Saturday, June 12, 2021

SPIRITUAL ADULTERY



SPIRITUAL ADULTERY - AUDIO





The anatomy of deception is a lot more subtle than what we think.  In this present time I believe more are deceived by subtle deception than out right blatant deception.  To a degree I would say blatant deception diverts us from the unseen and subtle deception with which the enemy ensnares the Church.  Please consider this devotional as a warning to take up once again the important responsibility of discernment in your own personal life, irrespective of how long you have served Him.  

Deception cannot be seen apart from our role in it.  We fall prey to a victim mentality when we have the view that we are innocent. This will often cause people to be so focused on the enemy and start to do spiritual warfare, whilst they should have started with their heart in the first place. They will feel that the only one to blame is the enemy. Is he then not the reason for their fall?  Is he not to blame for all the heartache in the world?  Is he not the reason why so many Christians are either backslidden and lukewarm? We fail to see that it is our wicked heart that draws us away and have the view that we are victims of deception, whilst actually being partners in crime. This subject bears great significance knowing how close we are for Yeshua to come get His Bride.  The least likely place we will look for deception is within the comfort of the familiar and trusted. I'll start with the warning from Revelation 3 to the Laodicean Church.  It speaks of riches and it speaks of compromise.  

Revelation 3: 14 - 22

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The enemy does play a part in deception, because being the father of lies, he only needs to present the lie, but in the end it is up to us whether we believe it and go with it.  Whether out of ignorance or willful disobedience.  Either way, a choice from our side is always involved.  In the end the same will once again take place as was with the fall in the Garden of Eden, where all will be held accountable for their choices, even if they were deceived.  We are not victims of deception, we are partakers.

The focus of this devotional is not the enemy’s part, but ours.  When we consider ourselves as victims of deception, we will be bound to look upon Him as a cruel judge when we stand before Him.  Whether by ignorance or willful disobedience deception is allowed into our lives and if not exposed and brought into the searching light of His Word, will we be able to stand before Him?  The question I would like to submit to you is, “Just how bad is deception allowed into our lives to Him?”  Is it really that bad?  Or is it just one of those things that we have to contend with or has the enemy blinded the Church specifically regarding the seriousness of the matter?  I submit to you that it is by far more of importance than what we think, because by the subtleness of deception the enemy has taken many captive for the purpose of not only to lure them away from the truth, but to turn the Bride of Christ into an adulterous whore.  Us not knowing just how serious it is, is the very reason why we are willing to compromise with it.  

Of blatant deception there are no shortage and we only have to type in certain names to see thousands of followers of the Prosperity gospel, Word of Faith, New Apostolic Reformation, Kingdom Now, Once Saved - Always Saved, Universalists and Hebrew Roots movement, just to name a few.  These doctrines are all carefully woven into the fabric of teachings we deem as safe and our lack of knowledge is the cause of us being deceived.  We are responsible for that lack of understanding.  Do you know what these movements believe and stand for?  Have you made it your business to know?  It is by this ignorance that the enemy creeps in unawares?  Which simply means, you think you are safe, but are you?  We listen to the same preacher for years, and consequently we stop asking whether what he is preaching is legit.  Is what he is saying still lining up with the only plumb line that matters?  Many teachers or prophets start out with utmost sincerity and being sold out to the Most High, but along the way, usually as the money starts pouring in, they lose sight of Him and start to focus on their followers.  We become slack in discerning just because we have always received and learned so much from them through the years, as if these people are infallible.  We think that they are "kosher", but in our familiarity with them, we subconsciously give them a pass.  After all, they have always proven to be of great encouragement and growth.  Indeed what a subtle web he weaves.  I sense in my spirit that there are many out there who are first on the bandwagon about these blatant false teachers, but are blinded to those they have always followed and revered.  Somehow becoming less alert and relaxed with them as if we are all buddies.  All the enemy needs is for us to lower the plumb line when listening to our favorite teacher or prophet…or those who proclaim themselves Apostles.  We are dumbed down by clichés spoken over and over, repeating it with them, coming up with cute phrases, but never questioning the scriptural ligitimacy of what we are saying.  Christian lingo becomes the accepted and approved for that which is actually deception.  It sounds like the Bible, therefore it must be from the Bible.  We cannot afford to be lazy when it comes to discernment.  We also cannot afford to hold on to anyone and think they are not subject to deception.  We have to test what they say with the Word of God.  

In Proverbs 8 and 9 we have a comparison between two women.  The one woman is called Wisdom and the other is the foolish woman.  It is no coincidence why woman are chosen to depict wisdom and deception. Deception comes with the perception of something that is lured away, such as an adulterous woman would do with a man.  Although the foolish woman is an adulterous woman in chapter 9, the context is that of a comparing her with Wisdom, which would make the adulterous woman in this case synonymous with deception.   We should therefore read it in this context as well and take note of the differences.   

Proverbs 8: 1 - 11

1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Wisdom speaks in purity of the Word with no defilement whatsoever.  Nothing perverse or froward.  The word perverse in the Strong’s Concordance is the number H6141, which means distorted; hence false: and crooked.  Froward in the Strong’s Concordance is the number H6617, which means to twist or to be morally tortuous.  The word tortuous in the dictionary also means serpentine.  I imagine that the word contort comes from the word tortuous.  It is the nature of the serpent to twist the truth.  Wisdom says that when she speaks there is nothing twisted or false in what she says.  Nothing.  Not even a drop.  She is pure, unadulterated, virginal truth. She is not hiding or makes herself unattainable, but she stands at the gates of the city on top of the high places and by the way of the places of the paths.  On your journey with the Lord she will meet you to give you unadulterated truth that is not twisted or perverted.   All her ways are peace.

