The Lord says:
"Be discerning in this perilous and dangerous time. The enemy will do anything to deceive you in a time like this. But fear not! For I have given you the spiritual tools that you need to discern. I have given you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in you knows all things. The Holy Spirit in you will help you to discern what is of Me and what is not of Me. The Holy Spirit in you will help you to discern even the hidden intentions and motives of the enemy."
What is the definition of this word 'discerning'? It is 'diakrisis' in Greek. It means 'to separate (what is, and what is not) thoroughly'. In the context of our study today, 'to separate what is of God and what is not of God'.
Some individuals have been gifted with this gift of discerning. But the good news is all of us believers can be enabled by the Holy Spirit to discern. Let's detour to 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 now about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. '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, which means 'to separate what is of God and what is not of God, or what is God's will and what is not God's will for you'.
Just as every believer can pray for healing, but some have been specially gifted with gifts of healings, the same it is with discerning of spirits. Every believer can discern, but some have been specially gifted with this gift of discerning. But the good news is this: Whether you have been given this gift written in 1 Corinthians 12 or not, you can discern. Every believer, with the Holy Spirit's help, can discern!
By the way, what exactly is this gift called 'discerning of spirits'?
It is an enabling by the Holy Spirit to determine the source of something, be it from God, the devil, the flesh, or the world. In other words, the person who operates this spiritual gift can discern if something is from God, or something is not from God, whether it's from the devil, the flesh, or the world (the worldly ways or the worldly influence).
So, this is a very crucial gift, especially in this perilous and dangerous time that we live in.
Why is 'discerning' so important in this perilous and dangerous time?
Here's the reason. Scammers, fraudsters, and conmen change tactics and strategies all the time. As a matter of fact, they do their 'homework' rather well. They do their 'R & D' ('research and development') rather well too. In other words, they always find new ways to cheat, to deceive, and to con. In fact, deception and scams are becoming more and more creative and extreme nowadays. It can even be religious or spiritual deception. It may look innocent and not harmful in the outward, but it's a trap. Beware, God's people!
That's why all the more you need the Holy Spirit in your life in this perilous and dangerous time. All the more you should be walking and communing with the Holy Spirit very closely. Holy Spirit should be your best friend and best companion in life. Only the Holy Spirit knows all, and is all-wise, wiser than any human on this earth, and wiser than all the demons in the spiritual world and the physical world.
Interestingly, Jesus taught His disciples to be wise as serpents!
In Matthew 10:16, Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless (or innocent) as doves."
What does this statement 'be wise as serpents' imply? Don't get Him wrong. He didn't mean you become a serpent or a snake. God forbid that you become like a serpent that cheated Adam and Eve! But this expression 'be wise as serpents' implies 'the ability to deal with even the most extreme of trickeries and deceptions conjured up by the devil or by men.' In other words, no matter how tricky or deceiving the devil or the bad people are, you are still able to handle it, counter it, and overcome it.
Here's another piece of good news. You can train yourself to develop this discernment. You can train yourself 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 the sweet talk of a person. You can detect and discern who is trying to take advantage of you and use you (or rather, abuse you).
The key here is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Because you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, dwelling in you, you can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. For those who are led by the Holy Spirit, they are called sons of God. So, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit inside of you, and sense the peace (or no peace) inside of you, whether to be involved in that something, to join that something, to participate in that something, or to accept an invitation for something. This applies to religious invitation. This applies to business invitation. This applies to career invitation. This also applies to social invitation.
The Holy Spirit will teach you and guide you. The Holy Spirit will lead you every step of the way, and in every aspect of your life.
And here's what God wants to tell you today: Receive discernment like a godly priest!
Ezekiel 44:23-24 says, '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...'
Those days, the priests would receive the enabling to make a distinction between what's God and what's not. This is the cross-reference to 'discerning of spirits' that you see in the New Testament.
But you may be saying, "Pastor, but that was the godly priest those days in the Old Covenant!"
But I tell you what, under the New Covenant, you too are a priest! In fact, you are not just a priest, but also a king! You are a king and a priest! That's who you are as a believer in the New Covenant!
You may ask, "Where's the proof, pastor?"
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.'
You see these words? 'Royal priesthood'. King and priest!
Who was Peter referring to? You and I!
Whether you are called into the spiritual office of apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor, or evangelist; or whether you are in the business world or in the professional world, or whatever you do for a living, this verse in 1 Peter 2:9 includes you!
Notice here again the words 'royal' and 'priesthood'. 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!
The difference between a king and a priest is this: A king reigns with God, whereas a priest represents God in this world.
Today, the Lord is saying to you: You are a king and a priest! You reign with God in the spiritual realm, and you represent God in this world! And as a king and a priest, you too can ask for discernment! Ask, and you shall receive! Like King Solomon those days. Like what's written in Ezekiel 44 that you've read just now.
So, what is the key to receiving? Spend time with the Word and the Spirit! Never let your eyes depart from the Word of God, and never let your spirit be numbed by the ways of this world or the influences of this world. Commune with the Holy Spirit. Pray in the spirit. Go deeper and deeper in the Spirit. That's how you are more and more in tune with the Holy Spirit.
You'll begin to hear from the Holy Spirit. You'll begin to discern from the Holy Spirit. You'll be able to differentiate between what's of God and what's not of God. You'll begin to discern what is authentic and what is counterfeit. You'll begin to discern what is truth and what is fake. You'll begin to discern what is of good intention and what is of not so good intention (or just for outward show). Amen!
Let us pray:
"O Lord God, let there be an impartation from Your Spirit upon Your beloved right now. We ask and we receive by faith. Fill us with the fullness of Your Spirit. Enable us to discern what is of You and what is not of You. Enable us to discern what is Your will and what is not Your will. Enable us to know what to do and what not to do. Enable us to know what path to take and what path not to take. We want to glorify You in every aspect of our lives and in our walk on this earth. In Jesus' name. Amen."
