THE 5 KEYS to DISCERNMENT

NOTE:  Seeing God-TV have decided to promote another Todd
Bentley "revival", I thought it might be good to once again discuss
the topic of 'discernment' in these last days. God-TV have
obviously not learned their lesson from the Lakeland fiasco a few
years ago where Todd Bentley showed his true colours for all the
world to see. Many Charismatic leaders are still wearing egg all
over their face for their total lack of discernment during that fiasco.
And yet here they are repeating all the same mistakes. I would
be interested in your comments on the article below, my friends-

THE 5 KEYS to DISCERNMENT
by Andrew Strom

Practical tips for the End-time church.

Some people say that knowing Scripture is the only real key to
discernment that we need. And yes - Scripture is very important -
especially in exposing false doctrine. But it is not only doctrines
or teachings that are the greatest danger today. It is just as likely
to be false `anointings´ or spirits - perhaps even "lying signs and
wonders". And we may need more than just a good understanding
of Scripture to spot these things. Remember, a lot of the people
caught up in today's "manifestations mania" actually know their
Bible quite well. And yet they could still be deceived. So what
are the things that can help us avoid deception in similar situations?

Some of the most basic keys to discernment that God has shown
me are as follows:
(1) Know your HOLY GOD intimately. (-When you have seen His
glory, His holiness and His love - by drawing close to Him in prayer -
then you can usually see through any "counterfeits" because you
know the 'real thing' so well).
(2) Know your Bible. It is very important to be able to spot teachings
that are either extra-biblical or directly opposed to what the Scriptures
teach. However, it is important to remember that the Scribes and
Pharisees were extremely learned in the Scriptures and yet they
missed the very Messiah that was prophesied! So knowing the
Bible is important - especially for doctrinal issues - but we need
to be able to "discern the spirits" also.
(3) Be a "lover of truth". This is very crucial. Are you someone who
will actually stand up for TRUTH - even against the crowd? Or do
you remain silent even when you feel something is very wrong?
(4) Purity of heart and Humility. Many deceptions only appeal to
us because there is something inside us that "wants" to believe
them. They are seductive because of darkness and wrong motives
in our own lives. We must search our hearts and root these out.
(5) The 'inner witness' of the Holy Spirit. We must learn to NEVER
over-ride this "still small voice", as it will save us from deception
again and again. (-More on this below).

Did you know that even an unbeliever can often spot a 'con-man'
or a snake-oil salesman? They get a kind-of "gut feeling" about
such things. And they are often right! In fact, they are often less
gullible than the Christians! (-Because we are told in the church-
"Do not judge", 'Touch not the Lord's anointed', "You have a critical
spirit if you do not join in", etc, etc. This is the very reason why
Christians are often the most gullible and easily deceived). We
need to realize that the Bible says to "Test the spirits" and warns
very strongly that the Last Days will be a time of "seducing spirits"
and great deception. So how can we become more alert to these things?

I believe that God has placed within every human being at least a
measure of an inner "warning system" to protect us from being
easily deceived - just as He has given us all a conscience. It is
something that He has built into every one of us, in His mercy. (I
guess a lot of it is simply `common sense´). However, Christians
should have an even greater advantage in this area, because we
have the "inner witness" of the Holy Spirit, and the `still small
voice´ of the Lord speaking to us every day.

But what I have found again and again with people who give
themselves over to some form of deception is that they often
"override" these alarm bells. They go against their 'better
judgement'. They ignore the little voice deep inside them that is
telling them that there is something wrong. Christians do this all
the time. That is how they get themselves involved in such foolish
deceptions.

This may all sound very obvious, but I am telling you, this one
basic area alone could wipe out half the deception in the church
right now. If only people would listen to these internal 'alarm bells'
and act with common sense, half of it would be gone overnight.

The Bible is very clear that the Last Days are a time of such
widespread deception that it would "deceive if possible the very
elect". It also shows that much of this deception will arise from
WITHIN the church - luring believers with "itching ears". Do we see
evidence of this kind of thing taking place today? Certainly!  In fact,
some of it is at a level that is truly shocking. And yet it is all
accepted as perfectly "normal" by many Christians.

