How to Deepen Your Discernment

The following program is recorded content created by the Truth Network. So how can we grow in our spiritual discernment stage for the line of fire with your host activist all the international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and president of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire valves like always 866-34-TRUTH that's 866-34-TRUTH your Jim is Dr. Michael Brown thanks friends for joining us today on the line of fire as we serve as your ace moral sanity and spiritual clarity here to build you up, strengthen you, so you can stand strong for the Lord I will talk to today about keys to strengthening growing deepening your spiritual discernment first so that we give you the phone number and I then open the phones for any question of any kind. So just like we do on Friday you got questions. We got answers to questions on any subject that you want to call in on as we have time to address things, 866-3423. If you have a hard time getting through on Friday if the phone lines are too busy. This is a great day to call in 866-348-7884.

All right I was looking at our schedule.

Seems we have any interviews coming up today, no interview scheduled with you what's happening in the world around us to want to focus on that.

It's on God's heart was really on my heart to share with you got a massive body out there so many different things that God is doing all the time. What's our role on the air today as I saw this, I reflected as I pray that I thought it would just be really helpful to spend some time on the subject of spiritual discernment. Now, what's interesting is that there will be critics.

Those who believe that I'm off because I'm charismatic because of certain people I work with in the charismatic movement and that they said Brown.

You have no discernment whatsoever. Can you talk to us about discernment, that will I find fascinating with that is, the Bible is so overwhelmingly clear about the power of the spirit and the necessity of the power of the spirit in the place of the gifts of the spirit.

And since there is not a single verse in the entire New Testament telling us not to seek these things were. Is there versus saying to earnestly seek the gifts and that all should be able to prophesy her all should pursue prophecy that we should forbid tongues that it should be a regular thing in our assemblies to pray for the sick and to see them heal for the oldest pray for the sick and see them heal and as God is moving mightily around the world literally hundreds and hundreds of millions of people around the world have been touched in the life and power of the spirit today and believe in the grace and power. The spirit today.

I find it interesting that the critics who accuse me of lack of discernment. In my view are are missing a massive work of the spirit around the world and are misinterpreting a large portion of very significant Scripture through the new the New Testament so you could argue both ways will who's lacking in discernment, but my goal is not to defend myself and not to throw stones rather just say here's what I have seen is scripturally practical.

This is what has worked in my own life over the decades to keep me out of falling into deception getting involved in some kind of cult or following some false and dangerous leader and why this is been on my mind lately as well. As I picked up a biography about Jim Jones People's Temple with engine mass suicide/murder of 900 here incident in Guyana and I just started reading about his life and wanted to see how far off. He got how quickly how did he stray how is it that so many follow him in the midst of the massive deception that he lived in the midst of his delusions of him being some God incarnate type individual in the midst of his own since his sexual sins and his abuse of power and his manipulative false miracles and all of that is dangerous and hellish and ugly is that once there other things that drove him socialism being at the heart of it, but really trying to work for racial equality really trying to work with the rights of the poor is a white man standing in in impoverished black communities. It is been subject to racism for so many years and it seemed that he really believed in that. In other words, that that was really important to him, and as much as there was his own pride and ego built into it. There was a lot of good that he was doing and people were drawn not just because the alleged miracles and all of that but because this was a community really trying to live this out in significant ways in ways that got the attention of local governments and and in ways that that really was true really were true and real. Even his own family of adopted children went when he adopted an African-American boy was the first African-American child to be adopted by white family in the state. It was a historic moment in and he really did seek to live a lot of things out so the lesson is there always going to be some kinds of mixtures is as it's been said deception is very deceiving and throughout Scripture there warnings about don't be deceived. Don't be deceived. Don't be deceived.

Don't be deceived back in 2008 when what was known as the Lakeland revival began. I was excited to hear reports from people that I knew about the presence of God coming in extraordinary ways. In worship, was excited to hear about people being touched was very concerned when I heard the main vessel, the main man preaching was Todd Bentley's years earlier. I've been involved with his board with some issues of of sin in his life because we cheat it step down for a season. I had concerns in terms of his scriptural foundations in his moral foundations but also felt from the Lord just don't touch this. Don't get involved, but I didn't Journal. This is an accident waiting to happen. I knew as one of the leaders in the Browns revival called into service in the revival of the months in conservatively with three other main leaders than a whole team. I knew the attack. We were under I'm intensity hold of battle as her comments were not certain spiritual positions and soon I learned is that the other main citizens in accident I knew what had happened. I concerns of us and then when I saw the conference advised her to visit charismatic reason I looked. It is the main citizens accident is not an exciting acknowledged tabs on him and he is laying hands on his audience and identifies a current Asia service medal you want to look resiliently embarrassing is excellent as long and she insisted that you have. You have to watch that you can check this is happening is as difficult as it is to watch terribly grievous and then right after that, the whole thing collapsed that he was found to be in sin, and so on and so forth and I will bring about in my book authentic far.

