00:07we just talked about fear of the future and some of you are thinking i felt that
00:12as some of you were thinking okay so how do i descend that george how do i know when i'm
00:16in that situation how do i know it's fear oh it's not just god warning me to be careful
00:22how do i know how do i know where i stand george okay listen to this be wise guarding against
00:30deception because remember fear and all those things are deception tools of the enemy guarding
00:36against deception in the end times with biblical discernment okay so we are living in a world
00:43saturated with manipulation outrage cycles and narratives designed to divide believers
00:52are commanded though to walk in discernment jesus said remember in matthew 10 16 behold i am sending
01:03you out like sheep in the midst of wolves be weary and wise as serpents other bible versions be says
01:12be gentle as doves and prudent as serpents or wise as serpents so we're supposed to be gentle yes but
01:23we're not supposed to be doormats what do you serpents do most serpents based on on experts and
01:29what we've seen uh on tv and all and youtube and all that serpents and snakes will leave you alone
01:37if
01:37you leave them alone but if they feel cornered they don't just become prudent as wise and
01:42they all all of a sudden slither somewhere and you don't even see them no that they'll get ready
01:46to attack if they have to so behold i am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves be
01:51wary
01:52and wise as serpents and be innocent harmless guileless guileless and without falsity as doves
02:03this is the amplified classic version see the greatest danger in these last days is that
02:09is not merely misinformation it is spiritual deception that fractures unity inflames fleshly
02:20reactions and weakens the body of christ again scripture warns in ephesians 6 verse 12 behold i
02:28send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves
02:34this time i read a read from the new king james version you see discernment is not optional it is
02:41spiritual survival if you don't use that gift of discernment you will be fooled by anything and
02:48everything here's a refined biblical framework okay wise to guard the heart protect unity and respond with
02:59spirit-spirit-led clarity rather than emotional reaction wise in this uh in this study that i'm giving
03:08you right now this quick study is an acronym so w stands for watch for emotional hooks w stands for
03:18watch
03:18for emotional hooks when content provokes sudden anger fear outrage or self-righteousness
03:29a feeling of superiority pause
03:36breathe and pause the enemy often bypasses reason by igniting the flesh scripture commands be sober be vigilant
03:48because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour 1 peter 5 verse
03:568
03:57emotional impulsiveness weakens spiritual discernment
04:04jesus himself modeled righteous restraint even when angered at hardened hearts jesus got angry many times
04:13mark 3 verse 5 but he didn't allow the anger to control him to control him mark 3 verse 5
04:22and when he had
04:23looked around at them with anger being grieved by the hardness of their hearts and then he goes on
04:31his anger was not reckless it was grieved and controlled the fruit of the spirit includes self-control galatians 5
04:4022 to 23
04:42if a message message on tv on the news on your social media whatever you're scrolling through
04:51pushes you to react instantly rather than pray pause and seek wisdom it may be a hook i
05:04identify divisive patterns this is a big key one
05:08be alert to narratives built on us versus them
05:13sound familiar moral superiority fear-driven urgency or constant outrage cycles
05:23god calls his church to unity corinthians 1 verse 10 now i plead with you brethren that there be no
05:30divisions
05:31among you but that should be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment
05:38that's 1 corinthians 1 verse 10 the vision is serious in god's eyes among the things he hates
05:45actually proverbs 6 16 to 19 tells us one who sows discord among brethren while babel in genesis 11
05:56shows god scattering rebellion the new testament reveals satan as the accuser and divider revelation 12
06:06verse 10 his strategy has always been fracture and isolation or as we know it today aka divide and conquer
06:18if content consistently magnifies hostility among believers rather than calling to truth in love
06:26it should raise caution here i'm talking about every content i'm not talking just about christian content
06:32everything you're watching everything you're seeing what does s stand for scrutinize sources
06:40and spiritual influence not every voice deserves your trust we're in a world where everybody's called
06:50just to trust very quickly and trust everybody no not every voice deserves your trust 1 john 4 verse 1
06:58beloved do not believe every spirit but test the spirits whether they are of god because many false
07:03prophets have gone out into the world jesus warned beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's
07:11clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves matthew 7 verse 15 the bereans remember the bereans
07:19were commended because why because in act 17 11 they received the word with all readiness
07:26and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so
07:34false teachers often exploit emotion and controversy for gain
07:41by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words that's 2 peter 2 verse 3 so what do we do
07:50we
07:50ask we ask questions like does this align with scripture in context
07:56we ask does this voice produce godly fruit
08:01is there transparency or manipulation you see truth withstands examination
08:10truth withstands examination e what does e stand for examine for truth context and the spirit of christ
08:21scripture commands balanced evaluation test all things hold fast what is good 1 thessalonians 5 verse 21
08:30and wisdom reminds us the first one to plead his cause seems right until his neighbor comes and
08:37examines him proverbs 18 verse 17 truth is not threatened by investigation he invites it let me say that
08:47again truth is not threatened by investigation he invites it rigid unteachable hearts resemble pharaoh
08:55remember he hardened his heart in exodus 8 verse 15 but spirit-led maturity seeks unity
09:03ephesians 4 verse 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace
09:10discernment discernment is not suspicion it is humility submitted to god's word let me say that again the
09:17sermon is not suspicion it is humility submitted to god's word if a narrative increases hatred fear and
09:26pride but decreases love peace and righteousness it most likely does not reflect the spirit of christ jesus
09:34so finally i want to finish by telling you stand firm in the last days because people
09:40we are in the last days scripture is clear but know this that in the last days perilous times will
09:47come
09:48to timothy 3 1 to 5 deception will multiply but so will grace but those who remain grounded in truth
09:57he will provide the grace for you to overcome amen remember be kindly affectionate to one another with
10:06brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another romans 12 10 your brother or sister may not
10:13always be correct as we said at the beginning but they remain family in christ discernment protects unity
10:24wisdom guards love truth strengthens the kingdom apply wise w-i-s-e daily not with fear but
10:36with faith and above all let all that you do be done with love 1 corinthians 16 verse 14
11:06my
11:15my
11:17my
11:18and
11:21my
11:51Transcription by CastingWords
12:04CastingWords
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