Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:10

There is more than one kind of spirit. Everything from school or team spirit to angels and demons. Clean and unclean spirits are another designation. How can we know what we’re dealing with? Discernment. That’s one way that this verse can be read. Simply knowing or being able to identify – through Ruach HaKodesh within us – the type of spirit we are encountering. I think there’s a level of truth in that.

There are times that we come across a property (physical location or a piece of entertainment or a piece of knowledge) and there is something within us warning us away from it or encouraging us to consume it. This is discernment. Discernment is the quality of being able to comprehend what is obscure. It is the act of perceiving or discerning something. We also think of it as perception. Well, with Ruach HaKodesh, we have a more than natural scope of that perception or discernment that He is providing us. It is an invaluable distinction when looking at prophets, enabling us to determine whether they are true and false without having to wait for the fulfillment of their message – which is another way to do it (Matthew 7:15-20). Since so much of what happens is more than physical (2 Corinthians 4:18), we need Ruach HaKodesh in order to be truly discerning about the unseen things.

This gift can guide our study of the Word as we negotiate the various commentaries and oral traditions that have been passed down. It helps keep us from accepting B, D, and C as true just because a given believing community of times past also had A as something they followed. It takes Ruach HaKodesh to interpret the Word properly because Ruach HaKodesh wrote it. Many people have successfully done this, and others focus more on the human scribes who recorded it which can lead to adding and taking away – not just the passages, but also the intent and source. We need discernment when reading other people’s words (not Ruach HaKodesh’s) about Adonai’s Word. This gift helps us with that. After all, we are instructed to test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1).

The gift of discerning of spirits, then, is one we all need to rely on. It is a great gift to ask about. Because when we have Ruach HaKodesh working in us, enabling us to discern, we will KNOW whether we are dealing with Adonai or the devil, a right spirit or a wrong spirit, and whether we are being led in His Way or down the garden path. Can we ask for this gifting to operate in us? It think yes, because it is a kind of wisdom and we’re encouraged to ask for wisdom (James 1:5). Ask for discernment, operate in discernment, and get rid of everything that Ruach HaKodesh shows you is unclean – in every situation that we find ourselves in.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Psalm 19:8-9

“The precepts of Yahweh are right, making the heart rejoice. The command of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether,” If your heart isn’t rejoicing, you haven’t got enough Word in you. If you aren’t seeing clearly, you aren’t seeing His Light on whatever you’re looking at (Psalm 36:9). Because of the rightness, purity, and enduring nature of Adonai’s commands and statutes, we can be transformed (Romans 12:2). Our awe and reverence for Elohim grows the more we get His objective truth through our minds (by our ears and eyes) into our hearts, where revelation grows. When we AREN’T encouraged and enlightened by them, it’s usually because we haven’t understood them, thought about them, and asked Adonai what the deal is. Holy Spirit is THE Spirit of Truth and one of His ministries is bringing to our minds the Word we’ve put into our hearts. He doesn’t expect us to toil our way through 49 levels of holiness. He gives us the Word to transform us. He uses the Word to sanctify us. He gives us the tools, the methodology, and the VERY simple process where He can transform us into Himself (Jesus) by and through what HE has done for us. His efforts, not ours. His righteousness, not ours. His sacrifice, not ours. All of Him changing all of us – if we’ll let Him. What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8