Differentiating between what is of God and what is not

Recently, I dreamt of a person whom I know, a beloved of God, and he was approached by someone whom he has lost touch with for a long time but suddenly reappeared and wanted to meet up. The dream was so real. In the dream, I literally knew there was a red flag. I knew in my spirit that person who reappeared didn't come with good intention, and meant to take advantage of that beloved of God. 

When I woke up, I prayed for protection, wisdom, and discernment for that beloved of God. Now, why do I share this? Because the Lord also has a general message for all of us, His beloved. What is that message?  

The Lord says: "Beware, My people! Be alert, My people! The enemy has begun using very new means and new ways to deceive you and bring you into agreement with him! Do not buy all those deceptions! Do not allow yourself to come into agreement with what the enemy offers! This is the time to receive My wisdom and discernment to deal with all those trickeries of the enemy! I am releasing such wisdom and discernment upon you now!" 

Before we go further, what is the definition of this word 'discernment'? It is 'diakrisis' in Greek. It means 'to separate (what is, and what is not) thoroughly'. In the context of our message today, it means 'to separate what is of God and what is not of God'. In other words, is the 'offer' from God? Or is the 'offer' not of God? Or worse still, is the 'offer' coming directly from the enemy in order to trap you? 

I'm not just talking about financial scams here. It's more than that. I'm talking also about spiritual or religious deception. And all kinds of other deceptions. So, beware, God's people! 

That's why, in this perilous and dangerous time, you need the Holy Spirit in your life all the more! Communing with the Holy Spirit all the more! Walking closer and closer with the Holy Spirit all the more! You see, Holy Spirit should always be your closest friend and best friend in life! You know why? Because Holy Spirit knows all, and is all-wise, and is wiser than all the trickeries of human or the devil put together! 

In Matthew 10:16, Jesus said this: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless (innocent) as doves." 

Many people ask this question: "What does 'Be wise as serpents' mean here?" Don't get Jesus wrong. Jesus didn't say you become a serpent! No! That's not what Jesus meant. But what Jesus meant here is no matter how tricky or deceptive the devil or any bad person is, you are still able to handle it, counter it, and overcome it. In other words, God can give you this ability to deal with the most extreme of trickeries or deceptions that the devil or bad people conjure up. 

Now, here's a piece of good news for you. What is that good news? The Lord is releasing His wisdom and discerning ability upon you right now! Receive this by faith, beloved. You know why? Because you are going to need this. As you receive, you can develop it and train yourself to be more and more discerning. With this ability, you can detect and discern who is trying to take advantage of you, use you, or even abuse you. And with this ability, you can also detect and discern what is behind (or beneath) the outward show, facade, or sweet talk of certain so and so. 

But what is the key for you to have this ability? The key is to follow the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit! Remember, for those who are led by the Holy Spirit, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14). So, right now, let the Holy Spirit work in you, in the inside of you. With the Holy Spirit with you and in you, you can sense if you have 'peace' or 'no peace' in your spirit regarding something. You can sense if you have the 'green light' or 'red light' regarding something. The Holy Spirit will show you. Follow the Holy Spirit's leading, guidance, and direction, and you'll be doing fine. Amen! 

Therefore, beloved of God, allow your life to be Holy Spirit led, and not 'sweet talk' led, 'human idea' led, or 'human ideology' led. You know why? Because not every human idea is from God. 

What is the key to receiving the Holy Spirit's guidance? Spend time with the Word and with the Spirit! Remember, Word and Spirit, Spirit and Word! These are pillars in your walk with God! 

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." 

Free in what? Free in every sense of the word 'free' here. Free not just from any bondage or curse, but also free from any deception or lies of the enemy!

In John 14:26, Jesus says: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name (He has already sent), 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 of God and the Spirit of God, the more likely you'll be able to discern correctly what is of God and what is not of God. There's really no other way around it. That's why the enemy will do anything to distract you from reading the Word of God and praying in the spirit. Because the enemy knows how powerful these are! 

As you read this message today, receive also the impartation of God's wisdom and discernment upon your life! Receive God's wisdom in a greater measure! Receive God's enabling in a greater measure! Receive discernment in a greater measure. Amen! 

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we want to respond to Your words today. We want to walk deeper in Your Word and Your Spirit. We receive Your divine wisdom to know what we ought to do and what we ought not to do. We receive discernment as to what is of You and what is not of You. Lead us, guide us, and teach us to make the right decisions in our lives, going forward. Lead us, guide us, and teach us to avoid the traps and pitfalls that the enemy has set for us. We thank You, O Lord, for giving us the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things, who is all-knowing and all-wise, and who sees farther than any one of us can see. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

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How to make the right decisions in life?

