Background
Acts 17:10-11 KJV
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
2 Peter 1:19-21 KJV
“We also have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The Word of God is the basis of all prophecy and discernment. In as much our feelings deceive us, if the sure Word of God is our point of reference then we can rightly judge all things… let’s dive into the Word.
In our first scripture of study today as Paul commends the people of Berea, a noble people who received the word of God with all readiness of mind and searched scriptures whether what they were being taught was so. What we learn from these people is this, they were diligent in studying, and such people cannot be deceived. In matters of discernment, the main importance is the Word of God, for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart(Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God has many dynamics, both old and new testament are still relevant in our time and teaches us a great deal on all worths of life. As seen in the Words of Hebrews 4:12 the Word discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. If our mere human hearts and thoughts were to judge all things, and as this flesh of ours and many things in this present day are corrupted, so will the results of our perception of all things be. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it(Jeremiah 17;9)? If this is the state of the human heart then this cannot be the foundation of our trust, this shows that even man cannot understand even his very own nature, but must bear the nature of God which is the truest and purest nature to carry out life(Romans 12:2). Scripture is also then the transformative power of God, to make us who God designed for us to be in thought and in deed.
As Peter puts it, the sure Word of Prophecy, a light that shines in the dark. The Bible is a book of Prophecy, above what any prophet can tell you, the bible is your reference point. For in it lies no conceited interpretation for it was not written by the will of man, but of God. A man of God once said, do not be only desirous of having the gift of prophecy but rather the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the Word of God. Familiar with this statement is the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 1:17, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ may give unto us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The Word of God is a prophecy that can only be unveiled by the spirit of wisdom and revelation, it cannot be withstood by carnal thoughts. The highest of learners will fail at translating scriptures, without the spirit of wisdom and revelation. So then Beloved the Sure Word of God has been delivered to us, one who is able to rightly exercise discernment is one who has made the scriptures their main point of reference, moved by the spirit of wisdom and revelation which comes from the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Far above the wisdom of man, such depends on the wisdom of God, to operate in this wisdom is to be moved by the Holy Ghost.
As we bring the study on the discerning heart of wisdom to an end, beloved it is my prayer that every confusion and error will be corrected, as you learn a great deal about exercising discernment, to walk in truth and power as we are enabled to discern that which is pure.