• Home
    • Contact Me
  • Statement of Faith
  • Prayer
  • This Is Me…
  • 30 Random Things About Me…

Gone Fishin'

~ …“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!”

Gone Fishin'

Tag Archives: spiritual discernment

Functional Family

21 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Devotional

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Baptism of the Holy Spirit, better Baptism, cooperative, divinely healthy, dysfunctional family, edifying, faith, friends, Functional Family, God's Children, God's holiness, God's Righteous Instructions, God’s righteousness, Holy Spirit's Filling, honorable, modern day churchgoers, nurturing, powerful, spiritual discernment, trust

Dysfuntional Family

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV

 

Without a doubt, many Christian churches have dysfunctional believers in them. Unfortunately, these dysfunctional brothers and sisters in Christ tend to rely on their own wisdom, understanding and knowledge—those pit lovers that end up pushing dysfunctional believers into their pits of their own making. In fact, most of the time these dysfunctional believers never will see their own imminent fall from Grace coming. Yet there they are—way off the path that leads to righteousness and holiness.

That a fall from Grace is possible for people who have been in a local church for years is why it is unwise to put our trust in our own or in churchgoers’ wisdom, understanding and knowledge. That a fall from Grace is possible also is a major reason why it is unwise to put our trust in the world’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Only God can provide us with His Perfected Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge that will point our feet in the right direction so that we can escape life’s dreadful pitfalls.

God wants dysfunctional believers to know that He has a divinely healthy and functional Family that He wants them to fellowship with on a daily basis. God’s Family members are the cooperative, powerful, edifying, nurturing, and honorable friends of righteousness and holiness. These functional spiritual Family members are eager to help their fellow brothers and sisters improve every area in their lives where godly Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge need to be applied.

Since Godly Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge are closely related and well acquainted with each other’s characteristics, this truth is why God wants all believers in Christ not only to be intimately familiar with them but also to use them. God wants all dysfunctional believers to begin to function properly so that His Household of Faith only will have effective witnesses for Christ.

In order for all dysfunctional family members to become familiar with God’s divinely healthy and functional Family—the Bride of Christ—they first need to surrender to the Lord and to the Holy Spirit. Then they absolutely have to allow the Holy Spirit to baptize them. They need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, because it helps all believers keep their spiritual eyes on the Omnipresent God; seek and apply His Holy Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge; trust in His Righteous Instructions; and discern where they can fellowship with others who are doing the same. Shalom. 

Keep it real…Live it out…Watch it work!

 

~ from my one-year devotional published in 2015—Keeping It Real: Daily Renewing the Mind

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Beware Of The Ditches False Shepherds Dig

28 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Faith and Wisdom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

barren withered and dry pastures, blind leading the blind, broad road, ditches, False Shepheds, False Spiritual Leaders, leaven metaphor for hypocrisy, Lord's voice, mini-parable, Pharisees and Sadducees outward religiosity, spiritual discernment, tree known by fruit

“And he spake a parable unto them, ‘Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch’” (Luke 6:39, KJV; cf. Matthew 15:14).

The reason why we need the Holy Spirit’s spiritual gift of discernment is because in the “institutional” church there are many sheep-looking hirelings/goats (false teachers, false preachers, false evangelists, false apostles, false pastors, false Christs, and so forth). We sheep, then, cannot trust that a sheep, is a sheep, is a sheep!  Sheep’s clothing can deceive, which is why—as a result of spiritually blind sheep following other spiritually blind sheep ahead of them, solely based on their outward physical appearance—the spiritually blind just end up leading the spiritually blind into a ditch (cf. Luke 6:39; Matthew 15:14).

Jesus Christ taught His blind leading the blind mini-parable about the Pharisees and Sadducees who had an outward appearance of religiosity (they thought they were holier and more righteous than their Lord) but inwardly were as rotten as rotten could be. These Jewish religious leaders had no spiritual fruit emanating from their heart, because the Holy Spirit of God was not in them. Thus, the people who were following these wicked religious leaders by sight eventually would end up becoming just as rotten, inwardly, because the leaven (hypocrisy) of the Pharisees and Sadducees would infect (affect) everyone with whom they come in contact (cf. Matthew 16:6, 11-12; Mark 8:14-21; Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). 

The point here is that believers spiritually must be able to discern their Lord’s “voice,” because He is the ONLY Good Shepherd. Indeed, the Scriptures tell sold out for Christ believers that the Lord’s sheep will know HIS voice! Scriptures also say that HIS sheep can discern the difference between their Lord’s voice—HIS TRUTH, which is the entire WORD of God—and the strangers/hirelings’ voices—their “truths,” which often are examples of worldly wisdom or their own misinterpretations of the Word of God (or a combination of the two). Additionally, by the aid of the Holy Spirit and with the supernatural spiritual gift of discernment, Scriptures reveal to believers that Jesus Christ’s sheep not only can discern the difference between HIS voice and the voices of false Christs, false prophets, false teachers, false shepherds/pastors, and so forth, but also the Lord’s sheep immediately will flee from the presence of strangers/hirelings simply because they don’t know strangers/hirelings’ voices (cf. John10:4-5).

