Where is Discernment……what happened to it?

“But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be”. I Thess. 5:21-22 AMP

Have you ever wondered what happed to the Spirit of Discernment?  Where did it go?

We see and hear things everyday that should make us step back and question “Where is the Holy Spirit in all this?”   Where is the Spirit of Discernment?

We see charm and flattery, lies and deceit, control and manipulation, jealousy and envy, false pretense and exaggeration, a phony lifestyle and most of the time words and actions that do not line up.   

I realize some people are just too polite to point out the wrong or do not want to encounter confrontation but where do we draw the line?   

When do we stand up for truth and righteousness?

We see and hear people everyday whose lives do not line up with their words.   If you have not seen it lately, I recommend checking out “ Facebook”.     It has been overtaken with many people who use it to live in “Fantasy Land” or flatter themselves, show off or give a false impression of who they really are.   

We read about “predators” on FB and the internet all the time. People meet others and believe what they say and soon are missing.   So we know this type of action is daily in our surroundings.  

 However this epidemic is not limited to sinners, predators or psycho’s it is also among “Christians”.    It falls back to wanting our egos stroked, an attempt to lift a poor self-esteem, and/or wanting to escape the life we have for a fantasy.

It is understandable for those outside of the Church to be lacking discernment, however most of them can recognize when they are being lied to.    

The question arises: Believers who claim to have an intimate relationship with God or they claim to be mighty prayer warriors and yet they cannot see through the lies and deception and/or the charm and flattery, why?

Could the answer be: they, too, are controlled by their fleshly desires and enjoy having their egos stroked or use it as an escape from real life or they get a thrill looking all piously important as if they are the only ones who hear the voice of God?   Is possible they want to impress others with their “religiosity”? 

It is also possible others keep silent because they don’t want to be criticized or get involved or they do not want to deal with confrontation. 

^“For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.”  II Tim. 4:3-4 AMP

“……Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.”  II Peter 3: 17-18 NLT

Let’s go back to the basics of the Word and seek wisdom, discernment, knowledge and truth.  If we will walk in the gifts of the Spirit we will become a light that will draw others out of darkness.  We will have an opportunity to encourage, edify and love others into a true heart relationship with Christ.

 But first we must be willing to stand up and dare to be different!