GETTING TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT-#17
“BEYOND COMMON SENSE”

TEXT: 1 Chronicles 12:32a
 
INTRO.: 

A. In our text the Bible says that in the time of David’s reign over Israel that the sons of Issachar “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”  1️⃣One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to impart supernatural wisdom & understanding or discernment to the believer.  It is something “BEYOND COMMON SENSE.”
 
B. The dictionary definition of discernment says it includes “acuteness of judgment, perceiving differences, having insight, the ability to make a distinction between good & evil.”  💥When the Holy Spirit indwells a believer He wants to impart something more; 💥He gives a supernatural ability to make distinctions, etc.  💥He expects us to use good judgment & to exercise common sense in our evaluations of circumstances & experiences, but the ability 💥He imparts is “BEYOND COMMON SENSE” & enables a believer to see things under new conditions & with a spiritual perception not possible to the unsaved...
 
I.  THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT:
 
A. The Ability to See Life from God’s Perspective:
 
Col. 1:9-10  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;   10        That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
 
   1. The believer is to view life, with all its values & choices, from a Bible-centered, God-centered point of view.
   2. This kind of discernment will affect not only our behavior & choices, but also our feelings, thoughts & decisions.
 
QUOTE:  Dr. Robt. Gromacki:  “We must not be ostriches, with our heads in the sand; rather, we must be eagles w/extraordinary spiritual vision.”
                                   
                   ✨The dictionary equates human discernment w/age & the same holds true of spiritual discernment.  Just getting saved doesn’t provide a believer w/all the discernment he will need to make right choices & decisions.  That takes time & growth & a desire to find & do God’s will.
 
B. The Ability to Be Led by The Holy Spirit:
 
Rom. 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
 
1Cor. 2:10-13  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.   
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.   13         Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 
1 Cor. 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
 
   1. Only someone indwelt by the Spirit, can know the mind of the Spirit & the will of God.
   2. The believer must desire to know & do the will of God.
 
NOTE: The believer alone has an “instruction manual” called the Bible which enables him to discern God’s will apart from mere “common sense.”  Believers have the opportunity & the ability to measure life & its decisions against the absolute standard of revealed truth.
 
C. The Ability to Apply Common Sense in Experiences:
 
   1. We gain practice in making good & bad decisions thru practical experiences.
   2. It takes time, experience, study, research, counsel, logic & maturity to be able to sense God’s direction.
   3. Testing, trials, opposition & criticism are also a part of the “school of hard knocks” which sharpen our spiritual discernment.
 
1 Pet.1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
 
D. The Ability to Become Intellectually Critical W/out Becoming Emotionally Critical:
 
   1. We need to learn to be able to make critical decisions about men, movements & the activities & doctrine of others w/out becoming emotionally or doctrinally unstable.
 
ILLUS.:  👉In my course on Separation the guideline I set for the students was that while our POSITION is important, so is our DISPOSITION. We need to stand up for the truth but must be careful that we don't develop a wrong attitude towards those who err.
 
                   👉Someone correctly stated: “People quarrel because they do not know how to argue” Nothing is more frustrating than to logically point out an error & have someone respond emotionally. 
 
   2. Christ rebuked the religious leaders of Israel because they failed to discern the signs of their times, because of their prejudice toward Him (they lost objectivity).
 
Matt.16:1-4  The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.  2  He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.  3  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?  4  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
 
E. The Ability to Hold Yourself to The Same Standard as Others:
 
Matt. 7:1-2  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
 
   1. We should not have a lower standard for ourselves than we do for others.
   2. Self-examination should precede any “righteous judgment” of others.
 
Jn.7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
 
II. THE EXTENT OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT:
 
A. Discernment Between Truth & Error: 
 
1 Jn. 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
 
   1. We must not be naïve nor gullible, but examine all the doctrinal statements & claims from any man or ministry!
   2. All statements in teaching or preaching must be evaluated against the absolute standard of the inspired, preserved Word and words of God.
 
B. Discernment Between Right & Wrong: 
 
Is.5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
 
   1. Spiritual discernment & biblical purity must overrule political correctness.
 
ILLUS.:  Today we are asked to accept 👿homosexuality, 👿lesbianism, 👿adultery, 👿abortion & even
​👿euthanasia as simply personal choices.  There is no morality or immorality involved.  But God’s Word clearly states that these are simply sinful choices not amoral decisions.

   2. Ethical relativism, situation ethics & political correctness dictate the morality of decisions for the unsaved.
   3. Hollywood & Madison Ave. pressure us to accept life as a situation comedy, full of sexual lust & w/out moral accountability.
   4. Spiritual discernment demands that ethics are evaluated on the basis of an absolute standard, not constantly changing societal values.
 
Eph. 5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
 
1 Thess. 5:21-22  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
 
C. Discernment Between the Good & The Best:
 
Phil.1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
 
ILLUS.:  🔸Often we have several choices presented to us.  Should I accept this job or position or another that pays more money?  Should I stay here or move where my company decides?
 
                   🔸Should I take a church in Iowa or Pennsylvania?  The Bible doesn’t give specific answers. In the booklet “Principles for Decision Making” the authors, Friesen & Maxon give 4  principles toward a biblical approach:
 
   1. Obedience to God’s moral will revealed in the Scriptures.
   2. Freedom where believers are free & responsible to choose a course of action w/in the moral will of God.  Ex.: Homosexuality is always wrong, etc.
 
NOTE:  In their heart of hearts, even the unsaved instinctively KNOW that homosexuality, abortion, pornography, adultery, fornication, etc. are wrong, but their consciences are seared!  Even in remote tribes living without God’s Word they have an innate knowledge that murder and adultery, etc. are wrong. 
 
John 1:9  He (Christ) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
 
   3. Wise decisions based on the Bible, research, logic, counsel & experience.
   4. Humility & submission to God’s sovereign will even if it overrules the individuals understanding of the situation.
 
ILLUS.:  Paul gave counsel to virgins & widows re:

💏marriage in a time of church persecution & stated that either staying single or marrying was acceptable & w/in the overall will of God & that common sense & circumstances should enter into the decision.
 
D. Discernment Between Liberty & License:
 
1 Cor.6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
 
   1. Everything we do must be done to the glory of God.
   2. We must be careful that our choices do not hinder others growth or cause them to stumble.
   3. We need to be careful not to offend other, weaker brothers, or even the unsaved.
 
1 Cor. 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the (unsaved) Jews, nor to the (lost) Gentiles, nor to the church of God (saved Jews & Gentiles).
 
NOTE:  This doesn’t mean that we must submit to the pressure (politics, worldly pleasures, prevailing philosophy) of those who would impose their preferences on us, passing them off as moral mandates.  We must govern our lives & decisions upon the standard of God’s Word & God’s grace, not upon the standard of man-made laws or restrictions.
 
               😇We must use “common sense”  but the believer has a higher obligation, i.e., to have enlightened common sense (guided by the Word and words of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit).
 
CONCL.:  How do you apply these biblical guidelines in decision-making, deciding God’s will, in making moral choices?  Do you have “understanding (as to) what the will of the Lord is?”  (Eph.5:17)   We can’t only rely on our judgment or simple common sense as believers.
           
💥We need to have something “BEYOND COMMON SENSE.”