1 Peter 2:2-3 “Like newborn babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation.  Surely you have tasted that the Lord is good!”

Scripture encourages us to study God’s Word in order to grow in the Lord. Learning and applying God’s Word to our lives, strengthens our faith and our faithfulness.  Like newborn babies, our vision is not clear when we turn and grope the wrong teat.  Too often, we are satisfied with Satan’s teat.  It tastes good, feels good, and is readily available.  Satan’s teat of deception is anti-God as it hinders both growth and good works.

Below are symptoms of those who are sucking from the wrong teat:

1. They doubt God’s word – the Bible.  Satan always begins here.  If he can get you to doubt God’s Word – he’s got you.  Just like when he told Eve that God didn’t really mean that her disobedience would result in death, Satan deceives many by telling them what they want to hear, “You can rebel against God without consequences” (Genesis 3, John 8:4).
2. Their Bible study consist of reflecting on how verses or stories can benefit their personal lives.  The primary focus of Bible study should be to draw closer to God – to know Him, to grow in faith, and to learn how to glorify God by doing His will.  Personal application comes with knowledge and wisdom (Romans 10:17, Psalm 119:151-153).
3. Their prayer life is void of self-reflection and repentance.  Prayer is about developing a strong relationship with Father God as we seek to worship Him in spirit and truth.  We must go before God in humility, with remorse and repentance for our sins in order to have a right relationship with Him (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 3:19, James 4:8, Psalm 145:18-19, Philippians 4:6-7).
4. They think they need to apologize for God.  For example, they think the Old Testament paints God as intolerant, revengeful, judgmental, and violent, therefore they excuse the Old Testament as no longer relevant in today’s progressive society. They avoid the use of the word “blood” and other offensive words when discussing Christ and His work.  They insist on making the Gospel socially acceptable and not offensive.  In other words, they think that they know more about who God is and what He expects than what He said and demonstrated in Scripture (Psalm 7:11, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 3:4, Psalm 18:30 and 92:15, 2 John 1:9-11, Romans 12:1-2).
5. They think all religions have some validity.  Jesus was clear…..He is the only way to the Father.  There is no other name under heaven whereby we can be saved (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).
6. They refuse to make a stance against immorality.  Weak Christians don’t stand up against sin.  They go along, to get along.  Daniel refused to be defiled and he was determined to glorify God, and God alone, even in life and death situations (Daniel 1 and 6, Romans 16:18, James 4:17, ).
7. They believe a good God won’t send anyone to hell.  They think that only Hitler and a few others like him will be in hell.  Jesus said wide is the gate that leads to destruction – any many find it.  Narrow is the gate to eternal life – and few find it (Matthew 7:13-14, 13:42, and 25:4-6 and 41, Ezekiel 18:20, 2 Thess. 1:9, Jude 1:7).
8. They don’t recognize modern forms of idolatry such as pride, vanity, materialism, celebrity worship, self-sufficiency, self-indulgence, and humanism. Self-actualization, meditation outside of meditating on Scripture and the practice of Yoga are also forms of idolatry as people glorify “self” and self-sufficiency (1 Corinthians 10:7 & 14, Revelation 9:20, Psalm 135:15-18, Exodus 20:3-6, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 John 4:1).
9. They don’t grieve over the sins of America and the world….many even think the world is getting better.  As we approach the last days, the Bible warns that it will be as in the days of Noah – when every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.  God hated the sin of Noah’s day as demonstrated by his total annihilation of every human and animal, except those saved by God in the ark. Today’s culture turns morality upside down.  “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20).  This world is on a downward spiral and sin is ramped – this sinful culture should grieve every believer (Genesis 6:5-8, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Matt. 24:37-39).
10. They aren’t hungry for more of God.  The one who is satisfied with Satan’s teat will never hunger for a closer walk with God.  They will never dig deep into Scripture and grow in faith, knowledge and wisdom.  They cling to Satan’s teat of deception as they blindly grope for more. (Ephesians 4:14, Psalm 52:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

If you suffer from one or more of the symptoms above, ask God to refocus your devotion to Him and His Word.  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:8).

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).