Who's Your Real Shepherd?

This question may be the most important question any of us can ask ourselves. It’s not only a matter of good vs evil, life vs. death, it’s a matter of eternal heaven vs eternal hell. There is only One True Shepherd of the human soul, all other voices need to be sifted and wisely identified. Knowing The Good Shepherd’s voice is not a disposable option for the true Christian. It is literally the distinguishing feature of being one of ‘His Sheep’. Jesus says, “My Sheep know My voice and they follow Me (John 10:27) and a strangers voice they will not follow.” (John 10:5)

KNOWING is the first and foundational part being a Christian. Knowing is more important than going simply because it is key to being led by the actual Holy Spirit of God. If we miss this 1st Love, we can easily ‘go’ in the wrong spirit. It is also important to note that every demon in hell wants to ‘enter and take their seat in the temple of God’(you)) and proclaim that he/she/they/it ‘is’ God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4) 

Demons feel 100% comfortable in religious circles and using religious labels, even using scripture to deceive the naive into being led by them instead of God. If they can pervert the Christian experience, destroy your faith in God, shipwreck your faith and get you to blame it on God, when all along it was deceiving spirits taking full advantage of your lack of mature discernment…then hell gets a victory. It is also important to note that familiar spirits speak through ((family members)), fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. If those family members are not led by the Holy Spirit and A LOVE of the Truth, you can be sure they are being led by some level of blind darkness and demons of every sort. 

Often it is the influence of multiple spirits(attitudes), like we see in Luke 8:2, “Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;” or in Mark 5:9, “Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” Demons often come in packs. Demons want to harm, pervert, twist, deceive, kill, steal and destroy, not only the human soul, mind, body and spirit, they want to disrupt and devestate the atmosphere of LOVE. Being filled with the Holy Spirit and becoming ((daily)) familiar with the Word of God, the Ways of God, the character of God, including the many nuances of His loving voice and presence is what makes you [become] one of His true sheep. Learning how to distinguish and recognize voices of all types is just as key as valuing His voice more than any other voice on earth. Gaining the skillful discernment and wisdom to identify blind, ignorant, unbelieving self-talk, arrogance, bitterness, manipulation and control, as well as all manner of demonic chatter, even when being cloaked in twisted scripture or sacrificial religious concepts. 

These voices can echo in your own head, which can often come as self-talk, or they can come through friends or close family members. These thoughts can quickly lead to powerful feelings that compel us to do something rash, disharmonious, awkward, foolish or harmful. It is most important to look at the most powerful and influential voices in our life. Where are they coming from? What is the state of their walk with God? Are they filled and led by the Holy Spirit? Do they love Truth? Do they love the things of God?? Does this make sense? Nothing on earth is more important than getting this lesson right. God’s Sheep “WILL NOT FOLLOW” demonic voices. 

Even if they have been familiar spirits speaking through generations of family members. Learning to say, “HELL NO” to these deceiving influences is part of walking in godliness, righteousness and moral courage. Today… let us honestly evaluate the voices we are allowing to influence us. Turning away from evil influences of every sort and turning to and (((tuning into))) the voice of The Good Shepherd is the only way to truly LIVE.

[Troi Nelson Cockayne]

John 10:11 ... I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ❤

No Fear, Just Faith...

Do not fear. Trust in the Lord!

1 Timothy 1:7 ... For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ❤

"Discernment"

 Do not always trust what you see.

Even salt looks like sugar in this wicked world.

Discernment is key.

Know the difference between right and almost right!

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1 John 4:1 ... Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hebrews 5:14 ...  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Romans 12:2 ... And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ... But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Matthew 10:16 ... Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ❤

The Enemy!

If we can't define the enemy, then we can't defeat the enemy. 

[General Mike Flynn]

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1 John 4:11 ... Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 Peter 5:8 ... Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Matthew 10:16 ... Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Ephesians 6:11 ... Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ❤

Cry Out to Him!!

Oh, there is a great need for God's children to have and exercise discernment. May we cry out to Him for it.

Psalm 119:125 ... I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.❤

The Harmless Brand

We have developed in recent times a peace-loving, soft-spoken, tame and harmless brand of Christian of whom the world has no fear and for whom it has little respect. We are careful, for instance, never to speak in public against any of the false cults lest we be thought intolerant. We fear to talk against the destructive sins of modern civilization for fear someone will brand us as bigoted and narrow. Little by little we have been forced off the hard earth into a religious cloud-land where we are permitted to wing our harmless way around, like swallows at sundown, saying nothing that might stir the ire of the sons of this world. That Neo-Christianity, which seems for the time to be the most popular (and is certainly the most aggressive), is very careful not to oppose sin. It wins its crowds by amusing them and its converts by hiding from them the full implications of the Christian message. It carries on its projects after the ballyhoo methods of American business.

Well might we paraphrase Wordsworth and cry, "Elijah, thou should be living at this hour; America has need of thee." We stand in desperate need of a few men like Elijah who will dare to face up to the brazen sinners who dictate our every way of life. Sin in the full proportions of a revolution or a plague has all but destroyed our civilization while church people have played like children in the marketplace. What has happened to the spirit of the American Christian? Has our gold become dim? Have we lost the spirit of discernment till we can no longer recognize our captors? How much longer will we hide in caves while Ahab and Jezebel continue to pollute the temple and ravage the land? Surely we should give this some serious thought and prayer before it is too late if indeed it is not too late already.

