TWENTY UPs!

Part 2

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

We continue to look at how the Word of God lifts us up.

6. Discern Up

There is so very little discernment around today. I am often amazed how even believers do not discern the difference between righteousness and evil. Many times they ignorantly condone what God says is abominable. Even Christians frequent abortion clinics! Even believers get involved in fornication! Do we have no discernment of what is truly right and wrong?

How do we get discernment? It comes from the Word of God. Hebrews 5:14 says, “Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” It doesn’t come by haphazardly reading the Bible, or just listening to a message on Sunday. It comes by constant use!  It takes being committed to read the Word to yourself and your family. The margin in my King James Bible describes “reason of use” as a habit! That means a daily exercise. I like the Knox version which says, “Solid food is for the full-grown; for those whose faculties are so trained by exercise that they can distinguish between good and evil.”

God promises that when we return back to Him and His Word that we’ll learn to discern. Malachi 3:18 says, “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth not.” He wants His teachers (which of course include parents) to teach “the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” (Ezekiel 44:23)

My prayer is that we and our children in this generation will be like the children of Issachar who “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” (1 Chronicles 12:32) We are living in a new era in our nation—a time of disruption, change and deception. More than ever, we need the daily inspiration of God’s living Word which will give us discernment and understanding of what to do.

7. Enlighten Up

Psalm 19:8, “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of thy words giveth light. it giveth understanding unto the simple.” True understanding and knowledge comes from God’s Word. The word understanding (bin) is also associated with discernment. The same word is used when Solomon asked God for wisdom, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern (bin) between good and bad.” We can’t have discernment without being enlightened and we can’t be enlightened without the Word of God.

Have you seen a picture of the tabernacle in the wilderness? It was formed in the shape of the cross. On the right hand side of the Holy place stood the Table of Shewbread on which the priests placed 12 loaves of bread each week. On the left hand side of the cross stood the Golden Candlestick shining its light upon the Presence bread. The light shining from the Candlestick speaks of the illumination of the Holy Spirit upon the loaves of bread which speak of the nourishment of the Word. The best translation of the Word of God is the Holy Spirit who reveals God’s Word to us.

When God enlightens His Word to us we can be wiser than our enemies. There are many enemies of God’s truth but as we fill ourselves up richly with the Word of God, we will have answers for our adversaries. Our children can have more insight than their teachers and elders when they are filled with the Word of God. Read about it in Psalm 119:78-100.

The Word of God increases the intellect as it is the source of all knowledge. James W. Alexander writes in Thoughts on Family Worship, “I cannot think it possible for any family to enjoy, twice every day for all their lives, the privilege of hearing the Scripture read at domestic worship without, by that very means, rising perceptibly and greatly in knowledge and intellectual force.”  (2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:17-18; Colossians 1:9)

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Above Rubies, www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“”Oh Lord, please fill me with revelation and understanding as I read your precious Word.  Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m sharpening my children with the Word of God which is sharper than any two-edged sword!

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