I talked about that. My feeling that my feeling is this happen and knowing some of the leaders involved in knowing them to be people of integrity and God fearing it and bear good fruit in ministry in so many ways that I looked at this and said this is like a public judgment on the charismatic church and our lack of discernment. I wrote about playing with holy fire as a charismatic talk about abuses within our movement at the same time I see all the good that God is doing and just as I will work with someone who is a non-charismatic and work with someone who is a Calvinist and and on moral and cultural issues at work in the conservative Catholic and so people arrive very different views. Some closely within the body. Some more extreme cases, I can work together if I can I'll do that in the way have differences I've differences and then where would cause me to cross a line to work with someone I won't do it and I will always try to correct behind the scenes, but I want to draw your attention's to Hebrews chapter 5 Hebrews chapter 5 and and I want to give you practical slots on how we can all grow in discernment. We don't have to be deceived so Hebrews chapter 5 we have much to say about this about earthly priesthoods and things like this and in the superior priest of the Messiah, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you know want to try to understand. In fact, the by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food in their lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness, but solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. So this is Hebrews saying that we should be growing in knowledge and understanding, and in discernment and able to recognize the good and reject the evil before Jesus rebuked the church of Ephesus.

In Revelation 2 for leaving their first love.

He said to the believers.

There you have tested those who claim to be apostles and are not so. So they tested first Thessalonians 5. Speaking of prophetic words is don't despise prophecy. Test everything. Hold to be good. Don't quench the Spirit's fire. Don't despise prophecy. Don't put out the fire.

The spirit inspiring these prophecies but test everything and hold fast to that which is good.

So the very first fundamental is to be soundly safe. In other words, to not just be a churchgoer to not just be someone who had a religious background, who once prayed a prayer of profession of faith, but to truly and genuinely know the Lord.

In other words there. There were people that were trying to disciple and help grow who's never truly been born again who do not actually have an ongoing relationship with God. So this may be self-evident, but I want to start their there needs to be the foundation of a real genuine relationship with the Lord.

Everything starts there but you say okay I have that relationship. I know I'm born again, a normal child of God will be the next fundamental thing is to be people of the work people of the work. Hebrews 412 tells us that the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword that pierces to the very division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it's a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart will look at Psalm 119.

In the moment and unlimited calls through the show, 866-348-7884.

Any question of any kind on any subject that relates in any way to the line of fire including if you differ with me on something. The phone lines are open but being people of the word. I always recommend worms I and Birdseye Birdseye is keep reading through the Bible. If you do it once a year. If you read several chapters a day, but keep reading through the Bible as a life pattern so you always have the Birdseye you never lose track of the larger narrative in the stories and crews in the more Maasai things that really interest you do extra study dig in deeper. A doctrine of book seem more and if that's an ongoing habit you seem to be a doer and not only here grounded in the word that will need out a whole lot of dangerous deception right out of the gate right back where we will file the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the minor fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown is opening the phones for your questions on all manner of subjects. 866-34-TRUTH 784 will intersperse your calls with teaching on doing about growing in discernment ways to grown discernment to be about seven different things over the course of this broadcast friends. I do this because I want to see healthy we see healthy and thriving in the same way that I want to see healthy and thriving physically even more. Once you healthy and thriving spiritually and speaking of physical health and thriving. Have you gone to vitamin mission.com yet. Have you gone there. I write it down. If you haven't gone though there the first break. You have the first moment you have vitamin mission.com. We are partnering together with Dr. Mark Stangl excuse me, he's been voted the doctor of the decade by association of professionals nations leading natural path that Dr. and his supplements are second to none the way there made dosages involved in everything in terms of maximum health benefit and we partnered together that when you use the Dr. Brown code get a special discount and then with every order. Dr. Stenger was turning around making a donation to our ministry so I've use the supplements for years, immune wellness, although I eat super healthfully. I supplement that with immune wellness every day and just just to further fortify things so go to the website take advantage of the special discount that you get through Dr. Stenger's partnership with our ministry and vote with your pastor trips with the church was that the more the merrier. He's happy to give the discount to lots of people and then donate on top to us and I'm thrilled to get these out you because I know they will contribute to health other supplements to healthy eating healthy living supplement with these things and you see the difference even more profoundly, all right. Before I go on going through my list of seven items to strengthen you in your discernment.

