“And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him…” — Nehemiah 6:12
“And a stranger will they not follow: for they know not the voice of strangers.” — John 10:5
Discernment is the mark of God’s elect. My mother once objected to my conversion by saying, “Well how can you be sure that the Bible is the word of God and not any other writing or tradition? How could those people in the Middle East have known they have The God.™ I confess to wondering the same thing and the answer appears fallacious to an unconverted mind. There is no higher authority for God to swear by but himself. The Bible authenticates itself. His sheep hear His voice within it in a way you will not experience in any other book. But that’s circular reasoning! says the unconverted heart. So what?
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God[1].”
Couching the gospel of Christ in worldly logic in order to make the message more palatable only waters it down and makes it of no effect.
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many might, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty[2]…”
In this day, when lying spirits are running amok we must be vigilant and pray for this discernment God gave to Nehemiah. When the time comes, you will simply know in your heart as Nehemiah did that the person speaking to you is not bringing a message from God. And even better than pure intuition, you have the scriptures so that you can try the spirits and see if they are of God.[3]
“Thou through they commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” — Psalm 119:98
Watch and pray.
[3] 1stJoh 4:1
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