Hard- and Soft-Line Discernment by Brother Duke Hansen

         Good morning. The complication of some believers is that they are blind to their own sin and don't understand the simplicity of most scripture. They are like the man who points out the splinter in his neighbor's eye, where he has a plank in his own. In this walk, we are not supposed to bind any heavy burdens to people around us. Whether they be family, spouse, co-worker, or even friends.

        Some people struggle when to hold the hard line in their walk. Their discernment is underdeveloped. They aren't aware when they should take the hard line or when to be soft. We are going to be reading from the book of Galatians to start this message today. Turn to chapter 6 and we will begin reading from verse 1. The last chapter in the letter to the Galatians was about restoration, bearing burdens, along with self-examination and responsibility.

        Brethren if a ma be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

        If you aren't spiritual and try to help and correct someone that's dealing with something spiritual, you are in a perilous situation. You are not equipped to handle some things.

        2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

        We are all guilty at times of unloading our problems onto others. Our burdens become public knowledge. We have to be careful as to who we share things within our walk.

        3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

        4 But let every man prove his own work, and the shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

        You should prove to yourself you are following the scripture and not to others. We are all called to bid others to come and see but often don't read the room well. Respect others space and their time, don't overstay your welcome with people.

        Discernment and safety are given in scripture. One example is don't cast your pearls before swine. Another one is if a person chooses to be ignorant, let them be ignorant. Discernment is knowing when to hold a hard line and when to be vague with others. We speak what's on our heart. There's both a carnal and spiritual side to that sentence. 

        Let's go to Matthew chapter 16 and we will read verse 19.

      19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

        There have been a lot of theories presented by man which groups of the world have grabbed a hold of in the present day. Relentless pursuits seeking the truth but watering the truth down with updated translations of the word in modern day language. Hard instruction in the scripture has been ignored.

        There are a lot of situations in life you come across that present a hard line. You can't walk every waking moment in emotion. You have to set boundaries in your life because we live in a double minded environment. Many use that to step in back and forth from the spiritual walk and the carnal walk.

        Proverbs 3:3 says we should have steadfast love and faithfulness in our life. Matthew 23:3-4, Jesus is speaking about to tying heavy burdens onto others. When you put burdens on someone you are binding them to it.

        Think about how you grew up as a kid, what you are currently surrounded with. Are you comfortable with your surroundings or not? You have to navigate a selfish world with holiness. Where does the authority Jesus spoke about abides today? Is it in a place? No. It is in us. Think about the knowledge of God. Think how it has affected them.

        God is still building a church of believers and truth seeking. A peace of mind and peace with God are far more valuable than the worries and anxieties of the world. Call to remembrance the things God gave you, the victories, the miracles, the surprises. As Paul instructed Timothy, stir the gift within you.

        The hard lines are scriptural facts. The soft lines are when you can be vague. The discernment is when to bend and not to bend.