08/10/2026
Looking Intently: Living By Discernment Pastor Jordan Boyce Awakening Church
We’re live! Pastor Jordan Boyce is preaching on Looking Intently: Living By Discernment.
Notes: The Christ-follower must live a life of “looking intently” at all things: self, Savior, and the spiritual in every situation. In Acts 13 and 14, Paul looked intently and discerned two very different spirits: the spirit behind Bar-Jesus that sought to turn someone away from faith, and the faith within a crippled man who was ready to be made well. Biblical discernment is more than intuition, critical thinking, or a feeling. It is given by the Holy Spirit and trained through constant practice. When we discern what is happening beneath the surface, we must be willing to change what is in us, challenge what leads people away from Jesus, and confirm the faith we see in others.
️ Key Highlights:
• “Looked intently” comes from the Greek atenizō, meaning to fix one’s eyes upon, look steadily, or gaze intently.
• Everyone carries something in their spirit, and what is in us eventually impacts the people around us.
• A Spirit-filled believer should carry love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and the fruit of the Spirit.
• Discernment asks a better question than “Is it wrong?” It asks, “Is it right for me?”
• When you discern something, there are three responses: change, challenge, or confirm.
• Discernment begins with self. Before looking for what needs to change in others, ask, “What in me needs to change?”
• Wherever something is leading people away from Jesus, it must be challenged.
• We are called to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, discerning what we allow to speak into our lives, homes, and children.
• Paul looked intently at the crippled man and saw faith. Sometimes all someone needs is for another person to see their faith and encourage it.
• The Lord is looking intently at you today. He sees what you have been through, what you are carrying, and what feels crippled. He discerns the heart.
• Wherever there is faith, there is a future.
• The goal of discernment is to live a life of wisdom that produces good fruit and brings glory to God.
Scripture References: Acts 13:4-12, Acts 14:8-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Hebrews 5:14, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 10:16, Mark 9:23, Mark 10:21