tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post8596497563824262064..comments2023-10-07T04:07:56.527-04:00Comments on The End Time: Discernment: What is it and how should it be used? Two-Part StudyElizabeth Pratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-84573104741681246472018-04-27T19:43:21.371-04:002018-04-27T19:43:21.371-04:00thank you Carolyn!thank you Carolyn!Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-64177505387891256982018-04-27T19:42:59.628-04:002018-04-27T19:42:59.628-04:0020 years...you are very patient.
I'm glad thi...20 years...you are very patient.<br /><br />I'm glad things are better now!Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-87185811154781134772018-04-27T16:13:10.578-04:002018-04-27T16:13:10.578-04:00I have found that many in our church--a large chur...I have found that many in our church--a large church in the Southwest--are afraid of the gift of discernment. This includes members of our pastoral staff, staff members, lay leadership (deacons and elders), and church members.<br /><br />A number of years ago, our church was searching for a new pastor. One of the candidates came from a large church in the South and spoke. I knew there was something wrong--I could not put my finger on it but it was just . . . wrong. My Son felt the same way (he also has the gift of discernment) even though he was a teenager at the time. I asked questions of deacons and was met with a stony-faced stare, as if I had suggested that we burn the ole boy at the stake. My questions were simple and direct. <br /><br />Then, in the weeks following the candidate's sermon, we began to be barraged with a lot of people who knew the candidate--had gone to school with him, had been members of his church, and so forth. We were told how we would learn so much about the Bible from him. This barrage continued until time for the church's vote on the man. It was a 96 percent vote in favor of calling him. Then the man moderating the church business session took an unprecedented step for our church. He made a motion that the church business meeting minutes reflect that the call was unanimous. Seconded. Passed. The call was issued.<br /><br />Long story short: the 20-years of this man's leadership proved to be disastrous. Huge amounts of money were spent, not to go forward, but to accommodate the man's lack of spiritual leadership. Sermon series on becoming Christlike (which he seemed not to know anything about) resulted in flesh-driven efforts designed to show what great people we were, but not so much directing people toward the Savior.<br /><br />The man has retired. We have called a properly Spirit-filled pastor, and our church has now returned to godly preaching and ministry. Our church is now increasing, not decreasing, in membership. We are once again on a solid footing of Scripture, prayer, and proper Holy Spirit-led leadership. <br /><br />Yet, many in our church are still afraid of the spiritual gift of discernment. bloggerjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280219040560653721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-32813735713985271932018-04-26T11:26:47.123-04:002018-04-26T11:26:47.123-04:00Hi Elizabeth,
This series on discernment is truly...Hi Elizabeth,<br /><br />This series on discernment is truly necessary; I hope many read it.<br /><br />Discernment, yes, a permanent spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, given to those whom HE chooses. No, not every believer has it. Every believer can learn to discern truth from error from the word, but only those whom the Spirit chooses are given the spiritual gift to have ability above and beyond the rest of the body.<br /><br />"Others, sadly, will not listen to you until or unless they can see the flames, but by then often it's too late, a lot of damage has been done. Discernment people see and know things earlier. The early spotting helps protect the church..."<br /><br />That sums up our experience for our entire time as believers, in a nutshell. My husband and I both have the actual Holy Spirit given gift of discernment. We always bring our concerns to the leadership when we see or perceive something that is not from God, with the intent to protect the church. Sadly, what we have found through long experience that pastors and elders do not listen.<br /><br />I've also had - on a - thankfully only - rare occasion - an actual discernment of a demonic entity experience. Those are stomach churners.<br /><br />-CarolynAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com