06/15/2026
Sermon Recap:
Counterfeit Kingdoms - Week 4: Discernment: Recognizing the true voice
“Spiritual maturity is not learning to be suspicious of everything spiritual. It is learning the voice and work of God.”
“Discernment is NOT finding what’s wrong. Discernment IS recognizing what’s right.”
5 pillars of biblical discernment:
Pillar 1: Scripture (1 John 4:1)
- scripture must be our foundation
- We do not evaluate spiritual opinions by emotion, popularity, social media, but by the word of God.
- When encountering the spiritual, ask: What does God’s word say about it? Not: How did it make me feel?
Pillar 2: The source (Acts 16:16-18)
- The words can be right, but the source be wrong.
- Ask the question: Where is it leading people.
- Counterfeit spirits=points people toward experiences, personalities, or self-exaltation. The Holy Spirit=Always points people toward Jesus.
Pillar 3: The fruit (Matthew 7:21-23)
- The church can often evaluate people by gifts, Jesus evaluates people by their fruit.
Pillar 4: The character (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
- The Holy Spirit is not trying to make us impressive, but trying to make us holy.
- The purpose of the Spirit is to build disciples, not celebrities.
- The Holy Spirit does NOT manipulate, control, or create confusion. The Holy Spirit DOES convict, corrects, & moves powerfully.
Pillar 5: Relationship (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40)
- the longer time you spend with Jesus, the easier it is to recognize Jesus.
- The safest believer is not the one who knows the most about demons, the safest believer is the one who knows the shepherd’s voice.
“Lord help me know you so deeply that every counterfeit becomes obvious.”