Scripture: Matthew 7 v 1-2: "Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
1 Corinthians 2 v 13-14: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
By these two passages of scripture we can see a vast difference between judging and discerning. Judging comes from our fleshly mind, where our thoughts, opinions and criticisms rule. We make split second assessments of a person's worth and status based on colour of skin, clothing, speech and attitude. Without considering any other factors we judge him worthy or unworthy.
I am reminded of a testimony of a white policeman in the Apartheid era in South Africa. He was accosting an African man who was shopping at a store after the 9 pm curfew. The policeman threw him to the ground and began beating him. The African man said to him, What right have you got to beat a child of God?
This cop, named Johan, was in that very moment convicted by the Holy Spirit and he began to cry out for forgiveness. The African pastor then prayed with him to be born again, right there on the sidewalk. The cop became a missionary amongst the African people finally doing God's will. When its God's time to meet you He sometimes sets it in an amazing framework.
The cop judged harshly, the African pastor discerned the need for salvation, which turned the cop into a man of God who met the needs of many other Africans in very trying times in South Africa. We all need to look before we leap as our flesh will betray us. Johan judged and immediately found himself judged by God. His response could have been different. He could have continued his assault and perhaps been lost forever.
The natural man is one who is in the flesh. His spirit is hard and unyielding, and he reacts on his base feelings like Johan did. It is only when we are filled with the Holy Spirit that we become softened and submitted to Him and are able to discern correctly. We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, one of which is discerning of spirits, which also reveals the thoughts and motives of others.
The truly spiritual man is mentally and emotionally mature. He possesses the mind of Christ, plus the love and compassion that is needed to correctly discern or judge situations and people. The aim is helping them get closer to Jesus. The spiritual man responds to the heart of God - he knows when the followers of Jesus are being subjected to false doctrines, false prophets, or wolves in sheep's clothing. These are the ones who have a hidden agenda to undermine the truth.
So many churches and ministries have been invaded by these maverick Christians. Because they are famous names no-one ever checks to see if they are true Christians. They proudly justify themselves by saying nobody can oppose God's anointed! They are holier than thou and above reproach, yet by their fruit we shall know them. The churches are in a mess because of the idolising of these people.
We must all be followers of Jesus and He will decide who gets promoted as a pastor, evangelist, prophet, apostle or any other helper or servant to His people. He is the righteous judge and He favours those who are least esteemed in the church.
1 Corinthians 1 v 27-29: "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of world to confound the things that are mighty;
28 and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence."
It is time the body of Christ actually started to correctly discern the truth about themselves individually and as a group. We all need to be in one mind and spirit to achieve unity. Jesus is coming soon and before He does, we must be united in one Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
Only a powerful Holy Ghost revival will bring about complete unity of the Body. The revival that started in Asbury, Kentucky, still continues and has spread to other countries, as well as campuses across the USA. The more we seek the Lord with fervent prayer the more of His presence will be felt.
The death of Charlie Kirk ignited a move the enemy did not expect. The whole world was deeply touched by the Holy Spirit and still is. He was in the prime of his life but in his death he achieved a million miracles to increase the Kingdom of God on Earth. The enemy wanted to silence one man. Really bad judgment on his part. Just as Satan had the Jews yell "crucify Him" 2000 years ago to stop the spread of His followers, it had the opposite God-desired effect.
When we discern spirits, the first should always be the Spirit of God. He is the One who sits on the Throne judging rightly. God is love and that is His yardstick. Love one another. There can be no unity without agape love.
Measure the church you attend with the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Yes they were commended by Jesus yet had flaws needing correction. Some churches are an amalgamation of several of the seven. We need to be full of the Holy Spirit to discern correctly.
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is discerning of spirits of good and evil. It is not just seeing demons behind every bush it is witnessing the Spirit of Jesus in strangers and knowing they are true family. Satan is so full of pride and attitude that he is hard to miss these days, yet some think he is still a myth.
Elon Musk had a global map on X showing how the minorities of colour have swamped the whole world leaving small pockets of white people as the true endangered species. The Great Red Dragon has brought Communism and Islam to a full rolling boil and for Christianity our members are being slaughtered in the thousands.
1400 years of Islam has seen 215,000,000 brutal murders. Yet they are crying about genocide. That is over 500 murders every single day of their existence. The countries sympathizing with Palestine have zero discernment or true judgment. They are very much part of the global darkness. Wake up please - everyone that wants peace and righteousness. The Lord still wants to see Hell plundered to populate Heaven.
A true prophet will declare the word of the Lord concerning a church that is at risk of judgment. He will clearly see the area of conflict with the truth. He will speak forth what needs to change to bring the leadership and doctrines back in line. Sadly, most times the prophet is undermined and nothing is put right. The "infallible" pastor will remain in fleshly error.
In the rare case of the pastor heeding the prophet there will be anointed ministry all round with great testimonies of healing, salvation, deliverance and unity of the body. A time of refreshing, deep prayer and revival may follow. We all need this kind of awakening.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help us not to judge in our flesh the things that can only be spiritually discerned. Judging has become a bad habit to so many people and it puts us in danger of Your judgment. Let us love as You love, hating the sin but loving the sinner. Help us to be in unity of Spirit so Your revival does not pass us by. In Jesus's name. Amen.