The Lord says: 

"Many of My people are entering a time of decisions, decisions, decisions. Many are in such junctures and crossroads. In a time like this, I will teach My people to make important decisions according to My revelation. I will teach My people to discern and differentiate what is of Me and what is not of Me." 

Decisions, decisions, decisions! How to make the right decisions in your life? This is what we are going to tackle today. You see, in every season of our lives, we need to make decisions. Big decisions. Small decisions. And some decisions are so crucial, this would either lead us to greater things or cause us to stagnate in life. This is that time! 

To begin with, let's look at Paul and his team at Troas. They were at the crossroads in their ministry. Acts 16:6-10 (NKJV) says, 'Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.' 

At that juncture of Paul's missionary journey, the Holy Spirit did not permit Paul and his team when they tried to go to certain places or certain direction. As he was wondering what to do next, the Lord gave him a vision. Obedient as Paul was, he heeded this vision and they proceeded to go to Macedonia. It turned out to be a good decision, and many more people heard and received the Gospel of Jesus Christ during that journey. 

And then, Acts 18:9-11 (NKJV) says, 'Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.' 

As Paul continued his missionary journey and was in the city of Corinth, the Lord spoke to him in a vision once again. This time, the Lord encouraged him to keep speaking and teaching the Word of God and not to be afraid, even in the face of opposition and resistance. Heeding these words from the Lord, Paul continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them. 

From the two examples here, you can see that Paul was a man who had learned to make decisions based on revelations and instructions of the Lord. No wonder in 2 Corinthians 12:1, he wrote, 'It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.' 

Paul went on to complete all that the Lord had called him to do while on earth, and the Lord also used him to write about half of the entire New Testament! 

But you may say, "This is regarding ministry." But no! It can also apply in every aspect of your life. In your career path. In your business path. Or in any area of your life. 

What was it in Paul that we can learn from today? You see, everybody wants to make the right decisions in life. But what can we learn from Paul today? I believe the answer can be found in Proverbs 22:4 that says, 'By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.' 

In other words, by humility and the fear of the Lord, you will make decisions that will lead you to fulfill your God-given destiny in your life. When you have these two keys, 'humility' and 'the fear of the Lord', the Lord will surely honor you and help you in your decision making. I believe that was the secret of Paul. 

By the way, what does 'By humility and the fear of the Lord' mean? To humble before Him is to submit and yield to Him. Yes, yielding to His words and His instructions in total surrender, instead of being smart in our own eyes, thinking that we know better. To fear Him is to have deep reverence and respect toward Him and what He says. You see, not just toward Him, but also what He says. When He says so, we say so. When He says no, we say no. When He says move, we move. When He says stop, we stop.

May the Lord give you the discernment to know what is of Him and what is not of Him; when to move and when to stop; when to go to the left and when to go to the right. 

Ecclesiastes 8:5 (NKJV) says, 'He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.' It means 'to discern what is the right timing', and 'the ability to make the right judgment in life'. You can also translate this as 'the ability to make the right decisions in life'. 

The word 'discern' here is 'yada' in Hebrew. It can mean 'to have understanding (of what is and what is not), or to recognize the difference (between what is and what is not)'. In our context today, what is of God and what is not of God. 

But what is the key to discern? As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. This is true even in training and exercising our spirit man and our spiritual senses to discern. How? Pray in the spirit. Pray in the spirit often. You know what? Every time you pray in the spirit, you are activating your spirit man, and you are exercising your spiritual senses to discern ('yada') and to recognize the difference between what is of God and what is not of God; what is of the Spirit and what is of the flesh (or what is of the devil). 

Hebrews 5:13-14 (NKJV) says, 'For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age (i.e. 'spiritually mature'), that is, those who by reason of use (i.e. 'by reason of practice') have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (i.e. 'what is of God and what is not').' 

See the word 'exercised' there? You see, you can have your senses exercised to discern (differentiate) what is good and what is evil; what is of God and what is not of God. And with that, you can make the right decisions in your life that will catapult you to greater things.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NKJV) says, 'Do not quench the Spirit (the Holy Spirit). Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.' 

