What is Discernment?
Discernment
noun
the cognitive condition of someone who understands; he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect;
perception of that which is obscure
ability to make good judgments
the trait of judging wisely and objectively; a man of discernment; discernment;
Discernment is a term used to describe the activity of determining the value of a certain subject or event. Typically, it is used to describe the activity of going past the mere perception of something, to making detailed judgments about that thing. As a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.
Christianity
"Discernment" is also a term used in Christian tradition to describe the process of discerning God's Desire for one's life. In large part, it describes the interior search for an answer to the question of one's vocation, namely, determining whether or not God is calling one to the married life, single life, religious life; ordained ministry or priesthood (Roman Catholic or Anglican/Episcopal) or any other ministerial calling by virtue of Baptism. The concept is not limited to ordination or vowed life.
All moral conduct may be summed up in the rule: avoid evil and do good. In the language of Christian asceticism, spirits, in the broad sense, is the term applied to certain complex influences, capable of impelling the will, the ones toward good, the others toward evil.
However, in the restricted sense, spirits indicate the various spiritual agents which, by their suggestions and movements, may influence the moral value of our acts. Concupiscence, disturbances of the imagination and errors of sensibility, thwart or pervert the operations of the intellect and will, by deterring the one from the true and the other from the good (Genesis 8:21; James 1:14). In opposition to our vitiated nature, or so to speak, to the flesh which drags us into sin, the Holy Spirit acts within us by grace, a supernatural help given to our intellect and will to lead us back to good and to the observance of the moral law (Epistle to the Romans 7:22-25). Besides these two spirits, the human and the Divine, in the actual order of Providence, two others must be observed. The Creator willed that there should be communication between angels and men, and as the angels are of two kinds, good and bad, the latter try to win us over to their rebellion and the former endeavour to make us their companions in obedience. Hence four spirits lay siege to our liberty: the angelic and the Divine seeking its good, and the human (in the sense heretofore mentioned) and the diabolical its misery.
Scriptural basis
The scriptural basis for the discernment of spirits can be found in Galatians 5:16-24. Following the desire of the spirit leads to holiness and following the will of the flesh leads to sin. This also opens the door to Satan. The will of the flesh is easy to be fooled and leads to rationalizations of conduct and makes idols of the things of this world. This gift allows a person to see into the spiritual realm, with the naked eye to "discern" what activity is taking place. Either it is right or wrong. "Discernment of spirits" is the term given to the judgment whereby to determine from what spirit the impulses of the soul emanate, and it is easy to understand the importance of this judgment both for self-direction and the direction of others. Now this judgment may be formed in two ways. In the first case the discernment is made by means of an intuitive light which infallibly discovers the quality of the movement; it is then a gift of God. 'Second, discernment of spirits may be obtained through studying of the Bible, dependence on God, and being sensitive to God's leading.' It is then not just an acquired human knowledge; it is a spiritual gift. It is procured, always, of course, through a right walking with God. The necessity of self-direction and of directing others, when one had charge of souls, produced documents, preserved in spiritual libraries, from the perusal of which one may see that the discernment of spirits is a science of the Church.
Ignatian view
For St. Ignatius of Loyola, the discernment of spirits is part of everyone's spiritual journey. No one who is trying to make spiritual progress should attempt to do so alone - a spiritual director is required. A director assists a Christian in examining the motives, desires, consolations, and desolations in one's life. Objectively, one can know what is right from looking at the Ten Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins in a thorough examination of conscience. But the broader picture of one's life is often not so clear. A Christian should, according to St. Ignatius, share everything with a director who can see things objectively, without being swayed by the emotions or passion. Discerning whether the good spirit (the influence of God, the Church, one's soul) or the bad spirit (the influence of Satan, the world, the flesh) is at work requires calm, rational reflection. The good spirit brings us to peaceful, joyful decisions. The bad spirit often brings us to make quick, emotional, conflicted decisions. A spiritual director can assist both by personal experience, listening with care, and giving an objective analysis.
Charismatic view
Charismatics consider it to be a charism or spiritual gift that supernaturally enables a Christian believer to distinguish between holy and unholy spirits through the power of the Holy Spirit. This gift is thought to be especially necessary in instances when individuals may need to be delivered or healed of Demonic possession. In today's world, people are led astray by complacency and temptation to live only for and in this world {see Gospel of Matthew 25:29}). Again, most do not realize the spiritual warfare going on all around and within them. Ephesians 6: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(NIV) The truth here seems to say we fight against spiritual evil not against each other although the evil spirits love to confuse us to war against each other.
