Good morning! How are we faithing? Many things throughout history in the church have been done or rather wrought with heresy and deception. It doesn't take a mental giant to read history and see those things take place. As believers though we must study the Word. As  believers we must test spirits by holding them up to scripture. That icon on your dashboard does not protect you. That would make it an idol. That same prayer over and over may be earnest but the prayer itself is not God and for that matter if prayed habitually with no inflection may be ineffective. Whatever your stature in this life is no more or no less than men in the past because humans are what they are. The old testament shows the same failings in holy people over and over so rather than that discouraging us it ought to build us up because those people had a way back to the Lord and the ones that were courageous enough, came back to God. It takes courage to research and stand on the wisdom in the Word when all about you is pointing another direction. It takes guts and a convinced mind to stand for a principle amid public ridicule. I trust many Godly men and what they teach or preach to me but verifying, studying for a convinced mind is on me. My Pastor is totally trustworthy but I still study because he's a man and as a man I know I make mistakes therefore he can too. Wise men on this earth right now are not necessarily wise in all things. I don't go to my Pastor for plumbing advice. I don't ask my electrician friend how to set the intonation on my guitar any more than you should ask me how to pour concrete. Look at these verses below and think.

Jer 9:23-24
  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jas 3:13-18

  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

Joh 16:1-3

  These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

Heavenly Father,

  Thank you for wisdom in your Word. Lord, open out eyes to to heresy. Let your Word come to the forefront when we face the ploys of men and the spirits of the air. Help us be joyful because we are saved even when things look bleak. We pray for our leaders. We pray for our country. We pray for Israel. We pray for the families facing hardship. Bless us so we can bless them. In Jesus name, amen