Spiritual Discernment	
#L545	The First-Century Gospel Church / Philadelphia	Wed, Jan 15, 2003

	The prayer of Psalm 119:125 should be our prayer, “I am your servant [O Lord]; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”  Discerning God’s Word is necessary if we want to walk in the light of His truth.  The Bible contains the testimony about the only One who can free us from the sinful nature, the Lord Jesus.
	(Titus 3:5-7) “[Christ] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously [or abundantly] through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
	It is a living hope made possible by the resurrection of Christ on the Cross.  The sinful nature we began life with is so stubborn, wicked, and sinful that God has nothing but wrath for it.  (Romans 2:5), “Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”
	Jesus was in Jerusalem during a Passover commemoration, and was going about His usual work of helping others and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.  (John 2:23), “Many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.”

	The people saw the miracles of Jesus and they agreed that He did them, but they did not actually discern or understand who Jesus was.  The next verse (24) reads, “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.”  Jesus knew that they still had unrepentant hearts, so they still were controlled by the sinful nature.  He said (John 3:3), "’I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’" 
	These people were convinced that Jesus had performed the miracles, but they were not converted in heart.  Just as there were many people then who believed who Christ was, (but didn’t accept Him as their Savior), so there are multitudes today who know who Christ is, but don’t accept Him as their Lord.
	The sinful nature always responds that way...just have some religious knowledge, but don’t let your religion affect your life.  It is one of the evil strategies of the devil...to have a person accept a little religion, but making no real commitment to God.  Satan knows that this lukewarm, uncommitted attitude will block spiritual progress, so in this way he can keep people in an unprepared state for eternity.
	When real spiritual discernment is given, we will see ourselves for what we actually are...guilty of sin, and lost for eternity.  If the Holy Spirit has residence in our heart, we will never doubt God, but we will doubt ourselves, and ask if we are in God’s will or not.
	Anyone would agree that those who worships idols outright (or are living in open sin), need to repent, but if a person seems to be living a decent, religious life, the need for them to be born again is not so obvious.
	Such outward religion was shown by the scribes and Pharisees of the first century.  Many believed who Jesus was, but they didn’t allow that knowledge to change anything in their life.  Even Nicodemus, (a Pharisee and teacher), gave the Lord Jesus high honor and proper respect, saying, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him,” (John 3:2).
	Just acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God, is not being born again.  It is one thing to believe the historical facts of the Bible, and another thing to actually live by faith in God.
	Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  And Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death,” (which could be discouraging), “But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Everyone has sinned in some way (very few argue with that), and thus everyone falls short of God’s perfection.  And it would be impossible to be in God’s presence if we were still guilty of sin. 
	Discernment of spiritual truth enables us to understand the change of heart within that must take place.  (Titus 3:5), “[Christ] saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
	Knowing what is scriptural or unscriptural is all part of having spiritual discernment through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  That is the vital aspect of being born again, and it begins with a genuine repentance.
	The Apostle Paul says this about spiritual discernment, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned,” (1 Cor. 2:14).
	Spiritual understanding provides a definite line separating right from wrong, and what is scriptural from what is unscriptural.  Spiritual discernment acts like a referee who sounds a whistle if Satan tries to lead us astray.
	Spiritual discernment enables us to choose the narrow path, rather than the wide road.  This understanding of God’s will, enables us to make spiritual progress by empowering us to respond to things in a Christlike way.
	Praise to God should continually be on our hearts for His mercy and love...allowing us to know His truth.  We should thank Him continually for being enrolled in His school of spiritual lessons of faith and trust.
	Jesus prayed that we would know His Father, and thus be able to discern how He is preparing us for His kingdom.  (John 17:3 NIV), “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  That is well worth knowing.
	God is more than willing to work with every humble and obedient soul.  He has given spiritual discernment to multitudes down through the ages, and He will continue to do so until His Son returns.
	Anyone who realizes why there is so much trouble in the world, can thank the Lord, because most people do not know.  If a person doesn’t realize that their own spiritual condition is what causes their problems, there would be no spiritual progress.  Just blame it on someone else, or even blame it on God (most people think).
	The first step of solving any problem, is to locate where the trouble originated.  If we experienced a problem with an appliance or an automobile, the first step (and the difficult part) is knowing what is causing the malfunction.  The repair is relatively simple, once the cause is located.  If we are enrolled in God’s school of spiritual lessons, we can expect to receive spiritual discernment, and to know the reason why we have troubles and difficulties.
	The root cause of the world’s problems, is rejecting God and His Son.  If God is kept out, self remains in.  God and His Word have been taken out of public schools, and we see the dreadful results.  The horrendous problems and the tragedies that have taken place in recent years, is the direct result of totally rejecting God.
	Spiritual discernment is needed if we want to be prepared for Eternal Life.  Jesus said (Matthew 5:20), “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  It takes more than just knowing the Law, being well-versed in Scripture, and acting religious on the outside.  It takes a genuine regeneration of the heart, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
	Hebrews 1:1-3 tells how we can know God and discern His method of teaching.  “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
	If we are willing and open to conviction, God will always bring us back to His Word.  Jesus prayed to His Father concerning His followers (John 17:6), "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.  They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.” 
	If spiritual discernment is needed, it always comes back to God’s Word.  Jesus then said in His prayer (verse 17), “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”  Real spiritual discernment is always the result when we are committed to obeying God’s Word, because ‘His Word is truth.’  God uses every circumstance we meet, and every situation we face, to get us ready for His Kingdom.
