Do you have discernment?

And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” Matthew 9:33-34

How important is real discernment? What if you are trying to be a ‘good’ person but have no real spiritual training or discernment and just try to listen to your spiritual leaders, who actually are in that role of a spiritual leader, and they tell you that you shouldn’t listen or believe anyone they don’t approve of? Usually, people in that position believe their spiritual leaders. And in the time that Jesus walked this earth – many, many people believed their spiritual leaders (Pharisees). The downcast, the outsiders, the diseased, the distressed, the poor became the crowds looking for a ‘savior’. Those were the crowds who had been listening to John, that crazy looking person preaching in rough desert garb and baptizing people in the river.

Are you able to trust the Voice of the Holy Spirit within you? Can you discern His Voice? Have you been able to work through when it is Him and when it is not? Or do you just rely on what you hear from the weekly Sunday sermon or podcast, and not really go any deeper? What do you do if you have all sorts of questions about what the preacher said in their sermon on Sunday morning? Who do you ask? What if after listening to their answers (if you can actually get any) you still aren’t satisfied? Where do you go, whom do you ask?

The solution Jesus provides is the same one that the first century believers had. And the answer is NOT the Bible. (read carefully the next scripture in what Jesus says)

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to Him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:4b-15

Does the Holy Spirit refer to scripture that you have read? Absolutely. His job to guide you, and remind you what Jesus said. His job to help you grow in Truth and spiritual maturity, and continue to reveal Jesus to you.

Unfortunately, I’ve lived long enough to see spiritual leaders who are not much different than the Pharisees of Jesus time. The wolves, and hirelings are still with us. Discernment is more vitally important than any other time in my life. Having the Holy Spirit as your Guide and Helper is your best bet of eternal value, and current safety.

We must be like the Bereans who knew their scriptures AND had open hearts towards God. So when Paul and Silas arrived they listened BUT verified if what they were saying lined up with the scriptures. Do we check what the preachers are saying from the pulpit?

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. Acts 17:10-12

Now we have the Holy Spirit abiding within us IF we have invited Him into us. Do you listen to Him? Have you learned to trust Him? Can you discern Him and differentiate His Voice from your own voice in your mind? It’s worth learning how to discern Him within you.