Furthermore she is saying that instruction is better to receive than silver or choice gold.  This makes me think of Revelation 3 to the Laodicean Church where He is saying that she is to come to Him and buy gold from Him. It is easy to see this silver and gold as earthly riches, but in verse 18 we read the following:

Proverbs 8: 18 - 19

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

And in verse 21... 

Proverbs 8: 21

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Yeshua also told us that where our heart is, there our treasure will be.  The durable riches and treasures are not those that are physical, because anything that is physical, has an expiry date.  Only that which is eternal lasts forever.  Our bank is in heaven and the currency is that which comes from Wisdom. 

In Proverbs 9 we read of how she has made a feast for those who want to come into her house and partake of what she has prepared.

Proverbs 9: 1 – 5

1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

She herself has prepared a feast of that which is not twisted or perverted. 

The foolish woman, contrary to Wisdom, has not many verses ascribed to her, but they are quite telling.  Remember, we are still talking about subtle deception.

Proverbs 9: 13 – 18

13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Contrary to Wisdom the foolish woman sits at the door of her house, but notice where this house is.  She sits on a seat at the high places of the city.  In other words, nobody can miss her either.  She makes it her business to be where there is great influence.  The judges used to sit at the gates and decisions were made at these gates for the city.  It is the place of decision making and she makes sure that there she can raise her voice to be heard.  Wisdom sits also at the gates on top of the high places and at the gates of the city.  We are that city.  The place of decision making is our will.  When we think of the foolish woman it is so easy to see somebody that is scantly clothed and seductive.  But we need to ask whether such a woman would be allowed in such circles of decision making?  I think not.  But rather, would it not be reasonable to think that if anything, she would be dressed as to come in the guise of Wisdom?  Her ultimate plan would be to twist and seduce the truth, but also true to the nature of the subtle snake, she would come as an angel of light.  She would come with truth, slightly twisted, enough for her followers to follow her all the way into the pit of hell, whilst all the while thinking that they were following Wisdom.  She too is offering understanding, but contrary to Wisdom, she stole the water, saying it is sweet and that the bread should be eaten in secret.  Remember, she is still offering understanding, just like Wisdom, but hers is mixed with deceit.  This word "stole" is H1589, which means to deceive and "secret" is H5643, which means to cover or hide.  What she serves is deception and this deception is hidden.  The heartbreaking part is that her guests are the dead in the depths of hell.  This simply means that where she serves her feast is from the depths of hell.  When we look at the contrast between these two women, we can easily expect the contrast in real life to be just as obvious when it comes to deception, but the reality is that in some cases it is very subtle.  The areas where it is not so obvious is in the areas where we who have served the Lord for years have grown familiar and feel safe with.  Amongst the truth she lies hidden, waiting to strike.  When we think that we have this discernment thing in the bag, we stand a chance to fail horribly and easily be ensnared in her web. 

Let us go on to the part we play in all of this deception.  The Word states that we are to guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life.  This is true especially when it comes to deception.  Our heart plays a vital role in being deceived.  The reason we fall for deception is two things.  An inaccurate and lack of understanding of the Word of God, and the disposition of our heart.  What is in our heart is the filter by which we tend to read and perceive the Word of God.  

James 1: 14 – 15

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

This includes traditions of men.  For example, if we come from an abusive background and still have some emotional baggage, we tend to gravitate to certain messages and follow certain people.  When we have been burned by deception a few times, it is also easy to want to gravitate to literature and teachings exposing false doctrine.  Another example is that when you are set in manmade traditions you could also possibly fall prey to teachings that focus only on the letter of the Word, wanting to ensure that you follow all the rules meticulously.  Note that the enemy is not to blame here, but the lusts of our own hearts.  Those disposition and lenses we view the world and Word of God through.  Those needs and desires, even if they are to be closer to the Lord or to be used by Him, are the very thing that causes us to be enticed.  This is not to say that we are not to watch any teachings that speaks to our need, but we have to remember that our needs and wants can blind us to the deception laced within the words spoken that feeds our needs.  There is a spirit behind the speaking that draws people, depending on their dispositon.  We all wear certain color glasses when we read the Word or listen to teachings.  Who is right?  Only the Word of God is right and so it is vital that we deal with these issues of our hearts, because this is exactly what the enemy will use in order to ensnare us.  When our needs are met it is easy to give credit to the Lord, when in fact the need was met through deception that sounds like the Lord, not lining up with the Word of God.  It takes nothing of the enemy to use certain words that will catch our attention that we may see as confirmation.  He will use your particular disposition to guide you to certain teachings that will feed that need and desire.  And because you are saved, he will come as an angel of light.