The bottom line is this: Jesus Christ’s voice is the ONLY way for today’s sheep to be able to distinguish between the voice of a true Christian (a sheep) or the voice of a pretend believer (a goat), because the Lord’s voice ALWAYS speaks absolute TRUTHS, which He can speak directly from His mouth, or through His Logos/the unadulterated written WORD. The Good Shepherd also can speak His absolute TRUTHS directly by way of the Holy Spirit’s prompting, leading and teaching, or indirectly from the lips of His faithful servants. However the Good Shepherd speaks, His sheep will know that His spoken Words will lead them to safe, secure, cultivated and well-stocked pastures, where spiritual nourishment and spiritual refreshment abundantly flow.  

His spoken Words also will warn His sheep to look out for the ditches false shepherds, and other false spiritual leaders, dig by way of their polluted brands of truth—lies and hypocrisies that cause naïve sheep to fall into the dug ditches. Then too, the Lord’s spoken Words will warn His sheep to watch out for the unprotected, barren, grassless, and arid pastures that false shepherds, and other fake spiritual guides, lead naïve sheep to, where no spiritual nourishment or spiritual refreshment can flow! In essence, the Lord wants His sheep to be alert and spiritually discerning so that, when they hear “unknown” voices, they will have the common sense to flee from the presence of those false shepherds (pastors), false teachers, false prophets, false Christs, and the like.

In a nutshell, what the Lord’s blind leading the blind mini-parable alludes to is this proverbial expression: Without prophetic vision people perish. Put differently, there is no way a spiritually blind guide can teach others how to see their faults, if the guide has been blinded by his/her own faults. Thus, this mentioned proverbial wisdom, along with the already described unsafe, barren, withered, and dry pastures both point to the metaphorical “ditches” the Good Shepherd says His sheep will avoid, as long as they let His Voice guide them (cf. Proverbs 29:18)! A word to the wise should be sufficient!  AMEN.

For additional information, please read my blog entries: Logos vs. Rhema and A Sheep, IS a Sheep, IS a Sheep?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen

Sanctified Child

KEEN Blogging Days

January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Dec    

KEEN (Weekly) Top Posts

  • 15 January 2019 – 111th Founders’ Day for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • 110th Anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • It Is Very Meaningful, When God Speaks A Name Twice
  • HARPAZO (Rapture, Take, Snatch, Force, Pull, Pluck, Catch, Catch Up, Catch Away) Scriptures
  • Understanding The Full Significance of God’s First Fruits Command
  • Our Deepest Fear: The New Age Philosophy/Spiritualism in Coach Carter
  • Proverbial Wisdom from Three Wise Monkeys
  • The Bride of Christ’s Inner, Upper, and Outer Garments
  • Christian Snobbery: So, You’re Better Than Other Believers, Because You’re . . .
  • Raptures = Firstfruits’ Harvests of Souls

KEEN Topics

Awards Bible Prophecy Bible Study Devotional Faith and Wisdom Heartbreak Heavenly Insights National Tragedy Natural Disasters Poetry Praises and Thanks Published Book Reblogged Review Spiritual Tribute Uncategorized

Published Book Author

Perfect Peace, published 2-19-2015; collection of my Haiku poetry

Published Book Author

Keeping It Real..., published 10-20-2015; collection of my devotions

My Newest Book

My Spirit's Musings, published 1-9-2017; collection of mostly Free Verse poems

My Mini-Memoir

My mini-memoir deals with love, loss, and forgiveness. Published July 26, 2018.

My Third Collection of Poetry

Moody Woman - published January 12, 2020

My Spirit’s Musings Press Release

Captivating New Xulon Verses Remind Believers Why Only a Christlike Life Reflects God’s Image - Reverend Keen of Deeper Walk Ministries Lyrically Addresses Christlikeness

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award

Deeper Walk Ministries Logo

Serving Others Ministry

KEEN Created Graphic

Fruit of the Spirit

KEEN Created Graphic

Lone Voices Suffer

KEEN Created Graphic

AKA Haiku

KEEN Created Graphic

KEEN Social Media

  • View preachingwoman’s profile on Facebook
  • View sanctifiedchild’s profile on Twitter

KEEN Twitter Followers

My Tweets

KEEN Posts Liked

  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Epiphany on Three Kings’ Day… on Gone Fishin'
  • Rotten Apple Award on Words Like Honey
  • Labor of Love~1989 on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Wordless Wednesday on Words Like Honey
  • Free Write Friday on Words Like Honey

KEEN Community of Friends/Visitors

KEEN Blogging History

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • June 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009

KEEN Visits

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: