| Poster | Thread | PaulWest
Member
Joined: 2006/6/28
Posts: 3405
Dallas, Texas
| | Re: | | Quote:
This may very well be the most neglected and rejected spiritual gift in the body of Christ. Spiritual discernment tells what the heart is saying despite the words that pass through the lips or written with the pen. Discerning good words and evil words does not lie in the arrangement, context, nor even the doctrinal accuracy of what is being spoken, but in the spirit and power behind the words in the heart of the speaker. Preacher "A" may speak the exact same words as Preacher "B", yet one may be spoken out of the flesh, and one may be spoken out from the Holy Spirit, one out of a sanctified heart, one out from an unsanctified heart, one from the "spiritual man", one from the "natural man", one from God, one from satan. Discerning of spirits is the knowledge of this in the believer that teaches what is of God, and what is not. All true believers have an "anointing" within, some have their spiritual senses exercised through experience, and it is exercised over time unto Christian maturity. Some receive this gift in a magnified degree as a babe. Nevertheless, it is a gift that is meant for intercession, the protection of God's people, correction, building up the body, and identifying the true need in the speaker that the minister of the Life of Christ might know what to give the speaker unto true Life in Christ.
This I would have to agree with. The gift of discernment is very misunderstood today. It must be coupled with wisdom and grace, as with all gifts of the Spirit. When God gives you discernment of a matter, you must use discretion on how and with whom to share it (if God would have you share it in a public setting, that is). If God does prompt us to share the discernment, we must pray for grace in the conveyance of it. Otherwise we can come off sounding judgmental, angry, unduly critical. There is a way to discern error and reprove without completely cutting a person down and stripping them of their spiritual dignity.
Many young believers are, quite naturally, still immature in the things of God and are yet unable to sense their own budding pride. Others have never been truly regenerated to begin with. The Holy Spirit will expose these things to us secretly, and then great care must be taken on our part with how we handle it. If God tells you something in your heart about a person, it was given to you secretly for a reason and not meant to be blurted from the rooftop. If He wanted a trumpet blown about the truth of someone's spiritual state, He would have exposed the person publically, to their great shame through a false prophecy, moral failure, etc. He doesn't need our help with bringing wolves out of the closet.
He does expect us, however, to be responsible in the exercising of His gifts, and the gift of discernment is as important as any in its proper handling.
Brother Paul
_________________
Paul Frederick West
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|  2012/8/26 23:24 | Profile |
| | Re: | | @SonsofLevi
That was a good article on discernment that you posted. Is it your own writing? |
| | 2012/8/26 23:31 | | CarlosBCG
Member
Joined: 2012/3/10
Posts: 87
| | Re: | | Quote:
Quite frankly, I've never seen a user intentionally direct so much attention towards themselves as in this thread.
So now...I am the great redirector who is using this thread to get attention. Sigh.
You don't deal with the issues themselves or carefully help me see my sin.
You just add yet another accusation on inuendo on top of all the others.
It is evident that this thread will go nowhere and that those of you who have accused me falsely will continue to hang on to your false accusations and rationalize what you have done by any and every means.
There is no point in me posting further here.
May the Lord deal with the evil on this forum and break any pride that exists in all our lives.
I won't be coming back to this thread or this forum for that matter so you all can post whatever you like and say whatever you like but when you spend time with the Lord may He bring to mind what I have said and bring your own words back to your remembrance in so far as any of them were not pleasing to Him.
Carlos |
| | 2012/8/26 23:31 | Profile |
| | Re: | | Quote:
May the Lord deal with the evil on this forum and break any pride that exists in all our lives.
Amen. |
| | 2012/8/26 23:46 | | PaulWest
Member
Joined: 2006/6/28
Posts: 3405
Dallas, Texas
| | Re: | | Quote:
They simply close threads and the evil that was present in the heart and was expressed through words is simply made to vanish by closing the thread.
I would like to address this before closing this thread as well.
Carlos, the thread you are speaking of was closed because of the ill-spirit it was generating. I acknowledge that this was not your fault or motive in creating it. Nonetheless, the way you are coming across in these threads is obviously not conducive for an in-depth discussion to flourish. I wish it were so, for I for one would like to hear more of what's on your heart, but your consistent dissatisfaction with the forum always seems to get in the way.
I hope you can work through whatever is frustrating you and find comfort in the One who transcends these places and brings real joy and peace to dissatisfied hearts. Please try to avail yourself to all the great free sermon resources on this website! May they be a wealth of edification to you, may they comfort you, may the Lord use them to impact your life in an irreversible way.
God bless,
Paul
_________________
Paul Frederick West
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| | 2012/8/26 23:47 | Profile | SonsofLevi
Member
Joined: 2008/10/21
Posts: 107
Richmond, Va. USA
| | Re: | | Indeed Brother Paul, a timely word well spoken.
_________________
R. Evan Gombach
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| | 2012/8/26 23:47 | Profile |
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