THIRTEEN
Discerning Spirits
We recall our Lord’s identification of types: a good tree brings forth good fruit, and a bad tree brings forth bad fruit. Also, a good man out of the good treasure of his heart (mind) brings forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart (mind) brings forth that which is evil. And to tell the truth, it all seems rather simplistic - that is until we come to the amendment: for out of the abundance of the heart (mind) a man communicates.
We daily deal with myriad spirits.
If we are to distinguish between them, spiritual tools are called for. When one wants to see the moon,
one looks through a telescope. When one wants to see a microbe, one looks through a microscope.
What, then, do seekers require? Seekers seek a ‘spiriscope’.
Of course, by spiriscope, I mean a tool or application that is spiritual. By spiritual, I mean mental or cognitive. We are scouts approaching new frontiers, but it is not as if we have no idea what we are searching for. When Lewis and Clark stumbled into a valley - how did they know it was a valley? They compared with previous experience; they applied the knowledge and wisdom of those who had gone before. They expected, long before they had their bags packed, to find hills and trees and rivers and valleys.
We seekers, we new frontiersmen, also know what we seek: we seek the mind in all its many hues, tints, and shades. I speak of degrees when I reference tints and shades. And I might as well assign ‘tint’ to the seeker’s mind and ‘shade’ to the corporeal mind.
So, a beginning test for discerning spirituality is, therefore, the degree to which the mind is either tinted with the God-mind, or shaded with the world-mind. We see, then, no matter the hue, the degrees have but two directions, and two ends. White or black. To reach either end is to achieve saturation or fullness. One might call either state, in regard to its attainment, ‘whole’.
See Psalms 9:1, “My whole heart (mind).”
With our eyes focused through the lens of the spiriscope, we see all too clearly that an individual’s mouth will communicate whatever the mind is filled with. What one naturally and frequently communicates to others is an indicator of spiritual content. When a man speaks often, and zealously, about sexual matters, when he turns every comment into a sexual reference, you can be sure that is the thing that occupies his thoughts and dreams.
See Psalms 10:3, “The wicked boasteth of his heart's (his mind’s) desire.”
In recognizing this, the author of Psalm 10 is, in actuality, discerning spirits. And really, this is not something that takes a rocket scientist to achieve. The outward manifestations will always follow the spiritual content of the mind. If the mind is filled with thoughts of money, that is what the individual will speak - and each opportunity will see that individual acting toward that end, I.E.: those who ruthlessly climb the corporate ladder, thieves, and looters, even simple cheaters. These may definitely be discerned, but take note - they will do all that is in their power to remain undetected, to appear ‘normal’ and credulous.
See Psalms 12:2, “They speak vanity (emptiness) every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart (a double mind (forked tongue)) do they speak.”
What about the upright? If it is true that the wicked will speak the content of their mind, it is just as true that the righteous will do the same.
See Psalms 15:2, “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart (in his mind).”
The same test should be applied to either case. We take it for granted that an individual will stand behind what he or she truly believes, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. Let’s take a look at an upright individual standing behind what he believes. The first thing we note, in reading the following verse, is that the individual is not ‘full of himself’, rather, he humbly ascribes the source of his beliefs to a higher plane.
Psalms 17:2-3, “Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence (a word that in no way places God at a distance); let Thine eyes behold the things that are equal (refer back to the fulcrum theory). Thou hast proved mine heart (mind); Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.”
Is the word of God, such as is found in the Bible, a spirit detecting tool? Is the word of God a spiriscope? I once saw an image that seemed nothing more than black spots. After taking a moment
to really look at it, the true image became apparent. It was a black and white photo of a Dalmatian
on a cobbled street after a rain: I had progressed from general spots to three distinct facts. When one
takes a moment, the truth comes out. To many, the word of God is like an image of black spots on
a white background. To use the word as a tool for discerning spirits is to study the spots until they
become facts.
Take Psalms 19:8, for example: “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart (mind).”
If an individual reads the word, and it fills him - what will he talk about, what future actions will he take?
