Spiritual discernment is spiritual judgment, which is a capability of all those who have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our ability to act upon spiritual things is based upon our ability to discern and understand them.
“14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [Greek, anakrinō, discerned]. 15 But he who is spiritual judges [Greek, anakrinō, discerns] all things, yet he himself is rightly judged [Greek, anakrinō, discerned] by no one” (1Corinthians 2:14-15 NKJV).
How do we discern the Voice of the Holy Spirit?
First, God’s Voice must be consistent with His Word, for the Spirit of God is the author of Scripture. “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Peter 1:21 NKJV).
Second, God’s Voice must not be contradictory to already understood Scripture; otherwise, it is not God’s Voice, or we did not properly understand what we thought we already understood. “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35 NKJV).
Third, God’s Voice must be discerned, or we will be deceived by false prophets. “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” (1John 4:1 NKJV).
Fourth, God’s Voice must be discerned, because we are supposed to be Christ’s sheep, and all of His sheep know His Voice. “4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:4, 5, 27 NKJV).
Fifth, God’s Voice can be discerned by comparing spiritual things with spiritual things, that is, comparing everything to the already understood and discerned Word of God. Something may initially sound correct, but God’s Spirit may give us discomfort about receiving something as His Voice, until it becomes clear. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Corinthians 2:13 NKJV).
Sixth, we already were supposed to be searching the Scriptures to affirm whether anything being taught us was according to Scripture, determining the Voice of God. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11 NKJV).
Seventh, we need to be careful about receiving someone claiming to give us the Voice of God, since it may be a test from the LORD to see if we will hold true to what we already know He commanded us.
The Sad But Cautionary Tale of the Disobedient Prophet (1Kings 13:1-34). This story is so alarming, it would seem to make the Almighty uncaring about His prophets, but it emphasizes how much He values obedience from us all. Yet, the LORD said, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm” (1Chronicles 16:22 NKJV).
Father, we come before You, asking for the discernment You expect from us, that we may do the work You appointed for us. Allow not Your people to be deceived by the wicked one. Mark us as those, who cannot be deceived because we know Your Voice. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
We Need A Miracle 