FATHER spoke in Isaiah 29:
11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.”
And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”
12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.”
And he says, “I am not literate.”
13 Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent (discerning) men shall be hidden.”
Jesus quoted this passage in Mark chapter 7 when the Pharisees and scribes challenged him concerning the disciples eating with unwashed hands. They found fault since they did not submit to the established traditions.
We must guard ourselves from submitting to any religious traditions established by ministries who insinuate they have a deeper relationship with FATHER than any of us. Each of us has the capacity to directly hear from FATHER and we need not worry about some word given by a popular ministry which is in conflict with what FATHER is directing us to do.
When FATHER made the statement “But have removed their hearts far from Me”, HE indicated that at one time their hearts were not far from HIM thus a person can distance himself from FATHER even after he had been close to FATHER at one time. Jesus said it this way in Revelations chapter 2:
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
If this could not happen, Jesus would not be warning us.
In Mark chapter 7, Jesus spoke, quoting Isaiah chapter 29:
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
How do we know if the teachings we are being exposed to are doctrines of men? By knowing The Word, especially the Words of Jesus. Do their teachings promote unconditional Love? Do they exalt themselves rather than Jesus? Do they even mention Jesus Christ in their teachings? Do they make the Word so complex that we have difficulty in following their teaching?
The Holy Spirit initiates a check in my spirit when I hear a teaching that is suspect. If I respond to that check and ask FATHER to reveal the issue, HE will. Often, we assume that teachers, preachers, and evangelists with past success, are not susceptible to error. Jesus warns us of this in Mark 7 so we must be vigilant to protect ourselves from this reality. Since it happened to me in the past, I can attest to the need for this warning. In FATHER’S great grace and mercy, HE corrected me and restored me to the correct path. My immaturity at the time required HIS Wisdom to prevail in my life. My wife detected the issue but I failed to respond to the check in her heart. Ugggh!
These past experiences requiring FATHER’S correction allow me to share with you that we are all human and can be misled. Agape Love must be at the center of a teaching in order to express FATHER’S Divine Intent and Will. If we pursue the fullness of the revelation of Love then we cannot be misdirected to man’s doctrines. If we know FATHER’S Character (HIS Ways) then we will know if a teaching has any error in it, thus we will not embrace the error. We must protect our hearts from the doctrines of men.