As you exercise your spirit to discern, test the spirit. Hold on to what is of God (what is good), and let go of what is not of God (what is bad). When it's written 'test' here, it means: 'Is it Holy Spirit or is it a false spirit (or a spirit of deception)? Is it from God or is it not from God? Is the idea from God or is the idea merely from man?' 

And then, you can test it with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Does it have the fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) says, 'But the fruit of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (or patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.' 

Another important key in making the right decisions in life is whatever decision you make must pass through the Word of God. In other words, it must be screened through by the Word of God. Why? Because Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV) says, 'For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.' 

The word 'discerner' here is 'kritikos' in Greek, from the word 'krino' meaning 'to differentiate, to distinguish, to decide (mentally or judicially) like a judge'. In other words, the Word of God discovers the condition and the intents of the heart, and it is a foolproof way to help you to make the right decisions in life. Why? Because the Word of God is plain and clear. It's simple, leaving no opportunity for error. 

You see, Word and Spirit, Spirit and Word! Never leave any of this out. The Word of God. The Spirit of God. This helps you to discern and to differentiate what is of the Lord and what is not of the Lord, so that you can make the right decisions that will bring you to greater heights in your life, and fulfill your God-given destiny in your life!

Prayer:

"O Lord God, sensitize our spirit man to discern and to differentiate what is of You and what is not of You. We want to make important decisions according to Your revelations and instructions. As we enter into a time of decisions, as we walk into junctures and crossroads in life, yes, all the more we need You, O Lord. Teach us. Help us. Guide us. We receive Your Word. We receive Your Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

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Keys to overcoming deception and lies

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." 

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The gift of discerning of spirits

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NKJV): But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; 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, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

We shall look at this gift of discerning of spirits today. The word 'discern' here is 'diakrisis' in Greek, from the word 'diakrino' meaning 'to separate thoroughly', or in other words, 'to differentiate (between 'what is' and 'what is not')'. Just as some have, for example, the gift of faith, but all can exercise faith in their lives, or some have a specific gift of healing, but all can pray for healing when the need arises, it is the same with this gift of discerning of spirits. Some have this gift of discerning of spirits, but all can discern (i.e. to differentiate between 'what is' and 'what is not') with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I am writing on this topic because the Lord recently spoke that 'many are going to make key decisions and crucial decisions in life, ministry, career, or business in the weeks to come'. We all need the Holy Spirit to know and discern 'what is of God and what is not', or 'what is God's will and what is not', and even discerning if it is 'a lie or not' (as in Acts 5:1-5 when Peter discerned a lie). As a matter of fact, there is a very thin line between what is a 'truth' (from God) and what is a 'lie' (being conjured up by the enemy) in the world we are living in today. That's why all the more we cannot rely merely on our own wisdom and intelligence, but on the Holy Spirit who is all-wise and all-knowing.

Indeed, this is a time to involve the Holy Spirit to lead you, prompt you, teach you, guide you, and correct you in all your decision-makings in life. Proverbs 9:7-9 says, 'He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning'. May we be like the wise man Proverbs 9:7-9 talks about.

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 (gentle) as doves'. It means no matter how 'cunning' the 'serpents' (i.e. the enemy) are, you can be even wiser (Proverbs 9:7-9) and not be deceived by them!
By the way, 'being wise' = 'knowing what to do and how to go about doing it'.

People of God, it is also important to choose friends, associates, or partner (in life, ministry, business) who fear the Lord (i.e. having reverential fear of the Lord). You know why? Because Proverbs 9:10-11 says, 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me (i.e. wisdom) your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you'. In other words, those who fear the Lord in all that they are (and do) will have wisdom of God following them, and they will not easily be deceived into walking out of the will of God! They are humble enough to be 'bended' and 'corrected' by the Lord when they start to go 'off-track', hence prevented from stepping into 'pitfalls' or 'landmines' in life!

And why is wisdom of God so important in life? The answer is found in Ecclesiastes 8:1 that says, 'Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine...' See? Wisdom makes your face shine! Not only that, wisdom clears the path for you, and causes your path to shine brighter and brighter till the day Jesus comes! (see Proverbs 4:18)

Ecclesiastes 8:5 then says, 'He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man's heart discerns both time (timing) and judgment (i.e. the ability to make the right judgment in life)'. The word 'discern' here is 'yada' in Hebrew, meaning 'to have understanding (of what is and what is not), and to recognize the difference'.

