tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9938915.post-1163197835551137612006-11-10T12:30:00.001-10:002006-12-28T21:59:31.755-10:00<p><em>...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. </em><em>1 Cor 8:1-2 (NKJV)</em> </p><p>Gnosticism, mysticism, magick, etc all always have the "promise" of greater power always over the horizon, in the next level of hidden knowlege.<br /><br />Reminds me of the sign I saw in a restaurant "Free fish tomorrow..." When you come back the next day, the sign still says "Free fish tomorrow..."<br /><br />In all these "isms", the initiate is always working to get to the next "level" in order to obtain the coveted "hidden knowlege".</p><p>Once they "level-up", then they find only that the power they wanted is only available at the next level. In the process, what they do get is an ego boost -- they take pride in thier accomplishment at getting to a higher level than someone else. They get a feeling of superiority from having access to privledged knowledge. Even if, in the end, the "knowledge" proves to be basically a worthless waste of time.</p><p>It's all smoke and mirrors. Satan, the father of lies, has no real power of his own. He can only offer facimiles of God's power. At best, he can pull off a few parlor tricks to use as carrots to string along the gullible. But his promises are all empty and without any real substance.</p><p>God is the true source of power and wisdom. If we have any question, God says to ask Him, and He will give us the truth and true wisdom.</p><p><em>If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. James 1:5 (CEV)</em></p>johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15688214995106621365noreply@blogger.com