Please do not think that this only applies to a disposition of being hurt in the past.  This also applies to our desire to be “closer” to the Lord or to be used more by Him.  It is at times like these that we are drawn to words that stroke our ego with regard to words like “you are chosen, elect, anointed, prophet, dreams and visions, higher levels and new dimensions etc”, having a desire for greater spiritual reality.  We are drawn to these because by these affirmations our need to be accepted and approved of the Lord is validated and we love it so.  Proverbs 27: 7 says “The full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”  Isn’t that the truth!  These are the tickling of the ears.  The true prophets’ most prevalent problem in the Old Testament was not the sin of the nation, but the false prophets that these disobedient people followed.  Over and over the true prophet received instructions to call them out and make it known the seriousness of the people’s offence in following them.  If a prophet is not doing this we can rightfully question his legitimacy.  They kept on speaking "peace, peace" , when in fact the Most High called them unto repentance and obedience.  Do you find these two words in your favorite prophet's messages?  When you remove the cross, you have successfully removed the true gospel.  Following a false prophet or teacher is no small thing, because at the heart of it is the exchanging of the truth for a lie.  And we know Who the Truth is, as well as who the Lie is.  At the heart of following false doctrine and false prophets lies adultery.  To adulterate something is to mix, pervert or twist it.  Many have been guilty of adultery, not only in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense and somehow think this to be not as serious.  The enemy has successfully caused us to take physical adultery more serious than spiritual adultery.  Once again, I am referring to the subtle deception and the not so obvious.  I put myself in this category and so should you.  If we are deceived, are we excused from judgment? 

Proverbs 30: 20

Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth and saith, I have done no wickedness.

It is clear from scripture that the Lord will not excuse adultery, how much less spiritual adultery with Him?  This adultery is the stolen waters and bread eaten in secret with the foolish woman that leads straight to the depths of hell.  That which causes the Church to be neither hot nor cold, thinking that they can see, thinking that they are clothed and thinking they are rich when in fact the opposite is true.  And who of us in our Christian walk have not been guilty of this spiritual adultery?  But the question I am asking all listening or reading is, “How do you know that you are not now still practicing adultery?” Are you so secure in those you listen to that you are not willing to question what they say?

In Hebrews 12 we read the following:

Hebrews 12: 14 - 15

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

The requirement of God is still to follow peace with all men, and holiness.  This has not changed.   When a wife does everything perfect for her husband, she makes the most delicious food, she decks the table and cleans the house, she loves on her husband and makes him feel like a million dollars, but secretly she is an adulterer, the husband will rather eat from the floor than to sit at the same table as her.  He will have nothing to do with her.  There can be no mixture allowed, no perversion or twisting, for this is the very food that the foolish woman, those false prophets and teachers have decked the table with.  Spiritual adultery has always been an absolute slap in God's face so to speak, and He have never and is not about to take it lightly.  In this society of tolerance, we have been successfully brainwashed to think that because we tolerate a little bit of lie with our truth, that He will tolerate it as well.  But we would be very wrong.  Our God is not the God of second best.  Not the God of mediocracy.  He is not the God of compromise.  He is perfect and holy.  A God who says, "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect".

1 Corinthians 6: 9 - 10

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Somehow we have decided the parameters of the words fornication, adultery and idolatry, but not so for the Most High.   In Hebrews 12 Esau is charged with fornication.

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Why is Esau seen as a fornicator?  This word fornicator also means whoremonger.  And Esau sold his birthright, like a prostitute would sell her body, in order that he would get what he wanted…soup.  This act to the Lord is not just seen in the physical context, but also in the spiritual.  Spiritually he was a fornicator.  Bitterness defiles and this led to Esau becoming a fornicator.  Simply stated, commerce is that of exchanging something for another.  Exchanging the truth for a lie is also commerce and what we stand to lose in the end when feasting at the table of the foolish woman is more than truth.  We fornicate with truth and lies.  Take into consideration what we have read in 1 Corinthians 6 we now know that adulterers and fornicators will not inherit the Kingdom of God, amongst some other choice sins.  The Most High is not playing around with these issues. 


At the heart of deception lies idolatry as well.  That is to say self-idolatry.  "Self" needs to hear that He loves us. Needs to hear that He approves of us, that He wants to use us, or that we are going to the next level.  I know that there are many wounded people out there.  I was in counseling for 16 years.  I have empathy and understanding.  But make no mistake, wounds are like open sores that attract flies, in this case demons.  When we have sought Him in our season of healing, we are to move on in maturity and be done with the things of milk.  We are to go from faith unto faith.  We are to graduate from having to have to hear how special we are and how much He loves us.  There is a time and season for that.  Somewhere along our journey we no longer need the affirmations and are called to walk by faith growing from children to sons in maturity.  This is why many people get so offended when they hear the truth, because they still want to be cuddled.  Yes, there are times when He showers His love on us, but I have found in my lifetime that the most special moments of an outpouring of His love was when I did not ask for it.  At the heart of these needs and desires lie the "self" that needs to be affirmed and loved.  This may be very difficult for some to hear, but I have lived this kind of life for many years and it is a means by which the enemy stifles our growth.  If it was not for His grace, I would still be trying to get all these things by listening to false prophets telling me how special I am to the Lord and how He will use me.  All the while my focus solely on me and not on Him.  When you listen to a sermon or prophetic word, ask yourself, "Is this about Christ or me? Is the cross central and is the message requiring something of me?"  This will usually be to repent, but will also be more specific requirements.  It will NOT only be about how the Lord wants to bless and love you.  This idolatry of self in a sense is to fornicate with yourself.  

