I purpose to walk in a state of repentance daily.
Jesus spoke in Luke 17:
17 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come,
but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a
millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he
should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother
sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins
against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” NKJV
The Holy Spirit wants to give us direction and correction so that we maintain the correct path moment by moment. If I walk in a repentant state, then I only need minor corrections. However if I become insensitive to The Holy Spirit because I have misdirected my focus, then major correction will come forth and is usually accompanied by some pain and/or dis-comfort. This misguided state can occur because we start seeking knowledge rather than revelation. I speak from past experience of requiring major corrections but thankfully FATHER’S Love prevailed in my life.
If false teachers were not an issue, The Holy Spirit would not have led Paul to write in Titus chapter 1:
10 There are many wayward people, smooth talkers, and deceivers—especially the converts from Judaism. 11 They must be silenced because they are disrupting entire families with their corrupt teachings, all for their dishonest greed. 12 A certain one of them, one of their own prophets,[m] said, “Those Cretans are nothing but liars, worthless beasts, and lazy gluttons.” 13 He certainly knew what he was talking about! For this reason, correct them thoroughly so that their lives will line up with the truths of our faith. 14 Instruct them not to pay any attention to Jewish myths or follow the teachings of those who reject the truth.
15 It’s true that all is pure to those who have pure hearts, but to the corrupt unbelievers nothing is pure. Their minds and consciences are defiled. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are disgusting, disobedient, and disqualified from doing anything good.
I can attest that I have been deceived by smooth talking teachers who promoted intense learning but without any truly discernable fruit. Paul warned us by The Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy, chapter 3:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.
It is so critical that we inspect the fruit of those who claim to walk in Godliness and have a personal, unique, and prophetic relationship with FATHER. Many have prophesied in the past yet their prophecies fell by the wayside or they attempted to assign some remote and subtle event as confirmation. We must be cautious in embracing those having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Rev 2:1-7
2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the
midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your
patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those
who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have
persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not
become weary. 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. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him
who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
Paradise of God.”‘ NKJV
If your walk has lost its passion, repent for you have left your first Love. You have forgotten what is truly life-changing. If you have lost your Fear of THE LORD, repent. If your relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ has become casual and lost its passion, I say again, repent. Life is all about Agape Love and It is passionate!