A Simple Discernment Test

April 8

“It is the truth concerning Jesus
that inspires all prophecy.”
REVELATION 19:10 (Knox)

The prophetic word is given to point us to Jesus. Everything the Holy Spirit would speak, reveal, teach, and show us is towards this same end, which is CHRIST.

We do not need to mull over every dream, vision, word, or prophecy, trying to exegete its hidden meaning, struggling to extract some spiritual significance where none exists. If what we see and hear does not point us to Jesus then it is not prophetic and should be discarded. This simple test will keep us from distraction.

Source: “The Irresistible Kingdom” by Chip Brogden

Chip Brogden

CHIP BROGDEN is a best-selling author, teacher, and former pastor who shares "real, simple, truth" about a Christ-centered faith that is based on relationship, not religion. Learn more »

7 Comments

sherry on Apr 8 at 12:30 pm

Chip,
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to the Lord and to us. I had to learn this the hard way. I had to learn that it is good to discern light from darkness according to the Spiritual fruits of God and the dark fruits of Satan in order to flee from unrighteous works of evil doers. My problem was that I was casting too much attention on the evil and those causing harm to Gods people. I removed my thoughts and actions from Christ and placed myself in the enemies camp for far too long, mainly because of hurt and anger. The Lord showed me that I had taken my focus off Him and focused on things I could not change and I didn’t even realize I have done so. When I chose to let go of hurt and anger and to get back to my First Love, all the burden of darkness and its fruits left me. The Lord let me know I could not have both and I could do nothing about darkness except to flee from it, and its His job and duty to His people to bring all things to completion in Him, including taking care of darkness that has mixed with His body of believers. I believe we try to fix people and things for the better, but we have to allow the Holy Spirit of God to bring all things forth in Christ Jesus, “the good the bad and the ugly”. We are just impatient with God and we get ahead of Him thinking we can fix things that are out of place. I have truly learned to love my enemies and to pray for them instead of trying to get in Gods way. “When my attitude changed, I changed”.

Lynne Clark on Apr 9 at 3:26 am

Sherry,
My heart goes out to you as I am in the same school. forever concerned about what the devil was up to and getting myself into trouble with the body of Christ, very painful, but at the same time it is good to know that you have seen this and the Lord is helping along with Chip’s messages, he gets straight to the heart of the matter doesn’t he?

I agree Chip, whilst we are concerned about discerning dreams, visions, prophecies etc, we are not looking at Christ, in fact it is another distraction from the pure gospel that Jesus wants us all to know and follow.

Praise God for your teaching Chip, God bless you and Karla

Lynne

Joanne on Apr 9 at 4:50 pm

Thank you for a very wuse word, briefly and simply stated. How wonderful if more used that rule: wise and briefly, simply stated.

Joanne on Apr 9 at 4:54 pm

Alas. I need to proof read more carefully what I write. Lord willing, all who read my previous comment know I meant “wise” .and not that meaningless “wuse”. PTL, when I repeated same in what I described as the rule, my fingers put in the right word: “wise.”
Reply

Othon Dafos on Apr 8 at 7:57 am

Thank you for this word, my brother. There are many charlatans today who claim to have prophecies, and unfortunately many brethren, who don’t have discernment, believe them.

John Campbell on Apr 8 at 12:10 pm

Amen! We are all witnesses of His Resurrection life within as by the grace of God Jesus tasted death for us.

Sandrine on Apr 8 at 7:12 pm

At first the process of clearing in the thoughts… Then it is going to continue for the “physical” things… but when everything is installed… “askew”, “to right the ship” is not an easy task. It is not a small matter. (I feel.)

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sherry on Apr 8 at 12:30 pm

Chip,
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to the Lord and to us. I had to learn this the hard way. I had to learn that it is good to discern light from darkness according to the Spiritual fruits of God and the dark fruits of Satan in order to flee from unrighteous works of evil doers. My problem was that I was casting too much attention on the evil and those causing harm to Gods people. I removed my thoughts and actions from Christ and placed myself in the enemies camp for far too long, mainly because of hurt and anger. The Lord showed me that I had taken my focus off Him and focused on things I could not change and I didn’t even realize I have done so. When I chose to let go of hurt and anger and to get back to my First Love, all the burden of darkness and its fruits left me. The Lord let me know I could not have both and I could do nothing about darkness except to flee from it, and its His job and duty to His people to bring all things to completion in Him, including taking care of darkness that has mixed with His body of believers. I believe we try to fix people and things for the better, but we have to allow the Holy Spirit of God to bring all things forth in Christ Jesus, “the good the bad and the ugly”. We are just impatient with God and we get ahead of Him thinking we can fix things that are out of place. I have truly learned to love my enemies and to pray for them instead of trying to get in Gods way. “When my attitude changed, I changed”.
Lynne Clark on Apr 9 at 3:26 am

Sherry,
My heart goes out to you as I am in the same school. forever concerned about what the devil was up to and getting myself into trouble with the body of Christ, very painful, but at the same time it is good to know that you have seen this and the Lord is helping along with Chip’s messages, he gets straight to the heart of the matter doesn’t he?

I agree Chip, whilst we are concerned about discerning dreams, visions, prophecies etc, we are not looking at Christ, in fact it is another distraction from the pure gospel that Jesus wants us all to know and follow.

Praise God for your teaching Chip, God bless you and Karla

Lynne
Joanne on Apr 9 at 4:50 pm

Thank you for a very wuse word, briefly and simply stated. How wonderful if more used that rule: wise and briefly, simply stated.
- Joanne on Apr 9 at 4:54 pm
  
  Alas. I need to proof read more carefully what I write. Lord willing, all who read my previous comment know I meant “wise” .and not that meaningless “wuse”. PTL, when I repeated same in what I described as the rule, my fingers put in the right word: “wise.”
Othon Dafos on Apr 8 at 7:57 am

Thank you for this word, my brother. There are many charlatans today who claim to have prophecies, and unfortunately many brethren, who don’t have discernment, believe them.
John Campbell on Apr 8 at 12:10 pm

Amen! We are all witnesses of His Resurrection life within as by the grace of God Jesus tasted death for us.
Sandrine on Apr 8 at 7:12 pm

At first the process of clearing in the thoughts… Then it is going to continue for the “physical” things… but when everything is installed… “askew”, “to right the ship” is not an easy task. It is not a small matter. (I feel.)