Receive discernment from the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NKJV): For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits,....

The word 'discerning' here is 'diakrisis' in Greek, meaning 'to separate (what is, and what is not) thoroughly'. Note that some individuals have been especially gifted with this gift, but all can be enabled by the Holy Spirit to discern.

The Lord spoke these words recently:
"This is a key time to desire the gift of discerning, and a key time to receive discerning from the Holy Spirit. Teach My people to develop it, and teach My people to use it in these perilous times."

Why the gift of discerning is so important in this end-time?
Scammers, fraudsters, and con men change tactics all the time! That's why you need the Holy Spirit! Because only the Holy Spirit knows all, and is all-wise! In fact, this gift of discerning is becoming increasingly important in this end-time (perilous times), because deception will become more and more extreme.

What exactly is this gift called 'discerning of spirits'?
It is an ability enabled by the Holy Spirit that allows you to determine the source of something, whether it is from God, the devil, the flesh, or the world.

Jesus taught His disciples to be wise as serpents!
In Matthew 10:16, Jesus says, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless (innocent) as doves." The expression 'be wise as serpents' here implies 'the ability to deal with even the most extreme of trickeries and deceptions conjured up by the devil'.
The good news is you can develop this discernment, i.e. the ability to detect the hidden motives of someone, or the spirits behind the motives. In other words, what is beneath (or behind) the outward show (or sweet talk)!

Jesus warned His disciples about the coming deception!
Here's what the Scripture says in Matthew 24:3-5, 'Now as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name,... and will deceive many..."' Interestingly, when the disciples asked Jesus to reveal the sign of His return, Jesus answered first and foremost with warning of the coming deception! Only after that, He followed it up with 'wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places' (Matthew 24:6-7).

Ask for discernment, just as King Solomon asked!
In 1 Kings 3:9, King Solomon said, "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:10 then says, 'The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing'. The wisest mortal man who ever lived asked God for discernment when he started to reign as king, and the Lord was pleased with it!

Receive discernment like a godly priest! 
Here's what the Scripture says in Ezekiel 44:23-24, 'And they (the priests) shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. In (times of) controversy, they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings...'
Those days, the priests received the enabling to make a distinction between what's God and what's not!

You too are a king and a priest!
Today, as a believer in the New Covenant, you too are a king and a priest! 1 Peter 2:9 says, 'You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light'. Notice the words 'royal' and 'priesthood' here? Yes, that's who you are! A king and a priest! A king who reigns with God in the spiritual realm, and a priest who represents God in this world! And as a king and a priest, you too can ask for discernment!

The key to receiving: Spend time with the Word and the Spirit!
In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

In John 14:26, Jesus says, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

The more you spend time with the Word and the Spirit, the more you'll be able to differentiate between what's God and what's not; very much like a bank officer who is trained in every detail of an authentic money note, and if anything that's counterfeit, he will immediately know!

People of God, as you are reading this article, let there be an impartation from on high upon you right now. Indeed, this is your time to receive discernment from the Holy Spirit, and for some of you, even in a greater measure! Let Him fill you and enable you for such, and let His name be greatly glorified through your life and ministry. In Jesus' wonderful name. Amen!

Never stop seeking Him and looking to Him!

2 Chronicles 16:9a (NKJV): For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

The word 'strong' here is 'chazaq' (pronounced 'khaw-zak') in Hebrew, and it can mean 'to prevail, become mighty, become established'. I can therefore say 'the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself prevailing, mighty, and established on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him'.

The background of this verse can be traced to the life of King Asa (2 Chronicles chapters 14, 15, and 16). He was a king who initially did what's good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places of pagan worship. He also commanded the whole of Judah to return to the Lord God of their fathers, and to seek the Lord God of their fathers (2 Chronicles 14:1-6).

And when Zerah the Ethiopian came against Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, knowing that Judah were outnumbered, King Asa cried out to the Lord his God, "Lord, there is no one like You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, You are our God. Do not let mere mortals prevail against You."(2 Chronicles 14:11) So the Lord struck the Ethiopians, and the Ethiopians fled. As a result, the whole of Judah had rest all around. And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Asa (2 Chronicles 15:19).

Now, what could have gone wrong for King Asa? 2 Chronicles 16:1-3 says, 'In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa. Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, "Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me."' Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel to attack them.