Discernment
- Now that you are getting on the path, one of the best things you can ever receive is discernment. When you get discernment, you are getting Godly wisdom and Godly knowledge. It is like using God's eyes instead of your own, God's heart instead of your own, God's mind instead of your own. Instead of getting parents intuition, you get Godly intuition; and that's what help you in everything you do. Pray for discernment.
James 1:5
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.
Why do we need Discernment?
I cannot stress it enough that discernment is one of the most important things that we can ever pray for. God gives us the gift of discernment. Without discernment, we can be deceived. Without discernment, we are subject to the deceptions the Satan has placed all around us. In all reality, 99% of the Christian teachings are infused with deceptions and the other religions in the world are even worse. We can not be subject to their misdirections. Just because everybody is doing it doesn't make it right, and with my discernment being so strong, it would be safe to say that if the whole world is doing it, then it is definitely not the right thing in God's eyes. And that's because this world is completely upsidedown from the Godly world that was created before sin. The Bible repeats that very few are going to be saved, a remnant. So if the whole world is doing it, I know it is not what God wants me to do.
Matthew 7:13
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Discernment Reveals Deceptions
When we receive the discernment from God we will see these deceptions that Satan has created. I do caution with the word ALL. Discernment is not a confident boasting of power and ability, it is a caution. Sometimes people get overconfident and then it is themselves and not God who is discerning, then then make mistakes. We need to be certain that the discernment is a Godly discernment and not one of self. That is the first deception that Satan tries to steal from you, he wants you to take the discernment you are receiving from God and claim it as your own. Satan wants you to believe that YOU are trained to make proper judgements and that you no longer need God to do the discerning for you.
This world is getting worse and worse. God knew this was going to happen. And in these end days which we are now in, the deceptions are everywhere. Most people in the world don't even see them and that's because we are born into these deceptions. Generations of traditions of man that have been gradually turning into an evil acceptance and nobody ever notices these little changes. We can look back a generation or two and realize that it is not that big of a change, but go back 5 or 10 generations, and we really notice the huge differences that the world has experienced.
Satan's evil is growing at an alarming rate, we just don't notice it. And you think it's bad now, give it another generation or two. The really sad part is that this world has no clue whatsoever what is going on here. The devil has masterfully orchestrated some of the biggest deceptions and his master plans are going to continue until Christ returns. it gets even worse, in the end, the majority of the world will be so deceived by Satan that they will be doing his work, and they will think that they are doing it in the name of God. They will have no idea that they are actually doing Satan's work. And it will be because of the lack of developed discernment for God. Pray for discernment.
2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived.
Satan has his ways of deceiving even the very elect. And the biggest deceptions are the ones that happen over hundreds of years. The rise of the greatest deceptions of false Christ and false prophets are the deceptions that actually started hundreds of years ago. These false beliefs that the world accepts as truth because of the generations of tradition will soon be rising into the greatest deceptions even conceived. And none will be the wiser without Godly discernment. This is why we need The Whole Message, we need to Read More, Study More, Pray More, and especially Pray For Discernment.
Mark 13:22
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive,
if possible, even the very elect.
We need to keep God involved in all of our discernment. God and God alone is where we receive discernment for every situation. Deceptions come from Satan, and he will do everything he can to keep you away from discernment, because he knows that when a person has Godly discernment, Satan is busted in his lies.
Discernment in Everyday Life
I am so thrilled that you are going to continue the practices of praying for discernment. In no time at all, you will be using these discernments in everything you do. I have found out that while we do need to study and see the deceptions that Satan has orchestrated on a global level; there is a far greater discernment developing within us on a case by case basis. You will use this discernment in even the smallest of decisions, It will aid you in so many ways that you could ever imagine. I have developed a discernment so powerful, that I can literally see the changes both in a case by case basis and in a seasonal growth. This growth of discernment has brought me ever closer to God. And God has blessed me for it. He has used this discernment to protect me, to provide for me in abundance, and He has used this discernment to better witness to others thruout the world and even in my own back yard. Discernment will go beyond the futures and affect the NOW in your life.
1 Kings 3 5-14
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night;
and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."
You see, when you have Godly wisdom, Godly knowledge and Godly Discernment, everything else will fall into place. It is a continued walk in the study of The Whole Message. Pray for Discernment. God not only blesses you with wisdom, He blesses you in everything you do.
Discernment for Others
I often pray for the discernment for others to receive. We are intercessors for our fellow acquaintances just like Christ is an intercessor for us. We need to pray for others and for their discernment.