Friday, March 5, 2010

The Spirit of Discernment




How do we distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception? How do we know whether a person is truthful or not? How do we protect ourselves against wolves in sheep's clothing? Many are deceived by flowery words, by sham display of noble intentions and they are left holding an empty bag of broken promises and shattered dreams. There is an antidote against these deceivers and charlatans. This is the Spirit of discernment. It is a particular gift from the Holy Spirit and protects God's children against the wiles and deception of the enemy. We can only get this if we are born again and have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ. This is the promise of Jesus Christ before he left the earth, that He will send the Spirit of truth to reveal all things to those who will accept Him as their Lord and savior. Like Jesus Christ, who came to earth to glorify the Father, the Holy Spirit, who proceeded from both the Father and the Son, came to earth to glorify Jesus Christ. Like all gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of discernment can be possessed through earnest prayers and petitions to the Holy Spirit. Those who are given this particular power can discern and identify the spirit of darkness and evil and can counteract them by the power of God's words. The only requisite is to have an unwavering faith in the power of God and His promises. One such promise is contained in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Seek the Spirit of discernment to protect yourself and your loved ones against the deceiving spirits of the enemy.




Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Discernment, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Deception, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, Empty Bag of Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams, Antidote, God's Children, Born Again, Lord and Savior, Earnest Prayers and Petitions, Spirit of Darkness and Evil, Power of God's Words, Unwavering Faith, Philippians 4:13, Gospel, Word of God, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational

10 comments:

Arvin U. de la Peña said...

sana malayo na sa masasamang espiritu ang mga tao..lalo na iyong mga politiko na parang sinasaniban na talaga ng mga demonyo na kailangan laging nasa posisyon kahit nakakadiri na sila..hehe..

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Arvin,
Hindi lang ang mga politiko ang may kasalanan kundi ang mga tao mismo at maling sistema nang politika sa Pilipinas na nakaugnay sa patronage politics. Kailangang baguhin nang tao ang kanyang sarili at saka maghanap nang pagbabago sa mga nanunungkulan sa kanya. Salamat sa dalaw at komento. Pagpalain ka nang Diyos sa tuwina.

Terry said...

hello mel!
it has been so long since i have been here and i have missed you.
i quite often talk to people about you in a way because sometimes i say to them, "as my friend mel says, "god bless you always".
when i visit the different blogs, the blog name is coloured in red and stays that way and the ones i haven't visited in a while are black..now you will be in red and i won't be forgetting you so much!

this is a very encouraging post.
how i need the power of the lord because i know that i am weak in myself.
one of my favourite southern gospel hymns is ."i can't even walk without him holding my hand"
and that is the story of my life, especially recently mel...
love you dear brother in the lord...terry

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Terry,
What a wonderful experience for you to visit my site. It is always an honor and a privilege to be visited by you. There are only two things I know that makes us closer to the Lord, prayers and reading the word of God. As we are already born again Christians, we already have the fruit of the Holy Spirit and maybe some gifts from the same Spirit lying dormant in us. A consistent prayerful life and a regular reading of the word of God keep us closer to the Spirit of truth and of wisdom, knowledge and understanding and beyond that, the Spirit of discernment when we become discerning about the spiritual world. Since we are children of God and innocent of the ways of the world, God keeps us protected and guided by His ministering angels who help us in times of need. Trusting the Lord with all our hearts opens us to all the wondrous powers and glories of God. I always end my comments in blessing because it is a form of prayer that opens the portals of heaven to shower the recipient with immeasurable blessings from the Lord. I also love you sister with the love of the Lord. I will be seeing you when the Lord comes down to gather the elect in His kingdom.
Thanks for your visit and warm comments. God bless you all always.

burn said...

I really appreciate all your post. I like the way you write them and how you immediately responded to the people who visited your blog. You are a good example of true blogger. hhehe. Anyways, may I ask you a question? Do you have the gift of discernment?

May I request you to post about the gift of tongue? How to enhance that gift? Kasi may gift of tongue ako noon. I discovered this when I entered the life in the spirit seminar. Mag seven years na, hindi ko na practice ang gift. I haven't use it na. I am just wondering if possible bang mawawala yong gift that you have acquired na?

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Burn,
Thank you so much for your very kind words but as always, TO GOD BE THE GLORY. As for your question whether I have the gift of discernment, I say in all humility, yes, and all faithful and devout Christian have them as God's provision to keep them from all harm from the enemy. Regarding your gift of tongue, it usually manifests during your baptism of the Holy Spirit as your spirit is made alive again by the Holy Spirit. The sudden rush of spiritual power open your tongue to spiritual words that is the language of the spiritual realm. Don't worry that you don't have it now for many people become unnecessarily puffed up when they acquire it. God will imbibe you with His gifts as the need arises as you spread His Gospel message of salvation to people needing them. The gifts are not merited by us but given in specific times and circumstances to further God's kingdom on earth. It's advisable that you include in your daily prayer the petition to the Holy Spirit for any particular gift that you want in furtherance of God's kingdom. Remember, the motive is very important since God looks at your heart. Thanks for your visit and comments. If you have any further questions, you may email me at melalarilla@gmail.com and I will gladly answer all your questions to the best of my ability. God bless you always.

Azumi's Mom ★ said...

I'm not really sure if i have this gift of discernment, but i think I have. Sometimes I still pray to Him for guidance.. minsan kasi mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan mo, yun ang mga sisira sayo..

Sir Mel, im also curious about the gift of tongue.. I remember hearing stories about that from my cousin. Sana ma-feature mo minsan =) have a nice day

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Bambi dear,
Yung Spirit of discernment ay yung nagbubulung sa atin nang kung anong ispiritu yung kaharap natin. Yun yung parang intuition na nagbibigay sa atin nang babala tungkol sa anumang panganib na nanggagaling sa kaaway. Kung minsan kasi our senses tell us that a person is pleasant and well meaning pero something inside us is telling us to beware of that person. That something inside us is the Spirit of discernment and works hand in hand with our conscience. Yun namang Spirit of tongue ay isang gift from the Holy Spirit na nangyayari in the height of our spiritual experience kung saan tayo ay napupuspos nang Espiritu Santo at ang ating dila ay automatic na bumibigkas nang mga salitang hindi natin maunawaan dahil iyon ay lenguahe nang spiritual world. Yun ay edifying sa taong nakakaranas nito pero hindi nakakatulong sa ibang tao dahil hindi nila maintindihan ang mga kahulugan nito. Pero me mga taong nabibigyan nang kapangyarihan na iinterpret ang kahulugan nang mga binigkas nang may gift of the tongue. Normally, una itong naeexperience during the baptism of the Holy Spirit kung saan unang bumababa ang Holy Spirit sa atin. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you all always.

Pia said...

hi bro, i learned that i have this gift just two years ago. but it's my prayer that God enhances this gift in me. i'm asking the holy spirit for other gifts too. =D

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi sis Pia,
Yes, we can earnestly seek and pray to the Holy Spirit for any particular gift, but my experience taught me that the Holy Spirit endows these gifts as the need arises in the furtherance of God's kingdom. I honestly think that we all have this gift of discernment when we were born again as a built in protection instituted by the Holy Spirit to protect us against the deceiving spirits of the enemy. That is why, we should be well grounded in the word of God so that we will not fall into the trap (most subtle at times) laid down by the enemy of the children of God. Many have fallen into these traps and have become puffed up and veered away from the true purpose of our calling. All gifts can be have through earnest prayers and petitions to the Holy Spirit. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you always.


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