jeremiah1five
BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2023
- Messages
- 2,254
- Reaction score
- 232
- Points
- 63
- Country
- USA
This post isn't for the secular Christian, or the humanist Christian, or the carnal Christian. It's not even for the baby Christian or the disobedient Christian.
This post is for the mature, the Christian who is in leadership positions in their church, from apostles and prophets, to evangelists, pastors, and teacher. It is for the elder and bishop, the deacon and the doorman. It is for those who counsel and guide other believers in their lives through their known gifts and ministries. It is for those who have their doctrine in the right places and allow the Word of God dictate their words and actions in their walk with Christ.
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Mt 15:16–19.
There is no doubt in my mind that a person (Christian or otherwise) who curses and speaks such things as Jesus described above, we can discern their heart, for these things derive from their heart. These are things that defiles a man.
But what about words and ideas and thoughts that are not as overt as named above?
As Christian we are instructed by John:
4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 Jn 4.
But how do we test the spirit of a person to determine "whether they are of God?"
We do this through the Word of God. The Scripture.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Heb 4:12–13.
For the believer who has spent much time reading and studying Scripture it is the Word of God in them that allows them to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. They are able to discern soul, spirit, and body with whom they have to do.
Those with the gift of healing can discern the soul, spirit, and body of the afflicted. Those in whom the Word of God dwells in them richly have the ability to discern everyone with whom they have to do, whether is casual conversation or in the function of their gift(s) in the Body of Christ.
It was through the use and knowledge of the Word of God that Christ was able to minister to everyone He came in contact with, whether in healing their body, or casting out evil spirits in a person or the discontented in their soul. Christ did this through use and knowledge of the Word of God in Him. Yes, the Holy Spirit rested on Him, but His Deific attributes were veiled. He did not empty Himself of His Divine Glory (kenosis.) His glory was a "setting under" from which we get the theological Greek term "hupostasis" or in English, "hypostatic."
So, baby Christian, disobedient Christian, secular Christian, humanist Christian, carnal Christian, we know who you are. Those that are full age and have their senses exercised to discern good and evil in a person - Christian or unsaved - can discern whether you are of God and whether your words, thoughts and ideas are of God.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Heb 5:12–14.
To the baby Christian I only offer this: I water, I can plant, but God gives the increase.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Mt 12:36–37.
It is your words that declare whether you are justified (saved) or condemned (unsaved).
And your thoughts, ideas, and attitudes are discerned by the Word of God in the full aged believer who can rightly judge whether you are of God and whether your thought, ideas, and attitudes are in line with The Word of God. We can discern good and evil.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Cor. 10:3–5.
When you open your mouth, the full aged believer can discern your 'heart.'
This is what Jesus taught and it is important and necessary in the Body of Christ.
This post is for the mature, the Christian who is in leadership positions in their church, from apostles and prophets, to evangelists, pastors, and teacher. It is for the elder and bishop, the deacon and the doorman. It is for those who counsel and guide other believers in their lives through their known gifts and ministries. It is for those who have their doctrine in the right places and allow the Word of God dictate their words and actions in their walk with Christ.
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Mt 15:16–19.
There is no doubt in my mind that a person (Christian or otherwise) who curses and speaks such things as Jesus described above, we can discern their heart, for these things derive from their heart. These are things that defiles a man.
But what about words and ideas and thoughts that are not as overt as named above?
As Christian we are instructed by John:
4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 Jn 4.
But how do we test the spirit of a person to determine "whether they are of God?"
We do this through the Word of God. The Scripture.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Heb 4:12–13.
For the believer who has spent much time reading and studying Scripture it is the Word of God in them that allows them to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. They are able to discern soul, spirit, and body with whom they have to do.
Those with the gift of healing can discern the soul, spirit, and body of the afflicted. Those in whom the Word of God dwells in them richly have the ability to discern everyone with whom they have to do, whether is casual conversation or in the function of their gift(s) in the Body of Christ.
It was through the use and knowledge of the Word of God that Christ was able to minister to everyone He came in contact with, whether in healing their body, or casting out evil spirits in a person or the discontented in their soul. Christ did this through use and knowledge of the Word of God in Him. Yes, the Holy Spirit rested on Him, but His Deific attributes were veiled. He did not empty Himself of His Divine Glory (kenosis.) His glory was a "setting under" from which we get the theological Greek term "hupostasis" or in English, "hypostatic."
So, baby Christian, disobedient Christian, secular Christian, humanist Christian, carnal Christian, we know who you are. Those that are full age and have their senses exercised to discern good and evil in a person - Christian or unsaved - can discern whether you are of God and whether your words, thoughts and ideas are of God.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Heb 5:12–14.
To the baby Christian I only offer this: I water, I can plant, but God gives the increase.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Mt 12:36–37.
It is your words that declare whether you are justified (saved) or condemned (unsaved).
And your thoughts, ideas, and attitudes are discerned by the Word of God in the full aged believer who can rightly judge whether you are of God and whether your thought, ideas, and attitudes are in line with The Word of God. We can discern good and evil.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Cor. 10:3–5.When you open your mouth, the full aged believer can discern your 'heart.'
This is what Jesus taught and it is important and necessary in the Body of Christ.
