Adam and Eve had one job: to be obedient to God. Moses had one job, the Children of Israel, Joseph, Abraham, David, Solomon, Daniel, Samuel, Jonah, you and I all have one job, and that is to be obedient to the Father in every thing He command us.
Unfortunately, there is an enemy who knows that obedience brings blessings and a closer walk with God. His one job is to deceive us so that he can kill, steal and destroy us and to mislead us into thinking that we can do whatever pleases our flesh. His teaching is that you don’t have to obey God in everything. Surely God doesn’t expect us to do everything right. You can’t possibly be that holy. You are only human and bound to make mistakes. Try this, do that, go here and God will understand. These are some of Satan’s little tactics to get you off course and out of the will of God. He’s gotta stop you from growing and from knowing God’s will. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19: 7-14)
Conversion is that wonderful first touch from Almighty God. It is where we experience the divine intervention where He shows us that He is real. The evidence is found in the Fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5: 22-25)
Make no mistake that God immediately sets up His laws and commands within us. His first action is to forgive us of our sins. Out with the old junk and in with the new love of God in our hearts. This transformation takes place with the power and the awareness that something has happened to you. We are not the same. We love everybody. We don’t want to sin anymore. God will make it very apparent to others that a change has taken place. You look different, you sound different, you walk different and you most definitely feel different. There is a cleanliness about you. Your whole character changes. True repentance is hating the sin you once loved and loving the righteousness you used to hate. The love and joy is beyond comprehension because there seems to be no explanation as to how you can be so free and happy in asking for forgiveness of your sins. This is how we are supposed to be. If not, something is terribly wrong.
As we continue to serve the Lord, He will start to show and reveal things to you. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2: 9-10) You will get checks or warnings from God when you do or say things that are not pleasing to Him You look through spiritual eyes so you now see as God sees. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” (Psalm 119: 18)
Of course old Satan will be there to make your vision fuzzy, hazy and cloudy. He doesn’t want you to see what is right and what is wrong which can throw your judgement off. It is our responsibility to know God’s will and His ways. We are so very easily persuaded by Satan when we are not sober and vigilant.
One of the many attributes of God is wisdom. He applies knowledge and understanding to our lives as we seek Him. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9: 10 & 9) “My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” (Proverbs 2: 1-7) God reveals deep and hidden things and He gives them freely when we seek and ask Him. When He created all things He devised a system of atonement and laid the foundation of His salvation using His wisdom to create it all. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1: 5)
Wisdom is the God-given ability to discern between good and evil. It is the capacity that allows us to understand things from God’s perspective. With it we recognize the truth. “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.” (Psalm 97: 10-12)
When wisdom and the Word of God take root in our hearts there is a willingness to do His will. Peace, gentleness, purity, kindness, sincerity are also present. These and others are the characteristics of God. There is no partiality or hypocrisy in Him. Divine, godly wisdom is Christ-centered, Spirit-led and Bible-based that seeks to glorify God. All human wisdom is unspiritual, earthly and demonic. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3: 12-18)
Another important attribute of God is discernment. It is the ability to choose between what is true and right and what is false and wrong. To discern something is to recognize its true worth or validity. It is the ability to think biblically, properly and to understand the will of God totally from His perspective. The Holy Spirit within us teaches us how to discern when we hunger for God’s inspired, infallible and authoritative written Word with the ability to discern its true meaning. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 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. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2: 12-16)
A spiritual discerning person makes good decisions and judgements based on the assessment of a situation. It is using good sense by applying the Word of God to see if it is conducive to the ways, the will and the teachings of God’s Holy Word. When wisdom and understanding abound we are able to distinguish the difference between good and evil. “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And now, O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment…” (1 Kings 3: 5 & 7-11) God not only granted Solomon’s request, He also gave him both riches and honor.
The disciples were chastised and beaten when they were commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” (Acts 4: 19) Pharoah gave an order to kill all the male babies born but there were some wise and faithful women who served God. “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” (Exodus 1: 17) Moses was born and kept to lead God’s people, the Children of Israel, out of bondage.
God’s discernment allows us believers to make wise decisions, avoid deception and aligns our actions with His will. It is recognizing the difference between the truth and a lie, right from wrong. It is learning how to think godly thoughts of Him practically and spiritually. Our godly character is an outward reflection of an inward connection with the Holy One Himself. Every problem we face is a character-building opportunity. It is anchored by integrity and maintained in adversity. Time spent alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion to Him. Then your integrity and godly behavior will be quite evident. Godliness involves not only a genuine fear of God but also a love and deep passion to serve Him joyfully and completely. It’s all about receiving His Word, retaining His instructions, reflecting His character and representing Him well. When we are in line with the Word we can see clearly and use wisdom and discernment much more effectively.
Jesus spoke in parables when He taught because not everyone was going to retain His Words. This raised a question for Him of His disciples. “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Matthew 13: 11 & 15-17) “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts 7: 51)
When God gives us wisdom and discernment we don’t take things at face value. We don’t jump because things look and feel good. We see from a spiritual point of view. From God’s point of view. Satan always camouflages things to look right for Christians. We must constantly ask ourselves:
1. DOES IT MATCH UP WITH WHO I AM IN CHRIST?
2. IS IT IN LINE WITH THE WORD OF GOD?
3. IS IT IN VIOLATION OF ANY PRINCIPLE OF GOD'S WORD?
We must ask ourselves these questions when making decisions including when we consider supporting causes, accepting and encouraging ideologies and even voting in elections. We tend to want to follow the crowd or our own selfish desires when we should follow what God has placed in us according to His Spirit. As we grow in the faith we graduate from milk to strong meat. But there are times when we need to be retaught and go back to milk because we are dull of hearing. When on milk we are unskillful in the Word of righteousness. “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.” (Hebrews 5: 14)
Saints of God, we must remember that we are fighting a spiritual war over our souls. “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.” (Ephesians 6: 12) If you can’t see the evil darkness and God’s light colliding with it then you may be distracted or blinded by Satan. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” (2 Corinthians 10: 4) We should obey governmental authority but when government decrees are CLEARLY contrary to God’s Word, God is to be obeyed.
If you are a Child of God, then live like it, act like it and think like it. Daniel refused to obey the firm decree set up by King Darius. “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” (Daniel 6: 10) He was sent to the lion’s den but God sent His angel to shut the lion’s mouth. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same…” (Romans 13: 1-3)
The gospel is to be proclaimed, not debated. If God hates sin, well so should I. Two conflicting forces cannot exist in one human heart. When doubt reigns, faith cannot abide. When worry is present, trust cannot crowd its way in. Where hatred rules, love is kicked out and when selfishness rules, love cannot dwell. Sin is so widespread and in our faces like never before. The only thing that keeps us stable and settled in these days of uncertainty is the absolute dependability of God’s Word.
Must the Lord always show us ourselves? Why can’t we figure out our own sins and what displeases Him. Is it because we may want to hold on to stuff to please and satisfy the lust of the flesh? Deep-seated hatred, holding grudges and all other forms of ungodliness is the root of the problem. Our prayer should be, “Lord make me better in my mind, my attitude, my reactions and my approach.”
May we represent Him well in mind, body, soul and spirit. “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1: 3-5)
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