Standing Firm

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. [1 Corinthians 16:13]

Biblical TeachingsPodcast EpisodeYou Are Who God Says You Are

Discernment and Wisdom – Desire These Two Things

Cathy

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. [1 John 4:1].

QUOTE: Discernment is the ability to see things for what they REALLY ARE and not for what you WANT them to be (unknown).

DISCERNMENT AND WISDOM

My dear friends, it is my prayer that you will be grounded in the Word of God, that your relationship with Jesus becomes deeper each day, and that you will NOT be deceived by the false teachings that have permeated every aspect of our culture, including our churches. This year, (during COVID) I have focused on studying and praying for wisdom and discernment.

I personally do not want to be deceived or to be under any teaching that is not from God. To receive discernment, we MUST be grounded in God’s Word, so that when we hear something, we will be able to recognize whether it is true or not. As believers, it is our responsibility to be on guard, to have discernment, and to use our God-given wisdom, which comes from the Holy Spirit.

What is the difference between discernment and wisdom? Wisdom is having a deep understanding or knowledge of something. Discernment is the ability to recognize small details, accurately tell the difference between similar things, and make intelligent judgments by using such observations (dictonary.com).

Something we talked about in a previous chapter that I am going to use as an example for discernment and wisdom is the name it and claim it gospel. This movement is predominant in our churches, life and business coaching, multiple media sources, and pretty much every aspect of our society. Basically, the idea is if you say you are going to receive or become something, and you speak it enough, then whatever you say will have to happen.  This is dangerous thinking and also a subtle deception because it is very appealing and also has the appearance of being based on biblical truths: however, it is not. It is also common for a desired part of a scripture to be misinterpreted and then expanded to fit one’s own desires. (that is how the enemy works by the way)

I bring this up because all throughout this book I will say that we should speak Scriptures, speak the Word of God, use Scriptures as your affirmations, and believe that you are who God says you are. And that is the goal of this entire book, that you do embrace these concepts. However, we need to remember we are NOT God, or mini gods. We cannot in any way shape or form ever claim that we are God. I want to emphasize that the power of God is within us (as believers) through the Holy Spirit, but that does not make us God, as these forms of teaching imply that we are mini gods. We can only obtain spiritual wisdom and discernment with the help of the Holy Spirit.

As I shared with you in my personal experience, thinking that we can speak things into existence and when they don’t happen can be devastating. The reality is, when we try to “name it and claim it,” we are putting faith in ourselves and not in God.

As a single woman and not having anyone to provide things for me, I was used to being strong and doing whatever it took to put a roof over my head, eat, and flourish. So, it made perfect sense to me to believe in these things, visualize them, and claim they would come to fruition because I was also working my butt off to make them happen.

I was claiming and believing for a million-dollar business, financial freedom, multiple homes, and worldwide travel, because that was the path that I was on. But then all the biscuits went flying… To go from running successful businesses and making well over six figures to becoming homeless, and living in a tent, with absolutely nothing. It was not only humbling, it was also extremely demoralizing and embarrassing. Throughout my little biscuit flying season, I had to learn to trust God to provide literally everything.

I was not used to having to depend on anyone to provide for me. There were many days I felt so helpless, depleted of all my energy, and had no clue on how to move forward. I was in a place I had never been and didn’t want to be, yet that was exactly where I needed to be. That spirit of self-sufficiency needed to be broken. The reason that needed to be broken was because even though I knew and loved the Lord, I was relying on “myself” to do everything, and not truly trusting God.

The only way that I would be able to learn how to trust God was if I was broken and brought to my knees, where I had no other option but to look up. Ouch, a harsh and stupid way to learn things.

Now, please do not misunderstand what I said here, God DID NOT CAUSE THIS. My choices and actions caused the biscuits to fly. Also, other evil spiritual forces contributed to the hell on earth that I went through. When I say other evil spiritual forces, I mean the name it and claim religion that I allowed myself to be deceived by. I was not using discernment and wisdom or being in the Word. I was trying to make things happen on my own.

DISCERNMENT AND WISDOM So with all of that said, the goal of this chapter is a reminder so that you do not have to learn the hard way. As you work daily on your thinking, be sure that you are fully in line with God’s Word. Use discernment in what you listen to and regarding the teachings that you follow. Pray continuously for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and discernment. Be in the Word… 🙂

=======================================

DAILY ACTION STEP
Say to yourself out loud
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM

========================================

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Take out your journal and write down your thoughts, takeaways, and progress for this week!

TAKEAWAY GEMS

  • You Are Who God Says You Are!
  • Be grounded in the Word of God.
  • Ensure that your relationship with Jesus becomes deeper each day.
  • Do NOT be deceived by false teachings.
  • Pray for discernment and seek wisdom.
  • Be on alert for the false “Name it and Claim it gospel.”
  • Learn to trust God to provide everything for you.
  • Be grateful during biscuit flying, learning, and growth seasons!
  • It is our responsibility to be on guard, to have discernment, and to gain wisdom.

QUESTIONS TO “THINK ON”

  1. What teachings or philosophies have seeped into your life that may not be based on God’s Word?
  2. What action steps will you take to prevent or eliminate the false doctrines you may be adhering to?
  3. What are your thoughts about the “Name it and Claim it gospel?”

ACTION STEP

TEST THE SPIRITS AND TEACHINGS: As you listen to teachers, preachers, and other influential people make sure that you test what they are saying with the Word of God before you internalize or even allow their teaching to seep into your mind.

SCRIPTURES FOR THE WEEK

DAY 1: Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. [1 John 4:1].

DAY 2: But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve [2 Corinthians 11:12-15] 

DAY 3: You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [2 Timothy 3:1-5]

DAY 4: For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. [2 Timothy 4:3-5]

DAY 5: Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ [Colossians 2:8]

DAY 6: Jesus told them, don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. [Matthew 24:4-5] 

DAY 7: Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. [1 Timothy 6:3-4]

× Text Me Today!