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Today, I see that a lack of godly understanding is the greatest danger to most “Christians” and it will certainly be the greatest cause of spiritual death for many. It’s so devastating because most don’t understand that they don’t understand. (Pro 8:36).

This leaves the door wide open, in countless ways, for Satan to sift and destroy a person’s walk, or to render them completely fruitless. Fruit wise, many are no better off than the lost sinner on the street corner. Sure, they get emotional during worship, they know church talk, they serve, and they talk about how much they know and love God, but the fruit in their lives proves that they do not actually know Him. When they let down their hair, so to speak, the fruit of their lips or their actions display a temperament that contradicts the Spirit of Christ (Mt 12:33, Mk 7:6).

Instead, I opened the door to things, people, and decisions that ultimately ruined my life.

It prevents them from seeing the thief (Jn 10:10) in their life. Instead, they dismiss the warnings about spending too much time on Facebook, getting drunk, the pain pill addiction, pornography, their favorite sport team or exercise becoming an idol, their heretical view on salvation, staying off the dating sites until they are healthier, being unequally yoked, inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex, putting too much focus on money, their unforgiveness or anger issue, going to see the TV evangelist who took up a $400k offering for maintenance on his jet, listening to a false prophet who tells them to sell their business, partnering with someone who only talks about money, extreme neediness that opens doors to bad people using them, having Séances, etc.

One time a lady emailed an invitation to about 200 people, inviting them to watch a video series that her church had purchased. I read the email and the vague description and I instantly had this sinking feeling in my stomach, sensing that this was a video series by a dangerous false teacher named Rob Bell. I replied, asking if I was correct, and included a gentle warning. It turns out they were getting ready to expose hundreds to a terribly deceived false teacher. I sent a few videos to confirm his heretical teaching and she forwarded them to her pastor. They were very appreciative for my pointing this out, but the lady admitted to me that her pride was bruised, because she felt like she should have known better. Imagine how many things like this are taking place in churches all over the place, while the devil is just licking his lips!

Unfortunately there is nothing benign about deception. It is always intentional and destructive.

Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. – Pro 2:11

Fools die for lack of judgment. – Pro 10:21

When we come into agreement with God, by loving what He loves and hating what He hates, He rewards us with secret wisdom and understanding. (Ps 25:14, Jn 16:13, 1 Cor 2:10, 1 Jn 2:27)

We must depend on God to give us wisdom, not man. (Jam 1:5) Example: If you share something really deep with me that God has shown you, I still won’t be able to understand it unless God gives me spiritual understanding. And that would only be under the condition that I am walking in a reverent, obedient, and growing fear of the Lord.

This is why you need to do most of your learning directly from God’s word and His Spirit, not from teachers, and that includes me. I see myself just as a catalyst, motivating and inspiring people to drink directly from The Source.

Do not be discouraged and do not be afraid to jump in. When God sees that we sincerely want to obey Him, He not only blesses us with the grace to do so, but He increases our understanding in ways that no man, or book, or sermon, could ever do.

I was an enthusiastic but simple-minded fool for so many years. My seed was sown among the thorns, but God gave me another chance when I cried out in full surrender to Him.

Then, with His help, I dug around my "tree" (Lk 13:8) and fertilized it with obedience. Today, I am bearing good fruit as I abide in Him, and my soul is full of joy (Jn 15:11). There is nothing special about me; I am not a pastor or an ordained minister of any kind—I’m just a regular person who truly loves and seeks the Lord with all of my heart. If He'll do it for me, He'll do it for anyone. As one pastor said, “God doesn't have favorites; He has intimates.” I have found Him to be extremely faithful to His word, and to those that give Him their whole heart. He loves you so much and you’ll experience the depth of His love for you when you return your love for Him through His love language—obedience. (Jn 14:21, 1Jn 5:3)