Smokescreen

Discern -  (def) to detect with the eyes  : to detect with senses other than vision.

What we are lacking now in our world is the spiritual gift of discernment. We only see with our eyes and not our heart. Some who do not understand the ways of the Lord might say "heart?" So when evil comes in the form of good we quickly get on that horse and it takes us down a path that leads us where we really don't want to go. All of this happens because of a lack of the spiritual ability to discern. The writer of Hebrews addressed the need for spiritual discernment and calls us to spiritual growth in Hebrews 5:11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.  You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Which makes me wonder "what are we eating for soul nourishment?" If it is anything other than the Word of God, we are lacking at our core. There are warnings in the Bible that we need to heed and one is in 1 John 4: Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. If a wolf is going to infiltrate a sheep pen successfully that wolf is going to have to disguise theirself to look as much like sheep as possible or the sheep will see them and run!! We are sheep and thankfully our shepherd (Jesus) watches out for us and we know His voice and He is easily found and heard. In John 10:27 Jesus spoke to this point. John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

When I see Christians who seem to lose their spiritual reasoning I can't help but believe they are not trying to hear God's voice in His Word, so they don't even read it anymore. So spiritual discernment goes out the window and worldly reasoning takes it's place and the enemy is real good about making a Smokescreen to hide his intentions and that smokescreen hides the intent of the enemy. If we are not growing in our faith that smokescreen will fool us into thinking like a temporal, evil world and then satan has accomplished what he is always trying to accomplish. John 10:10 tells us in plain English what the enemy or thief is trying to do where it says 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.

Some are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to help in some of the issues in our world right now and they are not seeing the smokescreen that the enemy is using to defeat us. His smokescreen is well placed and made strong by our lack of spiritual understanding of life itself. Why is there a lack of spiritual understanding or discernment? The writer of Hebrews tells us why in verses 11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.

Here is a little refresher course of the basics as found in Exodus 20:3 3 “You must not have any other god but me. Well, we have messed that one up. Point in case: ALL SPORTS HAVE BECOME GOD!! Nuff said!

You don't have to be a Biblical scholar to figure out that Almighty God shutting down our sports gods is a shot over our bow. Who would have thought that anyone could shut down sports in the way that they have been shut down. ONLY ALMIGHTY GOD!! Personally I don't care whether they ever come back because I don't watch them anymore. After many years of making them a top priority in my life I have awakened... Not woke!! This is just one "BASIC."

Also, the trend in the modern day church has become liberality. Liberal (def) - willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas: I like change and new ideas if they are based on a solid foundation, like the Word of God. But, change for the sake of change and to put my idea in the mix might need to be watched a little closer when making life altering decisions. Discernment has to come from a strong foundation.....The Word of God. When Moses went up the mountain the people talked Aaron into making a golden idol and the lack of their understanding of God's purposes caused everything to fall apart quickly. They failed in the very first and second commandments and there was chaos. Our chaos today is a result of the same thing. People blindly following someone, who is not even credible, to take a stand to depart from the basics of our Christian faith. It is incredible how this whole thing begins and it is scary where it may end. Keep in mind. God is still active and on His throne and He is going to do what needs to be done and you need to realize "are you on His side or on the side of the enemy. If you truly know Jesus you will respond to follow God's Ways and His Word. If not, you will be found out....

The writer of Hebrews gives us a solution to the whole discernment thing where he writes in verses 13-14 You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know howto do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Solution - Get back into God's word and believe what it says and live it. There is no purer truth you can find to answer all of life's questions and set you on a sure foundation. Long for it and when you need answers they will come to you and be shown to you by the Holy Spirit.

God will clear out the smokescreen so you can see what is really happening in every situation and then you will be equipped to live a life full of Spiritual Discernment!! Continue to follow your human reasoning and you are bound for a life of unhappiness, disillusionment, and hurt. Allof that is the purpose of the father of lies and he is working every day to confuse you and he hates you. Turn away from him and see him in the smokescreens he is putting before you.

The Pilgrimage continues....

David Warren