Edition 547: November 10^th 2020.

End-time discernment:

Introduction:

Ecclesiastes 8:5 “A wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgement.”

Note well from the verse above, that we are to know where we are in biblical or prophetic time. Note that a wise person knows and discerns coming judgement as well. Stupid people would ignore or avoid these things.

Discernment chooses which doors you will go through. Some doors you will be eternal grateful for going through, others will lead people on a magical mystery tour to hell.

The definition of discernment is: The ability to judge well; to be spiritually guided and led. It is to determine God’s will and desire, and it is to have understanding of spiritual forces of good and evil.

There are essentially two types of discernment, both of which are critically important and needed. Discernment of spirits is an exclusive revelatory spiritual gift, which comes only to those baptised in the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:10)

Then there is a more general from of discernment, which we could also call insight or deeper knowledge. This secondary discernment is made much more acute and active when discernment of spirits is at work as well.

Discernment of spirits must be a major weapon in your armoury and a close friend in these days. It gives insight into the invisible.

• The gift of discernment is a deception killer.

Unique to the end-time scenario is the intensified action of Satan, the activity of demons and spiritual forces of wickedness. Unique to these times is the arising of false teachers, prophets, watchmen and supernatural miracle workers that are counterfeits.

Unique to this time is the building of end-time Babylon (a new world order) with a new one-world religion and currency.

The issues all around us today, especially relating to the US election have become so intense, polarised, anger and hate filled. Have you wondered why?

They are a manifestation on earth of the giant clash in the spirit realm as prophetic things to come rattle the cages of demon spirits. Can you see this spiritual battle royale?

It is so important to have Spirit enlightened discernment today!

If you put two piles of things on a table with an invisible sign behind each, one says: “Things of God” and the other “Things of Satan.” Unredeemed man would automatically choose the ‘things of Satan,’ because he is blind to the sign. Redeemed man with discernment would choose the ‘things of God’!

Discernment of spirits is no magic wand though. Sometimes it just doesn’t work. That’s normally because our turkey brains gets in the way. But over time you become more sensitive to it.

There is an available, powerful anointing on the word of God, but beware there is also an unwritten, deceptive ‘anointing’ on the word of the world, man and the devil. Discernment is needed to see which authority is at work.

The humiliation of politicians:

Politicians of the world take note of what God is about to do, and without your approval or vote: He is going to destroy your attempts at world peace and put “hooks” in the jaws of many military masses and draw them into the great and terrible war of Gog and Magog. (WW111) (Ezekiel 38:4)

God will “finish the world’s transgression” and “make an end of sin”. He will bring in “everlasting righteousness”. “The government shall be upon His shoulders.” (Daniel 9:24)

God will be King, full of glory. His dominion will be everlasting! (Daniel 7:14)

Can you imagine these things being the mandate of a politician?

God will create a New World Order (the Millennium) that will humiliate and annihilate all mans attempts at all new world orders through history.

►Unsaved man’s god is self. His kingdom and government is the world. His spirit is the demonic realm. His word is the word of the media, politicians and all their puppets.

Can you see these things? Can you understand them? The Bible says that if you are not born again you cannot even see the kingdom of God. And that goes for Satan’s kingdom too.

Tragically, few have biblical discernment as they head down the road to doom.

Discernment, the deception killer:

Perhaps the greatest end-time deception is: “Everything will continue as it always has”. (2 Peter 3:4) This goes hand in hand with the great deception that there are in fact no end times coming anytime.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 “The Spirit expressly says in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons....having their conscience seared.”

2 Timothy 3:13 “Evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Colossians 2:4, 8 “This I say, lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words...Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the principles of this world, and not according to Messiah.”

Ephesians 4:14 “We should no longer be children tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.”

You can and must use your gift of discernment as a tool of evangelism. When you can see the reasons for this or that and know the answers, while everyone is clamouring in the dark, you are a most valuable and effective witness. You can cause many to come to know the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:6 “Your habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me says the Lord.”

Witchcraft today:

Witchcraft in the world and in the church is a great deception. Don’t think because you are not directly exposed to witchcraft that it is not a big end-time problem. And by the way, witchcraft is not just the traditional view, although those things are true too.

 Intense rebellion to God is also categorised as witchcraft.

1Samuel 15:23 “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.”

These verses below are just a few of the many condemning all forms of witchcraft. (mouse-hover)

Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:10-11, Isaiah 8:19-22, Revelation 18:23 21:8, Acts 19:19 8:11

There are some nations where witchcraft is a normal way of life. Europe today is becoming entrenched in witchcraft. Even Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and the like are steeped in witchcraft today – and it is growing to pandemic proportions.

The only way you can identify the spirit of witchcraft is through discernment of spirits.

There are none so tragic as the self-deceived! People are demonically deceived; they get deceived by the word of the world, and by false prophets and teachers.

1 Corinthians 3:18 “Let no one deceive himself...becoming wise in the world.”

Discernment based on biblical truth is your only hope, help and friend in these days.

As we head deeper into dark days you need every ounce of truth-backed discernment that is available to you to stay safe.

If truth is the new hate speech for the world, its new truth is untrue, error, wrong, transgression, false, variable, ever-changing, uncertain, and more.

You need to see these things clearly so that you can endure and stand strong and securely.

Your epitaph:

Psalm 112:4-8 “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness...The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord...He will not be afraid.”

How’s this for an epitaph? “Here lies Oupa. He was a good man.” Well, sorry Oupa, not good enough! You needed to be born again.

Amazingly every true Christian will never have a real epitaph because we will never die. God will give us a new name as we step into eternity. (Revelation 2:17) But look at the verse above again, and note - “The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.”

