Discernment…Difference Between Right & Almost Right :: By Geri Ungurean

Published on: January 25, 2025 by RR10

Discernment – The Ability to Tell the Difference Between Right and Almost Right

Originally written in 2015, I felt once again to bring this article out. Having just written the article with Thomas Littleton’s “Betrayed: An Open Letter to the Church,” I realized that more than ever before, many Christians have no chance to understand if they are sitting under heretical teaching.

We are in the middle of the “Great Falling Away,” and no wonder. Corrupt leadership in many churches with congregations filled with people who do not read God’s Word and therefore lack discernment. This is a dangerous combination.

When I think back to when I originally wrote this piece, I never would have imagined that the church would be in the condition it is in today.

Original Article

As we observe the aberrant and mystical teachings in so many of our churches, my heart breaks for the members in these congregations who are either not yet born again, are babes in Christ – or are lacking discernment. They are prey for the evil one – they have no spiritual armor to defend themselves and to distinguish between God’s Truth and counterfeit satanic lies.

Discerning of spirits

From gotquestions.org

Question: “What is the spiritual gift of discerning spirits?

Answer: The gift of discerning spirits, or “distinguishing” spirits, is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Like all these gifts, the gift of discerning spirits is given by the Holy Spirit, who disperses these gifts to believers for service in the body of Christ. Every believer has a spiritual enablement for a specific service, but there is no room for self-choosing. The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts according to the sovereignty of God and in accordance with His plan to edify the body of Christ. He gives His gifts “just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:11). (Emphasis added)

When it comes to the gift of discerning spirits, every born-again believer has a certain amount of discernment, which increases as the believer matures in the Spirit. In Hebrews 5:13-14 we read that a believer who has matured beyond using the milk of the Word as a babe in Christ is able to discern both good and evil. The maturing believer is empowered by the Spirit of God through the Scriptures to tell the difference between good and evil, and beyond that, he can also distinguish between what is good and what is better. In other words, any born-again believer who chooses to focus on the Word of God is spiritually discerning. (emphasis added)

There are certain believers, however, who have the spiritual gift of discerning spirits—that is, the God-given ability to distinguish between the truth of the Word and the deceptive doctrines propagated by demons. We are all exhorted to be spiritually discerning (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1), but some in the body of Christ have been given the unique ability to spot the doctrinal “forgeries” that have plagued the church since the first century. This discernment does not involve mystical, extra-biblical revelations, or a voice from God. Rather, the spiritually discerning are so familiar with the Word of God that they instantly recognize what is contrary to it. They do not receive special messages from God; they use the Word of God to “test the spirits” to see which line up with God and which are in opposition to Him. The spiritually discerning are diligent to “rightly divide” (2 Timothy 2:15 ) the Word of God. (emphasis added) – source

I’ve heard it said that discernment is the ability to tell the difference between right and almost right.

We know that Satan takes a little bit of truth and then twists it with his lies. We read about this in Genesis when he deceived Eve into disobeying God. The devil’s tactics have not changed since the beginning.

Our Lord Jesus was tempted by Satan in the Wilderness:

Satan attempted to deceive our Lord Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus came back at him with Pure Scripture. “It is written,” He said, and the evil one finally departed. Jesus was teaching us to do the same. The Bereans did it, and it won them a mention in the Book of Acts:

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

We are admonished to study the Scriptures to keep us safe:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“That we henceforth be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and their cunning and craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).

The Gift of Discerning of Spirits

I’ve been a believer since January of 1983. In 1984, I made a friend in our neighborhood who attended my church, and we would ride together to choir on Wednesday nights.

One of those nights, she gave me a bunch of cassettes and told me, “You will love this preacher.” I told her that I would give him a listen. The next day I put the first cassette in while I did dishes. The preacher was Kenneth Copeland. I listened to about ten minutes of this man and turned him off.

