How Discernment Increases

“A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:5-6

Jesus was so full of the Word of God as a young boy that He was able to discern truth from error. Knowing the truth is the most important element of discerning. As we become intimately familiar with divine truth, we will increasingly and more astutely discern evil, falsehood, error (Luke 2:46-52).

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat (truth), that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” Isaiah 7:14-15 

As a young Jewish boy, Jesus grew in the knowledge of God by meticulous, diligent study of the Holy Scriptures.

“And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. … 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:46-47, 52 

The Benefits of being Exercised in God’s Word

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14

“by reason of use” – It’s by increasing in the knowledge of God, the Word of God, that one will “have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Those who are rich in God’s Word are growing in His discernment, able to divide between the holy and the profane and to stand and declare God’s truth (Ezekiel 44:23-24). This is exactly the testimony of Scripture concerning our LORD Himself.

The only way to rightly divide, to properly understand the Word of God as He intends it to be understood, is to study His Word.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

All men, especially those who teach, are to be judged, discerned against the written Word, which is the final divine authority.

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10-11

A vibrant community of disciples is what the Bereans had going on. They were diligently, daily pouring over the Scriptures, individually and together. They counseled together to discern divine truth. They were rich in the Precepts of God and able therefore to test all things against it.

“Search the scriptures…” John 5:39

Age, growing older, does not mean one is growing in wisdom. Also, individual disciples can be far ahead of their years by the meticulous study of the Holy Scriptures.

“I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” Psalms 119:99-100

God’s Word is to dwell richly, abundantly in the hearts and minds of God’s people. We are to cherish God’s Word, our spiritual food, higher, more important than our physical food.

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (abundantly) in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

The earliest saints of Christ communed, were dwelling richly in “the apostles doctrine” which is the Word of God (Acts 2:42).

“Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.” Proverbs 20:18

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14

Believers who both study privately and with other true disciples, grow exponentially in knowledge, divine strength, and discernment.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17  

Those who are true to God, His true servants, teach discernment:

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments (Word): and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.” Ezekiel 44:23-24

Disciples are students and those who are learning the Word are growing in His discernment, able to divide between the holy and the profane and to stand and declare God’s truth (Ezekiel 44:23-24).

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