Discernment…

How do you know when it is God that is speaking to you? What is discernment?  And can we call exercise it?

For me the answer is clear.

We are commanded to discern… therefore we can all discern. 

Before you say that discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit… and that not every gift is given to all people (which, by the way I disagree with… but we’ll save that for another day) I am not talking about discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10) but the discernment  discussed in Timothy.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Dividing: Orthotomeō:  to cut straight, to cut straight ways; to teach the truth directly and correctly

Discern: Diakrisis from diakrinō: to separate, set apart, divide, distribute; distinguish, perceive

Study.  Work.  Discern.

Discernment is a result… it is the fruit of the exercise.  It comes when you study the word and are about the Father’s business.

As far as knowing when it is God that is speaking…

He never contradicts Himself.  When you know the Word… you recognize the Voice.

If you find yourself saying, “I would never have expected to hear God say…”  check again… because He probably didn’t.  Unless you can find an instance in the Word where He said it before… there is a good chance it isn’t coming from Him.

When you hear… study… search out… divide the word… cutting into it, slicing it from every angle…

Faith comes by hearing...

Praise God that He has provided His Word for us to study to be certain that we listen to Him.

SDG