I was a babe in the Lord, and no one told me that Copeland’s teaching was questionable. I just knew that God did not want me listening to that man. He talked about never being sick – NEVER. He said he never even got a cold. Then he made jokes about a man who was feeling blessed because God had allowed him to get a used Chevy that he had wanted. Copeland said, “I told that man that if that was truly from the Lord, he should have asked for a Cadillac – and a brand new one!” He laughed at his own lame joke.

That’s when I turned it off. That’s when I knew that Kenneth Copeland was not someone that my Lord Jesus would want me listening to. I should never get sick? I should be rich because I’m a Christian?

Was this true? Should Christians never be sick? Should we all be rich because we’re children of God? Something didn’t ring true. I had to go to the only place I knew would have the answer: my Bible. I knew that I had a bad feeling as I listened to Copeland, and I knew that God had urged me to turn him off. I wanted to know the truth.

I went to Acts in my Bible. I was sure I’d be able to see how the first Christians lived. I’d find out if they were prosperous and disease-free. What I found was what I suspected to be true. The Apostles were jailed, tortured, and ultimately killed, except for John. And he had been boiled in oil yet lived because of the Lord.

Then, I went to the Gospel of John to see what Jesus said about our lives as His followers.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Luke wrote:

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).

Revelation 21:4 says:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

We Share in the Sufferings of Christ

Suffering, tribulations, bearing our own cross, pain, crying, and death – well, this was a far cry from what I had heard Kenneth Copeland preaching. That was my first experience with discernment from the Lord. It was overwhelming to me to know that my heavenly Father protected me from the heresy I heard when I was a little more than a year old in Him! Many years later I realized that He had given me the Gift of Discerning of Spirits.

But brethren, don’t forget that every true child of God has some discernment, and as God’s child studies the Word of God diligently, he/she becomes more discerning.

I look around today, and I am shocked at the lack of discernment in many Christians. How could someone who was drawn by the Holy Spirit and born-again in Him listen to a motivational speaker like Joel Osteen and then rave about him as an amazing preacher? Really? Which part of “Your Best Life Now” would not be a big red flag that this man is NOT preaching the gospel of Christ?

How can a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ not know that the Emergent churches and now the New Apostolic Reformation churches/cults (NAR) are not God’s will? There are many reasons why millions have been drawn to these heretical teachers. But I think that the main reason that people are duped so quickly is that they are NOT reading their Bibles.

My Honesty is now called “Hate speech”

People who know me know that I’ll be honest with them, even if that means they might not like what I am saying. When I hear someone talk about Benny Hinn and how much they enjoyed his crusade and how many people were healed, I tell them the truth about him. I tell them that he is a fraud, that he talks to the dead, that he believes we are little gods, and that he says that God takes over his mind at times before he preaches, and doesn’t remember one word he has said. Our God is a God of order – not confusion. We know who is the author of confusion!

Should preachers live like kings in mansions? The only mansions I have read about in the Word are the ones Jesus is preparing for those who love Him. Christians have no problem seeing their favorite “preacher” living in a $10 million dollar estate. I am not saying that a pastor of a large church should live like a pauper. I am saying that a pastor who is living large is not the kind of shepherd I would ever want to be my pastor.

1 Timothy 6:10 says:

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Not “money” itself, but the Love of money. Money can be used in wonderful ways in the body of Christ. It’s when money becomes an idol – that is when it becomes the root of all evil.

The Mine Fields Called Christian Bookstores

Christian bookstores can be a nightmare for someone who lacks discernment. These stores are in business for the same reason anyone goes into business—to make money. One would hope that if one of these stores is owned by a blood-bought, born-again Christian, they would have a conviction about what is sold in their establishment. I have yet to find one like that.

The Shack

I remember when The Shack came out. I was in a Christian bookstore and picked up the book and scanned through it. I had the urge to hurl it across the store! I resisted that thought and put it down hard. The clerk gave me a strange look. I walked over and asked if she had read The Shack. The girl said, “Oh yes, it’s great, isn’t it?” OY. God, give me patience.

If you have not read The Shack, you are blessed. If you, because of my article, decide to look for it, I do hope that you will see it as garbage. I think more people need to be vocal. If you have discernment from God and you see a brother or sister lacking in discernment, help them!

