Follow discernment from God
By Apostle Cathryn Ndyabagye
(Translations below are from the Good News Translation)
Discerning of spirits is one of the nine gifts of God mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. meaning:
Discerning of spirits is the supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit to perceive the source of a spiritual manifestation and determine whether it is of God (Acts 10:30-35), of the devil (Acts 16:16-18), of man (Acts 8:18-23), or of the world. It is not mind reading, psychic phenomena, or the ability to criticize and find fault.
Discerning of spirits must be done by the power of the Holy Spirit; He bears witness with our spirit when something is or is not of God. The gift of discerning of spirits is the supernatural power to detect the realm of the spirits and their activities. It implies the power of spiritual insight - the supernatural revelation of plans and purposes of the enemy and his forces. It is a gift which protects and guards your Christian life.
I have been accused of being a curious person when I have a very strong discernment in God. :) Many people do not realize how God reveals things to people. It's very strong in my life. People can misinterpret curiosity for God's discernment. God shows us things all around us, He opens our spiritual eyes to see many situations.
People may not always understand God's ways. God knows exactly how to lead people :) When God leads us we don't have to have people's approval for what God shows to us. However we must discern and stay firm in our walk with God. Here are some areas of discernment we need to be stronger in...
Direction From God...
Genesis 13:14
[ Abram Moves to Hebron ] After Lot had left, the Lord said to Abram, From
where you are, look carefully in all directions.--
Just as Lot had to look carefully in all directions, so do we in our lives to
discern our ways in Christ. we need to look in all directions in all we do to discern our direction in the Spirit.
Knowing Right from Wrong...
Leviticus 11:47
You must be careful to distinguish between what is ritually clean and unclean, between animals that may be eaten and those that may not.--
Just as the people had to follow the las in what they ate-- when the people had to know what was the right things to eat
according to God's instructions,
We also need have to know what eat spiritually, and to stand firm in the word, knowing what we should eat of and not be part of. Knowing how to walk in the Spirit daily and not to deal with walking in the flesh. To partake of God's riches, to be
fit in Jesus, and eat of the right things of the word, and live right by God.
Obeying God...
1 Kings 2:4
If you obey him, the Lord will keep the promise he made when he told me that my descendants would rule Israel as long as they were careful to obey his commands faithfully with all their heart and soul.--
Since we are now adopted by god to be part of His family and body, we follow God and his lead and listen to Jesus in all he taught, and avoid errors in our ways. Obeying God and following His lead. Discerning in God and submiting our ways to Jesus.
Handle Money Wisely...
2 Chronicles 19:7
Honor the Lord and act carefully, because the Lord our God does not tolerate fraud or partiality or the taking of bribes.-- Also in Ezra 7:17 tells us 'spend money carefully'. God even cares about our finances. In Job 36:18 it says, Be careful not to let bribes deceive you, or riches lead you astray.--
So we have to discern how we handle money as a Christian, in what helps and does not hurt anyone in our families or ministry--with right intentions. Budget wisely!
Resist the Devil...
Job 36:21
Be careful not to turn to evil; your suffering was sent to keep you from it.--
God
wants us to discern our stand in hard times. How we handle it, and what
we do. By trusting God in all circumstances, we can stand confidently
in Jesus. We never have to give into sin--which only hurts us and mars
our lives! Trust God and he will show you the way to the light at the
end of the tunnel. It's only a test! Pass it with discernment in the
Spirit and you will make it through ON TOP! AMEN
Using Your Tongue For God...
Psalm 39:1
[ The Confession of a Sufferer ] I said, I will be careful about what I do and will not let my tongue make me sin; I will not say anything while evil people are near.--
Proverbs 13:3 Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself.--
Using wisdom in our words and discerning what to say and not to say.
Learning from Godly counsel, and do not lean on the ungodly for advice.
How we speak to one another can lift us up, or tear us down. We must discern the way we will talk. Even in Micah 7:5 it says, Don't believe your neighbor or trust your friend. Be careful what you say even to
your husband or wife.--
One of the biggest problems in life is discerning the tongue. A small organ that can destroy people. God is not meaning you can't be close or not your husband or wife. It simply means be wise in what you say, discern what you say so that you will not stick your foot in your mouth. It can come back on you. :) Using wisdom... Remember the family can be your own enemy (especially if they are not walking in the Spirit of God!). As Jesus told us in Matthew 10:36.