Let's let's go to the phones will start in Sandpoint, Idaho. Jim welcome to line of fire hi document back from you.

You bet. So my question is top of the program you made mention of a critique that people outside of the charismatic movement would make concerning your teaching on the subject of discernment, but you really didn't answer that objection so much as you kind of presumed the legitimacy of the charismatic gifts before kind of dismissing it, but everything they would be making the same mistake that they would claim that you're making correct what will I was saying that they actually are the last ones I can raise that charge because of what they are rejecting and then basically rather than trying to defend myself. Simply saying hey these are the principles on which I live in. Let's talk about summer but I'm happy to answer any specific question you might have or anything you feel is legitimate and with the critics of said please go ahead will critic of deposition I would say that you have given a lot of shading fact sheet to some of the worst and most egregious charismatic charlatans. All profits and hucksters that the charismatic movement has turned up in recent years, including snowdrop and Benny and in others just like it and when citing Jim Jones, but it's just a question for you.

I was on Benny hands show.

One time to get material out to the body afterwards. It is probably not the best choice because there's too much negative factor came with it written to privately urging him to change aspects of his ministry and have never defended any of his errors. So what's my what's my great sin and crime there. What what have I done that going on the show in order to get a message out to his viewing audience that I felt was important that they hear with an open door to do it and never defending his doctrine critiquing it right into privately taking issue with things especially with raising the finances, etc. so what, what, how, if I done what you you said I did this a very serious charge, but how I done that circular gardening and as a brother.

You are a brother far as I know he's a brother yes from the Thomas met with him for his profession of faith as far as I know he's a brother and you know does not earn any and all future profit so you know if he was to die right now I cannot count you know for fact that if he was to die right now he's going to help correct I can only judge by his fruit. I asked a question I asked a question of you are saying dogmatically okay so that's where you're very serious error yet will that's where you really need to grown discernment as you have no right whatsoever to make that statement and there are believers who have made profit off the gospel and repented of it and said that was errors Benny Hinn has done in recent years and spoke very plainly about serious errors that were in his ministry, but to say that he's not saying anything to question and orchestrated in order to say that I am wrong and that you're begging the question that it is a believer you're as far as I know to Jim as far as I know as far as I know from the time I spent with him one-on-one from hearing his profession of faith from people that I know that have worked with him in his own family for many many years that non-forbidden custody.

Hinn know him as far as I know he's a believer who's been in serious error who has taught some serious error is repented of teaching that serious error is frozen as a brother BC.

Here's the big R this is the massive blind spot in the gut help you with this.

Jim that the extreme judgment to listen, that would that would damn someone to hell. Based on no personal knowledge of that person's water. For example, Sue brought Jubilee Mr. Roth was to die right now he go to hell. No reason to believe that he is in any way a genuine yes you got on a colonialist charismatic charlatans and hucksters right so when you when you slander a brother calling him a charlatan huckster. None of your birth during the general Jim not Jim donut truck hit Jim Jim donut from okay thank you when you slander a brother I've known Sid since the 1980s.

I had family members and work side-by-side with them. He's another charlatan huckster. He is not accumulated personal wealth to the gospel. He does not use the gospel for personal gain.

I don't agree with certain guests that he has on. I would differ with him on different points, but I have walk with him and see his heart for the Lord for decades. It is a godly life. I've never met a person in America who is more zealous to win people to Jesus, who will call me with biblical questions to make sure the fundamentals or right on so when you make a judgment not based on Scripture based on your perception and you think that you have the right to damn someone to hell. That's very serious and that there such an extraordinary blind spot to me that you and and other hyper critics don't see that that that grieves me terribly here, someone I've known first-hand shared office space with in the 80s and known for decades in terms of his personal life is never, never move the single inch from wanting to glorify God demonstrate his power and when people to learn, especially Jewish people there.

