Discernment is a gift of the Spirit to be used to determine right from wrong and what is true or false and works in the believer who has received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and is led into all truth by the Spirit for which it was given.
There are some people who could stuff themselves with Scripture until it came out their noses, and they'd still refuse to let the Spirit teach them anything. They're not trying to discern at all; they're seeking support, not truth. It is a must that we stand with Scripture, or we will fall for anything
The only way to grow in spiritual discernment is
a) by relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit who indwells every true Christian, and
b) by studying God’s Word, the Bible. These two go hand-in-hand.
This reliance both on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and on God's Written Word will keep Christians focused on God and the truth of what His word really means.
If Christians were to rely only on their ability to listen to the Holy Spirit, they would leave themselves open to all manner of private teachings and interpretations -- without any rules by which to rest such revelations. At the same time, if they were to rely only on their own ability to interpret and apply the Scriptures, they would leave no room for God's guidance in revealing to them the riches of his Word.
As Christians our focus should always be on the living God, with whom we have an interactive relationship.
If you have the spiritual gift of discernment you will be able to tell the difference between right and wrong. People with this spiritual gift have the ability to look at something in a way that weighs whether it fits in with God's word and intentions. Discernment means looking beyond the surface of what's being said or taught or written to find the truth in it. Some people liken the spiritual gift of discernment to "gut instinct," because sometimes discerning people just get a feeling when something's not quite right.
This gift is very important today when there are so many different teachings and people claiming to be close to God. People with this gift help keep each of us, our churches, our teachers, etc. on track. However, there is a tendency for those with the spiritual gift of discernment to feel they are always right. Pride is a huge hurdle for those with this gift. Discerning people many times have to put their pride aside and go into prayer to be sure their "gut" is actually God's intentions and not just their own judgment clouding things.
It is even more important in these last days of bible prophecy because of all the false teaching that is taking place in the multitude of Churches around the World. It is evident that many different doctrines are being taught and there is no unity in the understanding about the truth expressed in bible scripture.
The Apostle Paul taught: (2 Timothy 3:1-7) “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Why is this happening? It simply is because most people have not the gift of spiritual discernment.
Jesus said: (Matthew 24: 5 “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ (I have the anointment); and shall deceive many.” He continued to say: (Matthew 24: 24) “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders (which are not of God); insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
The Apostle Peter said: (2 Peter 1: 20 thru 2:2) “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you (It exists today), who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord Jesus that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (The way of truth which is written in Bible scripture.)
The Apostle John also said: (1 John 4:1-3) “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
That same spirit of Antichrist is working in the churches today causing the division of the churches and the animosity between believers, which is not evident by the individual believer either because they have not received the indwelling true Spirit of God, or the gift of spiritual discernment has not been received by them.
Most important is that Spiritual discernment agrees with Bible scripture if it is of God.. Only then can we be certain that we are standing on solid ground where we cannot be shaken off of the truth of the Bible and God’s Word by a spirit of error which is prevalent in the World.
John wrote in his first letter acknowledging that there does exist a Spirit of truth and a spirit of error. The only way that a person can discern the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error is by the Bible scriptures. The Spirit of truth will be in agreement with scripture and the spirit of error will lead a person to believe an interpretation of scripture over what the scripture actually states.
Jesus said that God would give the Spirit of truth to the believer which would be in us and would guide us into all truth and testify to us the truth about Jesus being the Son of God the Father. ( John 14:16-17, 15:26, 16:13-14)
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