One of the problems, of course, is that those who bring in these
deceptions are 'trusted' by the congregation. They have a reputation
and they put across some very convincing-sounding arguments
and surround the whole thing with Biblical terminology. And thus
the deception is harder to spot. (After all, if it were not "deceptive"
then it would not be called 'deception'!) People see spiritual power
operating and assume that it "must be God". But this is a very
dangerous assumption to make in these days.

As I said in a previous article, there is also a lot of "peer pressure"
involved as well. For if everyone in the church is getting into
something, then shouldn't you just ignore those little 'alarm bells'
and jump right in? This is what is happening all the time in the
church right now. And some preachers are very good at making
people feel that they are 'hindering the Spirit' if they do not get involved.

So how do you avoid being deceived in this way?

Very simply, you do not go along to these meetings in a "gullible"
frame of mind. And you do not allow yourself to be carried along
with the crowd. You listen carefully to the preaching and make
sure that it truly is Biblical. Then you watch the ministry happening
down the front of the meeting and discern whether it really is of
God or not. You do not "override" any feelings of unease or any
'alarm bells' going off inside you. And you do not allow yourself to
be swayed by 'peer pressure'. Even if the whole church is getting
into something, it does not mean that you have to. If you do not
feel quite "right" about it then DO NOT GET INVOLVED. If you
need to, make some excuse and get out of there! You do not have
to get involved in things that do not feel spiritually "right" to you.

A lot of people today will go down the front to get something
"imparted" to them by almost every visiting speaker - almost as a
matter of course. I tell you, in today's climate this can be a very
dangerous thing to do. In fact, some of this 'impartation' business
has very flimsy backing in Scripture. Who knows what on earth
these preachers are imparting? And who knows where they picked
it up?  I tell you, deceiving spirits are commonplace today, and
I believe they are being imparted to Christians on a large scale.

Let me give you an example. I received the following account from
a preacher in England recently:
"There were about 20 fellow ministers all gathered together in one
large room at a local minister's house. We were introduced to the
special guest... The next 3 hours were the weirdest three hours I
have ever had to endure, we started listening to [her] testimony
which seemed very powerful, next she spoke of the times that she
meets with the Angel Gabriel and other spiritual beings, next we
moved on to portals between this world and the next and then finally
to how she was going to open up a portal to Heaven in the room that
we were all in.  Now things started to happen, really crazy things
and strange noises... As [she] moved around the room ministering
to individual people they were crashing to the ground, bouncing up
and down, running around as if on fire and making all sorts of sounds.
When she came to me she had no prophetic words for me and nothing
happened to me so she just moved on.  My Vineyard friend was the
first to crash to the floor. Since that day his church has taken on a
different guise, it is not the same church any more."

Now, you should know that this 'guest speaker' was one of the very
people I mentioned in my "Naming Names" article. I believe that
this is a true account, because it is very similar to what I myself
observed happening under the same ministry. In fact, what I saw
was people making involuntary "bat"-like movements all over the
building and an eery 'wailing' noise filling the air. It was truly awful.

Now, it should not surprise us that there are strong deceptions or
"powerful delusions" around today, for this is exactly what the
Scriptures predict will happen. All the way through the New
Testament we are warned of these days - over and over again.

However, one of the problems we have is that God actually does
'strange and unusual' things Himself. (-Think of the Book of Acts,
for instance). So we cannot simply throw out everything "unusual".
Angelic visitations DO HAPPEN. Strange prophetic signs DO
OCCUR. And being a strong Charismatic Christian myself, I expect
to see believers speaking in tongues and moving in the gifts of the
Holy Spirit as well. Now, there is no doubt that many of these
things could be termed 'unusual' phenomena. So how do we tell
the difference?