Guess he has honored never have a my show indifferences. I have over that that that that is make me question whether he saved enough, but when you call the charlatan huckster right. He's not. He's neither III know him.

I know his staff and his team. He's not of this that you may say he is crazy guess on. I think he believes crazy things for Tacoma charlatan. The huckster you have no knowledge or evidence of that doesn't concern you to speak such words like that and 222 judge others in such a severe way that the set trouble you with all this and give you pause for thought, what you meant a claim that I'm presuming to have the right to damn other people. Well, I don't have that right only exercising discernment and think that based upon the teachings of the practices of any him and to draw and other charismatic lunatics that teach and practice the same things that they have always said Charlotte assisted Roth is a charlatan, uncertain trumpet. You said he's a charlatan and a huckster is not of those.

I note for fact, I note for fact is not very closely by spelling program and promoting some of the most inane things to ever disgrace the net in your opinion program you Jim you are very elegant with name-calling, with descriptions charismatic lunatics and FFI have if if I needed to start work and and reach out to lost people and see them touched and work with someone that I knew would be sacrificial. That was a holy life. It's prayerful.

The cares about souls I work with said million times faster. I work with someone like dude I don't know what all but that you can so freely.

Damn people. Sid genuinely believes in the things that he promotes otherwise he will promote them that he's called me and said you know what you think about this. I have a concern doctrinally acid yeah that's luckily is okay for this person wants to come on the really popular but I can have them on because of of XYZ.

My son-in-law whom I can hope it into believes is our it's her younger daughter's husband and my closest friends, wonderful man of God was his producer for years and and and walk side-by-side so you may think he has loony guests on.

You may think he believes loony things, but I can say for fact is not a charlatan is on the huckster you have falsely accused will not let seasonings a lit cigarette is not even save you still falsely accused of being a charlatan huckster that doesn't trouble you, which means there's something fundamentally missing in your own relationship with God. Otherwise you walk more carefully.

You wouldn't just be throwing these names around or the fact that that you're going to question my discernment because as far as I know Benny has a brother and again I've differed with him on various points. I plays his teaching on the air in different with it. I will to them privately after being on the show where had strong differences but the fact you could question my discernment they sensing some of his other brother that's that's what grieves me and I am glad you and I'm glad you called. I am glad you called, but I urge you to go back to God's word and forgets it. Roth redid Benny Hinn but there is so much about the presence and power of the Holy Spirit for today in the word, and so much that God is doing around the world that that there is a great deception to go with every current trend and that's why been bringing critique and can and and concern to the charismatic movement for decades my book. Whatever happens, the power of God's charismatic church lends itself to help him at 91 that this may concern, loyal, and great concerns folks reject the gifts and power. The spirit today and can so quickly condemn others to hell for Christmas error on the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown. Your voice is more cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown joining us on the line Michael Brown here to help you thrive in the Lord never called or opening the phones for questions like we do on Friday 866-34-TRUTH 784 866-34-TRUTH so any question of any kind will will get to questions over the course of the broadcast. But talking about growing in our spiritual discernment is a serious error to believe in false prophecies is a serious error to reject the true prophecies is a serious error to believe every wind of doctrine that comes down the pike and whatever the latest teaching doctrine is just wrong with this number that serious error to reject major themes that are taught in Scripture very careful Sid for many years that the charismatics have a tremendous strength of faith and stepping out and believing God at the same time that strength can be a weakness of gullibility believing anything non-charismatics often are really strong in him being more circumspect in acting and more wisdom at the same time, the weakness of that can be cynicism and skepticism so it's it's the terrible error to mistake the flesh were demonic spirits for the Holy Spirit.

It's a terrible error to mistake the Holy Spirit for the flesh were demonic spirits. So how do we discern that we judge one from another as is. We just finished our 22nd annual missions conference this past weekend. It's amazing to see the fruit of lives. People who were dramatically touched in revival 20+ years ago, and to see them burning bright preaching Jesus planting churches and unreached areas. Caring for the poor, taking in kids that were sexually trafficked doing amazing work serving in extraordinary ways they be heroes, if you got to know them yet. You blown away by who they are and what they're doing. What will they be they burn brightly instead because they were grounded because there really touched by the Holy Spirit, and others. During those days of revival in our process, not God. The criticism motionless in the last, and now you've got these folks, but out of the missions feel over 20 years. Incredible fruit.