As the saying goes, 'Practice makes perfect'. This is true even in training (and exercising) your spirit man and spiritual senses to discern. Pray in the spirit much! That is the key. Every time you pray in the spirit, you are activating (and strengthening) your spirit man (1 Corinthians 14:4, 1 Corinthians 14:14, Jude 1:20) and exercising your spiritual senses to discern! Hebrews 5:13-14 says, 'For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age (spiritually mature), that is, those who by reason of use (practice) have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (i.e. 'what is of God and what is not')'.

Another important key in making the right decisions in life is that whatever decision you make must 'pass through' the Word of God. Why? Because Hebrews 4:12-13 says, 'For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account'. See the word 'discerner' here? This word is 'kritikos' in Greek, from the word 'krino' meaning 'to differentiate, to distinguish, to decide (mentally or judicially) like a judge'. In other words, the Word of God discovers the condition and the intents of the heart, and it is a foolproof way (i.e. simple, plain and clear, leaving no opportunity for error) to help you make the right decisions in life.

People of God, as you enter a season of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, this is also a time to desire the Holy Spirit to teach you to discern in everything you do and in every area of your life (1 Corinthians 14:1). The Word of God says the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17). Ask of Him, and you will receive! Amen!

A 'discerning' heart

Ecclesiastes 8:5b (NKJV): "And a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment."

The word 'discern' here is 'yada' in Hebrew, which means 'to separate/distinguish thoroughly'. Just as God gave Solomon a discerning heart (see 1 Kings 3:5-9), He wants you to have a discerning heart as well! This verse says you discern with your heart. Just as you serve God with your heart (Romans 1:9), you also hear God and discern with your heart! So, it's your heart that discerns, not your mind or emotions. And God can cause you to discern both time and judgment. 'Time' here means 'the timing and season for something', and 'judgment' here means 'a verdict, i.e. is it favorable or not favorable; what to do and what not to do; is this from the Lord or is this not from the Lord'.

In life, we are faced with so many 'choices' and 'options', e.g who to partner in business, who to associate with, which job to take, what investment decisions to make, which property to buy, and the list goes on. That's when a discerning heart comes in. Many Christians are wondering if a particular 'open-door' is from the Lord or not from the Lord. They may ask, "Will I end up being conned? Will I end up short-changed?" Many are in such real 'dilemma' of what to do and what not. What more we are living in a world where fraud cases are common, and 'conmen' are lurking everywhere! You definitely wouldn't want to fall into any pits or traps of the cheats! That's why a discerning heart is crucial in this end-time!

And the good news is the Holy Spirit is readily working in you and through you! Not only that, He is also working for you! Praise God for the Holy Spirit! He always leads you and guides you, never leaving you nor forsaking you! In fact, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is 'discerning of spirits' (1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Allow the Holy Spirit (who is all-knowing) to impress upon you, prompt you, and even caution you. Be open to His promptings and leading always. Some may move in this gift of 'discerning of spirits' more frequently than others, but this doesn't change the fact that He can move in every believer! And as a believer, you are definitely in!

The word 'discerning' in 1 Corinthians 12:10 also means 'to separate/distinguish thoroughly', similar to the one in Ecclesiastes 8:5b. Notice also the word 'spirits', 's' in small letter. It means any 'spirit'. Holy Spirit helps you to discern, i.e. 'to separate/distinguish thoroughly' what is from the Holy Spirit, and what is not, i.e. from other 'spirits' (e.g. demonic spirit, fleshly spirit, etc). In fact, the Holy Spirit can even help you to discern a 'lying spirit'! (see Acts 5:3)

By the way, this gift of 'discerning of spirits' is not meant for you to judge or condemn others, but to profit others (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Hebrews 5:14 speaks of your spiritual senses being exercised (trained) to 'discern'. The word 'discern' here is the same ('diakrisis' in Greek) as the one in 1 Corinthians 12:10. You know what? The Holy Spirit is in the midst of training you. So, if in the past, you have discerned wrongly before or have made mistakes (even major ones) before, condemn yourself no more. Take heart. He will cause you to recover. He will cause you to rise again. Even the foremost prophets who are greatly used by the Lord have made mistakes before! This is part of His training for His people. But His promises remain. He will surely nurture you. He will surely raise you up. He will surely train you. Your part is to allow Him!

Recently, I heard these words while praying and singing in the spirit during a prayer gathering:

"For I, the Lord, am in the midst of nurturing, raising, and training My people to be My 'spiritual sharpshooters' in this end-time!"

Hallelujah! Receive these words for your new season. Now thanks be to God who always leads you in triumph in Christ, and through you diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14). Amen!