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Putting Your Discernment to Practice

Once we have gained spiritual sensitivity through many dealings, we realise that our spirit is free and capable of discerning the actual state of others. How do we put this into action?

Sometimes, we must wait until he opens his mouth and speaks before we may contact his spirit. Few people ever get to the point where they can touch man's spirit without first listening to what he has to say. The Bible says, "For the mouth speaks from the richness of the heart" (Matthew 12:34). Whatever his true goal is, his spirit is shown by what he says. If he is haughty, a haughty spirit will emerge; if hypocritical, a hypocritical spirit will emerge; and if envious, a jealous spirit will emerge. You can feel his spirit as you listen to him speak. Pay attention not only to what he says but also to the state of his spirit. We truly know a person not by his words alone, but through his spirit.

When the Lord Jesus was journeying toward Jerusalem, two of the disciples noticed that the Samaritans did not welcome Him. "Lord, would Thou that we command fire to fall down from heaven and consume them as Elias did?" they asked. (Luke 9:54). Their spirit was evident as they spoke. "Ye know not of what spirit ye are," the Lord said (9:55). The Lord demonstrates here that listening to a man's words is equivalent to knowing his spirit. The spirit is evident as soon as the words are spoken, "because the tongue speaks from the richness of the heart."

Author: Watchman Nee

Compiled and edited by: Peter O. Olutoyese

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