How We Think...
Proverbs 4:23
Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.--
Discern our own thinking, to adjust and live right in our mind. Many times how we think is not healthy or how we assume things to be.,is not the way it actually is. With God, we discern truth, we will not have to wonder. God shows us definately. We have to discipline our minds to think good thoughts and be fair in how we think of others. Always discern everything and then you will know without guessing. God not only wants us to be positive in our thinking and ways, but he also wants us to think good about others too. Many times we fail in this. Negative always sticks his evil head out AMEN!
Planning Carefully...
Proverbs 4:26
Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right.--
Organizing your time wisely in the Lord, in all you do, shows that you care how manage your time. The Spirit will lead you in this too. :)
Things turn out much better when you discern all plans that you make.
Doing all as unto the Lord.
Doing things in a hasteful manner will not turn out right. Being organized in
God's ways makes the path clear and shows you the right things to do. Always pray before you do things and then you can get better direction for planning.
Follow The Word...
Proverbs 7:2
Do what I say, and you will live. Be as careful to follow my teaching as you are to protect your eyes.--
The only way we can see clearly in God, is to walk in the Spirit, to know what the word teaches and live it. We must not only hear the word, we have to live it. Know what we are doing in God. Discerning how we are, and making sure we stay in the word. It protects us Spiritually for the word because it's all powerful. The word is your best foundation in life!
Wise Leadership...Lead in Love
Proverbs 27:23
Look after your sheep and cattle as carefully as you can--
God cares about animals so much because he created them. Many times we forget that. God wants wise leaders who can discern the times and be good examples. Leaders such as: husbands, pastors and leaders in management, even Christians in all walks of life. Those who are in charge of leading others in the Lord. We not only look over animals --we also lead the sheep of God every day! It takes strong discernment to lead others. Each sheep is special to God and each person is important to His plan and leading. Being a good shepherd is vital and making sure you guide people the right direction is discerning God's ways.
Avoid Rash Promises...
Ecclesiastes 5:1
[ Don't Make Rash Promises ] Be careful about going to the Temple. It is better to go there to learn than to offer sacrifices like foolish people who don't know right from wrong.--
Don't make a promises you can't keep and be wise in any promises you make.Know where you stand in God before you make any promise. That way you won't be held accountable for the promises you break.
Be Careful How You Listen...
AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT:
Luke 8:18
Be careful, then, how you listen; because those who have something will be given more, but whoever has nothing will have taken away from them even the little they think they have.--
Not only should we practice listening more, we must also know how to understand what we hear...Many relationships and friendships have been broken because the listener is not hearing the talker correctly, and many misunderstandings come from being misinterpreted. Make sure you hear a person right and make sure you understand them well, because those who listen can learn so much from Godly people who give good advice. Listening also helps us see into a person's heart. Yet, when you listen and have nothing to learn, or misundertand them, you do not stand with anything to benefit--and when you are not teachable--it gets you nowhere. Careful to not assume what you hear. Ask and make sure you have the information right. :)
Remember to Wear The Armour! ...
1 Samuel 17:4-6 A man named Goliath, from the city of Gath, came out from the Philistine camp to challenge the Israelites. He was over 9 feettall and wore bronze armor that weighed 125 pounds and a bronze helmet. His legs were also protected by bronze armor, and he carried a bronze javelin slung over his shoulder. --
In the Old testament, despite the fact that Goliath had his big armor on, that was mighty and he was a giant, God used a 12 year old boy David, to defeat him in God's power alone.
God wants us to keep our armor on and not forget it. We should never leave home without it! When we wear God's armor, it's supernatural and the power he gives us come from the word. When we anchor ourselves in God's armor we can win any battle we face. Never feeling threatened by what man can do to us, and always knowing that we only fear God himself.
Ephesians chapter 6:10-20 will show you the whole armor of God in what God give to each of us to discern and overcome anything we face:
10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power.11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks.12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.13 So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.
14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate,15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.19 And pray also for me, that God will give me a message when I am ready to speak, so that I may speak boldly and make known the gospel's secret.20 For the sake of this gospel I am an ambassador, though now I am in prison. Pray that I may be bold in speaking about the gospel as I should.
