The document discusses the concept of spiritual discernment, emphasizing its importance as a supernatural gift and developed skill provided by the Holy Spirit. It outlines various biblical definitions and teachings related to judgment, discernment, and the necessity for believers to cultivate this spiritual wisdom. The text highlights that all believers are called to develop their discernment, which is essential for living a holy lifestyle.

1. Breath of Life International Church
12 May 2010

2.  Acuteness of judgment or understanding
 Judgment, perspicacity, penetration,
insight
 SPIRITUAL Discernment is the action
or leading of Holy Spirit to provide
insight. Spiritual discernment involves
both supernatural gift and developed
skill.
 Spiritual “judgment”

3.  H995
 A primitive root; to separate mentally (or
distinguish), that is, (generally)
understand: - attend, consider, be
cunning, diligently, direct, discern,
eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have
intelligence, know, look well to, mark,
perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill
(-ful), teach, think, (cause, make to, get,
give, have) understand (-ing), view,
(deal) wise (-ly, man)

4.  H3045
 A primitive root; to know (properly to
ascertain by seeing); used in a great
variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially
(including observation, care, recognition;
and causatively instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.)

5.  H5234
 A primitive root; properly to scrutinize,
that is, look intently at; hence (with
recognition implied), to acknowledge, be
acquainted with, care for, respect,
revere, or (with suspicion implied), to
disregard, ignore, be strange toward,
reject, resign, dissimulate (as if ignorant
or disowning)

6.  H8085
 A primitive root; to hear intelligently
(often with implication of attention,
obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.)

7.  G1252
 Figuratively to discriminate (by
implication decide), or (reflexively)
hesitate: - contend, make (to) differ (-
ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial,
stagger, waver, weigh in significance

8.  G1381
 To test (literally or figuratively); by
implication to approve: - allow, discern,
examine, X like, (ap-) prove, try

9.  The spiritual judge all things (1 Cor 2:15)
 Use judgment and withhold what is good
(1 Thess 5:21)
 Judge as you would be judged (Matt 7:1)

10.  Do not judge appearances (John 7:24)
 Discernment reaches deeper than the
surface (2 Cor 10:7)
 The wise don’t judge with the eyes (Isa
11:2-3)
 Do not judge by human (natural, worldly)
standards (John 8:15-16;26)
 Man’s standards lead to death (Prov
14:12)

11. Malachi 3:17-18
 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD
of hosts, in that day when I make up my
jewels; and I will spare them, as a man
spareth his own son that serveth him.
 Then shall ye return, and discern
between the righteous and the wicked,
between him that serveth God and him
that serveth him not.

12.  Experience (Heb 5:14)
 Desire to do God’s will (John 7:17)
 Training from the Holy Spirit (John
16:13; 1 John 2:27)
 Training through the Scriptures (Heb
4:12; 2 Tim 3:15; Ezek 44:23)

13.  By their fruits (Matt 7:15-20)
 Refusal to acknowledge Christ (Mark
9:39; 1 Cor 12:3; 1 John 4:1-3;6)
 Glorifying self (John 7:18; 16:14)
 Unfulfilled prophecy (Deut 18:21-22)
 Enticing strange worship (Deut 13:1-5)
 Preaching “another gospel” (2 Cor 11:4;
Gal 1:6-9)
 Contrary to the Word of God (Isa 8:20;
Gal 4:30; 6:16; Phil 3:16; 2 Tim 3:16)

14.  ALL believers have and must develop
discernment. It is nothing more than
spiritual wisdom, which is given freely
(James 1:5).
 Discerning of spirits is the only
discerning “spiritual gift” that not all will
possess (1 Cor 12:10).
 Discernment is not the same as
prophecy.

15.  The “gift” of discernment comes along
with salvation and the Holy Spirit. They
are a packaged deal and cannot be
separated, one from the other.
 Spiritual discernment is indeed a
REQUIREMENT for believers. It is
necessary in order to live a holy lifestyle.

16. Breath of Life International Church
12 May 2010