Prosperity Preachers

I have discerned that the “prosperity” preachers are frauds. I have discerned that “name it and claim it” is not Scriptural. I have discerned that we will never be little gods. All of these teachings could be easily detected as heresy by simply looking in the Word.

People with itching ears like to hear what makes them feel good. The Bible is not a smorgasbord; pick what you like and leave the rest. The Bible is God’s Word to us. Everything we need to know about Him and about life is found within its pages. How amazing is that? The Creator of the Universe is our Father and wants us to know what is good for us and what is not!

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

All Scripture is God-breathed, and we must trust it – ALL OF IT – regardless of teachers such as Andy Stanley, who teaches that the inerrancy of the Word is “selective.” Brethren, this is devilish. If we go down that path, who is to say which Scriptures are inerrant and which are not? That is a very slippery slope and a lie from the pit of hell.

Itching Ears

Perhaps you have placed yourself under false teaching and have not repented and trusted Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sin. There are many preachers who love to tickle itching ears. Does your preacher speak about sin and how it separates us from God? Does he preach repentance – agreeing with God that you are a sinner and to turn away from it?

If he does not, then you are playing church. You sign up to help for every event. You may even teach Sunday School. You are a helper at every Vacation Bible School, and of course, you are on the clean-up team. These are all good things!

But if you think that doing these good deeds will get you into heaven, you have missed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How many good deeds are enough to gain entry into heaven when you die? Have you never seen this Scripture?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Bible says that God is sending “strong delusion” in these end times. The Bible makes it very clear why God is sending this delusion.”

“They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

So, if you think you lack discernment, could it be that you have neglected the reading of God’s Word? Perhaps after you study His Word, you will begin to apply what you’ve learned to your life. You may see that the preachers you have been relying on to impart wisdom from God’s Word have actually been preaching a different gospel.

That’s a scary thought, but isn’t it more scary to continue listening to empty and deceitful words?

Get right with God! He sent Jesus to die for you so that you could be reconciled to Him.

—————————————————————

For anyone who did not read the letter by Thomas Littleton – please do yourself a favor and make time to read this. YOU may be sitting in a church where the leadership has traded the truth of the Word of God for the lies of the enemy. Actually, YOU may have fallen for his lies as well. The devil is Evil, but he is also crafty:

“Betrayed: An Open Letter to the Church”

Trust Jesus for your salvation. Then pray for discernment as you read His Word.

Fast forward to 2025:

Think about this: Are you attending a church that hates Israel and Jews everywhere? As a Jewish believer in Christ, this shocks and saddens me that so many churches are now teaching hatred toward the Jewish people.

JESUS IS A JEW!

Lack of discernment from not reading His Word? BIG TIME!

How Can I Be Saved?

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA!!

Grandmageri422@gmail.com

Articles @grandmageri422.me

Inauguration Day: How the Wicked Squirm:: By Ron Ferguson

Published on: January 25, 2025 by RR10

THE WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

Bishop Bud, at the Prayer Service at the start of Inauguration Day, was asking President Trump to protect gay, lesbian, and transgender children, illegal immigrants, and people who pick our crops and clean our offices at the service at the Nation Cathedral of the Episcopalian Church of the USA. This Bishop (a woman who does not know her place) is an extreme activist and WOKE socialist, and the Trump and Vance Families were subjected to all this as they sat in that Cathedral. She was preaching directly at Trump’s position. What an evil ambassador for Satan that woman is.

I have never seen such selective cherry-picked sections of the Bible and then grossly misapplied. This was Satan delivering a sermon.

“And together in a free society, it is the solid rock, as Jesus said in this case, upon which to build a nation.” A total misquote. She continued to misquote the Bible, showing she is devoid of any biblical comprehension. My question is, “Who arranged that this service was to be held where it was, and who arranged this woman to do it?”

