Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:43-44
To whom was Jesus speaking to when He gave this answer? The Pharisees and the scribes. What is the modern day equivalent? What happens when almost all information is permeated with the ‘yeast’ of lies? What happens when 99% of every ‘authority’ is lying to cover some fact they don’t want exposed? Who trusts what anyone says anymore? Many CHOOSE to believe those who they WANT to believe. This is a VERY dangerous game and choice.
If Jesus is who He says He is — then He is the ultimate arbiter of the Truth of things. (John 14:6) So then how will you know the Truth of things? Know Jesus .. personally? Be able to actually hear His Voice? (John 10:27) How then — do we actually ‘hear’ His voice? (John 14:26)
Without discernment how will anyone really know the Truth and reality of things? What kind of discernment am I describing? Spiritual discernment. For what happens in the spiritual realm effects this realm. Certainly there is human discernment — but is it correct?
For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 1 Corinthians 1:19
So obviously real wisdom and discernment comes from God’s perspective and knowledge. How is that obtained today? Only ONE Source. If He isn’t the Source — then what is? Discernment is what is able to detect the lies. How many actually WANT to know the Truth of things? Obviously .. very few, because “ignorance is bliss”. Most do not contain enough of God’s love within them to combat the fear of the actual reality, so they refuse to listen to those speaking Truth. This is especially true currently within the American institutional denominational Church system. Why? There is a full on ‘save the system and institution’ at all cost .. even to the point of dismissal of the Holy Spirit. Thus most employed by the system are severely compromised. Thus they keep the masses in a perpetual state of immaturity.
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14
How are the spiritually mature trained? By the Holy Spirit. He is their Teacher / Mentor / Guide. He gives the lessons and instructions for real world assignments that He sends His students. Through these assignments and tests the students learn how to distinguish between good and evil after reviewing with their Teacher (Holy Spirit). This happens within your soul and spirit — not in regular classroom, church sanctuary, or small group. It happens one on one with the Holy Spirit. If you want to know the Truth of things you have to go directly to the Source of the Truth… for discernment.
How close are we to desperately needing discernment from the Holy Spirit? By the next roadblock, financial crisis, health issue, and desperate situation you find yourself in. Are you meeting with your Teacher daily? How is that accomplished exactly? What are you doing to write down what HE asking of you or telling you to do? Do you have any real assignments from Him? Why not? Are you directly choosing to be spiritually immature? Are you seeking a deep and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit? If not, why not? Has no one told you that you are being lied to? How badly do you want to know the Truth? Or would you just rather avoid it?