Text: Isaiah 11:1-4

Yesterday was a call to see, but seeing alone is not an end to itself. As mentioned, we look through the lens of personal bias, prejudice, and justification. Today we were going to look at the lens cleaner.

Nearly all Bible-reading Christians are familiar with 1 Samuel 16:7 and the anointing of David over his brothers: “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” From the text Isaiah says the same: “And his [Christ] delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear” (Isaiah 11:3 ESV); rather, He will judge with righteousness and equity, because the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.

It is the Holy Spirit who must clean our “glasses” so we may discern properly; it is the Holy Spirit who can allow us to see not as man, but as the Lord, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,[emphasis mine] that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13 KJV). Thus, the Holy Spirit will “hear” what the Lord “sees” and help us from looking through our own eyes.

In fact, discernment is a Holy Spirit gift (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:10). Classic New Testament examples of this gift in operation is seen in Acts 5 when Peter “saw” the deceit in Ananias and Acts 16 when Paul “saw” past a true testimony (yes they were servants of the most high God and yes they showed the way of salvation) but given falsely.

Not all discernment is as overtly supernatural like was seen in Peter and Paul, and we will look more at that tomorrow. But all spiritual discernment must take root in the Holy Spirit. Today, pray about the gifts of the Spirit being in of your life: “All these [gifts] are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV). Seek His will for which gifts He has apportioned for you in edifying your church.