Some of the most sound solid believers. You'll meet UNICEF's emotional scenarios.

It was the devil. Now how do we grow in discernment. So first and foremost. Obviously we have to be soundly saved to genuinely born again be born again and and then secondly, we've got to be solid and the word.

The words are grid Jonathan Edwards said that that we ought not judge Wittwer Garza calling us to judge right that the there are things that are not written in the Bible for purpose the words they're not good, or their bad or bad. There's things that happen, but the Bible sensing to judge by those things.

All right Wittwer when not emphasizing those points were majoring on the major so I use the words are grid. I hear teaching be a hyper grace be of some denial of the deity of Jesus be at some other viewpoint bent and immediately there's the grid of Scripture that things have to go through that you may not have it in your mind as much as you want. I want to have the word in my heart. My even more as the years go on. But that's that's are grid that's that's what we judge everything based on, and then 1/3 thing that's been people of the word but godly character if if you are playing with sin. If you're flirting with some affair your married person. If your regularly taking in porn if if if you are angry out of control. If you're unteachable you have problems.

It is can be much easier for you to be picked off if you'd be led astray, so developing godly character at an end. With that, a sub point to that walking humility and being teachable listening to believe anybody driving this right this right believe Nona but it means your posture is not your the only white person on the planet. Nobody can teach you the Kentucky God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble soul being soundly born again starting their secondly, being people of the word. This this will help us grow discernment.

Thirdly, cultivating godly character with humility and purity of heart, right in the center that force is to be part of a healthy spiritual body that you're not isolated you're not on your own be part of a healthy spiritual body naturally part of a body but a healthy body, one that is involved in doing and not just talking one where there are accountable relationships the extent were isolated to the extent we can just be picked off to the extent that that we were playing with sin and and or or judgment is already being impaired. You think of that if if are for judgment is impaired enough that we can't recognize our own on teachability or are anger issues or are sexual sins easily ran up proper discernment in other areas. That's why if you watch like a Jim Jones and Peoples Temple and watch this thing develop.

You see it.

It's not that long in the Jim Jones is now in sexual sin. It's it's just there's going to be an inevitable mix of said being humble and teachable. Another thing is to major in the majors major on the majors as a been in the Lord doubt right right at 50 years, another month or two is 50 years of my courses is all the more set on majoring on the majors that I just don't get caught up on the tangents and the rabbit trails that they are secondary and they're not going to get my major focus at it. It was just like healthy eating right if you if you eat the basics on a daily basis and a healthy weight, and then you get rid of the unhealthy stuff then all the second this is that it it it becomes very secondary because your majoring on the majors and then 1/6 to learn to test everything someone gives you a prophetic word. While they said this okay great while they they said things are that nobody knows okay great, but Sus be tested is a scriptural is factual, and other ways and as you walk with the Lord's prayer with this with your spirit test things. This is what when I hear a claim of a miracle. Let God be glorified and let the claim be true, beautiful, wonderful, but now it be from the reported no major charismatic magazine before they will report something or if if you're writing a book and you talk about America account, they will want documentation.

They will not want to report on a miracle unless there's documentation. So learn to test things and then lastly be active in doing this is one way to grow in discernment that you get involved actively doing is you're doing you going to run into more situations that require discernment and that the quad and that require wisdom. The phones momentarily, but let's… Read the opening verses of Psalm 119 someone 19 which is written in acrostic.

There are eight verses for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so the begins with ashtray which is truly happy, blessed right. Blessed are those whose ways are blameless who walk according to the teaching of the Lord to notice the emphasis on the word.

The word truly happy, blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do no wrong, but follows ways you have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

So a doer, a doer of the word, a doer of the work. You sit back and just be theoretical on the what you're doing only my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees that I would not be put to shame what I consider all your commands right skip down to verse nine how can a young man stay on the path of purity by living according to your word.

Verse 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you, and then scroll down to verse 18, Psalms, praise, open my eyes that I may see wonderful sayings in your Torah.

So the centrality of the word living in the word doing the word storing the word in our heart and in our mind and and then when we do that, it was just like driving down the road and down the side of the highway inside the road is off those gravelly areas to warn you haters get off track will be driving all okay get off track.

The word of God will constantly get us in the right way spaces we are two words of the word.

These are some of the sayings.