Well, God never goes against His own holy character. Or against
Scripture. And as I often say, we may see Him do 'unusual' things
but I believe we need to draw the line at "weird" or 'ugly'. Some of
the deception that is around right now has a 'touchy-feely' New Age
sense about it. Remember that the New Age movement majors on
"inner healing" and unusual spiritual experiences. I do not believe
in 'guided visualisation' or anything of that kind. And neither am I
very fond of the writings of Catholic mystics or the like.

However, I have personally found it very helpful to immerse myself
in the writings of past Revivalists and the accounts of great moves
of God. A lot of the men and women involved in these Revivals lived
very close to God and knew Him intimately. They knew His holiness,
they knew His glory, and they knew His love. And it is enormously
helpful to one's discernment to immerse oneself in these writings,
I have found. I would recommend this to all Christians everywhere.

If you have been touched or involved in any way with manifestations
or experiences that you think may not have been from God, then
I urge you to utterly RENOUNCE (with your mouth, but also from
the depths of your heart and soul) any links or involvement with
that experience or 'anointing'. Please do not put this off, my friends.
Some of this stuff is extremely dangerous. RENOUNCE IT today.

PLEASE COMMENT on this topic at the following website-

http://www.revivalschool.com/

Blessings from - Andrew Strom ( prophetic@revivalschool.com ).

Others May, You Cannot

OTHERS MAY; YOU CANNOT
-Author Unknown.

IF God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into
a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands
of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or
measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will
seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful,
may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out
their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will
meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you
sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes,
of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any
such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep
mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have
a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor,
because He wants you to have something far better than gold,
namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the
privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep
you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some
choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be
produced in the shade.  He may let others be great, but keep you
small.  He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for
it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how
much you are doing; and then to make your work still more
precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have
done, and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN Times GREATER
When JESUS COMES.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love,
and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your
time, which other Christians never feel distressed over.  SO make
up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a
right to do as He pleases with His own.  He may not explain to
you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings
with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave,
He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many
blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying
your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways
that He does not seem to use with others.  Now, when you are
so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret
heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL,
PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP and MANAGEMENT OF
the HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found
the vestibule of Heaven.

WHEN YOU ARE forgotten, neglected, or purposefully set at
naught, and you smile inwardly, glorying in the insult or the
oversight, because thereby you are counted worthy to suffer with
Christ, THAT IS VICTORY.

WHEN YOUR GOOD is evil spoken of, when your wishes are
crossed, when your taste is offended, when your advise is
disregarded, when your opinions are ridiculed, and you take it
all in patient, loving silence, THAT IS VICTORY.

WHEN YOU ARE content with any food, raiment, climate,
society, solitude,or any interruption by the will of God, THAT
IS VICTORY.

A SPIRITUAL CITY ARISING IN THE EARTH

A Spiritual City Arising In The Earth
by John Belt www.liveinhispresence.com

"You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." I Peter 2:5

We are spiritual stones being built up into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. He has promised that if we abide in Him we will bear much fruit for His Glory.
 
"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.'" Isaiah 28:16

 
I had a vision recently and saw a most crystalline city of God arising in the Spirit. I believe God is raising this city of His glory throughout the world. It was so beautiful and sparkling, resplendent with light shining forth and dispelling the darkness. If we can see with spiritual eyes, this is what God is raising up (Ephesians 1:18).
 
It has form in the Spirit but is not a natural man-made structure. It is a fearsome thing to the enemy. But it is a glorious thing to the sons and daughters of God! It was composed of crystal, but again it is a spiritual reality. It is a picture of God replicating on Earth what is already in Heaven (Luke 11:2).
 
The spiritual realities of the Kingdom of God are being built and established at this time. This city is not of human hands but is made up of spiritual stones in Jesus Christ. He, being the foundation stone, is a glorious stone that holds all things together.
 
Walk in the Light
As we walk in the light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another and the Blood of Christ washes us from all sin (I John 1:7). It is in this place that we are able to be part of this City of Light that God is raising up.
 
