The How To's of Prayer Ministry


6.9 The Character of Mature Discerment

1. Discernment exercises good timing

Ecclesiastes 8:5 he who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time (timing) and judgement.
1Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

2. Discernment removes personal obstacles that hinder the Spirit of God.

1Corinthians 11:28-30 (v28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. (v29) For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

3. Discernment disallows obstacles that hinder the Spirit of God in the Body

1Corinthains 2:11-15 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God (v12) Now we have received, not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God (v13) These things we also speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (v14) ‘But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (v15) But he who is spiritual judges all things,
1Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement..
1Corinthians 11:16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
1Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no schisms in the body, but that the members should have the same care, for one another.

3. Discernment empowers Worship

1Corinthians 14:24-25 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person come in, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all. (v25) And thus the secrets of his heart are uncovered; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

4. Discernment empowers the body

1Corinthians 12:24-25 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, (v25) that there should be no schisms in the body, but that the members should have the same care, for one another.

5. Discernment searches out the word of God, exercising and growing in maturity

1 Kings 3:9 “Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge this people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people .
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is powerfully alive and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart..

6. Discernment understands unseen realities

1Peter 1:10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.

7. Discernment allows or disallows according to knowledge

1Corinthians 4:17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as It is everywhere in every church.


1 Corinthians 5:3 For I indeed as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged, as though I were present, concerning him who has so done this deed. (v4) In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (v5) deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of Our Lord Jesus Christ.


1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters. (v3) Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?


1Corinthians 7:17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.


1Corinthians 11:16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 14:29-31 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the other judge. (v30) But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. (v31) For you can all prophecy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.


1Corinthians 14:32-33 And the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (v33) For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.


1Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
1Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.