Disclaimer: This post is actually a combination of both a devotional and watchman’s report. And it is longer than usual. So if you don’t have the time at this moment, come back when you have the time.
Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 1 Chronicles 12:32
Are you understanding the time you are living in right now? Do you discern what is happening around you? Or are you in denial and delusion? Refusing to see what is happening in your very neighborhood, town, city, state, nation, and globe. What is extremely difficult for most people is to recognize the lies that they are constantly swimming in. The Truth is getting harder and harder to find. This scripture comes to mind…
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,
but they shall not find it. Amos 8:11-12
When the Word currently dwells in the hearts of Men via the very indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit, and yet there is a famine in land in the American Church for the Word. Could it be that even the preachers themselves don’t bring the “Word” because the “Word” does not dwell within them? Could it be that the preachers don’t know how to point their own people to the Holy Spirit who illumines the very Presence and life of Jesus? Maybe the preachers are trapped in the institutional machinery of the business of religion, and just career professionals who are seeking their income from the attendees? Or maybe they have so shut down the Voice of the Holy Spirit in their lives because of the compromise to the religious machinery that demands it of them?
Beloved TC2 people. You KNOW the Holy Spirit. You don’t need another teacher than the One who resides within you. You need connection to the actual Body of Christ who also are indwelled by His Holy Spirit for the vital task He has called us to while we are yet on this earth. Has He called us to just sit in a big building together once a week? Is that going to change the world? We also need His discernment, of what is and what is not. Together we unify in Him to do His will in manifesting His Kingdom through His Holy Spirit here on earth. The ekklesia in regular koinonia with Him and each other.
If He hasn’t led you to begin building a discernment grid within you now is the time. Here is what He had me do in that regard.
1. Know the Word (graphe – written Word) Understand the Word (logos- complete Word) via the Holy Spirit as my Teacher. And receiving the Word (rhema – The word spoken directly to your heart and mind by God). This usually also means planting the written Word into my mind, via reading the scriptures through many times asking for His revelation about them for my life. He can’t remind me of His Words if I’ve never read them or heard them, so get them into your data bank (mind) for His retrieval.
2. Ask Him for discernment. And study the attributes of God (Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22-23) and the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) to learn the differences. When you dig to know the differences between what God is like and what the ‘flesh’ is like, you will begin to be able to discern by inspecting the ‘fruit’ from what side it has sprung. Inspect the fruit (actions, what actually is being produced).
3. Listen and be awake by being attentive to the Holy Spirit throughout your entire day. Reminding yourself to include Him always and at all times. Praying (Two way communication between The Holy Spirit and yourself) at all times in the Spirit throughout your day. This is a practice of a discipline that is learned. It is a choice you make over and over. Being able to discern His Voice internally is vital for the life of a Christian. The Holy Spirit has had me hang onto certain items that remind me to stay with Him through my entire day.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
4. Know the real so well that the counterfeit is easily seen when you encounter it. This only happens by personal intimate knowledge of the Truth / the real thing.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Ask Jesus what is real and part of His Kingdom and what is not. Know what and where He wants you to go. Continue to follow His leading. This will come through the daily instructions of the Holy Spirit. Are you asking the Holy Spirit for those daily instructions every morning?
5. When you know you are being fed lies — stop. Turn around and ask for His direction. Engage the Spirit of God with all sources coming at you.
This list could go on, but every person must find what He wants to build in each of us personally. For we all have been uniquely designed for His purposes to be joined together (Like body parts). 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 Ask the Holy Spirit today what discernment grid he wants to begin building within you, and what steps you need to do to begin. This is always a joint task between you and Him. He always give you a choice.
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Proverbs 16:16