Discernment
Nov 18, 2015 23:07:21 GMT -6
Post by Ron on Nov 18, 2015 23:07:21 GMT -6
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. -- Hebrews 4:12
Here I would like to point out that the Word of God(the Bible) is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Simply put, the Word of God reveals a persons character. Always remember that it is God and not us. This discernment should be used to examine ourselves before we test anyone else. Most have heard the phrase, "Judge not, that you be not judged."(Matthew 7:1) Here is that verse taken in context.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. -- Matthew 7:1-5
Examine yourself first to make sure that you are right with God, then you can see clearly to bring back the erring one. (James 5:19-20)
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. -- 2 Corinthians 13:5
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. -- Jeremiah 17:9-10
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. -- James 5:19-20
This is why personal Bible study is so important. How will we know what our spiritual condition is unless we look in the 'mirror'(the Bible). Also, we are to 'test the spirits because many false prophets have gone out into the world.' Testing the spirits, or people, is important so we are not fooled by false teaching.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. -- 1 John 4:1-6
We should be diligent in studying the Bible because we live in a world where lying is acceptable if it gets someone what they want.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. -- 1 Peter 5:8-9
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. -- 2 Timothy 2:15-16
This post in video format: Introduction on Discernment
Here I would like to point out that the Word of God(the Bible) is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Simply put, the Word of God reveals a persons character. Always remember that it is God and not us. This discernment should be used to examine ourselves before we test anyone else. Most have heard the phrase, "Judge not, that you be not judged."(Matthew 7:1) Here is that verse taken in context.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. -- Matthew 7:1-5
Examine yourself first to make sure that you are right with God, then you can see clearly to bring back the erring one. (James 5:19-20)
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. -- 2 Corinthians 13:5
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. -- Jeremiah 17:9-10
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. -- James 5:19-20
This is why personal Bible study is so important. How will we know what our spiritual condition is unless we look in the 'mirror'(the Bible). Also, we are to 'test the spirits because many false prophets have gone out into the world.' Testing the spirits, or people, is important so we are not fooled by false teaching.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. -- 1 John 4:1-6
We should be diligent in studying the Bible because we live in a world where lying is acceptable if it gets someone what they want.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. -- 1 Peter 5:8-9
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. -- 2 Timothy 2:15-16
This post in video format: Introduction on Discernment