I just wanted to mention that the devil is a religious spirit.
Also, pride is so "custom" to the western way of thinking, and so inbreded in the human heart, and so hardly discernable, that one can have "all" knowledge of Scripture, but if the axe isn't taken to the root of pride in one's heart, woe be unto the "religious" him or her.
I'm going to listen again to Sean's testimony that was sent to me a few years back from a woman (I will not mention her name) that I had the privilege of writing to for some "Godly Books". And I do recall her saying that "Keith Daniel", at that time, endorsed this man's ministry. In saying that, I have, and still have the utmost respect for Keith Daniel, and that of this woman, and her family. They have both been a great blessing to me; but I don't respect them for what they have done for me, but what they have done for the cause of Christ, by their constant watching over their own hearts, and praying that God keep them low in their own eyes. At the same time, it is God that works and wills in them according to His good pleasure, and no man or woman can boast, for all our righteousness is of filthy rags in the sight of God; and it is one thing to know this doctrinally, but quite another to know it from experience. For the Lord disciplines every child He loves.
The apostle Paul was mightily used of God, but he was also fearful of the Lord. God's eyes are everywhere, and sees in the dark as well as in the light, yea, into the very corners of the hearts of men and women. He knows each soul better than they know themselves. Paul, as well as the other apostles and prophets got the Word through revelation, and wrote it down; we, on the other hand, mostly, first off, receive it in Word, and then if it pleases the sovereign Lord to grant it, by revelation later, hence, the parable of the seed and the sower, etc, etc.
It is so easy to fall into pride beloved. Oh, take EVERY thought captive to the obedience of Christ, but how few heed the exhortation! Pride is a sin that is easy to disern in others rather than ourselves; but it is always there, lying dormant, waiting to erupt like a sleeping volcano of fire. Hence many Scriptures, but this one stands out to me constantly (paraphrasing), "Unless you become like this little child, you will in no way enter into the kingdom of heaven", said Christ (to that effect)... and truly, I think many agree with that, because it is written in the Scriptures; but if they really believed the words of Christ, like that solemn verse, it would scare the "wits" out of them, and send them to their faces all the days of their lives, to and beyond the time, the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts.
Anyway, I'm off to listen to Sean's testimony, for it has been a few years since I have done so. It is good to be like the apostles and say, "Lord, is it I", when we read Paul's other exhoration - "Examine yourselves to see if you be in the faith". God knows the beginning from the end, I do not; but, those whom are faithful UNTIL THE END shall be saved; therefore, It does not say, "Those that are faithful for a while, or a long while, shall be saved"... And we know that the word "saved" is so flippantly used in western christendom, that many that say they are saved, are not, and don't even have a clue what it means, because mostly do not fear the Lord, nor fear their own hearts, but rather get caught up in many other distractions, and forget to daily walk in the fear of the Lord, and forget that without Him they can do nothing.
God help us to be honest with our own present condition. Fruit grows in the good ground of sincerity and truth, after much plowing and watering, and God alone making it increase.... and increasing for His Glory alone, not our own glory.
