insights, they should never replace the foundational role of the local church. True discernment is cultivated in community, under the guidance of shepherds who are committed to the truth of God's Word.

Key Takeaways

1. Discernment is the ability to distinguish truth from error, honed through the practice of applying scriptural principles to life. It requires moving beyond generalities to a deep understanding of God's Word. [02:34]
2. The church today often mirrors the confusion of the world due to a history of pragmatic teaching that has compromised the truth. This has led to a form of humility that avoids definitive truth, which is actually a form of pride. [06:16]
3. True humility involves opening the Bible and engaging with it in its context, even if it challenges our preconceived notions. This approach fosters unity and growth within the body of Christ. [14:03]
4. God's plan for discernment involves the local church as the primary means of equipping believers. Preaching and teaching within the church are essential for fostering unity and maturity in the faith. [16:14]
5. Discernment ministries and blogs can be helpful but should not replace the role of the local church. They should direct believers back to their local church for guidance and growth in discernment. [20:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Introduction to Spiritual Discernment
[00:51] - Importance of Discernment
[02:34] - Defining Discernment
[03:59] - Discernment and God's Pleasure
[05:39] - Current Cultural Confusion
[06:16] - Church's Struggle with Discernment
[09:27] - Humility and Certainty in Truth
[12:05] - Clarity of Scripture
[14:03] - True Humility in Engaging Scripture
[15:17] - God's Plan for Discernment
[17:06] - Role of Discernment Ministries
[19:31] - Importance of Local Church
[21:06] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Sermon Clips

Discernment is essentially the ability to see right from wrong or to perceive the truth from error. You see this in Hebrews 5:14, that when by practice the senses are trained, and he's speaking there about the senses of the spiritual life. Your spiritual mind assessing the spiritual with the spiritual. [00:02:42]

We take principles from scripture and we learn to apply them wisely to life. And when you do that by practice, and you don't just remain elementary, or generalized in your understanding of truth, but you take the truth and wisely apply it, your senses, your spiritual senses begin to become trained and you can perceive truth from error. [00:03:12]

The church has played games with definitive truth, they have in the meantime elevated a view of tolerance that has made truth a matter of sentimentality, or we've said that someone who speaks truth definitively is unloving. These kinds of things have caused us to get emotional about the truth rather than believe it for what God has revealed it to be. [00:06:55]

Humility is opening this, and with brother and sister setting forth the scripture in its context. It doesn't mean we're gonna agree on every passage or every issue, but let's face it, that builds unity between us, because we trust that each other has done their homework and we've humbled ourselves to listen to the other view. [00:14:06]

The primary means for God's people to develop discernment is the body of believers, the body of Christ and the ministry of the local church. That is clear, preaching is the primary gift in the church, through which we learn the voice of God, the truth of God, and we begin to understand true shepherding in that flock is the primary means. [00:16:06]

If someone's discernment ministries or blogging can be a help, it will only be as strong as the mutual discipleship, encouragement, and pastoral shepherding that that individual receives. And so long as that is flowing outward from the strength of that ministries preaching, teaching and shepherding, you could have some benefit to those things. [00:17:11]

I do believe as you do, that it's dangerous to get in front of a microphone and begin to formulate a ministry that's watchdog ask, and that takes on every issue. Part of that is because every Christian knows that if all you ever think about all day is finding the next doctrine of demons under every rock, your devotional life will suffer. [00:17:34]

Because we were not made for merely looking at doctrines of demons and pointing them out. We're not made for 24 seven polemics. We're made to defend the truth, stand in the truth, live a holy life, and be devoted to Christ, that's as serious as pointing out a false doctrine. [00:18:04]

And just as serious as staying by a bedside with a saint who's ill and praying with them, that's the two are equal for the Christian, as dynamics through which we grow. So I always think about these discernment blogs and ministries, and I think, okay, what is the approach to God's word? [00:18:25]

What is it that their main state is, their main diet? And then the scriptures has something to say about how you deal with every corner of false teaching. Not every person who was wrapped in error was responded to the same way by Jesus, as he responded to others. [00:18:50]

When it came to the Pharisees, it was a scathing rebuke on the temple Mount. When it came to a former prostitute, it was a gentle go and sin no more, and everything in between. When I see a discernment ministry taking care to shepherd all of their listening audience, instead of just, you know, those that might need to come out of some cult. [00:19:04]

To maintain what God clearly said, that you are protected when you are a sheep under the shepherds after God's own heart. You come out from under that, and you'll drift. [00:21:00]

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