You can learn to discern. How can we call it discernment if our actions and decision don’t reflect the nature of Christ? As you grow in Him, you will discern more and more of His will. Learn how you can become more and more like Jesus starting today. Learn more at http://revtrev.link/discern
Watch How to Live Loved so you can learn to discern
Learn more at http://revtrev.link/discern
Listen to How to Live Loved so you can learn to discern
Learn more at http://revtrev.link/discern
Read How to Live Loved so you can learn to discern
Problem
Discernment without love is criticism. You’re not in the right place if you enjoy putting someone else in their place. When you’re ready to knock someone off their high horse, remember you’re all ready on your high horse.
If you were to look up discernment online, most of the teaching you’ll find ignore that truth. Almost everyone who teaches on discernment has a list of rules for you to follow if you want to be deemed worthy. Being “worthy” means you have the right to condemn others.
Please don’t think I’m giving you a list of rules. I’m showing you that you can’t do it without Holy Spirit’s help.
Does this really matter?
John 3:16-17 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
And do everything with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
We need to live loved so we can learn to discern because the more we are with God the more we live like God and wisdom and knowledge come from Him.
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
What does it mean to live loved?
To live loved means that we’re loved…
and the fact we’re loved by God is most important.
John 16:27, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:1; 4:10;19, Revelation 1:5
Because God’s love for us surpasses knowledge
Ephesians 3:17-19
and nothing can separate us from His love…
Romans 8:35-39
…remembering God is love and love comes from God
1 John 4:7-8;16
…and he disciplines those He loves.
Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19
To live loved means that we love God…
…with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength.
Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27
…more than the earliest, dearest and nearest love.
Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:25
…more than anything else in this world.
Matthew 6:24,Luke 16:13, 1 John 2:15
and show it by obeying Jesus…
John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:23, John 15:10, 1 John 4:18-22, 1 John 2:3-5, 1 John 3:10 , 1 John 3:23, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John 1:6
…helping his people
Hebrews 6:10, 1 John 3:11,17-18
…caring for the least of these
Matthew 25:32-40
and seeking His Kingdom in all things…
Matthew 6:33
Knowing we’re promised a crown of life….
James 1:12
To live loved means we love in action and truth
Our motivation is love…
1 Corinthians 16:14, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Galatians 5:6, Colossians 3: 17
Our labour is prompted by love…
1 Thessalonians 1:3
We’re generous…
2 Corinthians 8:7-8
We speak the truth in love…
Ephesians 4:15
We walk in love…
Ephesians 5:1
We grow in love…
Philippians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:10
We keep ourselves in God’s love…
Jude 1:21
We have peace and are thankful…
Colossians 3:14-15
We find comfort in love…
Philippians 2:1
Our love springs from hope…
Colossians 1:5
We have compassion, kindness, humility and patience
Colossians 3:12
To live loved means we love each other
We love each others as we love ourselves…
Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8, 1 John 4:10-11; 2 John 1:5
Because He first loved us…
1 John 4:19-20
Our love is sincere, we’re devoted to one another with brotherly love and honour one another above ourselves...
Romans 12:9-10
We share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality…
Romans 12:13
We forgive…
Colossians 3:13-14
We are patient, kind. We don’t envy, don’t boast and are not proud…
1 Corinthians 13:4
We are not rude, we’re not self-seeking, we’re not easily angered…
1 Corinthians 13:5
We keep no record of wrong…
1 Corinthians 13:5
We always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere.
1 Corinthians 13:7
We are united together
John 17:23
And can’t be motivated by fear
1 John 4:18
love covers a multitude of sins
1 Peter 4:8
The only debt that remains outstanding is our debt to love one another…
Romans 13:8
To live loved means we love even our enemies
We don’t take revenge…
Romans 12:19
If our enemy is hungry we feed them or thirsty we give them something to drink…
Romans 12:20
We bless those who curse us…
Luke 6:28
We pray for those who persecute us…
Matthew 5:44
If someone strikes one cheek, we turn the other to them…
Matthew 5:39
We represent our Father who is love and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous…
Matthew 5:45
We can’t live that way without Holy Spirit. We can’t do that without spiritual maturity. We can’t do that without perfect love… Remember perfect love is that love that comes from God and flows from us to others. We can’t do it in our strength. We need that constant flow from him.
What if?
What would it be like to have this flow of love going through you, not just on special occasions, but every day in the day to day of everyday. That is what you were created for. That is still God’s plan for you.
What does LOVE Look Like Now tool
This tool helps answer the question in the moment. How do you discern what’s best when someone with discernment isn’t using it in love?
What does love look like?
LOVE
L - Learn what love is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 1 John 3:17,Romans 12:10
O - Obey the greater love John 15:13
V - Value Grace Mark 12:30-31
E - Elevate the Conversation Ephesians 4:15
L - Learn what love is
Love is a choice…
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Agapeo
Love is an action…
If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 1 John 3:17
Agapeo
Love is an emotion…
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:10
Phileo
Am I loving with my whole heart?
O - Obey the greater love
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
We are to:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 NIVUK
Am I laying down my life?
V - Value Grace
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
The grace we get from God needs to be the grace we share with others.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 1 Corinthians 15:10 NIVUK
Am I showing the grace God has shown me?
E - Elevate the Conversation
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15
All of us want to speak truth. The hard part—the part we can’t do without the help of Holy Spirit— is to speak the truth in love.
Tip: Ask honest questions. Seek to build up, not tear down. Listen to understand, not to figure out how to rebut.
How do I speak the truth in love?
L - Learn what love is
Am I loving with my whole heart?
O - Obey the greater love
Am I laying down my life?
V - Value Grace
Am I showing the grace God has shown me?
E - Elevate the Conversation
How do I speak the truth in love?
Discernment comes when we learn to love always. Grace allows and empowers us to do that. Will you use this tool instead of reacting to situations that come up? Will you remember the phrase - What does love look like?