What does self-idolatry look like?  It is carefully disguised as an over self-investigation to the point where it becomes an obsession.  This usually because we want to be holy, perfect and acceptable to the Lord.  Although this is a right motive, often behind it is a very poor self-image that can never come to the point of walking in the faith that He has accepted you in the Beloved.  Self-idolatry is also disguised in worship when we secretly worship Him in order to receive from Him.  Receiving from Him during worship is an outflow of His goodness and presence, but never our aim.  Worship is only to focus on Him.  This is when people are easily deceived that worship is anointed because they "feel" something, but in the process they forget to test the spirit as well as the lyrics.  It can be very subtle.  He is the object of our worship, not self.  Self-idolatry can also be in fasting where we boast about how long we have fasted.  It can also be hidden in our testimony by how much suffering we have endured, relishing in the sympathy and attention we receive.  There is a lot more, but here we have the act of idolatry and it has nothing to do with a physical idol in our house, but rather we ourselves are the idol and are guilty of worshipping "self".  So far we have covered fornication, adultery and idolatry of which no one who are guilty of this will inherit the Kingdom.  I realize this is a harsh word to receive, but lives are at stake and we need to address this issue before He comes.

I recently asked Father why He wants me to write all these books knowing He will come to get His Bride soon?  He told me that the criteria for the left behind will still remain the same in order to inherit the Kingdom.  Saying no to the mark of the beast is good and well, but will this be enough when you are a fornicator, adulterer or guilty of idolatry?    

In Isaiah 1 the Lord rebukes the nation because they have forsaken Him and He says that even if He should punish them, they would not change.  He tells them that they should stop their oblations and sacrifices amongst other ceremonial things.  Here in lies the fact that though deceived, the spiritual worship and love for the Lord is still there without knowing that one is actually deceived.    We can feel immensely close to the Lord and still be deceived.  And because we feel so close to HIm, we take this as being in His perfect will.  In verse 22 it says, Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.  Wine mixed with water is to take the pure quality of that wine and make it a lesser quality.  You dilute the wine, and in this case the truth.  This was done when there was not enough for all the guests and were usually served last.  This watering down of the wine was in order to satisfy a need, pretty much like us who because of our lusts of our hearts are willing to drink watered down wine in order to fulfill our needs and thereby be enticed.  Also the false teacher or false prophet will "dilute" the pure wine of the Word in order to cater to those who follow him or her.  In other words, he will speak the truth, but not the whole truth, leaving certain scriptures out as to not offend the hearers.  Being portrayed as such a nice guy.

Right at the beginning of this devotional silver is mentioned in Proverbs 8. Silver has some unique qualities.  It is ductile, which means that it can easily be manipulated into something either for good or for bad.  Such is our hearts. It is a conductor and transmitter and when it is tarnished it is of lesser value than base metals to transmit a current.  When we are deceived the truth is tarnished and twisted in us.  Silver also becomes a carrier.  In this context when we give ourselves over to false teachings and prophets, not only are we corrupted, but we corrupt others in the process.  In Isaiah 1: 25 we read, And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:  It is as if the Most High is comparing their silver to tin. Tin, very much a counterfeit of silver, is thinner and even more ductile.  It serves most of the time as a coating to cover something.  This makes me think of the bread eaten in secret where the word "secret" means to cover.  Silver is synonymous with righteousness and needs to be polished, which is another word for buffet.  Over and over until it shines. 

In Isaiah 1 we read the following.  Please hear the heart of the One we betray with our fornication, idolatry and adultery.

Isaiah 1: 1 – 6; 10

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:


Hosea 1: 2

The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

This assignment of the prophet Hosea was to serve as a prophetic act of the adultery of Judah.  She kept on turning away to other lovers.  I listened to a well known "prophet" the other day that actully had the nerve to say that the dispensation of the Old Testament prophets has passed since John the Baptist and no longer should there be any talk about judgment.  When Paul was speaking to the Corinthians, was he speaking to Christians or unbelievers?  He was speaking to Christians.  This broke my heart in pieces as I cried before the Lord.  The prophets of the Old Testament serve as a means for us to know the plumbline when it comes to prophetic words.  Not in their severity only, but in their fear of God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.  

As with all deception or enticement there always comes a promise of great things.  This is not to say that the Most High does not want to bless us.  We are His children.  But this enticement and deception comes always with a promise, but with no call for repentance or obedience.  It comes without a cross or it will tell you how much the Lord have seen your suffering and therefore He is promoting you.  The Most High told me once, "The only sacrifice that matters, is the one I made."  Need I say anything further to that? We are nothing. The cross is not central and therefore it is indeed another gospel, a watered down, diluted gospel. Yes, there may be talk about the benefits of the cross, but not the one you are to bear.  This is the idolatry and adultery that the Bride is guilty of and the cry of His heart is that she will return to Him with ALL her heart.  In Ezekiel 16 the Most High addresses this adulterous wife.  In this you will hear both His heartache, but also His judgment.  Also, when you listen, pay attention to what we have spoken of that Wisdom has prepared at her table, and Revelation 3.

Ezekiel 16 – only certain verses (please read the whole chapter)

1Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.

Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.

Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.

15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

16 And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.

17 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

18 And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.

19 My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord God.

22 And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.

23 And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord God;)

24 That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.

25 Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

30 How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;

32 But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

35 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord:

38 And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

43 Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord God: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.

I recently came across two very short video clips that gave some pointers to help with discerning teachings and prophetic words.  I found them to be sound and my suggestion is that you write them down in a place, maybe in front of your Bible, or somewhere that you can use when listening to teachings.  Nobody is above deception.  Please read the added scriptures for your own edification at your own leasure.

SOUND DOCTRINE VS FALSE DOCTRINE?

