"If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized." (1 Cor 14:37-38).

Jesus and the writer of Hebrews states about Pastoral authority,

"Therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them." (Matt 23:3).

"Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." (Heb 13:17).

When Jesus gave me my specific spiritual calling as an Evangelist Overseer Teacher and told me he wanted me to go to a specific Christian University, I went to my Pastor, told him what I believed Jesus was telling me. He prayed about it and told me he believed it was of Jesus and that I should go. That was the confirmation of God’s Word that I was heading in the right direction and in the center of His will.

Paul states about your relationship with your employer,

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." (Colossians 3:23-24)

When working for an employer, Jesus expects us within the moral bounds of Scripture to submit to what our employers ask us to do. At the same time Jesus expects the employer to honor his contractual agreements made with his employees and clients. Jesus Word states in Psalms 15:1 and 4:

"O Yehovah, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?. . . . He [who] swears to his own hurt, and does not change."

Concerning friends, the Apostle Paul states, "And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ" (Eph 5:21). Sometimes when we feel Jesus is leading us in a certain direction it may be wise to ask close friends opinions who know us well, our strengths and weaknesses. They would know if we are making a wise decision or not. Of course friends are not first authority over God’s Word, governmental authority, parental authority, or employer authority on the job. If their advise is not violating these authorities you should take into consideration their expressed concern. The Bible states in Proverbs 15:22, "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed."

In our fourth primary consideration of discernment we need to ask ourselves the question, "Do circumstances and provisions confirm it?" The Apostle Peter states in 2 Peter 1:10-11,

"Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."

When Jesus told me he wanted me to go to a far off Christian university and confirmed this to me through my Church and Pastor, I said the following to Jesus, "Jesus you may want me to go to this School but I have no bucks. If you do then you will have to come up with the money so I can. Until then I wait." If Jesus is really in something then He will supply the material means to see it a reality.

Later, in that same summer, I got a call from the Christian University telling me they would provide financial means for me to attend. They did and I went that fall to school. I also graduated from there with a degree in Pastoral theology. That degree ultimately proved He really did call me there. (See also Phil 4:19 and Eph 3:20).

In our fifth primary principle of discernment we need to ask ourselves, "Does it contradict past light?" When Jesus tells us to do something and confirms it, He will not come along later and tell us to do something else which would contradict previous revelation. The Lord said through Malachi 3:6, "For I, Yehovah, do not change." The writer of Hebrews said about Jesus, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." (Heb 13:8). Jesus, speaking through the Apostle John, stated to the Sardis church who were apparently not finishing what he called them to do,

"Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent." (Rev 3:2-3).

New light will never contradict past light, and normally Jesus will not give us new light until we have followed the light He has given us.

In the sixth primary principle of discernment, we need to ask ourselves the question, "Does what I believe is Jesus’ voice line up with my human limitations?" Jesus created us to be human beings. Human beings need a certain amount of sleep each night, three meals a day, and a certain amount of relaxation. If what you think is Jesus’ voice to you is keeping you from getting your necessary sleep each night, or is not providing for rest in your week, or providing you the means to eat properly the voice is not from Jesus and is to be rejected. The writer of Psalm 127:2 states, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep." (See James 3:17 and Chapter 3 of this Section).

In the seventh primary principle of discernment, we need to ask ourselves, "Is our motivation a motivation of love or of fear?" The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, and peace (Gal 5:22-23). Paul tells us that the love of Jesus constrains us (2 Cor 5:14-15). This is a basic principle of discernment. If Jesus is leading us to do something He will always manifest His love in it and allow us to experience His love in it. When we have doubt about Jesus’ leading in our lives, all we have to do is ask ourselves if what we are doing is out of a motivation of love or not and whether or not we see Jesus’ love in it or not.⁸⁶

In the eighth primary principle of discernment, we need to ask ourselves, "Does our heart agree with or condemn us in what we are pursuing?" The Apostle John writes in 1 John 3:19-21,

"We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God."

Finally in our consideration of primary principles of discernment, we need to ask ourselves "Is it Jesus’ time?" Yes, Jesus has told us He wants to do something with our lives, but is it His time? David wrote in Psalm 31:14-15, "But as for me, I trust in You, O Yehovah, I say, ‘You are my-Elohim, my times are in Your hand’" (See also Ecc 3, Heb 4). When Jesus tells us that He wants to do something with our lives, He has a specific time and way He wants to bring it about. There is no use trying to rush it. You can’t. Habakkuk wrote about the Lord’s prediction concerning Israel and its enemies,

"Then Yehovah answered me and said, ‘Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay. Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.’" (Habakkuk 2:2-4)

Now lets talk about miscellaneous principles of discernment. What do we do when in a storm; that is, when we are in a lot of confusion, getting advice from every direction and cannot think clearly about a matter? The advice that the Scripture gives us is to wait until the storm passes and the waters are calm before trying to hear what we think is Jesus’ voice. The Psalmist David wrote, "Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him." (Ps 32:6). David tells us in this passage that when you are in confusion you cannot discern Jesus’ voice, so do not try to. Wait until the confusion passes and you are in a state of mind of peace before making a decision about whatever the storm is centered in. The Lord promises us in Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." But it will come in a time of peace. Do not worry, Jesus will not be late. Never make decisions out of fear. Wait for Jesus’ love. He tells us in John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."

"What if I failed in the past and ran from Jesus’ will and purpose for my life? Is His will for my life still possible?" The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). Malachi 3:6 states that the Lord does not change. And 1 Corinthians 13:5 tells us that God’s love does not take into account wrongs suffered. This simply means that once we repent and confess our known sins, Jesus erases those sins from His memory and they are not remembered, and that He therefore relates to us as if we never sinned. In other words, His plans for our lives never change. It is simply a matter of our getting ourselves back on the right track and staying there. The only thing you lose is time. Remember this phrase,

"If we have sought Jesus’ counsel on something, but receive no clear answer, what do we do?" First, close your eyes and picture Jesus standing before you. Imagine your burden is in your hand. Walk up to Jesus and place it in His hands. Now see yourself walking away from the burden. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. It is now Jesus’ burden. Do not pick it back up. Second, if Jesus tells you to do something about your burden, do what He tells you to do and nothing else (Ps 32:8). Third, if He gives you no instructions at present, His word to you then is to trust Him to take care of it in His own time and way. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

"Does Jesus ever use anger to motivate us?" Yes, but this is the exception rather than the rule. What I mean by using anger to motivate us is not God’s anger toward us, but using our own anger to accomplish His own purposes. The implication of Scripture under normal circumstances is no! (Ps 37:7-8, James 1:19-20, Eph 4:26-27).

"I have free time. I have sought Jesus’ will in the use of that time but have received no direction. How do I respond to this?" The Scripture tells us in Luke 17:10, "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’" The implication of this passage of Scripture seems to be that if Jesus has left you with extra time during the week with no specific direction as to how to use it, you are free to be creative and use it to the glory of God in the way that you choose. This means that if Jesus is giving you no clear direction in ministry involvement, then He is telling you to simply make a decision of commitment of involvement until He tells you otherwise. The play-ground is free. I use all my free time to preach the Gospel to men.