She then went on at length to speak about UNITY that respects our differences and to hold multiple perspectives and life experiences as valid. This is the old inclusion garbage over again where you hold to every distorted anti-biblical position in the name of conformity and unity. This Bishop claimed we must embrace all these “deviant positions” (my words) so that we can genuinely care for one another.

This woman is Satan’s voice in the Anglican/Episcopalian church, and it shows how far the so-called Christian testimony has sunk in our day. Biblical acceptance by God’s true saints rejects all this wicked false teaching in the churches. I will end this section here, but it is covered in this link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ5OXf2kqdw. What is good here in this video are the comments, and they are worth reading.

PRE-EMPTIVE PARDONS

President Biden was signing these apparently when Trump gave a speech right at the very, very end of his term so he would not face questioning. He has pardoned all his family members and Cheney and Milley and other criminals who would have faced prosecution but now will not. A President can pardon someone convicted, but a pre-emptive pardon has never been issued in the US history of Presidents. The person is pardoned before the criminal charge is made.

It all goes to show how guilty these people are, or else they would not need pardons. Biden and Harris are just so criminally corrupt that I am surprised God did not step in to condemn them while in office. Harris spent her 4 years touring the USA for one purpose only – to institute the murder of the unborn up to the day of birth. She worships Molech. Biden is a practicing criminal, in my mind, as I look at all that has emerged. Both are anti-Israel. That we know, and they rest with the curse of God on them. Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse. In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

What is wrong with the United States in its high offices of governance and the judiciary? It is all so corrupted. I can write as an outsider because I am not American, and I know some dismiss me because of that fact. That is sad, for I am still a child of God.

It is about time that many in the USA come to realize that is not THE WORLD, and much exists outside the USA and is just as legitimate and valid. We sit back and wonder how some of your rules and institutions exist. None of us can understand how a President can bypass law and justice and pardon whoever he wishes. It flies in the face of decency and fairness.

In pardoning others, Biden has condemned himself. Not only he and Hunter are criminally involved in crooked deals, but when one pardons criminals, then he will bear their guilt as well.

Issuing pre-emptive pardons even before a trial of any sort is like Satan issuing a pre-emptive pardon for Judas Iscariot and Haman of Persia and for Herod the Great so that they never go before the great white throne. Why not include General Titus, who murdered about a million Jews in AD 70? Man’s justice is not God’s justice.

TRUMP’S SPEECH

How refreshing that was to hear what is absolute common sense. His speech will raise eyebrows all over, of course, because we have gone so far down the path of sin and stupidity, but 100 years ago, his speech would have been accepted as normal.

I only hope that the USA can implement what is proposed. In Australia, we are so far down the road of socialism and anti-Semitism and hatred for our nation, with all politicians not willing to upset the apple cart, that we will not see this refreshing start again that Trump is proposing. Godlessness rules Australia today, as in the UK and all of Europe.

I am so glad Trump confirmed just two genders – Matthew 19:4 He answered and said, “Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female.” God has given us science and scientific principles that run the universe. One of those is DNA. A male has Y-DNA, and a female has mtDNA (mitochondrial). It is as simple as that. No argument. One or the other.

Satan is the promoter of confusion, and those in his camp who are far off from God will push for every distortion possible. We have a deeply confused world. All that WOKE stuff of the last two decades has radicals calling the shots, and in some nations, politicians are scared of them such as we have in my nation. I am glad to see some in the USA are being forceful for what is right and speaking out. I know this is because the United States has a stronger Christian base than Australia and Europe. We have very little. 1% may be born again.

ENTRENCHMENT

Entrenchment is the problem we are going to face in the coming days. We battle against godlessness and wickedness in high places, but it is so firmly entrenched that we wonder how the chains can be broken. Personally, I do not think these chains will be broken. Trump might be able to paint them white, but they are still chains. King Josiah was so godly, but the people remained wicked. And when we read Jeremiah, we see how nothing from Josiah or Jeremiah made any difference to Judah.

I have said a few times now that Trump is the last chance the USA has to return to God and the Rapture is so close. Trump’s agenda is urgent with so much to do. Clearly, the line between what is right and wrong will be evident, so if men and women do not repent, then the time for that is almost ended, and judgment awaits. No other option exists.

