Luke 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Here are disciples who have walked with Jesus for three years and they are afraid to ask Him a simple question? The only reason I can think of that they did not want to ask is the same reason I would not questions in class, I did not want to look stupid.

I’ve come to believe that there are no stupid questions, only simple or difficult answers. The last thing any of us should do is leave lingering doubts in our minds. The devil feeds off doubts and fears.

At a minimum we should engage someone we trust and ask simply, “Did I hear right?” That places you in a neutral position, being neither haughty nor abased. We all have moment when we doubt our senses and the older I get the less dependable is my memory. It is an easy out, not suspicious, genuine and an opportunity to open dialogue.

That also works when your beliefs are challenged. We all desire to be right on important issues. We are told to rightly divide the Word, and when our understandings are challenged, we need to find a way of clarifying what has been said. I know I have misspoken at times and did not catch it until someone asked for clarification.

I do not want to mislead anyone but I have to admit I’ve been told that my conclusions sometimes need to be tied back to scripture that supports what I’ve said. If we cannot back up what we think and say with scripture, then where do our beliefs come from?

Here is a rule of thumb; if you feel like you are back peddling, you are not standing on good footing.

Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

There are those who have stood upon this word of God to their own destruction. They are taught that works are enough. See here, says so right here in Acts 10:35. “I’m good to go, I’ve done enough.”

Haggai 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

People who feel like they have done enough will stop praying, stop seeking, stop growing, and continue in the way they are going.

Judges 18:5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

Once you start buying into false doctrine you have decided you have had enough of God and only seek things the world offers. Where will you turn when the world takes it all from you?

Jeremiah 18:17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

These never truly knew God for if they had, then they would not take the fear of the Lord so lightly. They have no true understanding of the meaning of righteousness. Good works are not righteousness and God does not accept any work He has not authored.

Luke 13:27 But He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’ HCSB

That Jesus said to those who did works not authored by God.