1.  Origin - Does this doctrine originate from God?  Sound doctrine originates with God, false doctrine orginates from outside of the mind of God.  It originates from the mind of someone or something created by God.  We end up serving the creation and not the Creator. This is human precepts and teachings.  (Galatians 1: 11 - 12; John 7: 16; 1 Timothy 4: 1)

2.  Authority - Sound doctrine grounds its authority within the Bible, false doctrine grounds its authority outside the Bible.  The Word of God is the final authority.  ANY DOCTRINE THAT COMES FROM THE MIND OF GOD IS DOCUMENTED IN THE WORD OF GOD.  (Acts 17: 11b;)  Does what is taught here come from the authority of what is written in the Word of God?

3.  Consistency - Sound doctrine is consistent with the whole of scripture, false doctrine is at least inconsistent with some parts of scripture.  They will seem doctrinally true, but the question is, "Is what I am listening to consistent with the whole of scripture?"  Scripture interprets scripture.  Is this doctrine established or refuted by the entirety of scripture?

4.  Spiritual Growth - Sound doctrine leads to spiritual growth, false doctrine leads to spiritual weakness or stifles your growth.  (1 Timothy 4: 6).  Does this doctrine lead to spiritual maturity, knowledge or is it unhealthy and immature, not challenging our growth, but stroking our ego?  Is this Christ focused, or me focused?

5.  Godly living - Sound doctrine leads to godly living, false doctrine leads to ungodly living.  TRUTH NEVER STANDS ON ITS OWN.  Truth always have implications on our lives.  Sound doctrine always leads us to be like Christ in all things.  (2 Timothy 3: 16 - 17).  It trains us in righteousness.  We are not just to know doctrine as Christians, but we are to live our doctrine.  Does this doctrine lead me to live in a way that pleases the Most High or is this just telling me how great I am?

MARKS OF A FALSE TEACHER (The leapord does not change its spots)

1.  MAN PLEASERS - They are not looking to look good in the eyes of God, but rather looking to look good in the eyes of man.  They want a fan-club.  Ear ticklers that make it their business to know what people want to hear.  Instead of challenging them, they flatter them.  Instead of exposing sin, they affirm sin.  (1 Thessalonians 2: 4). Instead of warning them, cuddles them.

2.  PERSECUTERS AGAINST THOSE WHO SPEAK THE TRUTH - False teachers bring their harshes criticism against those who speak as the Most High's faithful servants.  False teachers gets personal and they will also threaten as we can see with the case of Paul and Jesus.  The religious authorities was the haters of pure truth.

3. OWN WISDOM RATHER THAN GOD'S WISDOM - The false teacher's teaching comes from their own mind and inventions, and simple desires. (Jeremiah 14: 4).  Speaking lying visions and dreams.  True then, just as true now.

4.  FOCUS ON LESSER IMPORTANT THINGS - False teachers places emphasis on small commandments or ignore the important ones.  (Matthew 23:23).  A false teacher governs godliness by keeping the smallest rules, whilst breaking the big ones.  

5.  ELOQUENT SPEACH AND IMPRESSIVE LOGIC - False teachers cannot bring a consistent interpretation of the Bible.  He hides blasphemy and dangerous doctrine behind what seems to be a powerful argument, using eloquent words, candy laced with poison.  (1 Corinthians 2: 1)

6.  CONCERNED WITH WINNING OTHERS TO THEIR OWN OPINION - False teachers do not care about helping people.  They will make a show of how they do by testifying of how they reached out to all the poor and needy, but this is often just to serve as a means to veil their false doctrine and thereby win over their followers by being portrayed as a "good man".  They want your loyalty and with that your money.  (Matthew 23: 15)

7.  EXPLOITS THEIR FOLLOWERS - False teachers take advantage of people's money, greed, lusts, immaturity and needs so that they can exploit them.  All they need to know is what your need is.  (2 Peter 2: 1 - 3a).  They are concerned with your goods, not with your good.  The root of all evil is the love of money.  

(Information from Tim Challies' YouTube channel.)

Considering everything I have written, we have to understand that when we stand before the Living God, there will be no justification for why we were deceived.  We have the Word of God and we have the responsibility to not allow our needs to be met by man, but by God alone.  We have to ensure that we have dealt with our filters in our hearts, so that we are not deceived and that we know the Word of God.  Most importantly, we will be judged on whether we have loved Him with all our heart, mind and strength and whether we loved our neighbor as ourselves.  It is so important that we are not permissive, tolerant and compromising when it comes to the truth.  Are you virginal in your doctrine and those you follow, or have you been defiled, guilty of spiritual adultery? Be ready...

He is coming for a pure and unadulterated Bride. 








Tuesday, June 8, 2021

"THOU SHALT NOT JUDGE!"


"THOU SHALT NOT JUDGE!" - AUDIO





 

It has come to my attention that the Body is divided and also unclear about the issue of judging.  This devotional is addressed to both those who are cautious and those over eager to judge. The issue of judging cannot be separated from discernment.  Simply because discernment is the act of judging between what is wrong or right, or in to know what something is.  When we discuss the topic of judging others, we have to include discernment as well. 

We have all heard the words, “Do not judge” and somehow equate this to you are not allowed to say when something is wrong in a particular situation.   And yet to us is given the responsibility to expose the works of darkness.  We cannot do this without judging the wrong from the right.  To us is given to render judgment on that which is directly contradictory to the Word of God and His statutes.  This is our moral obligation and responsibility that comes with being a Christian.  Part of being a light unto the world is not just to love and be Christ to others, but also to actively engage in spiritual warfare.  Discernment is a critical component to this warfare.  We have received clear directions from the Word of God as to what spiritual warfare entails.