This is a part of our lives will help us grow in discernment, 866-34-TRUTH. Let's go to John in Everett, Washington. Thanks for holding welcome to the line of fire Greco Dr. Brown sure thing. So my question is regarding Hebrews 2 quoting soldier. Applying it to Jesus and to the incarnation work here on earth and I was just curious what your thoughts were on that because Hebrews 2 seems to kinda change the meaning of the text in the Old Testament says you made him you made him a little lower than the angels, and it feels like it's talking about all of mankind.

But then in the believers to it that you meet him for a little while lower than the angels, seeming to talk about Christ ministry on earth what what you thought that what what is the true meaning of fellowship. Yes, so it's both bad. In other words, Psalm eight is talking about human beings and the question is is it a little lower than the angels, or little lower than God's Elohim and in Hebrew, the Septuagint reads, angels, and that's was quoted there in Hebrews and and you have different traditions of understanding within Judaism as well on the text.

So certainly, on the one hand, yes, human beings made lower than God, but the sale of little lower than you think. Locates without a little lower than God, so is that is that angels you if that's the case it's only temporary because we will be more colleagues exalted, but Psalm two is talking about the human race and NEL knew that Jesus made some excuse me solemnly AND he was to us is a homily on that and in other words, Hebrews 2 is not looking at this like a direct prophecy like Psalm 110 sit at my right hand to make your enemies a footstool for your feet, or Psalm two of the King which resulted about the Messiah that you're my son today of giving you birth.

Psalm 45 which finds ultimate fulfillment in him that that is called God. God is anointed you but but he's called God. There your throne of God is forever and ever. This is more of a homiletical statement but based on the fact that that Jesus is the last Adam that Yeshua fulfills God's purposes for the human race. Just as he fulfills God's purposes for Israel so it's it's more of a homiletical interpretation than a direct interpretation, but that you have done a lot in Hebrews and not just offenders but in the New Testament in general. In keeping with Jewish style of interpretation come to this. On the other side of the brain right so it's the line of fire with your host activist, author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution get into the light of ironbound by calling 6643 here again is Dr. Michael Brown thanks friends for joining us on the line with our 687884 and a reminder if you haven't been to vitamin mission.com as we are partnering with Dr. Mark Stigler to help get you healthy vitamin mission.com.

Check it out. Use the special discount code and no anomalies you order are you getting healthier yourself but donations made to the sprockets to help us reach more and more people's again vitamin mission.com of the report of Dr. Mark Stigler so John just toot toot to horny him one more thing regarding Psalm eight being quoted in in Hebrews 2, so he is.

He quotes the text was Mager mindful him the Son of Man that you care for him made him a little while lower than the angels who crowned him with glory and honor. Putting everything in subjection to speak out could be son of man being use their just means the Lord for mortal but that draws attention to it.

In this regard, but, but he notes that that not everything is currently under man's feet right so in putting everything in subjection to be left nothing outside of his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection so the promise of some eight has not been realized. So it's a homily on the Psalm but there is an application to say ultimately this finds fulfillment through Jesus we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so it doesn't say that that Psalm eight is about human beings for little while made lower than the angels and says we see the one who has been made for a while while lower than the angels, the son of God coming down in human form and then everything ultimately is subjected, including death, subjected to him as well, which brings the promise to humankind to fulfillment.

So in that sense, it's a very legitimate reading of it to say head applies to the human race. What was promised to the human race. Simply come to pass it but it does come to pass through this one who took on human flesh for period of time to bring to reality and fullness. The promises given to the human race and justice. He brings the promises to fulfillment for Israel. He brings them to perform for the race so he is the last Adam. The first is like breathing from the latter is a life giving spirit who brings transformation. So thanks for the question.

I hope that does help all before we go back to the phones. Let's go to second Peter second Peter chapter 1 and in here are our practical guidelines for growing in God's assignment Peter serving an apostle of Jesus the Messiah to those who, through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Messiah have received faith as precious as ours. Grace and peace be yours in abundance to the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord's is not just grace and peace be yours in abundance through exciting meetings and services, but through the knowledge of God Jesus our Lord, that he says his divine power has given us everything we need for godly life throne knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

So everything we need to live a godly life has been given us in the Messiah through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. So to the extent we take hold of these promises in this life in this world and live them out. To that extent we partake in the divine nature even in this world and then ultimately out of this fleshly body we partake in a different level. This is the verse from which some people have said that that we somehow become God, which is obviously a complete overstatement of what is there, but Christ in you the hope of glory. There is a partaking in the divine nature and it is the divine nature in us that enables us to live God loves. Okay, so back to the text that the second Peter one. He then says for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness so you have your faith.

