Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, `It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; “and in the morning, `It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed. (Mat 16:1-4 NKJ)

How many times have we looked at the sky and made a prediction about the weather and been totally wrong? Just like the Pharisees, we see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe.  The Pharisees had seen the lame walk, the blind recover their sigh and the mute speaking again, yet, because it didn’t fit their theology, they rejected them and demanded more signs.

Today, if we’re not discerning , we can find ourselves in the same position.  The keys are as follows:

1.       Knowing the Word of God for yourself.  We’re told in Acts 17:11, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Act 17:11 NKJ) Not just the preacher, or the latest fad book.  What does the scripture say, in its original context?

2.       Does everything line up with God’s word? A word can be prophetic but is it doesn’t line up morally and ethically; then it is not of God.

3.       The books and letters of the Bible do not give us a book of ethics.  Sometimes we have to piece things together. For instance, if God says that his creation is good, should we be supporting policies and practices that destroy creation? No!

In the end, we will have nobody to blame but ourselves.  If we are kings and priest, a priesthood of believers, a royal priesthood and a holy nation, we are responsible for what we offer to God.