We now walk with Him, in communion with Him, just as Adam walked with God in the Garden before the fall, but in even deeper measures because God now dwells inside us as we are living tabernacles of the glory of Christ.
 
"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." John 10:9
 
He has opened the door of Heaven to us that we may come in and go out finding true spiritual food, true riches, dwelling with Him in the place prepared for us before the foundation of the world (Luke 16:11).

As we learn to value the anointing of His Spirit that He has given us, we are able to abide in Him and He in us. With this, His light will permeate us and shine through us.
 
High Praises of God & Two-Edged Sword
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment--
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the LORD!" Psalm 149:6-9
 
What are the high praises of God? The high praises are those praises that take us to a different place of experience with Him. These are the praises that God inhabits and in turn deposits within us the glory substance of the Kingdom of Heaven. These praises lift our feet to be like hinds feet on His high places. As we praise Him He lifts our feet to these high places.
 
"He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them..." Psalm 18:33-37
He causes us to experience the spiritual reality that we are seated with Him in the Heavenly places far above all darkness, hindrance and demonic activity. The high praises take us upward and cause us to experience ascension in our spirit, connecting us with the heart of God. This spiritual revelation becomes reality to us and we realize all things are under our feet just as they are already under His feet.
 
These praises also cleanse the heart and the atmosphere surrounding us, ushering in the Prince of Peace to come and rule over us (Isaiah 9:6). It is here that we find the power of the double-edged sword.
 
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
 
In this place with Him, we are no longer just quoting Scriptures. The Word of God is now activated within our spirits because we have entered into a unity dynamic with the Lord. Our hearts become one with Him in this place. This is where authority and dominion over all spiritual opposition is made manifest in us.
 
With this light, the double-edged sword of the Word of God now cuts through the darkness, releasing a binding execution on the enemy. This is an honor that all of His saints have access to!
 
Faith & Patience
It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God (Hebrews 6:12). This is our destiny. And faith with patience is the means by which His promises are obtained. The characteristics that embody faith and patience are required to see promises manifested in our lives. These characteristics are expressed and released through our mouths and our actions. Complaining is not one of these characteristics, but rather thanksgiving.
 
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7
 
Doubt is not one either, but rather believing to the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39). If a man can be wise in his words, he is like a perfect man and the body will fall in line with our words. Our faith comes into the equation (James 3:2).
 
As Jesus said so many times, "Your faith has made you well, whole, and etc" (Matthew 15:28, Mark 10:52, Luke 8:25).
 
Jesus did not recognize confession as much as a spiritual reality that was manifesting from the hearts of men and women who were desperate for His touch.
 
Faith being released from the heart and by the spoken word is an asset that God has given to us, having been created in the image of God. We should wisely speak so that none of our words fall to the ground (I Samuel 3:19).
 
It is not that our faith needs to be increased as much as we need to use what we already have, even though we continue to sow these seeds of faith in our hearts. Return will come as we use what we have already received.
 
Our faith is also not to be lifeless confession without any depth of intimate communion with God. The Lord does not want robots. He desires people who are intimately connected to the life stream of His heart.
 
Cities of Light
The City of Light is made up of the people of the Light. As we learn to walk in the Light, we shall see spiritual houses and cities raised up in every place and region of the earth. As we follow the Lamb wherever He goes, not man, we will see His Kingdom established in the earth and His Name made known.
 
"These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." Revelation 14:4
 
Our unity will be established before His Throne. Unity is never because we agree on everything but because we have sought after God, have found Him, and have lost sight of ourselves in the glory of His Presence (Psalm 133:1).
 
Of course, the foundations of what we believe are intact. But when we are before Him, seeing His face, we forget about trivial matters and opinions. He becomes magnified over everything else. This is where we are one in Him. It is only as we abide in His words and are caught up before Him that He is found in us and we discover His love in our hearts for one another (John 15:5-8).
 
It is here that we discover the destiny, our place in the glorious shining city of Light, that He is raising up in this time.