Dear friends in Christ,
We run a course to help people increase their supernatural gift of discernment. This program runs over 3 months.
People who participate in the program will receive daily Bible scriptures and study questions to prompt and guide them to discern with the Holy Spirit. We may include some events, articles and stories for them to discern also.
The program is not live on Zoom, it is only via email, and there is no charge – all is free!
Please also be assured that we will keep your identity private and confidential – nothing that identifies you will be shared with others without your permission (you may wish to check our Privacy Policy).
Seek God if you are interested in this program – we urge you to ask Him first (Matthew 6:33) – and if He confirms it, contact us to register yourself.
Below is an introduction for the course – more information will be sent in due time to participants.
Introduction to the Discernment Program
The Mystery of God’s Transforming Love:
“Because you are precious… and I love you” (Isaiah 43:4 ESV)
The call to be united with God, “An encounter with God,” is included in the grace of Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The mystery of Christ is a mystery of love; through prayer we experience and the reading of the Bible we feel the love of Christ and His presence. When we pray, we allow the reality of God’s unconditional love to embrace us.
God birthed us, He treasures us with infinite tenderness, He listens to us with infinite patience, and He reaches out to us in every moment of our existence.
The Discernment Program leads us to be closer to God and understand His ways. It will help us to sit in silence alone with Him and be open to listen, to seek His voice, to let the Holy Spirit enter all of our mind, body and soul.
Guiding Scriptures
- “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
- “Speak Lord your servant is listening” (cf. 1 Samuel 3:9-10 NIV)
- “In the morning long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there” (Mark 1:35 NJB)
Listening
“God is the friend of silence. If we really want to pray, we must first learn to listen for in the silence of the heart of God speaks” (Mother Teresa)
Silence helps us to listen, and once we start to listen, we start be able to discern and hear clearly from God.
Once we are able to discern by hearing the Holy Spirit speaking to us, He will enable us to understand others and listen to them with clarity; not just their words and actions in the temporal world, but what else is present and is being said and done in the spiritual world will start to be revealed to us.
Listening is key in the area of Discernment.
Feeling
Doing this program will help us to understand the feelings of God, and our feelings toward Him and toward others in prayer.
We discover what has to be:
- Faced
- Interpreted
- Decided
- Acted upon in the light of our identity in God
Sometimes we ask the question: “Is God real? How can we experience his presence?” This experience will give us conviction to know God and be with Him face to face; it is US AND HIM. In our silence in prayer and in our daily time with Him we are coming to the reality of the existence of God.
“’No one can come to Me unless drawn by the Father who sent me” (John 6:44 NJV)
What Is the Gift of Discernment?
The gift of discernment, often referred to as the discernment of spirits, is one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible, particularly in 1 Corinthians 12:10, where Paul lists it as the ability of “distinguishing between spirits.”
Here’s a deeper look at what it means:
- Spiritual Sensitivity: It’s the God-given ability to recognize whether a spiritual influence, teaching, or prompting is truly from God or from deceptive sources.
- Biblical Foundation: In 1 John 4:1, believers are urged to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God,” highlighting the importance of discernment in avoiding false prophets and teachings.
- Moral and Doctrinal Clarity: Discernment helps Christians distinguish between truth and error, righteousness and sin, and divine guidance versus human or demonic influence or deception.
How Does It Function?
Biblical discernment is rooted in a deep understanding of Scripture and in spiritual maturity.
- Protection from Deception: It guards believers against manipulation, false doctrines, and spiritual traps.
- Practical Wisdom: It enables wise decision-making in everyday life, especially in complex moral or relational situations.
The Bible uses several Greek words to describe aspects of discernment:
- Anakrino – To examine or investigate (Acts 17:11)
- Dokimazo – To test or prove authenticity (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
- Krino – To judge or condemn (Matthew 7:1-2)
In a world filled with conflicting messages and non-visible spiritual influences, discernment is crucial for:
- Navigating cultural and religious ideas.
- Identifying false teachings.
- Making Godly choices in relationships, leadership, and doctrine.
Some Biblical Examples of Discernment
- Solomon’s Wisdom (1 Kings 3:9): Solomon asked God for “an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil.” (BSB) His discernment helped him rule wisely, including the famous case of the two women claiming the same child.
- Jesus Testing Spirits (Matthew 4:1-11): During His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus discerned Satan’s deceptive use of Scripture and responded with truth, showing spiritual clarity and resistance.
- Paul and the Slave Girl (Acts 16:16-18): Paul discerned that the girl’s fortune-telling was driven by a demonic spirit, even though she spoke truth. He cast the spirit out, showing that discernment goes beyond surface appearances.
Everyday Examples of Discernment
- Choosing Between Good Options: A Christian might be offered two job opportunities—both ethical and promising. Through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel, they discern which aligns best with their calling and God’s purpose.
- Spotting False Teaching: A believer hears a sermon that sounds inspiring but contradicts biblical truth. Discernment helps them recognize the error and seek sound doctrine.
- Navigating Relationships: Someone may feel drawn to a new friendship or romantic relationship. Discernment helps them evaluate whether this connection is spiritually healthy and aligned with God’s will.
- Responding to Conflict: In a tense situation, discernment guides a believer to respond with grace and truth rather than anger or avoidance—choosing the path that reflects Christ.
How to Apply Discernment
Discernment involves:
- Prayer and listening to God.
- Studying Scripture.
- Seeking wise counsel.
- Observing spiritual “fruits” (outcomes).
- Testing inner impulses and external influences.
Ask Yourself
- How can you improve your discernment?
- Would you like to explore how to strengthen your discernment?
- How is discernment practiced in different Christian traditions?
- How can you explain discernment in different Christian traditions?
- What are some more examples of discernment in Christian life?
If you would like to explore some answers to these questions, then this programme will help you find them.