Is it time to take?

When he went and stood by his master, Elisha asked him, “From where have you come, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.”
Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you as the man turned from on his chariot to meet you? Is it time to take silver, clothes, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, male slaves, and female slaves?
– 2 Kings 5:25-26

It is critical for the man of God to discern times and seasons. In this story we see the prophet Elisha decline the generous offer from Namaan…why deny this generosity? Because it was not time. 

Elisha does not strive after this opportunity for provision and gets to rest in the continual provision of God elsewhere. Gehazi however, though he is a discerning fellow, lets his greed override wisdom. 

When you find yourself lying to a man of God, it is not the season for your misguided actions. Wisdom guides the man of God to discern seasons and keeps him safe from opportunity and greed.

A Student of Hardship

And David said,”As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.
– 1 Samuel 26:10

And David said to Abigail,”Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!
– 1 Samuel 25:32,33

ESV notes:
“God has given your enemy into your hand.” Abishai uses the same arguments as David’s men in (24:4), and David again refuses, adding that God will surely strike Saul instead, a lesson he perhaps learned from the death of Nabal (25:39)

When those who walk in righteousness are wronged or insulted, instead of taking matters into their own hands, they may trust in the justice of God.

I am personally impressed with the teachable nature of David. Through suffering and hardship much can be learned, both of life and oneself. David makes himself a student of hardship, learning well the strength and vengeance of God. It is here where the written psalm rings true, “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

May my soul cling to you Lord…and no one else. May I embrace your promises, yet not trust in their ability to deliver your servant…for you O Lord are my deliverance. I trust in your justice, your goodness Lord; your beauty I long to see.
Amen

The book of Daniel: wisdom vs flattery

He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. – Daniel 11:32-35

Many are made weak to flattery…including myself at times. But I hold to that which is greater than the weaknesses of pride. I know my God. And so I shall stand firm, taking action on the day of great flattery. Armed with a discerning Spirit and the Sword which divides every strong thing that has set itself up against the right ways of the Lord. In Him I find my strength, in Him my approval. In Him I find my peace.

Discernment: testing the spirits

I do not live this life in vein for my God is glorious; worthy of every drop of sweat, to be honored in every drop of blood.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. – 1 John 4:1

ESV notes:
Christian faith is not spiritual gullibility. The unseen spiritual influences that guide people’s speech and actions can be “tested” by observing their doctrine and conduct as well as by the gift of spiritual discernment. False prophets are people who claim to speak for God but are actually speaking by demonic influence.
In today’s age of “tolerance,” discriminating discernment can be viewed as being judgement “Judge not,” – Matt 7:1. Yet Jesus also taught, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement” – John 7:24

Every believer needs to know they have the ability to test the spirits…it is not only on the backs of the discerning that we cast these matters but instead John presents the whole body with this “litmus test”:
1) Jesus in the flesh is God
Is the confession of our Lord Jesus present: Y/N?
ESV: Anyone can talk about Jesus and even believe that he lived on earth, as other religions, cults, and philosophies often affirm. But unless such people affirm both the full deity and the full humanity of Jesus, they are not truely “confessing Jesus,” but as John states in unequivocal terms, they are under the influence of the spirit of the antichrist.
2) Those of the world have the worlds ears
“They are of the world…the world listens to them” and also, “They speak from the world”
ESV: Their speech originates from and is empowered by the world’s viewpoint and values.
Those who teach tolerance teach worldly doctrine…and is accepted by many.
3) Resistance of sound doctrine
“Does not listen to us”
ESV: People who are not true believers resist sound doctrine. It does not make sense to them and does not fit their man-centered, materialistic system of thought. ref – 1 Cor 2:14

Lord forgive me where I have doubted your words and discernment. Sometimes even I get more concerned because of a fear in man. What they think…a worldy teaching of tolerance seeping within me…FORGIVE ME LORD FOR KEEPING SILENT. Forgive me for the times I have judged without right judgment, relying on my own skills instead of utilizing your scripture. Grow me more in discernment, boldness to be a witness to the truth, and build in me sound judgement unswayed by human conditioning or emotion.

Give me a clean and pure heart, of love and not of hate…
For you have loved me so greatly.
Draw me near to your great love.
All my heart for yours.
– Bryan

Something Precious

The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed by the fire; in vein the refining goes on, for the wicked are not removed. Rejected silver they are called, for The Lord has rejected them. – Jeremiah 6:29-30

Jeremiah a young man, was called to test his people…an entire nation to undergo the judgement of a youth. The words he speaks burns like fire in order that there might be found some good and pure hearts. But none are found under the reign of Hezekiah’s son. The nation as a whole are found to be as valuable as the common metals of bronze…God wishes to see priceless silver. So this young prophet preaches in vein, though under the directives of God himself.

I am to some lengths called to be a judge. The level of discernment and judgement has been placed within me at a foundational level. But even I am challenged and tested, tried by this scripture to see what lies within…is it precious or common? I find many believers have trouble with judgment, as I do at times. Yet God places judges, those who know the truth, operating out of wisdom, and live with discernment. These are the roles of the prophet and protector. My estimation of my people is not for the sake of criticism but for the end of transformation; by which I become part of the means. I become a consumed fire…the fires of a Holy Spirit burning for an everlasting moment within my heart. Those who reject me do not reject me but the one who sent me. I sometimes have trouble with this rejection, but I lie in peace knowing the fires refine me as well; rejection only pulls me closer to God. May The Lord find what he looks for in my heart, in my family, in his bride…something precious.

Lord I thank you for your refining fires, shape me, purify my heart, let me be as gold and precious silver before your searching eyes. Help me seek out your beauty Lord God. Call my heart to see the precious nature of your being. Amen