Discretion based on Discernment
By Ivan Ho 9 Feb 2017
A person with spiritual DISCERNMENT allows the Holy Spirit in him to discern the spirits operating behind the people who speak, whether in person or through other channels.
If Jesus did not have the spirit of discernment and followed the counsel of Peter, He would have bypassed the cross and walked away from His destiny. Without Jesus dying on the cross, we are still in our sins! Following one wrong advice will lead to devastating consequences.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Matthew 16:21-23 NKJV
Behind the words of a person are spirits, not necessarily the Spirit of God. A person can speak the right things but from the wrong spirit. That’s why discernment of spirits is vital.
Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
Acts 16:16-18 NKJV
A person with DISCRETION does not connect with every man, nor does he read every book, nor does he follow every kind of teachings, nor does he listen to every counsel, because he knows different spirits are operating through them.
A lovely woman without discretion is likened to “a ring of gold in a pig’s snout” (Proverbs 11:22).
A person with discernment must also exercise discretion.
Strong’s definition of DISCERNMENT:
judicial estimation: – discern, disputation.
A person with discernment makes judgement.
Strong’s definition of DISCRETION:
properly a {taste}, perception; by implication intelligence; transitively a mandate: – {advice} {behaviour} {decree} {discretion} {judgment} {reason} {taste} understanding.
A person with discretion makes wise decisions and choices based on sound judgement.
On the other hand, someone without discretion does not make any judgement, does not discriminate, differentiate nor discern, does not make wise choices and accepts that everything and everyone that comes his way must be coming from God.
A person without Discernment and lacks Discretion will be Deceived.
I came across your article while studying Proverbs 2. I wanted more clarity on “discernment” (verse 3) and “discretion” (verse 11). This was very helpful. Thank you!
This is how I see the difference as well as similarity between discernment and discretion:
Discernment has to do with the godly wisdom to make judgements on matters, or the God given ability to discern the spirits behind words or things.
Discretion is having the godly wisdom to choose what actions to take or not to act at all.
People who lack discretion usually act on instincts without applying wisdom.