How do we get spiritual discernment?
Here is the prayer of the apostle Paul for his beloved church in Philippi: "This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offense unto the day of Christ" (Phil. 1:9-10). What was it that inspired Paul to offer such a prayer for the saints in Philippi? Do we desperately need the same prayer today? We talk about love and fellowship, and yet we encounter many problems and failures.
What is the missing link to a glorious church? Can it be the lack of "full knowledge and all perception that ye may prove [or, distinguish] the things that differ"? Certainly spiritual discernment is the pressing need of today, so how can we obtain this full knowledge of God?
The issue of spiritual discernment was addressed by Watchman Nee during his latter years of ministry. Spiritual Discernment presents these teachings of Nee in three parts: Abound in Knowledge, Abound in Discernment, and Approve the Excellent. As Nee so succinctly writes, "The spirit alone can discern. The outward man must be quieted. The spirit needs to be kept fresh, living, tranquil, alert and free from outward influence. If there be any preconceived idea, it will immediately affect the judgment of the spirit. It is far easier to have a wrong spirit than to engage in a wrong action."
Believers must be able to spiritually discern. The church desperately needs spiritual discernment. And the world without spiritual discernment has no light to break the darkness. Don't miss out on this vital and encouraging teaching from a man who walked the walk!
