Discernment and discipline

*Discernment*As we are approaching the end of the age, the Holy Spirit will do more and more work in the church. The deluding spirits of the world are also at work. See the following if you wish not to be deceived.*1* A deceptively passionate experience*2* Emphasizing a point without balance (extremism)*3* Pharisaism*4* CultistsWhere the Holy Spirit is at work, the enemy is also at work. So don't accept what you see and hear. Be discerning. As the Holy Spirit moves among us, there may be stirrings and speaking with a loud voice. But it does not help to get rid of the fear in people.Passions are gifted to us by God so we should not underestimate them but at the same time we should not value them too much. Because God sees our hearts and not our emotions. It is good that you pray with a loud voice because you have forgotten about those around you. It is like praying with your eyes closed so that when you pray you can concentrate your mind completely and not be disturbed by others.Such actions may not make you more spiritual but you will be freed from the circumstances around you. The power of the Holy Spirit is not manifested by our shouting but we manifest the power of the Holy Spirit through holy living and powerful ministry in the church and by being unashamed witnesses for the Lord in the area where we work.There is a lot of power in the human soul (power through intellect, passion and will). Many believe that by practicing these (like yoga) they will gain the power of the Holy Spirit. Don't be fooled by such power. That is how you can discover this deception because the Holy Spirit always glorifies Christ alone and never glorifies men or apparitions.*Discipline**"God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love, of a sound mind"* (2 Timothy 1:7). The Holy Spirit removes all fear and timidity from us and replaces it with power, love, and self-control. Without discipline (control of the senses) no one can be truly spiritual. Hope is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23) A life without discipline is like a vessel that leaks.How many times has that vessel been filled and it's empty again? It should be filled again and again. We should be particularly disciplined in three things. 1. Your body 2. Your time and 3. Your money.*To mortify the deeds of the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit* says Romans 8:13. These are not deliberate sins. For example, in the matter of eating too much or sleeping too much or in laziness or talking too much etc. the things we do by not controlling things. The Holy Spirit specifically wants us to control our tongues (words).Ephesians 5:16 tells us to make the most of our time. If you discipline yourself, you will not waste time and use that time to meditate on scriptures. I am not saying that you should not rest or play games etc. You should not become a monk because that will lead you into bondage.Just as the disciples lifted the loaves into the 12 sheaves without losing anything, we should also make some from time to time (John 6:12). Try to use your time as much as possible but don't be foolish about it. Be relaxed.Lord Jesus said in Luke 16:11 that God will not give true spiritual riches to those who are not faithful about money. The first step is to pay off all debts without cheating and to be righteous about money. The second step is to be faithful about money, not to spend wastefully, to seek too many comforts and not to spend money unnecessarily.Remember that Christians who allow the discipline of the Holy Spirit in their lives will receive the best from God.*Author*Zac Poonen