There is a difference between being prepared and being paranoid!
Deliverance, discernment, and deception are areas that we must not be ignorant in the final days.
Discernment is the God-given ability to distinguish:
Truth from error
Good from evil
God’s Voice from other voices
The Holy Spirit from deceptive spirits
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 5:
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the Word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Discernment develops through Spiritual maturity and practice. Those who have priorities that don’t include increasing in the knowledge of GOD, praying earnestly, and seeking HIS Face, they will only partake of milk at best.
The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st John chapter 4:
1 Delightfully Loved friends, don’t trust every spirit, but carefully examine what they say to determine if they are of God, because many false prophets have mingled into the world.
2 Here’s the test for those with the genuine Spirit of God: they will confess Jesus as the Christ Who has come in the flesh.
3 Everyone who does not acknowledge that Jesus is from God has the spirit of antichrist, which you heard was coming and is already active in the world.
4 Little children, you can be certain that you belong to God and have conquered them, for the One Who is living in you is far greater than the one who is in the world.
5 They belong to this world and they articulate the spirit of this world, and the world listens to them.
6 But we belong to God, and whoever truly knows God listens to us. Those who refuse to listen to us do not belong to God. That is how we can know the difference between the spirit of Truth and the spirit of deceit.
Not every spiritual manifestation is from God. It is vital that we be led by The Holy Spirit and not be taken in by unusual events and manifestations.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 1:
9 And this I pray, that your Love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
Paul prays that believers develop discernment.
Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 3:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
Discernment begins with dependence upon God rather than human reasoning alone!
Paul also wrote in 1st Corinthians chapter 12:
6 The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as He energizes and activates them.
7 Each believer is given continuous revelation by the Holy Spirit to benefit not just himself but all.
8 For example: The Spirit gives to one the gift of the Word of Wisdom. To another, the same Spirit gives the gift of the Word of revelation knowledge.
9 And to another, the same Spirit gives the gift of faith. And to another, the same Spirit gives gifts of healing.
10 And to another the power to work miracles. And to another the gift of prophecy. And to another the gift to discern what the Spirit is speaking. And to another the gift of speaking different kinds of Tongues. And to another the gift of interpretation of Tongues.
11 Remember, it is the same Holy Spirit Who distributes, activates, and operates these different gifts as He chooses for each believer.
Discernment is a Spiritual gift that helps identify spiritual influences and activity. It is not restricted to special individuals but is given to each of us who have matured to the point of being fully led by THE SPIRT.
If there was ever a time we need to be Spiritually discerning, it is now!