Bible Study

Discernment, Gossip, Slander, Persecution

Discernment:  perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding.  Also used to describe discerning the Holy Spirit from demonic entities.

Gossip:  casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

Slander:  to make false and damaging statements about someone.

Persecution:  hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.

Philippians 1:9-11 

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And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,  so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Psalm 119:66 Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on Your commands.

Proverbs 28:11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

Leviticus 19:16 You must not go about spreading slander among your people; you must not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am Yahweh.

Psalm 101:5 I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor; I cannot tolerate anyone with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart.

Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Luke 6:22 You are blessed when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man.

Romans 1:29-31

They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,  slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.

1 Corinthians 4:13 when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world’s garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals.

Ephesians 4:30-32

And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.  And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Colossians 3:8 But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.

1 Peter 2:1  So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

Matthew 5:11-12

rewards_in_heaven

You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Love_enemies

Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Matthew 24:3-14

While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

warheadswarheads2earthquakeEmpty_Store_Shelves

 

Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.  You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these events are the beginning of birth pains.

Stoney_Hearts

“Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.  Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another.  Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.

 

love_endures_all_things

But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.

Christian_Persecution

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Matthew 12:22-32

blasphemy_against_the_holy_Spirit

Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see.  And all the crowds were astounded and said, “Perhaps this is the Son of David!”

When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “The man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

Knowing their thoughts, He told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.  If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?  And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges.  If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.  How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.  Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.  Because of this, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.

Consider a look at these two perspectives on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_439.cfm

https://billygraham.org/answer/what-is-the-unpardonable-sin-i-am-afraid-i-may-have-committed-it/

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus – Sweetest Name I Know”

Welcome to the blog. This is a place for Bible Study, fellowship, prayer, praise and to share true news, dreams and visions. Most of the posts reference scripture from the Holman Christian Standard version. Please consider reading all of the chapters referenced here. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you with the version you are using, as many versions have been modified and sometimes changes are made based on who the publisher is.

my_trash_can

The virtual trash can is used to hold: snarks, foul language, prophetic mixtures, gossip, slander, doctrines of demons, false teachings, confusion, false accusations, debates and anything that attempts to bring in discord.

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57 thoughts on “Discernment, Gossip, Slander, Persecution”

  1. This post is a hard case for anyone dealing daily with people. How many times a day does not one inadvertly say something that might be contrary to these guidelines.

    I can be honest and say it happens to me! But i can also say that i pray for forgivness for my sins every night before sleep and for my family.

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  2. Again, an excellent post James. I agree with Stig too, daily repentance, bad days may be by the hour….lol……….not for the spoken words but when that “oh so familiar” battle of the heart wounds when mocking arises..
    Sharper and quicker! That is what Holy Spirit is doing in the area of discernment in body.

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  3. Haven’t read this one yet…just checking in to say hi, enjoy this beautiful day. That’s where I’m going, to enjoy God’s beauty outside. But I can tell by the comments, it’s another good post ( as always) and one needed by me!

    Prayers & Blessings for all,
    Vicki

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  7. Daily Devotional — 10/2/17 — FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES

    And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25
    Hatred of her enemies is something Takoosh Hovsepian, the wife of an Iranian pastor murdered in 1994 no longer has. She says: “I’ve learned a lesson at God’s University about how to love your enemies.”

    As a teenager, Takoosh prayed that she might be allowed to marry a pastor, so that she could spend her life in the service of God. Her wish was fulfilled, but the way would not be easy.

    Her husband, Pastor Haik Hovsepian, was forty-eight years old when one day he did not come home. After twelve days, it became apparent that he had been killed at the behest of the Iranian government. About that time, four other Iranian pastors were also murdered in a cowardly way. They refused to sign an official declaration that they would not evangelize among Muslims.

    In Iran, ninety-eight percent of the population is Muslim. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in particular, the problems for Christians became increasingly great.

    Takoosh says, “During the revolution, hundreds of people threatened to set fire to the churches, which fortunately did not happen. The Islamic government does not want Muslims to go to church and evangelism among them is forbidden.”

    Pastor Hovsepian held important positions in the Iranian Church. On various occasions, he stated that he was willing to go to the utmost for his faith and for the church. His wife reflects, “Haik repeatedly said, ‘We don’t have to be afraid. We must trust in God.’ But in my heart, I was afraid. Haik was full of love for people, even for his Muslim neighbours. They were welcome at the church; they knew that he would help them even in times of difficulty.”

    The day that Haik left to collect a friend from the airport and never came back is deeply engraved on the memory of the widow and her children. At the police station, the eldest son, Joseph, was only shown a photo of his father. According to the police, the body of Pastor Hovsepian had been found in an alleyway in Teheran.

    Takoosh says, “I only had hatred in my heart, hatred for my enemies who had murdered Haik. I was not able to forgive them. I prayed with my lips, ‘God, give me the strength to forgive,’ but before I prayed, in my imagination I saw myself throwing mud at them. But one day a miracle happened. God taught me how I could forgive my enemies. I was asking for something which on the deepest level I did not want to ask for. But gradually, in a process of ups and downs which took months, God gave me the strength to pray more and more with my heart for those who had murdered my husband. God answered this prayer.

    “Then I was no longer praying only with my lips, but from the depths of my heart. I had learned not only to trust in God and to lean on Him, but also how I can forgive my enemies.”

    RESPONSE: Today I will forgive offences against me so God will forgive my sins.

    PRAYER: Pray for many Christian brothers and sisters of the persecuted church who have difficulty forgiving those who hurt them or their family.

    Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

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    1. One of the things Minister Paul talks about is how the Lord is truly angry with all of the False Prophets. Woe unto those claiming to be speaking for the Lord and have given out false information, including those setting dates! Anyone claiming to be speaking for the Lord and is contradicting scripture — REPENT! REPENT! REPENT!

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      1. I listened twice to the message to catch it all. The wind really stood out. All he said did but the wind has a personal confirmation.
        And this the day before the Vegas attack…

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  9. Praise The Lord.
    I am giving testimony to the awesome healing power of the Lord through faith. My tooth infection is healing very well. My dog Cody’s intestinal problems are also healing at the same time. I have arthritis in my entire body, including my spine — praise The Lord, as he’s been keeping the pain at a very low-level without any medication 🙂
    I am thankful to be given the opportunity with much needed rest during this time of infection recovery.

    I am keeping many people in prayers for healing, conviction & salvation, discernment, clarity, wisdom, peace, Holy Spirit guidance, and for many needing deliverance from various things such as(demonic attachments, false doctrines, religious spirit, prophetic mixtures, gossip, slander, unforgiveness, hatred, anger, continuation in sin by belief in once saved always saved, new age beliefs, …..).
    Please feel free to add your request here or send me a private email.

    Blessings to you all.

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  13. The Vegas attack smells fishy to me. The guy who did it was a former employ of Lockheed-Boeing. A hotbed of source where shooters of different kind emerge from. The woman they sought looked like a filipina, possibly a moslem connection to Isis through Abu Sayaf.

    This smells like a black falseflag operation from beginning to end.

    These shootings are geared to make the masses to panic. To allow for emotional pleads to restrict freedoms especially 2:nd amendment freedoms in the Us.

    Fishy this smells or a judgement indeed. But this does not fit to my knowledge any pattern the Lord makes judgement on nations.

    Maybe someone knows better?

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    1. I agree as well. The more events they create, the more reason to justify disarming U.S. Citizens and making it easier for another form of Government to take control.

      I watched a video that someone tries to show the levels of secret federal agencies that are actually in control of the United States. I think his name is Kevin Shipp and claims to be a former CIA employee. There’s many youtube videos out there. He talks about “Shadow Government” and “Deep State”.

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  14. I agree. There is so much info on watching Vegas due to a rigged boxing match = stir up racism etc. And those interviewed are just fake. I saw a photo of officers hiding behind their squad car, armed, looking up towards shooter. Standing app 10 ft behind was a civilian man looking at his phone…….towards the back of the car, two civilians just there………..

    The sad part is more people are being killed with the staged events. Also, the actors seem as though it’s just an everyday thing in life

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    1. The speaker of the White house already tipped their hand on what to expect. Restrictions on gun laws!

      I never owned a gun but i understand its necessity in keeping liberty! The Spirit of the Lord first peacemaker the second the sword in your hand for defense.

      Not offense, lets make that clear!

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      1. Stig, all,
        I should have seen more to this sooner. Still a late bloomer when it comes to understanding dreams and visions. Some are just plain as day, others though……….The night/morning before the shooting, I had a dream/clip. It was very odd and very short:
        There was an old box, I couldn’t tell if it was wooden, cardboard etc. It was app 24″ X 30.” In it was numerous AR clips strewn about. There was heavy dust, dirt on many of the magazine clips……but some were not as dusty/dirty………

        When I woke up at 2, I didn’t remember the dream right away. I wasn’t feeling great and opened up the PC to see the shooting. I asked Holy Spirit if that was part of the dream but no there was more and I don’t have an answer yet……..

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    2. I’m questioning how they got to the shooter so fast. I’m also wondering why the singer on stage just walked off without making some sort of announcement. He had the mic why not warn people to run for cover? One life, it could have saved one life. He just stopped playing and ran.

      I agree, smells fishy.

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  17. From Bette Stevens — 10/3/17 (Pay close attention, as much scripture is given on this one) —

    October 3,2017

    And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us……..This word came to me
    this morning and It is strictly Scripture……Please take heed as the Lord is emphasizing the answer to many questions that have arisen out of what has just occured over a succession of weeks.

    I gave a warning not too long ago that we needed to pay attention to after September and of course it has come to pass with what recently happened in Nevada and just going into the month of October……This is “only ” the begining…..

    Thus saeth the Lord,yes,this is one of those…Pay close attention please to what is being said through the Scriptures……..Understanding the severity of judgments now because repentance was not done.”.on a national level”…….Now what do I mean by that???The
    church in this nation and we have many churches and denominations did not fully repent.It starts with the churches nationally and then on to the government etc………The church is and has
    always been the backbone of this nation,I am talking in regard to America……It should be that way everywhere….however ,be that as it may,nothing has changed,and because nothing has changed we must look to judgement to fall based on the kinds of sin going on.
    (idolatry,pornography,fornication,any and all sexual immorality,abortions and anything and everything that comes against the word of God..)Do you get the point,???
    Therefore judgement stands and we have furthered strayed away than most people realize,and that being our first love..(Jesus)
    So here we go::::::I will not be referencing every Scripture,but highlighting those the Lord would have me write..Please keep in mind America…..

    Ezekiel 5:6-14 And she has changed my judgments,into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her.for they have refused my judgments ,they have not walked in them….. Therefore THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,Because you have multiplied more than the nations, that are round about you,and have not walked in my statutes,neither have kept my judgments,neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round
    about you, Therefore thus SAITH THE LORD GOD,Behold I,even I ,am against thee,and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. And I will do in thee that which I have not done,and where unto I will not do anymore the like ,because of all thine abominations.
    Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee and the sons shall eat their fathers.and I will execute judgments in thee,and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
    Wherefore,as I live,SAITH THE LORD GOD,because thy has defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things and with all thine abominations,therefore,will I also diminish thee,neither
    shall mine eye spare,neither I have any pity…..

    A third part of the shall die with the pestilence,and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee,and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee,and I will scatter a third part into all the winds and I will draw out a sword after them….
    Thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them.and I will be comforted and they shall know,that I ,the Lord have spoken it in my zeal.when I have accompolished my fury in them…
    Moreover ,I will make thee waste and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee,in the sight of all that pass by…..

