“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 (NKJV)

To perceive, understand, and discern truth requires the recognition of that truth based on personal experience. In verse 31 Jesus eludes to this personal experience in the following manner. “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed.” Jesus made this statement to a group of Jews who had believed. Unfortunately, they believed Him but did not believe “in” Him. They had paid attention to His words but did so without making a personal commitment to His message. This is where the personal experience is brought to fruition. Jesus uses the word “abide” to describe the prerequisite to knowing the truth. This means to habitually abide in Jesus’ words with perseverance, obedience, and application. Our personal experience with Jesus aids us in properly discerning truth. Knowing and understanding divine truth cannot be accomplished by mere intellectual reasoning.

Therefore our fellowship with the words of Jesus by personal experience, and the help of the Holy Spirit, because He is the Spirit of Truth, assists us in making further discerning considerations: 4) Does the prophecy or pronouncement produce liberty or bondage? “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV) How does the message or pronouncement make you feel in your spirit man? Does it place you further in bondage without edification, comfort, or consolation? Do you feel grieved or does the message fail to bear witness with the Holy Spirit that is on the inside of you of its truthfulness? If you answered in the negative to any of the aforementioned questions then you have great cause for concern. There could be a very strong possibility that the words or message that you have been encouraged to receive is not from God.

5) Inspect the fruit of the one giving the message or prophecy. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-16a (NKJV) The suggestion is that we be discerning and not judgmental. We are simply trying to get an impression of the person’s works, deeds, or conduct. Good fruit trees produce good fruit; bad fruit trees produce bad fruit. The ultimate test for a false prophet is not his charisma, eloquence, title, or the size of his following but his doctrine and manner of life. Pray in order to properly discern their motive, method, and message to determine who is eventually getting the glory. Refuse to get lured into how the message may sound as opposed to its substance.

6) Rely on the anointing in you. “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do no need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” I John 2:27 (NKJV) This passage does not suggest that we don’t need to be taught or that there is not a need for teachers. Teachers are a part of the five-fold ministry gifts to the body of Christ. The idea here is that we need not be taught seductive teachings or receive heretical prophesies that oppose the truth that we have already been taught. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is what will help us to discern the difference between truth and error. He will also help to sustain us during a time in our world when severe winds of error are constantly blowing. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26 (NKJV) Know the truth, and the truth that you know that comes from the Father through His son, and that is confirmed by the anointing in you will make you free.