In very recent days, Congress voted on the Bill to stop transgender men from participating in women’s sports and breaking all the women’s sporting records. This is another devilish evil and distortion. We are speaking about entrenchment here. The result of the vote was this:

Supporting the Bill to abolish transgender men participating in women’s sports – Republicans 216 for and 0 against. 2 Democrats supported the Bill.

Opposing the Bill (that is, to allow transgender participation in women’s sports) – 206 Democrats. You can see how evil the Democrats are. The heart of the Democrats is black, for it resides in hell. That is not to say Republicans are angels! Far from it.

I think those of us who reside outside the USA are better informed than the general person in the US. I believe that is because we have more open News outlets and a more informed public, even though US pride may not like me saying that. I only hope Trump might be able to change your News Outlets because they are awful. CNN, MSNBC, ABC and all the rest. Our ABC in Australia, 100% taxpayer funded, is Marxist and disgraceful, but no political Party will change it. The Labor Party loves it, as do the Communist Greens, and the Liberal Party is too scared to change it.

People in the USA, stand up for your rights! I am glad to see you have more freedom than we have. Cherish it. Christians, get the message out and do it quickly because the time is short. I am so glad to see Trump will stop the rise of Islam and cut off these gangs and traitorous acts against your own people. The Australian Government (Labor Party) is importing all these Palestinians into the nation, and they are protesting and rioting here just like in France and the UK. The Labor Party has given about 100 million dollars to the Palestinian Authority, and that was channeled into Hamas weapons.

It will be very difficult to break entrenched practices in any of our nations. There are destructive people in the world like Newsom and Albanese and Starmer and Marcon, Putin and Xi. Only God can break entrenchment, but I think the time of spiritual prosperity for the West has gone. We are in the days of reprobation. This is my idea. You might think differently. I won’t mind.

In spite of the elation at Trump’s success, it must be remembered that around half the nation voted Democrat and hold to the ideals of the left. This is similar in a number of the world’s nations.

I watched some of the hearings that were going on for Trump’s selections for office, especially the disgraceful way Pam Bondi was treated. What I saw was a deep nastiness, a wickedness that permeated from the Democrat questioning, hate and attitude, especially from people like Senators Adam Schiff and Hirono from Hawaii.

Every decent person wants Trump to succeed, but remember this verse – Luke 11:17 “but He knew their thoughts, and said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and a house divided against itself falls.'” Failure will come for all man’s kingdoms sooner or later. We look forward to the Millennial Kingdom over which the Lord rules from Jerusalem. Do you know that could be as little as 7 years away?

RETURNING TO BIDEN

In Trump’s inauguration speech, he laid to rest the 4 failed years of Biden and Harris, and they sat only a few meters from him and had to listen to all of the reviews. Their failure was declared in public, and it served them right. They must have been squirming. Franklin Graham’s prayer did the same thing.

The USA has had some bad Presidents through history, but Biden would be the worst. He takes the cake. In every category you examine, Biden has been a failure and, in my opinion, even traitorous. But look at Security, Gender, Abortion, Defense, Lying (even about not pardoning his son), Vindictive (lawsuits against Trump), and hatred for Israel shared with Cackling Harris.

I watched a very good video by Ted Cruz that outlined the ways Biden’s policies were meant to undermine Israel. He was working for Israel’s ruin. Harris refused to meet with Netanyahu when he visited the USA. Marco Rubio filled in more on Israel’s lack of support from the USA. Ted Cruz did not hold back, and I like that about him. Trump, it is said, by moderate commentators, will be the best President ever for the support of Israel.

There are some good people Trump has put into office. I am really impressed with Pam Bondi. I do not know if any of these appointees are Christians. I have not been able to check that.

I hope this makes some sense. I am recovering from a major sinus and septum operation 2 days ago and not thinking clearly and bleeding as I do this, but I wanted to get this away while it is still topical. I hope it is logical.

God bless,

Ron