Do you know that you will never ever be forgotten – forever! How amazing is that! People today get stressed out because they are not noticed and get rejected.

So, in these tough times, as a righteous one moving from darkness to light, if you could be given an epitaph it would say: “Remembered forever.”

Doctrinal discernment:

There is such a proliferation of false teaching and false doctrine in the church today it is of utmost importance to be spiritually discerning in this regard.

Many times a big deception comes about in a church not by what they preach, but by what they don’t preach. This creates a half-baked Christian.

It is contemptuous to see that most of the word / faith prosperity churches continue with the same well-worn doctrine, while saying nothing on end time events, thus leaving their flock totally unarmed and unprepared and ignorant of two thirds of the Bible.

I fully believe the word / faith message, but now it has far too many missing ingredients for comfort.

“Those who have this hope (of the Lords coming), purify themselves.” (1 John 3:3)There is a powerful force in eschatology (end times). This is why churches that avoid eschatology are in so much trouble and becoming unholy rebels fast.

How can you live today without the anchor of hope of His coming, and the truth of all of God’s word alive and active in your life?

Discernment and sin:

Today like never before the world, including much of the church has enshrined sin. They love sin and evil. They do it, they proclaim and they spread it.

John 3:19 “This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil (sinful).”

One of the most incredible statements by God relating to these end times and coming judgement is:

Revelation 22:11 “He who is unjust let him be unjust still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him be righteous still; He who is holy, let him holy still.”

That means that these people have simply been given over. There hope is lost. Please be on the side of the righteous and holy!

Far too many Christians are being overtaken by sin and evil. It need not be so for you.

Isaiah 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,”

As you move closer and deeper into the things of God, something miraculous happens. You begin to overcome sin and you end up even hating sin!

Yes sin is removed through the cross, but we still have to actively avoid it.

Can you say this in agreement with the Psalmist?

Psalm 119:53 “Indignation (horror) has taken hold of me, because of the wicked who forsake your Word.”

Take note of these incredible verses below:

Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 51:4 “Against You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight...”

Genesis 39:9 “...How can I do this wickedness and sin against God?”

1 John 5:4 “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world.”

When you see sin as an affront to God, you are on the way to victory, but to even begin to see these things you need spiritual discernment! You need to become one of those strange Bible loving freaks.

Spirit led truth is your best friend and comforter. The spirit of error will also be a friend to you and a comforter, but only for a while, and then it will kill you.

1 Corinthians 2:13-14 “These things we speak not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, for the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Deception is designed to lead you astray and rob you of your victory. It is designed to rob you of your eternal rewards that are laid up for you. “Let no one rob you of your reward” (Colossians 2:18)

Colossians 1:28 “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching everyone in all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Messiah.”

It’s a wonderful thing to be wrong and a Christian open to correction. That means you are about to be wonderfully right! Being corrected offends your ego and self-importance. So if you lay that down and yield to correction you are on the road to glory.

Discernment and Israel:

1 Chronicles 12:32 “The sons of Issachar had understanding (discernment) of the times, to know what Israel ought to do...”

We are about to see Israel come under pressure from her regular enemies, and maybe one of her lifelong friends, if the US election finally delivers the one-worlders.

Like the sons of Issachar you had better know your position on Israel well. There are evil forces trying to drag her into a new world order.

These things are all of major importance today.

This US election just passed is a classic example of a large group of people with no discernment at all. They can’t see what is right or wrong, good or evil. They cannot see the destructive end of their direction, vote and choice.

They have voted for Israel’ enemies! They will pay the price.

Discerning who to receive from:

Beware of the transfer of spirits!

Often evil spirits or spirits of error will transfer to a person without discernment and who has those doors open.

Many times a teacher or watchman who is repeatedly wrong has a group of followers, all wrong too, but very much of the same spirit. Beware who you give yourself to.

Matthew 24:4, 11 “Take heed no one deceives you...Many false prophets will rise and deceive many.”

2 Corinthians 11:13-14 “Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Messiah. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into and angel of light”.

At the end of the day you become, to a degree, what you believe. Who you receive from is of great importance. Much of what your teacher says, rubs off on you.

Teachers and watchmen can influence the course of your life.

The church or ministry that has nothing to say on end times, or Israel, is to be avoided like the plague. Their silence is the deception.

Test the spirits. Know and be informed. Know the truth.

Today people run to the media for their advice and input. They run to their peers and friends who all feed off the same poison, then like blinded rats, they follow the piper.

Set your mind on things above.

The battle today begins and ends with the battle for your mind and thinking. For you benefit, I’ve just touched on the main points of these verses below to paint a picture:

 “Think on these things”. (Philippians 4:8). “Cast down imaginations that exalt against God.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) “Set your mind on things above”.  (Colossians3:2-5). “Renew your mind.” (Romans 12:2). “Keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You” (Isaiah 26:3) “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6). “Keep your heart (mind) with all diligence, for from it springs life”. (Proverbs4:23) “Renew the spirit of the mind” (Ephesians 4:22)

Finally

My friends, the way to discernment is firstly by believing God word and rejecting the world’s word. Seek discernment, desire it, and pay the price for it (knowing God’s word). Just do it!

People without discernment are like a ship tossed all over the place by every wind and opinion of man. They are easy to sway, influence, corrupt and be lead astray.

But for you, what is before you is the abounding great grace of God in the midst of an evil and crooked generation. Grace abounds, but judgement is coming in leaps and bounds for those who reject the grace of God.

Don’t miss the great opportunity to grow into a glowing eternally bright light, and remember that you will be remembered for time everlasting!

I took this picture of the beautiful rock-breaker fig tree on the side of cliff in the Limpopo region.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!