DISCERNMENT

 -Guilt Always Changes Behavior-

There are 12 "fruits of the Spirit" and 9 "gifts of the Spirit" mentioned in the Bible. People  who study are aware of these. My blog will look at one important gift mentioned in 1 Corinhians 12:10 called discernment. Let's define it first.  Discerment is the ability to judge well, see what is hidden, and tell the difference between right and wrong, or truth and lies. There are many people that don't like when you have discernment they can see what is hidden. People really don't like when you see between truth and their lies. 

We are living in such a time that discerment is necessary!

Luke 12:2 says, "For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be made known." This is the reason a lot Christians move to expose things. Spiritual discerning people have a high sense of awareness. Spiritual discerning people can notice things other people can't. They notice patterns and they also notice any shifts. Sometimes God will allow the discerners to sit back and just observe. Why? To try the spirit(s) in people (1 John 4:1) seeing if that person is changing, making a change, deceiving or being honest according to the written Word. People will get angry at Christians to whom God has given this gift, because people cannot hide true intentions, motives, or actions from someone with discernment. That same discerning has been given as a gift to hold a fellow believer accountable if they've moved away from truth, believed lies, or fallen to deception, fabrications, or falsehoods. Spiritual discerning people do not react fast because they also have the fruits of the Spirit as first mentioned above, and patience is one as well as self control. Most of the time spiritual discerning people already know enough before they bring up the topic. But that person waits to see if there is a change or if honesty actually shows up. 

Conviction creates tension. That's why most people don't like spiritual discerning people because it makes them uncomfortable. Some people will say 'you're crazy' or 'you think too much' or 'don't dwell on things so much' or 'you're being too serious about things.' 

EVEN NON CHRISTIANS WON'T LIKE YOU because of this gift.

1. The apostle Peter in his first book, chapter 4:4 warned people that people would think it strange you do not run with them.

2. 2 Timothy 3:12 warns all who live a godly life in Jesus will be persecuted for it.

3. John 15:19 mentions the world will hate you UNLESS you belong to the world.

What they are saying is the gift that God gave you angers them because it exposes them. It's the Spirit that expose. Truth shines in darkness and dispells it. It's like entering a dark room. As you reach your arm around the corner and flip on the light switch, IMMEDIATELY THERE IS NO MORE DARKNESS. Darkness is swallowed upin light! People don't want the Spirit of Truth through you.. dispelling lies, deception, falsehood, darkness. Why? Darkness cannot overcome light John 1:5. Sneakiness thrives in darkness. All a Spiritual discerning person is doing is noticing inconsistencies. They are not judging  a person personally, but rather shining Biblical truth on error. 

A true follower of Christ is given the Holy Spirit including "gifts" as the Spirit disperses to those whom God knows will use according to their several or respective abilities (Matthew 25:15). A Christian should absolutely feel convicted when they do wrong. Christians are to correct other Christians. However, there are some people who are not followers of Jesus Christ and have not God's Spirit living in them (I didn't for nearly 45 years of my life) so they are not going to get that conviction. That's why people with spiritual discerment point out things because it is that SPIRIT (John 16:8) that admonishes only as guidance to show people they need a Savior (as I once did) to shepherd them to truth AND forgiveness. 

Guilt Always Changes Behavior. When someone has a clear conscious they move differently, but a person who is guilty becomes defensive when Truth enters their ears like a lightswitch flipped on in a dark room and your immediate reaction is just a reflex to the truth being exposed. Another way to say it is, when Truth shines in, a guilty person automatically puts up a defensive shield. It's easy to get defensive when a truth we're not ready for, suddenly sees the light.. I did. 

Has this blog offended you? Ask yourself why.

In conclusion, be honest with yourself. Facing hard facts causes emotional pain not because reality is inherently cruel, but because it shatters the comfortable illusions, false beliefs, (maybe no beliefs at all) and ego-protecting stories we have built in our minds. We can feel threatened when we admit and face our personal failures, mistakes, or lack of self control. I speak from a past life. No more. I now live a life through the Spirit. One  unchained that left me exhausted by maintaining falsehoods of many kinds. I am washed. I am cleansed. I am clean. I am forgiven. I am free. I am whole body, soul, mind, and spirit.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-