THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP

Spiritual discernment is a gift that anyone can have but which only some people have. The gift is part of themselves – a gift afforded by choosing to follow Jesus, rather than be contained in inherited mindsets. Some don’t have spiritual discernment at all and its absence can runs in families. These may be taken aback, somewhat annoyed and judgemental when someone makes a negative observation about people – an insight that is invisible to them. They are unable to see because as persons they don’t see below the surface of anything. This is the predicament of the legalist and his truth-blurring culture.

BLURRED VISION
Or they are unable to see because they live in the old covenant which means they are in a bubble of separation from God – Adam’s separation which separates us from Light/life and affords a blurred view of all things spiritual. These are the people who find to their cost three years later than what was said about someone they trusted was in fact true and they were taken for a ride because of it.

IN THE LIGHT
Not surprisingly spiritual discernment is found in spirituality itself – which is never religiosity but is oneness with Christ. It’s the result of the spirit, soul and body being aligned with and one with Christ because Christ is woven into our being and we into His. This is the meaning of ‘Christ come in our flesh’ which gives us His Eyes. This is the difference between religious ideas and Christ’s sight manifesting in you.

FLESH AND SPIRIT
The difference between spiritual discernment and inferior Christian thinking is the ability to discern between flesh and spirit, religion and spirit/life and Kingdom and non-kingdom. As Christian we may all be on our way to heaven but not all of us represent the Kingdom of God. This is what Jesus laboured with Nicodemus over. Emphasising that if He was not born again he would not even be able to see (discern) the  difference between religion and the Kingdom of God.

NOT THE GIFTS
We can practice spiritual gifts without discernment, speak words of prophecy without knowing what they mean or speak nonsense and not know that nonsense is what it was. Discernment comes from our new covenant union with God. Our living in the truth of our union with God in Christ, instead of the delusion of separation implied by imprisonment in the law.

‘I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity’ John 17.22,23 NIV.

SEEING HOW TO SEE
Spiritual discernment is the product of oneness with Christ and the resultant oneness with the trinity. It is the effect of sonship of the kind in which we and Father are one. It is never associated with life in the law which separates from God.  Spiritual discernment is the result of union with God. Spiritual discernment is ‘knowing’ what God shares with you. It is the effect of purity of heart – not sinlessness. It’s the result of undivided loyalty to Jesus. Don’t expect to have it if your primary loyalty is to your church or inherited religion.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God’ Matt 5.8 NIV.

Those with undivided heart see God and discern Godliness. Should our loyalty be divided between Jesus and our denomination or community, we will not possess spiritual discernment. With two master’s we don’t see much because we and Father are not one. It takes oneness with God to be in the Spirit and see in the Spirit.