ConvergeUSA Blog

Developing Discernment by Lee Stephenson

When I think about discernment, I think of maturity. If discernment is part of maturing then it isn’t something that comes natural. Because humanity is naturally rebellious we can say that humanity has a bias towards sin. In other words, we are drawn to sin. A person that wants to grow in the art of discernment must also be a a person of courageous humility. The reason being it is hard to discern the workings of God when you have an arrogant attitude or personal bent.

Here are two specific areas where humility is necessary:

1. Humility before God:

To humble ourselves at the foot of the cross and admit that we are indeed sinful and in need of grace, is to also acknowledge our own lack of discernment.  The very concept of needing a savior is to also realize that our own wisdom is incomplete and totally insufficient.  Furthermore, our wisdom is not only insufficient but we are ignorant in the application of it.  The ability to naturally discern what is pleasing to God was lost in the garden of Eden.  However, it is through the reconciliation found in Jesus and the special revelation of God’s Word that discernment can once again mature.  As a result, we must hunger and cry out to the Creator for wisdom. Secondly, we must humble ourselves to the study and application of God’s Word, knowing that it will teach us all that needs to be known.

2. Humility before Others:

Even though humility before God is absolutely critical, there is another area in which we must practice humility and that is before other believers.  A person who desires to grow in discernment must also acknowledge that God often times uses others to help one grow in wisdom, knowledge, and discernment.  The Christian life was never meant to be lived out as individuals in isolation.  It is to be lived out in community where there is diversity of personalities and gifting.  Living life in community helps us harness and mature in the skill of discernment.  For instance…A person desiring to be discerning must always take into account their own motives.  They must be motivated to protect, teach, and to encourage their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  To do this well is to be a person of discernment.  However, to do this well is to also place yourself under the same rule.  For you cannot teach, protect, and encourage unless you open yourself up to others in the same way.  There has to be a willingness to hear reproof and to be challenged by others.  And there is no doubt that this is a test of humility.  And yet, it is imperative to maturing in discernment.  (HT)

Lee Stephenson is the Lead Pastor of Harvest Community Church in Mesa, Az a new church with Converge Southeast and Vision Arizona

Basic Guidelines for Entering into a Spiritual Fast - Gary Rohrmayer

Eight insights that will guide you through a spiritual fast.

1. Fast SENSIBLY. Don’t feel that you must fast many days to be effective. Many biblical fasts were “until evening’ (Judges 20:16; II Samuel 3:35; Acts 10:30).

2. Fast SENSITIVELY. When Israel fasted before a crucial battle, the Bible says they “inquired of the Lord.” (Judges 20:23; I Samuel 23) When we fast we should take special time to hear God speak. (13:1-2)

3. Fast SYSTEMATICALLY. When Jesus taught His disciples about fasting, He began with the words “when you fast” (Matthew 6:16). He was suggesting that believers should have regular times of fasting, whether one day a week or a portion of a day each week.

4. Fast SACRIFICIALLY. If we normally do not eat breakfast it is not really a sacrifice to fast breakfast. A true fast must be a sacrifice. David said, "My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt" (Psalm 109:24). True fasting must have an humbling effect on us (Ps 35:13).

5. Fast SPECIFICALLY. God said to Israel, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? (Isaiah 58:6). We must ask God to direct us in the focus of our fasting.

6. Fast SUPERNATURALLY. The very nature of fasting requires dependence on God’s supernatural power to see us through. When the early church fasted before sending out workers, the Bible says, “The Holy Spirit came” (Acts 13:2,3). We need God’s Spirit as we fast.

7. Fast SOBERLY.  Jesus cautioned His disciples not to make a spectal out of fasting like the religious leaders did.  This type of fasting only gets the attention of men and not of God. (Matthew 6:16-17)

8. Fast SECRETLY. Jesus cautioned His disciples never to boast about our times of fasting but rather to keep our times of fasting as a personal commitment (Matthew 6:18).

During the month of April I am asking that we as a movement would enter into a 30 day partial fast (Daniel fast) in order to strengthen the prayers offered for church multiplication. As a movement we are entering into a five year Ignite a Church Campaign between 2010-2015. 

To joining our growing fasting team send an email to gary@convergeusa,org and he will send you daily encouragement and updates.

Strengthening Your Prayers through Fasting - Gary Rohrmayer

Strengthening our prayer life through fasting is one of the ways that helps us align our lives and our churches in what God is doing around us.

There are several biblical reasons why one should engage in a personal fast. One of those is to strengthen our prayer life. Ezra says that the people of God, "...fasted and petitioned God…" (Ezra 8:23) to overcome the challenges that they were facing. Nehemiah testifies to the fact that he "fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." (Nehemiah 1:4) as he responded to God’s call on his life. Daniel also strengthened his prayer life as he devoted himself to God "...in prayer, petition, in fasting…" (Daniel 9:3).