    Please take time to read this entire chapter and let it sink in…….

    He then tells me to continue…..Even so in all of this is a small body ,bride He will leave……
    Ezekeil 6:8,10 Yet will I leave a remnant ,that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations,when ye shall be scattered through the countries.
    And they shall know that I am the Lord,and that I have not said in vain,that I would do this evil unto them…….
    End of Transcript……

    Please pray on this,repent ,keeping a repentant heart daily,keeping love between one another,as God is building his church,true one,we are going to come into unity,this is the remnant that will bust forth very soon…..This is the time of great things ,that God has promised,,,,but at the same time ,there are things that are not going to be great,to cleanse the earth of sin and its filthiness.

    Make sure you have that close relationship,first with Him and then with others……We are the labors in the field,we must speak or forever hold our peace,the choice is yours…..
    We are God’s mouth piece,His ambassadors,and there is much work to be done…….God is looking for those who will answer the call.SEND ME….Make way,the return of the Lord………

    A final note:Watch,pray and be ready always for things are changing and we need to make surewe are right before a Holy God…….Don’t put it off….

    Please feel free to share as you like…….

    God bless you

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    1. Update from Bette —
      I am to add this Scripture:::::
      Ezekeil 2:5And they ,whether they will hear,or whether they will forebear,(for they are a rebellious house) yet shall know that there hathbeen a prophet among them

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  20. Sonshine, sometimes it takes time for the dream interpretations. The ones I remember vividly, I write them in a journal. I am still waiting on the interpretation of one I had about a week ago with: Vintage Rope, Potato Sack and Wooden Wheels in what looked like and old Barn with a dirt floor.

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      1. Since I moved here in April 2017, I’ve encountered mini versions of a power grid failure. We were without power yesterday from 2pm – 8pm; no explanation given; no lightning strikes. It’s a great reminder to Praise The Lord during any kind of storms we encounter. I viewed yesterday as additional training for what we all will encounter soon. Who knows, maybe the dreams I had were all related to living without electricity, communications devices…. etc.

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  22. Habakkuk 2:8
    Since you have plundered many nations,
    all the peoples who remain will plunder you—
    because of human bloodshed
    and violence against lands, cities,
    and all who live in them.

    Habakkuk 3:17-19
    Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines,
    though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
    though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
    yet I will triumph in Yahweh;
    I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
    Yahweh my Lord is my strength;
    He makes my feet like those of a deer
    and enables me to walk on mountain heights!

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    1. My thoughts…I agree with what he’s saying 100%’. I felt as soon as this story broke and I expressed to my husband the same concern about using this breach. I specifically mentioned our SS cards and how they may say we need something different…and that could lead to a chip or some other id.

      I think their game is completely transparent at this point…it doesn’t take much to follow what they’re up too. So I’m not at all surprised, I’m sure none of you are either. It’s coming.

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    2. I believe it is also James. I know the Lord warned me that voter ID’s would be stolen/hacked. Interesting the CO dept already sent me a letter telling me my voter info, SS, DOB etc was hacked yet they didn’t “believe” it was much of a concern……

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  29. Censorship has taken on a new level. I sent an email to some with no internet of how out of control antifa is. There were many YouTube videos/major cities. Pulled also.

    I wish I could post photos etc on here. This morning, in the wind via Bette. Denver local shows radar of junk on NW. Says butterflies could have caused this …oh my…
    What a lie…
    I took photos of our cam and have never seen so much junk in the air. Looked like a blizzard is what my husband said yet it’s just light fog. Everyone’s sick in this area. Praying over them all.
    Those who think it butterflies in particular

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  32. Glynda said many people have received a warning in their spirit that they are to be martyred within 2 years. Hard to say anything about that. But i myself have a feeling that i myself or My surrounding will be totally different in some time. I dont have any specifics but i can just tell that something is happening and that My words are growing bolder every day at work to My colleagues.

    Im praying they will get bold enough…….Jesus bold in fact and id appreciate prayers on this 😀

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