We note in the verse that it was the mind that was rejoiced. The mind was enhanced, was filled with spiritual content, was made more nearly whole: tinted, if you will - and it is only human nature to communicate those things that impress us. That individual will find somebody, somewhere, and speak about the thing that rejoiced his mind.
Communication is key.
As for future actions, it is reasonable to assume that the individual will return to the thing that lifted him up. He will be impressed all over again, and he will look to see if there is more. For the spiritually inclined, the word of God (even meditation on the word of God) is all that’s cool. The saturation that is
experienced will include not only the reception of the word, but the thinking and rethinking of it, and
of course, sharing it with others.
See Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart (mind), be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Is scripture a spiriscope? Read the verse above for what it says. Read it for what it does not say. Read it one section at a time, asking the appropriate questions.
When I speak of spiritual, I speak of the thoughts of the mind and the words of the mouth: which are matters that are rooted in their purpose and function. If an airplane does not fly, it is no more than a huge ugly car, and a road-hog. Spiritual thoughts and spiritual communications will not be found to exist separately from their purpose and function. The same may be said of non-spiritual thoughts and communications. The spirit discerned in the righteous is the spirit of God. That is to say, the mind discerned in the righteous is the mind of God.
It is the baseline, the standard by which all else is judged. In all of the known universe, a thing either grows or diminishes, waxes or wanes, lives or dies. Nothing is static, not even the dirt beneath our feet. So for the righteous, who derive from the God-mind, and practice the God-mind, the gain we realize in regard to knowledge and wisdom is seen as the work of God Himself. We may expect, therefore, that He will also support our communications to others.
See Psalms 20:1-4, “The Lord . . . Grant thee according to thine own heart (mind), and fulfil all thy counsel.”
That is precisely why the overall cognitive character of mankind is so dynamic. It is nonstatic in nature: living - unless it is forced into attrition. Just to look at the righteous, we see that there is turmoil within. There are ups and downs. Judge the next verse against the one following it.
See Psalms 21:2, “Thou hast given him his heart's (his mind’s) desire.”
See also Psalms 22:14, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart (mind) is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.”
Types. Stereotypes.
In discerning spirits, one may refer to previous models. Comparison is, after all, one of the tools of thought. The mind assigns attributes from types already known. There is a church hymn, for example, that is titled: “Dare to be a Daniel.” We look at character traits in an individual, and we compare them to traits we have seen in others, or have learned of indirectly. This has been the case even in scripture. And, if we accept that the minds of the sons of men derive from the mind of God, we see also that God employs comparisons no less than men.
See Psalms 24:3-4, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord (who shall become a Moses)? or who shall stand (remove his sandals) in His holy place? He that hath clean hands (the things we do), and a pure (single or unadulterated) heart (mind); who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
Let us, then, review spiritual types. As we proceed, bear in mind that you know someone, somewhere, with comparable traits. How do we discern the righteous spirit, the upright in mind?
The upright in mind will turn to God for help: Psalms 25:17, “The troubles of my heart (mind) are enlarged: O bring Thou me out of my distresses.”
Also, Psalms 61:2, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart (mind) is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
The upright in mind will open himself to spiritual inspection: Psalms 26:2, “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins (conscience) and my heart (mind).”
Also, Psalms 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart (mind): try me, and know my thoughts.”
The upright in mind will place his courage and confidence in God: Psalms 27:3, “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart (mind) shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”
The upright in mind will display courageous patience in the face of life’s trials: Psalms 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart (mind): wait, I say, on the Lord.”
Also, 2 Thessalonians 2:2, “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”
The upright in mind will trust God, and rejoice in God’s real responses: Psalms 28:7, “My heart (mind) trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart (mind) greatly rejoiceth.”
The upright in mind will hope in God: Psalms 31:24, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart (mind), all ye that hope in the Lord.”
Also, Acts 2:26, “Therefore did my heart (mind) rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope.”
The upright in mind will display a jubilant character: Psalms 32:11, “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart (mind).”
Also, Psalms 64:10, “The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in Him; and all the upright in heart (mind) shall glory.”
