Spiritual Gifts part 79. We get discerned by God first.

Pastor-Teacher
John Farley
Thursday,
January 27, 2011

Spiritual Gifts Part 79: We get discerned by God first, and then we gain the capacity to be discerning.

We are already truly adopted into God’s family, with all the benefits and privileges that come with it, and yet not yet recipients of the inheritance.

God the Father has provided a down payment as proof of the certainty of our future inheritance, and that proof comes in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, who is the first fruits of the glory that awaits us, is the one who brings together the whole design of adoption.

The Spirit joins the two sides of the “already-not yet” tension. He provides the poise and stability that we need.

The only way to keep our balance is to submit to the leadership of God the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Word of God.

The pattern of right thinking is the humanity of Jesus Christ, who constantly lived and functioned inside the PPOG for His life, PHI 2:5.

Our Lord’s mental attitude of humility was manifested by His total conformity and obedience to the plan of God the Father.

Humility, which is obedience to divine authority and orientation to God’s grace, should be the attitude of every member of the royal family of God.

Another name for finding the right balance is having discernment, HEB 5:14.

“senses trained” refers to the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the believer to make the proper distinctions in applying Bible doctrine.

“practice” refers to consistently perceiving, metabolizing, and applying Bible doctrine.

diakrisis = judicial estimation:
distinguishing, a clear discrimination, discerning, judging

καλοῡ

κακοῡ

All discernment is performed by the Holy Spirit, using the tools of Bible doctrine already in the soul, under the exercise of one’s priesthood.

Discernment and balance are really a matter of having person of the Holy Spirit find us out and the word of God straighten us out!

2TI 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

We get discerned by God first, and then we gain the capacity to be discerning in our lives.