How does fasting strengthen our prayers? Donald Whitney writes, "Fasting does not change God’s hearing so much as it changes our praying." I believe it changes our praying in several ways:

• It brings us to a stronger sense of humility & dependence on God and God alone to provide.
• It heightens the seriousness of our prayers.
• It creates a new level of urgency for prayer and God’s answer.
• It brings a greater sense of focus & clarity to our prayers.
• It removes all the fluff in our prayers.
• It can lead to a deeper level of community with those who join us in our fasting & praying.

Arthur Walls writes, "Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importunity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven. The man who prays with fasting is giving heaven notice that he is truly in earnest." (God’s Chosen Fast)

During the month of April I am asking that we as a movement would enter into a 30 day partial fast (Daniel fast) in order to strengthen the prayers offered for church multliplication. As a movement we are entering into a five year Ignite a Church Campaign between 2010-2015. 

To joining our growing fasting team send an email to gary@convergeusa.org and he will send you daily encouragement and updates.

Good Friday Thoughts by Steve Mizel

I recently read through Gary Thomas' Sacred Pathways and discovered that I experience God in ways I wouldn't have imagined. None of them fit me perfectly, but from what I can tell, I experience God as a sensate primarily. But I also approach him as an activist, and surprisingly, a traditionalist.

That last one is a shocker because I have always been distrustful of the "High Church" and all their rote mumbo jumbo. I am a low church guy with roots in the house church and Plymouth Brethren movements. Neither of these movements put much credence into tradition (well, at least tradition outside of their own cultural patterns). In fact, it was normal for us to completely ignore the Christian calendar - even preaching on 1 Corinthians 5 on Christmas because, well, that is where we were in the text.

So, this year, really for the first time, I have tried to attune myself to the traditional Christian seasons. I know this is on the far margin of what it means to be a traditionalist, but it is a good place to start exploring how to worship God in the way he has wired me.

I marked Ash Wednesday, though I did not attend a service. I participated in Lent (or should I say, am participating). I geared my reading and meditations to those portions of the gospels that would help me focus on Jesus' passion and the events surrounding it.

Not surprisingly, I have been tremendously challenged and refreshed.

So today - Good Friday - I am thinking about how sinfully broken I am. As we have come to say around the Journey - how jacked up I am. I am also thinking about how much pain and suffering that brought to my savior, Jesus. After a long night of painful anticipation, beatings, humiliation, betrayal, and physical pain beyond my understanding - Jesus died for me.

I am so broken - so sinful - Jesus had to die. There was no other solution because my problem was so big it required God himself to come down, take human form, and die in my place. I am Peter. I am Edmond and Eustace. I am Kafka's cockroach. And he died - had to and willingly chose to - in order to pardon me.  (HT)

Steve Mizel, pastor of The Journey-Metro East a new church with Converge MidAmerica

Spiritual Warfare: Relational Viruses by Gary Rohrmayer

Over the next couple of months we are setting out to answer the following question: How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?

As we survey Pauline literature we will discover fourteen tactical strategies that the enemy will use to come after God's people along with specific antidotes in addressing that problem.  See the introduction to this series to receive an overview of this subject.

1.  Relational Viruses or Relational Strife

"Suspicion is like a cankerworm that slowly eats away at relationships."

Text: Romans 16:17-20 – “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”  (NIV)

Problem: "Satan upsets Christians’ inner life attitudes, taking away peace due to divisions in the church." J.Robert Clinton

Antidote: "Strive for unity and maintain inward peace, as God works through your relationships. Learn to speak the truth in love.  Look behind the divisions.  Surround yourself with people of spiritual wisdom and discernment."  J.Robert Clinton

Reflective Questions:

• Who in your church are you having negative thoughts about? Members? Leaders? Staff?
• Are these negative thoughts based in reality, rumor, personal bias, or cultural prejudice?
• Are these negative thoughts being generated out of some sense of insecurity on your part?
• What are specific action steps that you can take to change these negative thoughts and feelings into peaceful thoughts and feelings?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant me the inner strength and mental toughness to fight for the unity of the church, relational harmony and the progress of the gospel.  Help me to live securely in Christ who is greater than my insecurities.  May I continue to walk in the spiritual blessings that Jesus Christ has achieved for me through His death, resurrection and defeat of the evil one. Grant me the ability to admit when I am wrong, speak the truth with love and promote peace even when it involves personal sacrifice.  Grant me the courage to take positive steps towards protecting my relationships with my spouse, my children, my partners in the gospel and within the church.  Father of Peace we rejoice in your victory over the father of lies.  Amen.

Next: Sexual Immorality & Addictions

To view the entire series of posts on Spiritual Warfare