DISCERNMENT

Philippians 1:9

⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

What is discernment? Discernment is defined as the ability to judge well. The Biblical meaning of discernment is the spiritual characteristic of sound judgment for perceiving the difference between right and wrong, between good and evil, between truth and error, and identifying God’s will and direction for his people.

We all know the fall of Adam brought condemnation upon everyone of us. Adam could not discern God’s commands. Instead he listened to Eve and caved into biting the fruit. We will begin a new series on discernment and study the two kinds of discernment.

Adam did not realize until he committed the first act of sin that he could discern on his own. Meaning without God’s help or without God’s involvement in his life, he was able to discern on his own ability and brought on himself a curse from God. To get us a better understanding of this subject the Book Genesis describes that Adam was formed by God written in Genesis 2:7. Adam did not do anything on his own to bring himself to life.

Genesis 2:7

⁷ And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

After God breathed the breath of life into Adam’s nostril, he came to life. Adam came into existence. Until God breathed His breath or His life, Adam was not alive. After Adam received the life from God, he did not know anything other than what God wanted Adam to know.

Adam only had one nature given by God. Since Eve was made out of Adam’s rib, she too had only one nature inherited from Adam. Not until Eve had a conversation with the Devil, she has realized that there was another nature lurking within herself. Up until this point Eve was one in Adam in the Garden of Eden. This we know because Genesis 2:24 says that the two became one.

Genesis 2:24b

……… and they shall become one flesh.

The life of God that’s within us allows us to discern the things of God using the wisdom of God.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Maranatha!