At that time, Hanani the seer came to King Asa and said, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand." And Hanani continued, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars." (2 Chronicles 16:7-9)

Upon hearing these words, King Asa was angry with Hanani the seer; and he threw him into prison. Tragically, not many years down the road, King Asa became severely diseased; and even in his disease, he did not seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:10-13). What a sorry end to someone who started so well. And it needn't have been this way for him.

I heard and released these words from the Lord recently:
"Look to Me, and keep looking to Me! Never stop! What I have begun in you, continue in it; continue to seek Me, and you will always find Me! Look to Me, not to the ways of man or the ways of this world; even when you have already tasted and seen some victories in life. For My eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Myself strong on behalf of those whose heart stays loyal to Me!"

People of God, there are lessons we can learn from those who have gone before us. Not only the success stories, but also the mistakes of those who have gone before us. It is one thing to rely on the Lord when we have nothing, or when we are broke. As the saying goes, "The only way is up!" But it is another thing to continue to rely on the Lord and look to the Lord even when we are already 'doing well', or have tasted and seen some success or victories in life.

Indeed, the Lord is looking to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those who continue to stay loyal to Him. May our hearts continue to stay loyal and soft before the Lord, even as we continue to grow in our spiritual stature. Amen.

Rejoice, for the Lord has granted!

I heard the Lord speak these words recently:

"Rejoice, and again I say rejoice. For I am encouraging you to keep a heart of rejoicing. Because I have heard your heart cries, and have begun to move in ways that seem impossible to you in the past. Rejoice in advance for the greater things that are to come. Do not look at the current or recent circumstances, but look to Me. For I have granted you My favor, just as I have granted Hannah My favor."

Let's read 1 Samuel 1 to see the details of what happened to Hannah.

1 Samuel 1:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah... And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh...'

When Elkanah made an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah, and all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah, he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah. However, Peninnah would provoke her severely to make her miserable. Therefore Hannah wept and did not eat (1 Samuel 1:4-7).

Interestingly, the name 'Hannah' in Hebrew means 'Favored', from the word 'khawnan' meaning 'to favor'; whereas the name 'Elkanah' in Hebrew can mean 'God has created, God has redeemed, God has purchased'. Therefore, 'Hannah' is a 'picture' of you, beloved and favored of the Lord who has created, redeemed, and purchased you by the Blood of the Lamb.

Now, depending on who says it, words can either bring blessing or misery. In Hannah's situation, the words of her rival (Peninnah) affected Hannah rather badly, and she was deeply grieved due to those constant words of provocation.

People of God, like Hannah, maybe you too have your share of 'Peninnahs' in this world; and due to your current (but temporary) 'barrenness' or 'lack of breakthrough' in certain areas of your life, your 'Peninnahs' have been piling misery on you with their unkind words. But take heart, because just as for Hannah, the Lord remembers you, and He is a God who hears the cries of your heart.

In her 'barrenness' and 'childlessness', Hannah then promised God that if He would give her a male child, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life. As she continued praying, Eli the priest saw her lips moving, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord." (1 Samuel 1:15)

Eli then answered and said, "Go in peace and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." (1 Samuel 1:17) Upon hearing these words, Hannah went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad (1 Samuel 1:18). In other words, she believed what Eli the priest had said, and she began to rejoice! Do you see something here? Just one sentence from Eli the priest settles it all!

A priest, by the way, is a 'picture' of someone representing the Lord. You see, Peninnah's words through the years had no more effect the moment Hannah heard Eli's words! It's like all those negative words have been totally wiped away! No more room for Peninnah's words! No more vacancy for Peninnah's words! Because Hannah's mind was now filled with the words that proceed from the mouth of the Lord! She never looked back ever since. Let it be so for you too!

Soon after she returned with Elkanah to their house at Ramah, Hannah indeed conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19-20). And for all the 'pounding' and 'provocation' by her rival against her in the past many years, the Lord began to 'redeem' her and 'visit' her again and again, so much so she conceived and bore three more sons and two daughters! (1 Samuel 2:21) Speaking of being totally set free and entering the realm of breakthrough! Hallelujah!

People of God, just as Eli the priest spoke over Hannah those days, the Lord wants to speak over your life today! This is the time to believe that your breakthrough has come, and you are moving to the next level! This is the time to declare that you are set free from the words of your 'Peninnahs' - words that sought to steal, kill, and destroy your life (and your destiny)! Let the Lord your God speak life into you right now, and declare that He has granted! In Jesus' mighty name. Amen!