… But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually DISCERNED. (1 Cor. 2:14) … But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to DISCERN both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)
Greetings from the Breaker Family!
When my Dad was alive, he would always tell to me: “Practice Discernment!” I’ve never forgotten this. My Dad was a real blessing and I really miss him, especially the older I get. (I turned forty in July! Can you believe it?)
The Bible has much to say about discernment, and these last two months, I’ve really focused on practicing it, being careful to discern as much as possible.
DISCERNING THE CHRISTIAN WALK
The beginning of July, we got a call from my Mom’s friend in Oklahoma telling us my Mom was in the Hospital. She had recently had knee surgery, and was recuperating, but the doctors (as they so often do) messed up her medication and gave her something she was allergic to. This led to her having an allergic reaction, and she spent three days in the hospital suffering from side affects. We immediately called a friend to watch my grandmother, and we rushed overnight to Oklahoma to care for her. I kept Emma, our oldest, with me, while Laura drove back home with Elyse, our youngest. Emma and I stayed three weeks total taking care of Mom.
Mom then needed therapy to learn to walk again, as her knee surgery demanded constant exercise so her muscles and tendons would heal correctly. I watched her go from wheel chair, to walker, to cane, and then to walking by her own power and eventually even driving. In short, she had to learn to walk all over again!
While taking care of Mom, I thought about the Christian walk and the job of a true minister of the Gospel. I was helping her walk physically, and glad to do so. I then thought about how that should be the desire of a minister of the Gospel as well. They should greatly desire to give of themselves to others and help them in their spiritual walk with the Lord.
Mom had therapists come almost daily that helped her exercise her knee, and they all stressed that she must learn to walk the RIGHT way. For if not, then she would always have a limp. This made me think. There is a right way and a wrong way to walk!
I’ve known, and I’m sure you have too, many who claim to be preachers and ministers, who only care about getting people to make decisions, but afterwards, they are no where to be found. They could care less if those new converts learn to walk correctly. All they care about is bragging on the “surgery” (as the doctors often do), but then don’t care about the follow-up. But this trip really made me think of the importance of discipleship; that is teaching others to walk correctly in the Christian way.
With that stated, I’ve had a great opportunity lately to do just that! I’ve had many people contacting me via email or phone asking me for counsel, advice, and fellowship. Many had Bible questions, and such. And, I’ve spent hours helping these people, often talking with them for hours and teaching them Bible over the phone, and helping them to grow in the Lord.
DISCERNMENT IN WITNESSING
Discernment in witnessing is so important. I’ve seen many who witness the same exact way every time, using the same verses, and always saying the exact same thing to sinners. But people are different! So, this doesn’t always work. When I speak with people, I try to understand who they are and where they come from, and then ask the Holy Spirit to give me the verses they need to hear. Some need to hear about Hell and Judgment. Others already know about that, but need to hear about grace, and the blood atonement. It’s hard to know exactly what they are missing that is keeping them from getting saved, but the more we try to put ourselves in their shoes and understand where they are coming from, the more we can reach them where they are. The following is a good example, of practicing discernment as I tried to understand where a sinner was coming from and why he was saying what he was saying.
In August, I came across a man who I immediately identified as Hispanic because of his thick Cuban accent when he spoke English. I began speaking to him in Spanish and told him I was a minister of the Gospel, and a Missionary. He replied, “Oh, well, you missionaries are doing more harm than good!” He then went on to explain some things he’d seen in his home country and other Latin American countries, and how he said most Missionaries tried to win the people by giving them THINGS and then encouraging them to join their RELIGION, based upon their giving them STUFF.
He then said, “Most Missionaries are only giving people RELIGION and THINGS and not SPIRITUAL CARE, and that’s why they are doing more harm than good! When the stuff runs out, the people run back to the same sins they came from.” After listening to the man, I finally spoke up and said, “Well, I have to agree with you!” He stopped speaking and looked at me in unbelief. I then said, “I agree, as I’ve seen a lot of that myself. But a true Missionary is someone who does not preach RELIGION and giving away of THINGS, rather he preaches SALVATION, and faith in what Jesus did, as He GAVE Himself for our sins as our substitute on the cross.” The man then let me speak and listened to every word, when before he sounded like he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say. Practicing discernment helped me reach the man. And, I was able to show him the true work of a Missionary is to give the GOSPEL, and show the way of salvation. We were later interrupted, and I didn’t finish saying all I wanted, but I did have a chance to plant the seed. I hope to speak with the man again. Please pray for him. His name is Ernesto.
DISCERNMENT OF THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE
For years now I’ve been patiently waiting for the rapture. Things are so bad in this world, that I surely thought Jesus would have returned by now. Yet he tarries. Thinking about this, and reading through Daniel again, I read in chapter nine of seventy weeks, and then seventy years. Many agree that the Hebrew word “weeks” can mean “years.” With this in mind, I thought of something, and I haven’t heard many others talking about it, so I thought I might throw it out there. What if the seventy weeks mentioned being “determined upon Israel” were seventy years that were determined on the modern nation of Israel? We know Israel was founded in 1948. Seventy years from that date would be 2018. Could the rapture happen then? That would mean there would be 7 more years of tribulation after that, and then 2025 would be the battle of Armageddon, and Christ’s return at the Second Advent. This is just a thought on my part, but I would love to hear what others think about it. (I hope I’m wrong and the rapture is 2014!)
The other idea I had was what if Hosea 6:1,2 means a whole two thousand years? (A day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.) That means that the battle of Armageddon would be in 2033 (as Jesus died in 33 A.D.) Subtract 7 years for the tribulation, and we come to 2026. But, boy that is a long time away! And, I really don’t see how the world will last that long.
At any rate, I truly believe we are in the last days. (Read 2 Tim. 3:1-5 and tell me if that doesn’t sound like today!) And things are changing at a rapid rate. It is both awesome and scary to live in this age, but it is interesting as well as we try to discern the times, and wonder about when the Lord will return! I just hope it is soon!
DISCERNING THE SPIRITUAL APATHY OF OUR AGE
I’ve noticed it, and perhaps you have as well, that people just don’t seem to be as open to the Gospel as they used to be. In fact, they are actively hostile to it. It seems the more you witness, the more angry people become, as more and more people despise the things of God. It’s like the world is rapidly turning from God at an alarming rate.
I talked to a friend the other day whose Dad is a Missionary, and he told me that even his father is aghast at how many people are rejecting the Gospel. He told me that every year they hand out 5000 John and Romans in their city, and usually they see at least one or two people saved because of it. But this year they didn’t, and what’s worse is they had a record number of negative responses. Some people even drove to the church just to give back the John and Romans! Others mailed dirty letters with snide remarks, or called on the phone to express their anger for leaving such a thing on their doorstep. By far, this was the most hateful responses they ever received from leaving Gospel literature.
As I witness to others, I too have noticed that many people are becoming more hostile towards those of us who preach the Gospel. They look at you like you are crazy speaking about Jesus, the Bible, and heaven and hell. I don’t know if it is because of secular education, or if it truly is spiritual wickedness in high places deceiving them, or just a sign of the times; but it is getting harder and harder to witness as fewer desire to listen. Yet, we must continue no matter what, even though the day might soon come that we are looked upon by society as outcasts, superstitious, bigoted, and/or intolerant. Truly a great evil is descending upon this world, and we are the light. But our light seems to be flickering world-wide, and in danger of going out, unless we determine within ourselves to do more for the cause of Christ. Will you join me? Let’s try to reach others in spite of the great spiritual apathy of our age.
Because of Christ Jesus our Lord,
Robert Breaker and Family
1 Sam. 12:24!
