22/01/2026
A quote from Trevor Sheatz: "Thinking you can be a Christian without being part of a local church is like thinking you can be a soldier without being part of an army".
He goes on to say that we need the accountability and fellowship of other followers of Christ.
The Devil wants to isolate you as a believer. He wants to cut you off from the positive influence of other believers. The reason being, that you could be lead astray by simple nuances and "twists" in messages and posts on social media. These message seem honest and passes the sniff test, but under true scrutiny, they fail. They are very effective in leading believers away from the simple truth and over complicating the Gospel.
Pride in your own gained "enlightened knowledge" above what everyone else knows based on being mislead by social media and versions of Christianity that have nothing to do with God, is the end goal. You end up thinking: "I don't need church, i don't need fellowship. "
What inevitably happens is that you turn inward, more and more every day, until you become so prideful of your own "enlightened knowledge" that the truth seems way below you, and that whoever speaks it can't possibly reach your level of understanding of God and the Gospel.
Knowledge has always been the tool of the devil. The Devil has used knowledge in its sinister form since the Garden of Eden and when broken down to its simplest form becomes PRIDE.
Our ego's are mankind's downfall and one of the easiest ways to isolate and subsequently mislead us. Romans 1:25 says: for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Here Paul addresses the fact that citizens of Rome offered libations to the Genius of Ceasar before entering courts, market places or assemblies.
The context reminds us that we should never worship creation, whether it be social media, political power and yes, ourselves. The devil wants you worshiping yourself and your enlightened knowledge, and your own successes. It is the exchange of an eternal truth for the fatal lie.
Proverbs 18:15 says: The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
This scripture is used in the deception by the devil. At its core is wisdom and discernment, IN SCRIPTURE. Seeking these by studying your bible. However, social media is great at removing your need for the bible. You feel like you are learning, but you are slowly but surely removed from the truth with certain posts that just seem like "New Knowledge" and that somehow because of the age we live in we are enlightened to things that Paul and Peter and all the Apostles did not know. Slowly peeling you away from the truth and isolating you.
Without fellowship and going to church where you can commune with fellow believers who can challenge you on these thoughts and ideas, you will end up believing the fatal lie and live a life that is separate from the truth.
If you have a problem with your local church that is based on whether you like or dislike your Pastor or that the people at church are this or that. Then perhaps its time to reflect, why are you there, is it for people or the Lord. Are you seeking only to take from church and not give as well, in terms of ministry.
A soldier on his own stands no chance against an overwhelming enemy who is prepared and structured as well as equipped. But a soldier that is part of an army is no longer an island and the enemy can no longer attack him at will, the enemy must attack an army to get to you. This army includes angels and ultimately God. He is for you, therefore no one can stand against you.
Lean not on your own understanding. But seek the Lord in scripture, not social media.