	Adam and Eve were contented and happy in the center of God’s will.  This was when they were in obedience to His Word.  When they reversed that, by disobeying God’s Word (and listening to Satan), their troubles began.  And it has been the beginning of everyone else’s troubles from that time.
	Anyone who realizes why they have experienced problems, can thank the Lord for revealing that to them.  Satan always has a substitute for God.  This could be a home problem, situation at work, finances, physical oppression, or an injustice, but Satan will have some type of substitute for it.
	If the children are not acting right in the home, Satan’s substitute is to use human efforts and corporal punishment to force obedience, instead of going to God in prayer and patiently giving them scriptural advice.
	If there is a work-related problem, the devil’s substitute is to demand changes and increased wages, or threaten to quit, instead of being content with our pay, and asking God to bring change (or increases) when needed.
	If finances are inadequate, Satan’s substitutes are to borrow money, let our needs be known, worry about it, or try to solve the problem by some human means, instead of following the advice in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
	If we are physically oppressed, the devil has a thousand-and-one remedies, pills, or drugs for a substitute, instead of going to God in prayer, repenting of the sin that caused the illness, and acting in faith on God’s Word and promises.
	If we have met with an injustice or wrong treatment, Satan’s substitute is to correct that injustice by whatever means possible ...retaliation, filing a law-suit, seeking revenge, or resenting the person until they apologize, instead of doing what Jesus said to do, (Mark 11:25), “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
	So we see that Satan’s substitutes could number a million and one, and accepting those substitutes is what has caused all the problems this world has ever known.  Replacing God with Satan, has brought about all the trouble this sin-cursed world has ever experienced.  Satan has the majority of people to accept his substitutes, and to reject God’s power.
	It is obvious then, (according to common sense and reasoning), that to correct the problem, we only have to reverse our attitude toward God.  Instead of accepting Satan’s lies and substitutes, we are to refuse them, and to depend only on the living God alone.  That is the road back to faith and trust in God!
	(1 Peter 1:22), “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”  If we really had God’s love in our heart, and we truly loved one another, a multitude of problems would be solved overnight.  If we loved others, the first thing we would do is to forgive others, (no matter who is in the wrong, or what the problem may be).
	A total commitment to God means that we hold nothing back from Him.  We must hate everything of the world, and love everything in His Word.  God will then be able to work with us, and will give us spiritual discernment in all things.
	When our life is fully surrendered to God, everything that touches our life will be used by God for our spiritual benefit.  Nothing can come into our life, that has not gone through God first, (if we have surrendered our will to be His will).
	Regardless of where any problem or difficulty is from, God knows that it is the spiritual lesson we need (at that time), and spiritual growth will always be the result, (if we meet it in a scriptural way).  There are no excuses for not meeting things right, because the Holy Spirit is given in abundance.
	All of God’s chastisement and training is to bring us back to Him and depending on His divine power for everything.  We are to trust Him for spiritual guidance, good health, divine protection, and the control of family members.  That was God’s divine order and plan in the Bible, and it is His divine order and plan today.
	The story of the man in Luke 16 (who had not placed his trust in God for finances, and came to a tragic end), reveals how important it is to commit our entire life into God’s hands.  The true Christian life, depends on God for every issue of life!
	A life lived in the flesh (and following the ways of the world by leaving God out of everything), is a life of futility and frustration.  It is a life that experiences increasing troubles and problems, and which ends in the Lake of Fire...the worst of all results.  Issues of life met scripturally, result in spiritual learning and progress.
	The only place a Christian can meet with trouble, is where they have a wrong attitude toward God, some self remaining in their heart, or where some thing (or some one) has come between them and God.
	The more difficult the circumstance is to meet, the greater the spiritual value is...if it is met right!  Anyone can be pleasant and patient when others are cordial and friendly, but if an unreasonable, person is encountered, any self in our heart will be brought to the surface.
	If we find ourselves in a difficult place, (that is opposite to what we would like things to be), that is what searches our heart, and that is a valuable spiritual lesson.  If there is any self in us, it will come to the surface, when a tough trial is met.  We will have to meet it one way or the other...(there is no neutral position).  We either place the matter in God’s hands, or we turn away from God and meet as the world would.
	The Apostle Paul says (2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV), that “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation [eternal life], not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death;” [or the Lake of Fire, and that is to be regretted].
	The Apostle also stated that ‘these light or momentary troubles, (of which he had many), would last only a short time, but these trials would refine his faith and provide “an eternal glory that far outweighs them all,” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  The difficult, hard, and unpleasant things met right in this life, are used by God to perfect our faith in Him, and will have us be ready for His Son’s return.
	According to 1 Peter 5:8-9, Satan is prowling, so we must be ready to resist, (by the Spirit’s power).  The devil is always looking for someone to destroy, so we must be always ready to resist. Christians throughout the world (and in ages past), have had to resist the devil (steadfast in the faith).
	It takes real spiritual discernment to live God’s truth, but God is ready to provide it for any surrendered soul.  We are to be in a position where no person, no trouble, nor anything else would ever have us turn our back on God.  He will provide the lessons, if we will remain committed.  God taught Abraham, Moses, the three Hebrews, King David, the Apostle Paul, and many, many others.  Since He never changes, His methods never change either.
	Satan continually prowls, because he wants to destroy human souls forever, but we are commanded to “Resist him, standing firm in the faith...”  We are to resist because (10) “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
	We are to remain connected to the Vine, and to hold steadfast in the faith, because God has promised to give us spiritual discernment, and He has promised to have us ready for His Son’s return.  That is the greatest of promises, and it will be a reality for all believers who endure to the end.
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The First-Century Gospel Church
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