You know the Lord, you can soundly born again. Now add goodness there is this is a moral quality that is developed in our lives into goodness, knowledge so your born-again you are different you are change. There is a moral goodness now at work in you to combat the fleshly nature and now add to that knowledge, deepen your knowledge of God deepen your understanding of God deepen your understanding of his word knowledge and to knowledge, self-control. So we have the word our heart and mind were disciplined in our thoughts disciplined in our body appetites disciplined in our words and our speech to self-control, perseverance, so were not just in this for the moment we continue on the path by God's grace we don't quit. We don't give up. Don't throw in the towel, we know long-haul. This is a battle for life's on playground. It's a battleground to perseverance godliness so this is just growing in the nature of God within us and the character of God beyond that fundamental moral goodness growing in godliness, and godliness. Mutual affection the care that we have one for another. This is essential.

It is a major reason that people lack discernment because they lack mutual affection just like there there is the lack of discernment that comes from lack of knowledge. There's the lack of the some of the comes from lack of mutual affection and into mutual affection, love, this is somehow something even deeper. This is something even deeper. This quality of divine love that works in our hearts and in this is this is how we grow on a strong previous. If you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and may I add, they will help you be more discerning, but whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they been cleansed from their past sins there for my brothers and sisters every effort to confirm your calling and election to do these things will never stumble and you receive a rich reward to the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah quite we go back to the phones with Samantha in Toronto. Thanks for: the modifier, Dr. Brown from I've been living here for about two years and had a hard time finding a healthy church. I mean it's a huge city over 5 million people and I've had to leave it at least two churches and now I've left a you know a small group.

Samantha just insurance that I hate you. You're going through this justice time is short. What what it fundamentally what you have to leave these groups and communities are issues of biblical authority so they were like oh calling for over submission that, so I'd say they're not taking the Scripture with authority one-on-one okay allowing homosexuality within the church, I know that denomination for not that no God, there was also believing in transubstantiation and that the communion was the actual body and blood of Jesus, and it would heal you and keep you safe from 19 candidates last one with the group is most of the member thing that sex before marriage was okay no I didn't I did I really okay. I didn't want to leave but I felt I had to Nova Scotia. Of course you have to do in a setting like that. It was an aberrant if it was a large church with small groups and you ended up in an out and out ranks a small group that then that would be one thing that is that's that's the fellowship that group yet living to say this though obviously to transubstantiation doctrine Roman Catholics withhold to them. Of course I would not.

But the idea is to protect you from cold. Come on. So when you say this this is I don't know that there's no church I work with anywhere in America that hosted any of those three things are even remotely close to any of those three things with all respect to my Catholic friends and I'm not about preaching Catholic Church is an undivided theater but all the churches I work with and in the churches I know it in in Canada. Different parts of Canada that a one of them withhold to those things you so there plenty of independent churches that are not parts denominations, but I would I would look first and foremost church that preaches Scripture makes clear on it went right up front that they hold to these fundamentals. The transubstantiation thing… The Catholic Church is going to come up much less rights of women be thinking about that because that's expected to come up much but absolute authority of Scripture and then on these key moral issues that they have the stands. At least you know you're safe there and there's got to be many churches in the city and we don't recommend individual churches over the air for many reasons, but deftly many many many somehow that you have encountered which which become sad for but yet start there just fine okay to you believers are Scripture and you believe in, and biblical morality that should just be.

Of course, of course, start there without any problem and then from there findable who they are. What are the values important to them or the act of the community to do outreach heavily about nurturing believer so I just wanted to pray with you, Lord, bring Samantha to the right people. Mishima just meet someone, worker and social setting and they go to fellowship and vitamin to scare plant in the place where she can really grow and bear much fruit everyone else. It's listing right now the struggling, that is not planted, that that is been burned. It's been hurt and bring them into a healthy body where they can grow, they can be a blessing to others.

May we thrive together in Jesus name hey friends, it's made from the majors. This glorify the Lord and let's unite as one. If you're my brother or sister in Jesus that unite is one to touch this nation to touch this world and to make Jesus known glorify together friends. Another program powered by the Truth Network