Does God ever
send us a word that
conflicts with our
personal beliefs?
Yes. It’s not that
God is out to upset
our apple cart. It is
that He loves us too
much to let us continue
finding security
in our beliefs
that are tainted by
error, warped by
experience or hindered
by misunderstanding.
These
things will leave us
at dead ends, frustrated
and unfulfilled
at some point
in our destiny, and
He loves us too much to simply allow that.
I knew an older gentleman who was called to be an intercessor and that
calling was confirmed through a prophetic word. He had not recognized the
calling, nor could he receive the word, because of his definition of an intercessor.
His belief was that an intercessor was a person who prayed for
many hours every day. His experience indicated that was neither his lifestyle
nor his desire; so, he could not believe he could ever be an intercessor.
After a conversation with a discerning friend, he discovered intercession is
not bound to one particular lifestyle and he opened his heart to the call of
God. His misunderstanding had been keeping him from fulfillment and effectual
purpose for years. Discernment is about seeing a difference that will
make a difference. Discernment turns the light on so we can take action and
make adjustments. Wisdom would have us at least take note of contradictions
that burst into our lives to discover or discern if they are a wakeup
call from the Holy Spirit. We must live ready to believe in God more than
our beliefs if there is a show-down between the two. I believe there will be
such show-downs coming in this decade we have entered because the Kingdom,
like leaven, is spreading in the earth. God is moving forward in the
already written history of His people, building His church and maturing His
sons. When these confrontations come, we have three major resources to
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set and confirm our course: the Word, godly counsel and discernment.
There are five different words translated “discern or discernment” in the Old
Testament. Their meanings include to scrutinize or look intently at so as to recognize
what is going on, an experienced gaze, to hear intelligently, to separate mentally
(or distinguish), to be cunning, to diligently direct, to feel, to know by seeing,
to perceive or to discover. Discernment by dictionary definition means to separate
or distinguish, to see or understand the difference or to make a distinction. In 1
Cor 12, another dimension is added to the meaning of discernment. In this setting,
discernment means to judge the purity of something, as in “to detect any mixture in
its source or motive.” When discernment comes as a gift from God, as in 1 Cor
12:10, it is God enabling us to separate or distinguish the difference between the
human soul and the supernatural at work. This discernment gift includes understanding
the mental disposition of someone. It also enables us to see the distinct
differences between the Holy Spirit and angels or demons at work in a situation.
Discernment, whether it is a keenness developed through experience or a gift of
the Spirit of God, is an awesome weapon that is both a beneficial and essential
resource for the days ahead.
DISCERNING OBEDIENCE:
I sat at lunch with a friend who is a real trooper in the trenches. As I listened
to her heart after God, the thought came to me, ‘The only thing that can stop her
from getting to God’s intentions would be getting worn out on the way.’ I made a
decree over her, “This year, you will be quick to discern the difference between
obligation and obedience.” The enemy cunningly lays snares for a compassionate
heart to distract them by the needs of others while they’re on the way to a Godmandate.
If distraction can deplete our energy, hell can hinder the purpose and
timing of God. We must be wise this year and budget our efforts as diligently as
our pocket books.
DISCERNING OBLIGATION:
Obligation is the binding power of a promise, a vow, a contract or a law, but it
is also the binding force of civility and kindness. That makes obligation a strategic
weapon against Christians. I stood on the sidewalk waiting for Marty. I had leftover
donuts in a box under my arm. A homeless woman was walking toward me.
Kindness immediately bid me to give them to her, yet I felt a check in my spirit. I
learned later that while it would have been a kindness, it would not have been wisdom.
There was a ministry for the homeless in that very block that met their needs
on a daily basis. There were signs setting the order of how and when such ministry
was appropriate. The order was for protection of the homeless so they would
not break city rules. I would have been encouraging that woman to get out of the
set order, which would eventually disqualify her for the ministry that sustained her
there.
Jesus exemplified that His first obligation was obedience to the will of the
Father. Opinions, emotions, traditions and minions can quickly bind Christians
with a sense of obligation that has nothing to do with obedience or the order God
can bless. A vivid example of this in my mind is how often I’ve seen Christians
SEEC Magazine 10 February/March 2010
feel obligated to tolerate all behaviors, without confrontation or rebuttal. I’m not
sure how the mindset developed that being non-confrontational is being holy, but
there are no rewards for stupid in the Bible. Jesus did not tolerate the attitudes or
arguments of the Pharisees. He spoke very directly and at times did not even
bother with diplomacy. If tolerance is an obligation that is not first based in timely
obedience to God, it is more likely coming from guilt or self-righteousness. At
that point, toleration falls into the category of good works and is an attempt to
sanctify our own soul. Of course, neither tolerance nor any other good work can
cleanse the soul if it is not obedience (1Peter 1:22). As Jesus demonstrated, a mature
son lives his days discerning the Father’s heart and keeping obedience in priority
to any other assumed or imposed obligation.
Habits and traditions can become obligations that override obedience. Habits
become a norm and are not questioned because they’ve simply never been questioned
before. To question them after 50 years can seem like blasphemy. The
problem is that habits and traditions often get convoluted after years of being filtered
and adjusted to peoples’ opinions and preferences. That is why the lack of
sugar one Christmas long ago can leave a family with an annual tradition of tasteless
pudding. The only dessert possible in that year of struggle had no taste or
merit other than tradition in the long run! If we do not keep God’s instruction in
higher priority than tradition, we will end up with lifeless customs, no passion and
no place, time or energy for obedience. Without timely obedience, we also lose the
power of His presence and the impact of His will being done in earth as in heaven.
Assumed obligation can be dangerous. Wrongly assumed obligation is the
root source of anger against God. History has revealed a pattern of men blaming
God when they are hurting or disillusioned. Anyone who is angry because God
did not come through for them quite simply assumed God was obligated where He
was not. It is impossible for God not to come through because He is faithful, but
we must understand that He is faithful first to Himself, His word, His character,
His plan and His covenant. People who do not bother to understand the principles
of His word, character and covenants do not know the boundaries He has set nor
the order that is crucial. People think God is obligated to meet their emergencies
because they presume His mercy will automatically outweigh dysfunction and
disorder and disobedience. That has never been and will never be the case. When
a situation screams failure (if we even make that call correctly) it is on the earthly
end. Without discernment, without distinguishing the difference, people make
choices that position them outside of God’s will and blessing. Generations establish
beliefs and lifestyles that God does not sanction and then blame God when
their legacy is cursed. If a man tries to obligate God outside of God’s principles
and then calls God to judgment with his anger, that man is not only refusing to
repent, he is actually demanding that God repent and change His ways. That is
audacious, but man’s audacity will never move God, only man’s repentance moves
the heart of God. God is God and His ways are above ours; neither demanding
accusation nor hardship nor emotional blackmail nor rage will change them.
DISCERNMENT and WISDOM
In the decade ahead, we will need an arsenal with these two major, non-carnal
SEEC Magazine 11 February/March 2010
weapons: discernment and wisdom. Discernment will reveal the truth that exposes
distraction and deceit, and wisdom will instruct us as to how to walk out the truth
revealed. May we wield this dynamic duo with precision and bring glory to our
God!
(Kathy teaches at SEEC InterAct every fourth Saturday. Her teachings are available on CD & DVD.
Email: mail@seecministries.org * PO Box 298 Coldspring,TX 77331)