Also, Psalms 97:11-12, “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart (mind). Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”
Also, Proverbs 15:13 & 15, “A merry heart (mind) maketh a cheerful countenance . . . he that is of a merry heart (mind) hath a continual feast.”
The upright in mind will be constant: Psalms 33:21, “For our heart (our mind) shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.”
Also, Psalms 57:7, “My heart (mind) is fixed, O God, my heart (mind) is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”
The upright in mind will both delight in and receive the gifts God gives, in other words, he practices his relationship with God: Psalms 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will center his thoughts on the communications of God: Psalms 37:31, “The law of his God is in his heart (mind).”
Also, Psalms 40:8, “I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will gladly share those good things that God imparts: Psalms 45:1, “My heart (mind) is inditing (communicating) a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
The upright in mind will concern himself with, and communicate higher matters: Psalms 49:3, “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart (mind) shall be of understanding.”
The upright in mind will know where his higher nature comes from: Psalms 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart (mind), O God; and renew (regenerate) a right spirit within me.”
The upright in mind will concern himself less with form and ceremony, and more with true worship: Lamentations 3:41, “Let us lift up our heart (mind) with our (and not just our) hands (actions) unto God in the heavens.”
The upright in mind will take God with him wherever he goes: Jeremiah 51:50, “Remember the Lord afar off.”
The upright in mind will recognize the lines of demarcation: Numbers 24:13, “I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?”
The upright in mind will be in concord with God: Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”
The upright in mind will take the high road: 1 Peter 1:22, “Seeing ye have purified (distilled) your souls (angelic counterparts) in obeying the truth through the spirit (mind) unto (to accomplish) unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart (single mind) fervently (genuinely).”
The upright in mind will treasure those things that are of value to God: 1 Peter 3:4, “But let it be the hidden (invisible) man of the heart (mind), in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
The upright in mind will know what is good for them: Jeremiah 32:39, “And I will give them one heart (mind), and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them.”
The upright in mind will know God intimately enough to trust Him: Psalms 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart (mind) before Him: God is a refuge for us.”
The upright in mind will be a seeker: Psalms 77:6, “I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own (owned by God) heart (mind): and my spirit made diligent search.”
The upright in mind will not be politically correct: Psalms 94:15, “But judgment (discrimination) shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart (mind) shall follow it.”
(Explanation of discrimination: There are water and dust, and they cannot be the same for they
are different. Should they meet halfway, they are neither water nor dust, but mud. It is the worldly
mind that desires mud.)
The upright in mind will display a higher code of conduct: Psalms 101:2, “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way . . . I will walk within my house with a perfect heart (mind).”
Also, Proverbs 3:3, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will be open to instruction from those recognized as more knowledgeable: Proverbs 4:20-21, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart (mind).”
Also Proverbs 22:17, “Bow down (humble) thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply
thine heart (mind)unto my knowledge.”
The upright in mind will feast on the smarts of God; will learn only from those who have the mind of God: Jeremiah 3:15, “I will give you pastors according to Mine heart (mind), which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
The upright in mind will practice effective faith: Mark 11:23, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart (mind), but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
The upright in mind will be responsive to the communications of God: Jeremiah 23:9, “Mine heart (mind) within me is broken (opened like a seal) because of the prophets . . . because of the Lord, and because of the words of His holiness.”
Also, Ezekiel 3:10, “Son of man, all My words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart (mind), and hear with thine ears.”
The upright in mind will be like Jesus: Matthew 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (mind): and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
The upright in mind will choose God: Mark 12:30, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart (mind), and with all thy soul (attained self), and with all thy mind (core self), and with all thy strength (soul): this is the first commandment.”
The upright in mind will remember: Luke 2:50-51, “And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart (mind).”
Also, Luke 2:19, “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will be practitioners of God’s truths: Luke 8:15, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart (the spirit of a sound mind), having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
The upright in mind will consider his fellow man: Luke 10:27, “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
Also, Lamentations 2:11, “Mine eyes do fail with tears . . . for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.”
The upright in mind will support and strengthen one another: Acts 2:46, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (mind).”
Also, Philippians 2:1, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies.”
The upright in mind will display thoughts and intentions similar to those of God: Acts 13:22, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart (mind), which shall fulfil all My will.”