[A.W. Tozer]

2 Timothy 4:3 ... For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

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Spiritual Direction

Whether or not one agrees with this President, the reality doesn't change. The spiritual aspects of this current cycle we are in, truly has absolutely NOTHING to do with Trump, don't buy into that false, and disingenuous narrative. This has everything to do with the spiritual direction this nation is going. If one cannot see that, then their discernment is off-balance.

This election is about one thing and one thing only - providence. Meaning, we are either under the protective or spiritual care of God as a nation, or as a nation, we reject it in favor of a secular form of Government completely devoid of any affirming virtue of our Christian roots. This is why I am right when I say that the #1 reason they hate this man (they hated him even BEFORE he ran for President) is because there is a touch of God upon him to do what is right for America as a Christian nation, and also for Israel.

When you have a leader who openly asks for spiritual guidance, who seeks the prayers - even the laying on of hands for guidance - by pastors, that is the sign of someone who is heeding the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is that very reason he is hated, NOT because he spoke of "grabbing them by the kit kat", that is a superficial character trait. Instead, it is a SPIRITUAL depth that only those who are in Christ can, or will ever understand. It is the powers of darkness who are intent on ushering us into the last days under the weight of a global world system. We are simply being given time to sort our priorities out.

But should he lose, should the church, and righteous people neglect such a mandate to do what is right, then we reap what we have sown, and this will never, in my opinion, never return, because we don't have time.

Disagree with me all you want, but I am right on this - 100%. And if you still can't see what's really going on here (in the spiritual), then maybe you need to take another dip in the river of discernment.

[Christopher Gregory]

Psalm 33:12 ...  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. ❤

Discernment

The only bird that dares to peck at an eagle is the crow. He sits on his back and bites his neck. However, the eagle does not respond, nor fight with the crow; it doesn't waste time or energy on the crow! It simply opens its wings and begins to rise higher in the heavens. The higher the flight, the harder it is for the crow to breathe and then the crow falls due to lack of oxygen. 

Stop wasting your time with the crows. Just take them to your heights and they'll fade.  

[Rachel Benz]

Isaiah 40:31 ... But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ❤

Discernment

NOUN

1. the ability to judge well.

"An astonishing lack of discernment."

2. (in Christianity) perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding.

3. the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.

[skill in discerning]

Psalm 119:125 … I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

Spiritual Discernment

Spiritual discernment is a powerful weapon in the arsenal of the saint as most folks are operating in the natural and don't see what you see. Using this gift The Holy Spirit will help you to avoid the manipulation and witchcraft wanton in the world. The liar doesn't comprehend that you have already discerned the truth before they have begun to speak, nor the thief that you have seen him or her coming long before the act takes place. As with all spiritual gifts, like muscle, they become stronger the more they are exercised.

[Danny Peace]

1 Corinthians 2:15 ... But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Ephesians 6:11-12 ... Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.   For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Matthew 10:16 ... Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.❤

Discern the Time

A  time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

2 Timothy 4:3-4 ... For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ❤

Image: Ray Baumann

Gifts of the Spirit

The gifts of the Spirit are given not just for the Believer alone, but for the Body of Christ; to edify, to strengthen, to feed it, to exhort it, to encourage, to build up, and to have the Body empowered to do the work of Christ. Spiritual gifts are not developed by our human ability. The Spirit of God gives Believers the gifts as He wills. Some have several, some have few, but every Believer should desire spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 14:1) The gifts of the Spirit are always to exalt the Lord, to witness of God’s power, and to share Yeshua Jesus, the gospel of salvation, with the lost. Amen. ℛℒ

Ephesians 4:11-13 ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Romans 12:6-8 ... Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ... Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. ❤

Think God Thoughts

Christ’s discernment penetrates to the deepest reaches of the heart, but it is of the same type as the discernment the Christian is to develop, for the only discernment we possess is that which we receive in union with Christ, by the Spirit, through God’s Word.

Discernment is learning to “think God’s thoughts after him,” practically and spiritually; it means having a sense of how things look in God’s eyes, and seeing them in some measure “uncovered and laid bare.”

[Sinclair Ferguson]

Romans 12:2 ... And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ... Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Psalm 119:66 ... Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

Philippians 2:5-8 ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ❤

The 5 Keys to Discernment

1) Know your HOLY GOD intimately. When you have seen His glory, His holiness and His love by drawing close to Him in prayer then you can usually see through any counterfeits because you know the "real thing" so well.

2) Know your Bible. It is very important to be able to spot teachings that are either extra-biblical or directly opposed to what the Scriptures teach. However, it is important to remember that the Scribes and Pharisees were extremely learned in the Scriptures and yet they missed the very Messiah that was prophesied! So knowing the Bible is important – especially for doctrinal issues – but we need to be able to “discern the spirits” also.

3) Be a “lover of truth”. This is very crucial. Are you someone who will actually stand up for Truth – even against the crowd? Or do you remain silent even when you are convinced something is very wrong?

4) Purity of heart and Humility. Many deceptions only appeal to us because there is something inside us that “wants” to believe them. They are seductive because of darkness and wrong motives in our own lives. We must search our hearts and root these out.

5) The ‘inner witness’ of the Holy Spirit. We must learn to never over-ride this “still small voice”, as it will save us from deception again and again.

[Andrew Strom - RevivalSchool.Com]