2 Corinthians 10: 4 - 8

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)

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;

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

Here Paul is admonishing and rebuking the Corinthians by exerting his authority in the Lord.  In fact, Paul is judging, that is to say discerning, where they are at as his flock.  Taking responsibility for their spiritual state.  He is saying, when I show you the error in which you are walking in, it is with the purpose to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God in you.  I am pulling the strongholds down that have been built by the deception you have walked in.  Saying that what they are about and believe is in contradiction with the knowledge of God.  Who God is.  Then he says his aim is to take every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  Basically saying that they are disobedient.  The reason why he does this, is that once they are walking in obedience after repenting, they themselves will be ready to take revenge on all disobedience. 

Paul’s aim is clear.  He is exposing the wrong, in order to bring them into a place of obedience, so that they in turn will be equipped to take revenge on all disobedience.  This word revenge means to carry out justice or to retaliate. 

Paul is speaking here as a shepherd of the flock with the intention to first free the flock and then to equip them.  The motive is that of love, even though he had to be brutally honest with them. Such is the case when we need to speak the truth.

The reason why I am mentioning this scripture first is to bring across that we are engaging in spiritual warfare when it comes to discernment and speaking the truth, in sometimes very uncomfortable or confrontational ways.  We tend to look at the people and feel afraid to offend, whilst we ought to ask ourselves what is worse.  Offending them or keeping them in bondage?  We forget the spiritual ramification or alternative.  We have to understand that it is inevitable that we will expose the man/woman when we expose the works of deception done through them.  In Matthew 24 Jesus tells the disciples when they asked Him what would be the signs of the end-time, that deception is first on the list.  Of all He could have said, the first thing He mentions is deception.  In fact, in that one chapter He mentions deception four times.  It stands to reason just how important it is for us to distinguish between judging unrighteously and righteously.

Among the gifts of the Spirit scarcely is one of greater practical usefulness than the gift of discernment.  This gift should be highly valued and frankly sought as being almost indespensible in these critical times.  This gift will enable us to distinguish the chaff from the wheat and to divide the manifestations of the flesh from the operations of the Spirit. - A. W. Tozer

I wonder what Tozer would say of the deception in this day and hour?  It is quite simple when it comes to unrighteous judgment.  Simply put, don’t criticize everybody and be so opinionated about everything, thinking that you know it all.  Also, sweep before your own door before you are so quick to judge others.  Make sure that you are not guilty of the very same thing.  For instance, homosexuality is a grave sin, but so is fornication.  How much fornication do you watch on television?  Both are sexual sins.  Do not be a hypocrite.  We have to be willing to be as equally hard on ourselves as we want to be on those we deem as false.  And the reality is that there are many people out there that somehow feel better by putting others down.  Secretly they relish in finding fault with others because then they would not look or feel so bad.  This is all out of a very poor self-image.  Then there are those who personally just like to “stick it to” those false preachers and teachers because they had it coming, often in the guise of great concern for the flock, all the while relishing the reactions.  Others like the idea of upsetting the proverbial applecart, because for them, to be right is everything.  Of course, this too is done in the name of love, whilst within their heart it is actually about the confrontation itself.   They enjoy the attention.

Luke 6: 37 says that we are not to judge and condemn others if we do not want to be judged and condemned.  He ends with the simple statement…forgive and ye shall be forgiven.

This verse has nothing to do with discernment with regard to whether somebody is walking in error or deception.  Rather, the focus is on a wrong done unto another. The word judge means to avenge or decide, and the word condemn is to pronounce guilty.  In this context to forgive makes perfect sense.   So we cannot use this verse as a means to cop out of our responsibility to discern and fall back on  “nobody can judge”.  The only time we are not to judge is when we have been wronged and are to forgive and leave room for vengeance, as vengeance belongs to the Lord. 

Deception has no preference.  It is ready to latch unto you like a parasite at any opportunity you afford it.  Indeed deception is within the sphere of the mind, building strongholds on the basis of vain imaginations and lies coated in truth.  Just enough for you to tolerate it on the basis of 95% truth to 5% lies for instance.  Tolerance is often depicted as long-suffering or not being judgmental.  But I submit to you that when it comes to truth, tolerance is compromise.  Secretly we do not want to give up our favorite teacher or worship band.  Secretly we like what it brings to us and live in willful disobedience by “tolerating” the 5% lies.  The reality is that everybody makes mistakes, but we are talking about purposeful deception.  Not that it excuses us to hold on to a teacher when we know that what they are preaching is directly contradictory to the written Word of God.  David says in Psalm 138 the following:

Psalm 138: 2

I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth, for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.

Who are we to minimalize His Word that He places above His Name in the name of tolerance? Many fall back on the statement of “we are all just sinners saved by grace”.  Or they will say that even Paul said that he is the chief of all sinners.  This a classic cop out because the truth is often that we do not wish to be the bad guy and offend man and yet we are willing to offend the Most High.  The reality is that we would rather want someone else to do it so that they take the punch that comes with it, as long as it is not us.  This is nothing but being a coward.  We have to be willing to admit to this cowardice and our willingness to please man and not the Most High.  That we prefer to only appear as loving and caring Christians.  But the same Christ that loves unconditionally, whom we are to emulate, is the same Christ that called the Pharisees white washed tombs full of dead bones.  We have to come to the party, take deception very serious and accept the responsibility of discernment in the Body of Christ. 

