MORE DEGREES, MORE DISCERNMENT?

Is spiritual discernment directly proportional to the number of theological degrees one has under one’s belt?

Please watch this video and you will find out the answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCcGaTRwG_4

Pay particular attention to a distinguished leader of the charismatic movement and the head honcho of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), Peter Wagner, endorsing Todd Bentley, the man behind the Lakeland Revival.

(you may want to fast forward to 4.50 min to go to the relevant part).

It is easy for believers to get carried away by spiritual gifts, supernatural experiences or manifestations. Many are so fascinated with anything that gives them a spiritual high. .

However, believers must be vigilant and discerning. The Bible warns that during these end times, deception will be a prominent feature. This means various spirits will arise and mimic the Holy Spirit, causing confusion.

                                                                         

Deception is as old as the Bible. When Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, it became a serpent. Similarly, the magicians in Pharaoh’s court were able to produce a counterfeit miracle.

And, today, because the counterfeit is hardly distinguishable from the original, even the elect—supposedly mature leaders—can be deceived. If leaders are deceived, don’t you think the flock will fare even worse?

May God grant us the discernment to know that NOT all supernatural experiences or manifestations are of the Holy Spirit—even though it may be happening in church. Just as not all that glitters is gold, not everything supernatural is of the Holy Spirit. http://goo.gl/9juNxg

Coming back to the original question, Is spiritual discernment directly proportional to the number of theological degrees one has under one’s belt?

I hope you have found the answer.

In my humble opinion, the one with many theological degrees under his belt may not necessarily have spiritual discernment.

Who or what then makes us competent in discerning whether a particular supernatural manifestation is of divine origin or otherwise?

The Holy Spirit grants to believers spiritual discernment:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:12, 13, 15, 16

Unfortunately, in these perilous end times, deception is so prevalent and discernment is so lacking. Even mature leaders can be deceived. If leaders are deceived, don’t you think the flock will fare even worse?

 FAILURE TO DISCERN, AFRAID TO OFFEND

"Many tender-minded Christians fear to sin against love by daring to inquire into anything that comes wearing the cloak of Christianity and breathing the name of Jesus. They dare not examine the credentials of the latest prophet to hit their town lest they be guilty of rejecting something which may be of God. They timidly remember how the Pharisees refused to accept Christ when He came, and they do not want to be caught in the same snare, so they either reserve judgment or shut their eyes and accept everything without question. This is supposed to indicate a high degree of spirituality. But in sober fact it indicates no such thing. It may indeed be evidence of the absence of the Holy Spirit. Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit leading its possessor to open his mouth and swallow everything that has about it the color of the supernatural. Faith keeps its heart open to whatever is of God, and rejects everything that is not of God, however wonderful it may be. Try the spirits is a command of the Holy Spirit to the Church. We may sin as certainly by approving the spurious as by rejecting the genuine. And the current habit of refusing to take sides is not the way to avoid the question. To appraise things with a heart of love and then to act on the results is an obligation resting upon every Christian in the world. And the more as we see the day approaching."

                 —    A W Tozer, Theologian

RELATED POSTS

SHOULD WE RUN AFTER SIGNS AND WONDERS?

Is there a rationale for pursuing signs and wonders?

http://goo.gl/L5NO3I

ANIMAL-LIKE BEHAVIOUR

Can we attribute the following scenarios in church to the work of the Holy Spirit? A person slithering on the ground like a snake?  A person barking like a dog? A person crowing like a cockerel? A person fidgeting non-stop and jumping around like a monkey?

http://goo.gl/Et6oDx

OBSESSION WITH THE MIRACULOUS—ITS DANGERS

Excessive preoccupation with signs and wonders has its dangers.

When teachers like Bill Johnson exalt signs and wonders to the extent that doctrine, scholarship and the use of one’s sound mind are all downplayed and even the deity of Christ is denied, red flags go up.

http://goo.gl/UDfqQW

WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN THE END

What do you think is the true measure of a believer? Does it rest solely on how much anointing or power he or she has? Or how many spectacular feats he or she can perform? Are there not other more important considerations such as an abiding relationship and intimacy with God, obedience, self-denial and faithfulness?

http://goo.gl/fXuwtn

EXTERNAL LINKS

WHAT I HOPE WE LEARNED FROM THE LAKELAND REVIVAL

By J. Lee Grady, Charisma Magazine

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchandministry/Grady_Lakeland_Lessons.aspx

NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION: IS IT BIBLICAL?

