DISCERNMENT: The ability to see something that is not evident to the natural mind, to have a keen perception of another’s motives, to go beyond what is obvious.

There is a passage that describes the true meaning of discernment in scripture and it is found in 1 Corinthians 2:14, and it clearly teaches us the natural mind thinks spiritual things are foolishness. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them,because they are spiritually discerned.” This verse let’s us know that the flesh mind cannot comprehend the mind of the Spirit, Therefore those who truly do serve God worship Him in spirit and truth which is something the natural mind cannot do (John 4:23,24) But the hour cometh,and now is,when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth:for the father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.

It was the Spirit of discernment that allowed Peter to know he was being lied to about the money being held back by Ananias and Sapphira after selling a possession. We learn a very important message here, and that it is satan who fills ones heart to lie to another and even to the holy spirit( Acts 5:1-4) But a certain man named Anianias,with Sapphira his wife,sold a possession, And kept back part of the price,his wife also being privy to it,and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said,Ananias,why hath satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy ghost,and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained,was it not thine own? and after it was sold,was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

There are many gift’s given us by the holy spirit, and discernment is one that allows us to know things that will protect us from the unsavory acts of others (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

As in the days when our Lord walked the earth people could not discern the sign of the times, and as the Pharisees and sadducees demanded signs from the Lord they could not see what was right in front of them! ( Matthew 16:1-3) The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

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).