Ephesians 5: 10 - 14

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Here a sleeping Christian is synonymous to a Christian that is not willing to expose darkness.  Think of a watchman asleep on the wall.  We must be willing to lay bare the dark secrets of the enemy, whether false teachers or prophets.  Whether in worship that comes from the premise that by the right ambiance and mood the presence of the Lord is procured or our best friend across from the table of us.  In the light of His warning to us in Matthew 24 about the last day’s deception and the fact that there will no longer be the love of the truth, I cannot imagine what an offence it must be to Him if we think that we can sit on the fence and leave the judgment on deception for another with the cry of “Oh, I may not judge!”  To not judge therefore is akin to being a sleeping Christian.  The Good Shepherd’s son or daughter sleeping whilst the wolves are luring away the flock in order to devour them.  Are we not to have each other’s backs and be able to speak the truth in love in order to protect one another?  Do we think that we will not be held accountable? 

Ezekiel 33: 6

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

I have to wonder whether our resistance to judge does not stem from out of a false humility and fear of man.  Sadly some are willing to speak against a doctrine or ideology, but unwilling to expose the vessels through whom it is done.  Some are perfectly okay if our brother and sister is deceived, just as long as we all get along.  After all, does the Word not say that we are to seek peace with all men and blessed are the peace-makers?  We just simply do not want to be “that” man or woman.  And of course, we do not want to hear the words “Who are you to judge?”  But ask yourself, “Can there be any true peace without truth?”  Is this not a pseudo peace in the name of tolerance? 

Why is it that we have decided to “take the fifth” when it comes to speaking up against false prophets and teachers?  John 7: 24 says that we are to remove the beam out of our own eye before judging another on the splinter in theirs.  Why are we not willing to expose the splinter in our brother’s eye after we have removed the beam from our own?  This is the purpose of removing the beam, so that we may be able to better discern.  Unfortunately many Christians have decided that this scripture speaks against judging.  When in fact it is actually telling us to judge, but to do it righteously. 

1 Corinthians 2: 15

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

A spiritual man is one who walks by the Spirit and is one mind with Christ.  In itself this speaks of one who cannot be judged by another as he has already judged himself by taking the beam out of his own eye in repentance.  Note, that this is not just someone who has repented of a particular sin in his own life that he wants to expose, but this is someone walking in holiness.  You may be able to sweep before your own door, but inside your house it looks like a hoarder.  Even though we are commanded to judge, we are to live in holiness when we do.  Therefore he can judge all things because he sees with the Most High’s eyes.  That is to say from His perspective, being one of mind.  The reality is that we fall for deception and are willing to compromise with the truth because we do not have a love of the truth as we should have.  We respect the truth, but do not jealously guard over it.  And because we are “lukewarm” about the truth, we are lured away by our own sin and desires of our hearts.  Such as movies and television programs with a gospel theme, but distorting and manipulating the truth for its own gain. The Word clearly says that His people perish for a lack of understanding.  Just as a word of caution, some people are very opinionated and speak without finding the necessary information first to back up their opinion.  

Proverbs 14: 33

Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

Those who have no idea what they are talking about best keep quiet and sit back and learn.  To speak on a matter without understanding and the necessary knowledge is foolish and sheds a bad light on righteous judgment.  It smells of ignorance and pride.  We fall for deception due to not being grounded in the Word, drawn away by people’s dreams and visions and amazing spiritual experiences, touching the desires of our own heart to be as close to Him as they are. So we are drawn away by the desires of our heart and the truth falls by the wayside. 

Having said all that, please do not for one second think that I am saying that we are to all climb on our high horse of judgment and let all pass under our rod of affliction.  This is not what I am saying.  I am making a case based upon the Word of God the reason why we must judge and also exposing the reasons we have not.  Also to shed some light on deception.  Now I would like us to focus on discernment. 

The first thing we have to consider when we discern, is to ask ourselves, “What spirit is at work in me by how I judge or discern?”  Many years ago I was involved in Christian counseling.  I believe there is a place for Christian counseling within the Body of Christ, but the emphasis must be Biblical counseling and not mixed with the ideologies and phylosophies of pshycology that has nothing to do with the ministering of the Spirit verses the depedence on humanism.  Once the Lord set me free to understand the carefully designed trap in this, I was all of a sudden on a truth mission to expose every lie.  I started listening to many people exposing deception in the Church.  In a way, I went from one extreme to another.  Both were not good, and I praise Him for teaching me this invaluable lession.  Because, in exposing and speaking against so much deception, I invited a critical and harsh judgmental spirit to blind me and use me to come against the Church.  This is not to say that the deception that I saw was not true, but the spirit in which I spoke was not of Christ.  I was out of balance and out of line.  

Philippians 1: 9

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (discernment)

One of the easiest and most natural thing to do is to fall back on our knowledge and understanding.  Yet to us an admonishment is given in Proverbs 3.

Proverbs 3: 5 – 7

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

From this scripture alone we can see that when it comes to discernment, it is of utmost importance that we are guided by the Spirit and not our knowledge or understanding only…no matter how true.  This is not to say that the Spirit will not use our understanding, but what we know and understand must be subject to the Spirit and not the other way around.  At the heart of discernment is our unity with Christ.  That is to say being of the same mind.  It does not matter what your opinion is.  It does not matter what your volume of knowledge is.  The only thing that matters is His opinion and perspective on the issue.  How He feels about it.  And does what He feels about this issue constitute that He feels the same way about all similar issues that may come?  Am I in touch with the still small voice of the Spirit and is my unity with Him as such that I am aware of His disposition?  Is He mildly displeased or livid?  Is He pleased or irritated?  What is His tone in which He desires to address the issue?  What is His heart?  Because in the end the only one whose opinion matters, is His.  Jessy Penn Lewis said the following.

