Yeshua calls on us to discern spiritual matters (Matt. 16:1–4), the signs of his return and the end of the world (Matt. 24:32–34), as well as the time when God visits us (Luke 12: 54–56 and Lk. 19:44).
What does ‘discern’ mean?
Discernment means understanding, recognising, distinguishing, considering carefully and deciding. Discernment is a decision-making process in which an individual comes to a realisation that may lead to future actions after evaluating facts and circumstances, and consequently making informed decisions.
In the process of spiritual discernment, God guides individuals to help them reach the best decision at the right time and in accordance with His will. For it is God who works in us both to will and to act in order to fulfil His purpose (Phil. 2:13).
Discernment is therefore necessary in order to make the right decisions at the right time.
In this process, discerning the right moment is essential to recognising the specific time when God is at work and wants us to cooperate with him. In this way, we can be part of God’s purpose as it unfolds, receiving the honour and blessing of being active channels of it.
God is very pleased with us when we ask him for understanding to discern what is right (1 Kings 3:11), for the wisdom of the prudent lies in discerning their own way (Prov. 14:8).
We are therefore called upon to discern what God’s will is for each specific time He has appointed, so that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is a moral imperative to avoid misleading paths and to carry out the work of the Kingdom in a timely manner.
Yeshua says that we can learn a lesson from natural things that helps us discern spiritual ones. We are called to understand when the times ordained by heaven are coming to fulfilment in history, so that when God acts, we may be ready to respond appropriately. Unless, of course, we do not know how to discern the times!
What does the Bible mean by ‘time’ or ‘times’?
There is a difference between the two Greek words used to denote ‘time’ in both the Septuagint version of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
One of these words is ‘Kairos’, which means the right moment, a critical moment, the opportune moment, or the right time for action.
The other is Cronos, which refers to chronological and sequential time, such as a day or an hour.
Chronos is a quantitative term and, by its very nature, transient, destined to pass; Kairos, on the other hand, is qualitative and permanent.
Kairos refers to the time appointed by God for certain events or occurrences to take place. For example, the Bible refers to Kairos when:
- Dio agisce come in Mc 1:15, allorché Yeshua disse che “il tempo è compiuto e il Regno di Dio è vicino”.
- Gli uomini hanno l’opportunità di una decisione esistenziale al momento giusto e nel posto giusto, come accadde quando venne il Messia.
How can we discern the times ordained by God?
Once we become citizens of the Kingdom of God, we share in the divine nature. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to discern. He entrusts us with a specific gift to discern spirits and gives us His wisdom, understanding, counsel, power and knowledge, and inspires us with the fear of God so that we may make the right decisions at the right time.
In the Bible, we find that the ability to discern the times was a gift bestowed especially upon the tribe of Issachar. They were mighty warriors (1 Chr. 7:5), men who possessed the discernment of Kairos, enabling them to know what Israel should do (1 Chr. 12:32) at the right moment.
We are confident that in times like these, when the signs are aligning with biblical prophecies as never before, the Holy Spirit is raising up a new generation of mighty warriors with a double portion of the gift given to Issachar. They will have an understanding of the times, so that they may know what to do.
Discerning the times is a gift, a spiritual ability that we need at every stage of our lives, whether individually or collectively.
Every Kairos is like a passing celestial train. Whenever we realise it is coming, we can help people to be open and ready to jump on board. And we certainly won’t miss it either.
Just as Paul prayed, I too pray that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment (Phil. 1:9).
Maurizio Tiezzi
Article published in English in the magazine “Thy Kingdom Carriers”