In a world where there are innumerable opinions, distractions, and voices, how can we undoubtedly stay on track with God’s will for our lives? When multiple opportunities appear all at once, how do we know which door to go through? God has provided us with a gift, the gift of discerning of spirits. It is one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, outlined within 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (ESV):
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good … to another the ability to distinguish between spirits … All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. This gift is the special ability that God gives the body of Christ to know, with assurance, whether something is Godly, demonic, or the flesh. It is the ability to obtain sharp perceptions, judge well between good and evil, cut right through smokescreens, and read between the lines, exposing what is hidden, obscure, or false. It involves going past merely what is evident in the natural to what you spiritually see, hear, and understand. JESUS WAS DISCERNING Jesus operated in the gift of discernment. His conversation with Peter in Matthew 16:21-23 (ESV) illustrates this gift in operation as He discerns the human spirit (the flesh): From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hinderance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man [flesh].” Peter loved Jesus. Obviously, he didn’t want Jesus to violently suffer and be crucified. However, Jesus discerned the human spirit Peter was operating in. Discernment is crucial in keeping us in the center of God’s will, regardless of man’s words, opinions, or persuasions. ARE YOU DISCERNING? Jesus also discerned the thoughts and true intentions of men in Mark 2:8 (ESV): And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?” Understanding the true intensions of others can save you from entering a wrong relationship, business deal, binding contract, or what seemingly looks like an amazing opportunity. On numerous occasions, this gift has saved me from various hardships. It has also enabled me to move powerfully in deliverance ministry and encouraged my faith through being in the presence of God’s angels. I have noticed that the gift of discernment sharpens the more I flow in it. THE GIFT IS FOR YOU NOW! Now is the time for you to move in the gift of discernment! Pray the following prayer: Dear heavenly Father, Thank You for freely giving gifts to Your children. I ask that You impart to me the gift of the discerning of spirits in a greater measure than I have experienced before. By faith, I receive this gift from You now. Lord, sharpen this gift inside of me so that I can stay within the center of Your will and be protected from unnecessary trouble, delay, and turmoil. Guide me, Lord, and help me know what choices to make and what doors to go through. God, I ask You to teach me and empower me to use the gift of the discerning of spirits not only for myself but also for the benefit of others and for the fulfilment and advancement of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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You would never willingly ingest bleach or spoiled food. Why? Because they're poisonous and harmful. Yet is it possible that you are producing toxins that are adversely affecting your life through inner vows you've made, words you've spoken, and judgments you've released? This is a toxic trio!
Often, in ignorance, we behave in ways that can poison our lives and the lives of others. It's time to come clean and remove the toxicity! INNER VOWS An inner vow is something you say or come into agreement with on the inside that does not line up with God’s Word or will for your life. Inner vows are often made in times of hurt, most commonly during childhood. While they may be intended to protect you from harm, they often result in the opposite outcome. An example of an inner vow is, “I will never marry anyone like my father.” Maybe abuse from your father was prominent in your home. Through your vow, demonic spirits are activated on assignment to work against you and cause you to marry someone just like your father. WORD CURSES Word curses are negativities that you have spoken aloud over yourself or others. This can also include negative words that have been vocalized over you. Satan knows the power of negative words. His agenda is to provoke people to speak words to curse so that he can gain a right to dispatch his demons to fulfil evil assignments. Some examples of word curses can include, “I feel like I’m going crazy,” or “I never have enough money, I’ll always be poor.” Perhaps you were raised in a home where there was no revelation about the power of words, and statements like, “You’re good for nothing,” or “You'll never amount to anything," were common utterances. JUDGMENTS A judgment can be made in a split second—sometimes without even realizing it! Judgments are not solely verbal. Judgments can also be made internally. We can judge people by how they look, how they dress, or how they talk. We can judge a person’s motives incorrectly. When we make a judgment, it not only negatively affects that person, but it also affects us in the form of a curse. When we release a judgment, it essentially has a boomerang effect. Luke 6:37: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you….” (NLT). END THE TOXIC TRIO NOW! Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of any inner vows you have made. Be intentional about the words you speak moving forward. Be aware of any judgments you are passing and be quick to repent. If you're tempted to speak ill of others or pass judgment, take a minute to think about what it would be like to walk in their shoes. Ask the Lord for compassion, and choose to release life and love instead! Pray the following prayer aloud to repent for and break the power of the inner vows, word curses, and judgments that have negatively affected your life: Dear heavenly Father, I repent for all the inner vows I have made, word curses I have spoken, and judgments I have passed. Please forgive me of these sins. In the name of Jesus, I break any curses or powers that these vows, words, and judgments have had over me, as well as any negative effects from words or judgments that others have spoken or made against me. I command all connected and related spirits to leave me now, in the name of Jesus. I declare that the affected areas of my life will now line up with God’s will for me. I ask you, Lord, to empower me to stay free from this toxic trio. In Jesus’ name, amen. |
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