Also, Ephesians 6:6, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart (mind).”
Also, Isaiah 58:6, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”
Also, Colossians 3:12, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”
The upright in mind will be open-minded and hear God speak even when through the agency of another human: Acts 16:14, “And a certain woman named Lydia . . . which worshiped God, heard us: whose heart (mind) the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”
The upright in mind will be adamant in what they know is true: Revelation 20:4, “I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God.”
Also, Romans 6:17, “Ye have obeyed from the heart (mind) that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
The upright in mind will know where to find God: Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves . . . in your heart (mind) to the Lord.”
The upright in mind will be compassionate and capable, powerful but not brutal: 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
The upright in mind will be honest: Psalms 32:2, “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not (accuses of) iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile (duplicity).”
The upright in mind will be eternal: 2 Corinthians 4:16, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man (spiritual persona) is renewed day by day.”
The upright in mind will be true to his or her word: Numbers 30:2, “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”
The upright in mind will be the willing servants of mankind: 1 Peter 5:2, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.”
Also, Philemon 1:7, “We have great joy and consolation in thy love, because . . . the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”
The upright in mind will be the spiritual Israel: Hebrews 8:10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people.”
The upright in mind will take life on the chin: 1 Peter 4:1, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.”
The upright in mind will exhibit a zeal that inspires others: 2 Corinthians 9:2, “I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.”
The upright in mind will reflect the God that indwells them: 2 Corinthians 13:11, “Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
The upright in mind will advance and promote the truths spoken by Christ: Philippians 1:27, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ . . . that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith (certainty) of the gospel.”
The upright in mind will work together: Philippians 2:2, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Also, 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
The upright in mind will be problem solvers, not finger pointers: Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
The upright in mind will allow the smaller issues to work themselves out: Luke 12:29, “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.”
The upright in mind will evince a change in thinking, not merely a rehashing of worldly tenets: Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The upright in mind will evince the unquenchable Spirit: Jeremiah 20:9, “His word was in mine heart (mind) as a burning fire shut up in my bones.”
The upright in mind will constantly show progress and forward momentum: Psalms 44:18, “Our heart (mind) is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from Thy way.”
The upright in mind will have a better sense of priorities: Psalms 62:10, “If riches increase, set not your heart (mind) upon them.”
The upright in mind will know a true relationship with God: Psalms 73:1, “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart (clear mind).”
The upright in mind will wrestle with spiritual issues: 2 Corinthians 2:4, “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart (mind) I wrote unto you with many tears.”
The upright in mind will practice skills the worldly decry: Ecclesiastes 8:5, “A wise man's heart (mind) discerneth both time and judgment.”
The upright in mind will rise above social and emotional dogmas: Proverbs 4:23, “Keep (maintain) thy heart (mind) with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Also, Isaiah 51:7, “Ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart (mind) is My law.”
Also, Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart (mind); and lean not unto thine own (worldly) understanding.”
The upright in mind will exercise mental abilities: Proverbs 14:33, “Wisdom resteth in the heart (mind) of him that hath understanding.”
Also, Proverbs 16:23, “The heart (mind) of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”
Also, Proverbs 2:2, “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart (mind) to understanding.”
The upright in mind will be a living, growing power: Isaiah 60:5, “Then thou shalt see (understand), and flow together, and thine heart (mind) shall fear (revere), and be enlarged (augmented).”
Also, Psalms 119:32, “I will run (follow) the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart (augment my mind).”
The upright in mind will communicate matters of value: Matthew 12:35, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart (mind) bringeth forth good things.”
Also, Genesis 49:21, “Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.”
The upright in mind will help others drop all weights that limit and constrain: 2 Corinthians 6:12, “Ye are not straitened in (hindered by) us, but ye are straitened in (hindered by) your own bowels (emotions).”
The upright in mind will be a link in a strong chain-of-command: Proverbs 3:1, “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart (mind) keep (continue) my commandments.”
Also, Ephesians 3:16, “To be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.”
The upright in mind are able to connect the dots: John 14:1, “Let not your heart (mind) be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”
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