“Truth is everything as God sees it.”

The very act of discernment or judging requires of us utmost dependence on the guidance of the Spirit, because of our propensity to lean on our own understanding.  Wisdom is the principal thing and discretion or prudence will keep us in all our ways.  Can we say that our judgment is righteous just because we are doctrinally correct?  In the end it is His heart that is to be expressed and if what comes out of our mouth stinks of self-righteousness and pride, have we then made His will known or our own, even if it is true? Who is to say that you are to speak at all just because you know what to say?  Does the timing matter of when we are to speak?  We may be right in what we are saying, but at the same time be completely out with our timing.  According to Him there is a season and a time for everything.  So it does matter.  The Most High does not need us to save the world, He just need us to be obedient.  It is important that we ask ourselves, “Am what I am saying coming from me or from Him?”  “Is this righteous indignation coming from me or from the Most High?”  This is why the Word says that we have two ears and one mouth.  We are to be quick to hear and slow to speak.  We are to have rule over our mouths.  Discernment is more than just knowing right from wrong.  It is foremost about loving the truth.  And the Truth is a person.  Not a doctrine or an ideology or whatever other idea we can come up with.  Discernment at the heart is about defending the Truth.  And is not truth falling by the wayside every day in our society and the moral standard of the world going down in the tubes?  Our Kingdom mandate is a moral mandate.  Discernment is about expressing the heart of the Father, not your own.  Therefore just knowing the truth is not enough, but we have to also love the Truth.  If you are more cautious not to offend man, but are willing to offend the Most High, what does that say about your love of the Truth?

Our thoughts and the meditation of our hearts has to be pleasing in His sight.  From out of pure vessel He wishes to express His heart, so that the truth may not be tainted or mixed with our opinion, disposition or wrong motives.  A vessel who feels what He feels, sees what He sees and whose heart is broken over those who are led astray.  That are willing to pray for them as much as they are willing to expose their works by His Spirit.  Within us the heart of God is to palpitate as a living force that causes us to speak in both love and judgment.  We are always to speak the truth in love, but very often that truth hurts before it sets them free from the strongholds built by vain imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Him.

When we say that we get that it is about the love of the truth, about protecting the flock, then it is incumbent upon us to walk by the Spirit, which is in meekness.  Meekness is one of those adjectives that can very easily be seen as weakness.  Although it is defined as humility, humility only serves as one shade in this many faceted diamond.  We are told in Matthew 5 that the meek are blessed for they will inherit the earth. In fact, Paul has some choice words to say about judging or discernment.

1 Corinthians 6: 2 – 3

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

It is very clear that we are to judge and that we are to be mature enough to judge the smallest of matters.  We can either have the disposition of I am a sinner saved by grace, or we can have a disposition of being a child of the Most High God who will one day rule and reign, out of a heart of meekness.  This is not to say that we are ever to forget how fragile and receptive we are to deception and need His grace.  But meekness speaks of an inner strength and character that will never tolerate deception in the Name of grace or love, but rather to speak the truth in love. 

Paul says the following in 2 Corinthians 10.

2 Corinthians 10: 1

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

Meekness often seems like weakness when in fact it is quite the opposite.  Meekness is who Christ is, and He was everything but weak.  It is the embodiment of authority, but with no intention of insisting on its own way, but seeks to serve both the Most High and His bride. The principal behind meekness is wisdom and prudence.  As we grow in the Lord, this very disposition is to be the underlining foundation of judging righteously, apart from His love.  At the heart of such meekness is also a disposition of diffidence.  Not in the negative sense of no self-esteem, but an unassuming and modest opinion of one’s estimation of yourself and your abilities, including your knowledge.  Never above being wrong and in fact, willing to be proven wrong even if fully convinced of being right.  It is a willingness to be taught as much as you are willing to teach.  No demand on being right.  This meekness, just like a tapestry with a perfectly and beautiful picture in the front, is woven with trials, tribulation and persecution at the back where no one sees.  Therefore with the truth it yields the sweet aroma of empathy, understanding and wisdom.  It is not puffed up in its knowledge, but the aim is to serve. 

The Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit.  Somehow we have claimed it as ours and not His, to yield and smite the flock or just simply lay it down as if no responsibility for our actions is laid upon us.  It is the Sword of the Spirit and so we are to be guided in meekness of heart, by being in one mind with Christ how we are to yield it.  But yield it we must.  

The reality is that we are all guilty of judging others.  The real question is, are we judging righteously? 

Psalm 141: 5 portrays the heart of David, the man after the Most High’s heart.

Psalm 141: 5

Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

Leviticus 19: 15; 17; 31

15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

If anything, may the resounding message of this devotional be that it is not about my opinion or knowledge, but about the heart of God and the love of the truth.  May we understand that to us is given to subdue and expose the works of the enemy not for the sake of judging, but to rescue and protect the flock.  We are all engaged in spiritual warfare in various ways.  Some of these ways are in deep intercession, others in walking in love and truth, and then the command to expose the works of darkness.  If we do not protect the flock from the wolves, who will?  May we seek His face and strive to have a disposition of meekness so that He may have full play in us and through us.  This is our Kingdom mandate, to uphold, love and protect the truth in love.