By Holly Pivec

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/2977-new-apostolic-reformation-overview

FIVE MARKS OF AN AUTHENTIC DISCIPLE

How to distinguish between the important, non-negotiable characteristics of a disciple and the less significant traits.

Our fingers can serve as useful mnemonics to help us remember five important marks of a true disciple:

Thumb: This finger forms a stable grip with every other finger of the hand in order to pick up objects, an action called opposition. Thus, the thumb acts like a SERVANT of sorts, in touch with the needs of everyone else.

Index finger: This points the way, a fitting description for the WORD, a lamp to our feet, a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). It also tells us that teachers are to be honoured for they point the correct way for others to follow (1 Timothy 5:17, Ezra 7:10).

Middle finger: Because it is the longest of them all, it reaches out in LOVE to others, bears all things, and hopes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Ring finger: A ring signifies a union between a man and woman in holy matrimony. What comes next after marriage? Children. So this finger is to remind us to be FRUITFUL. Not only bear fruit, but much fruit (Luke 8:8).

Little finger: This is the shortest and most diminutive. So it is a symbol of SELF-DENIAL. He must increase, I must decrease (John 3:30).

                                                                     

SERVANTHOOD

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10: 45

FAITHFULNESS TO THE WORD

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8: 31-32

LOVE

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

FRUITFULNESS

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:8

SELF-DENIAL

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9: 23

Now that we are acquainted with the five important attributes of a disciple, what are the other qualities that are good to have but not so essential for a disciple?

Eloquence, charisma, magnetic personality, ability to perform miracles, interpersonal and relational skills are some of these helpful—and much sought after—but less critical qualities of a disciple.

A believer with all the thunder, "bells and whistles", crowd appeal and miracle working ability might eventually be shut out from heaven, being told “I never knew you”:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

(Matthew 7:21-23)

By the way, would we fault a believer if he or she is more like Mother Teresa, if she does not have the qualities found in charismatic leaders who are able to mesmerise the crowd and perform miracles?

Why do we continue to clap, cheer and absolve a leader who embezzles church funds just because he has charisma on stage? http://goo.gl/5tBN8S

Why do we put on a pedestal those qualities that pale into insignificance without the key element of love? 

“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Finally, what do you think is the true measure of a disciple? Is it based on his eloquence, public image or popularity as judged by the number of followers and ‘likes’ he gets on social media? Does it rest on how much anointing or power he has? Or how many spectacular miraculous feats he can perform? Are there not other important considerations such as character, intimacy with God, obedience, self-denial and faithfulness? The foregoing does not imply that charisma and spiritual gifts are unimportant. The moral of the story is that we must not put the cart before the horse. http://goo.gl/gTxXmP

RELATED POSTS

WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN THE END

At the end of our lives when we stand before the judgment seat, what do you think are the qualities that matter most?

http://goo.gl/gTxXmP

CHARISMA vs. CHARACTER

Charisma may take us places but it takes character to keep us there or prevent us from falling. When we attain fame, fortune and power, will we be able to hold on to the values we once cherished as dear?

http://goo.gl/kt3qJJ

MARKS OF A LEADER

 Leadership lessons gleaned from Nehemiah’s life—the six S’s

Imagine a “nobody” with the courage to lead a group of people to rebuild a city wall in a faraway land. Few among his peers—whether they were somebody or nobody—would ever dare attempt such a great exploit. That’s why Nehemiah, a king’s cupbearer, never fails to inspire me when the subject of leadership crops up.

http://goo.gl/jTHJ5L

FEET OF CLAY

As leaders are the key people who make or break an organisation, they certainly deserve our respect and support. But we should not “idolise” them to the extent we think they can do no wrong even in the face of glaring evidence to the contrary. Like all men, they too are weak and fallible.

http://goo.gl/5tBN8S