-If the sheep follow Him and not another, as it says in John 10:4,5, why did Paul write so much about some Christians going astray?.John 10:4,5 "And when he put forth his own sheep, he goes before them and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers."

The true sheep can't be led astray. They are sure of what they believe:.Hebrews 6:19. But, it takes spiritual growth to arrive at that sureness:.1John 2:12-14. Until then one is a babe, lacking discernment yet eager to do what is right and at this point they could be easily led into error that appears as truth. Key to avoid that is to keep your mind of the spiritual disciplines that allow more of the mind of God into your mind.

Coming out of 'going astray' is leaving the realm of having allowed oneself to become deceived. This happens effortlessly. Though we come here good, we soon find out there are strange forces against us. Carelessness in life forms habits early in life and carries over to all we may later do. To come out of this cloud of confusion, one begins to be presently minded. 

One can only follow another whom he sees and knows. 

Some back then, as today, were leading new Christians astray. Those led astray were Christians who were not yet fully grounded in Christ.(fully grounded is seeing Christ as effective in them; they still were suckling lambs):.1Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." Hebrews 5:13 "For every one that uses milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." Colossians 2:1,2 "For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you and for them at Laodicea and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love..."

Ephesians 3:17-19 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height.and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.(original for word 'passes' is 'exceeds', that is, it's greater than, deeper than one would think, yet was necessary to get an individual to that level where the heart is affected for good; one can have much knowledge and of many things but if knowledge is not allowed to affect the heart or perhaps is not the kind of knowledge that could affect the heart, then it may be information that is worthless spiritually and a waste of time), that you might be filled with all the fulness of God." Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might."

He knows us. The sheep will follow Him once they know Him:.Philippians 3:10,12 "That I may know him and the power of his.(*).resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Emmanuel."
   Thus the importance of study and your responsibility in that.

-My pastor says to pray and fast and obey church leadership if I want to get closer to God.

We are made near to our Creator by the blood of Christ:.Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Emmanuel you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Prayer, fasting, meditation, study and contemplation are excellent spiritual disciplines to use to ensure that closeness to your Creator doesn't wane. The three 'big' ones are usually daily practices for many people growing in the spirituality of God:.2Peter 3:18.

How much closer to your Creator can you be when His nature of love is in you, if it is indeed so.(*).

But, the spirit is a supply. There are times when you need more of the supply to do things, like this that the disciples who were with Emmanuel could not do:.Matthew 17:14-21. Also in the New Testament the disciple Mark records an example.(Mark 9:29).for us all:.1Corinthians 10:11.

Now, what your pastor may mean is that he figures that you could walk more 'in the spirit' and you can.

-What is 'the mystery of iniquity', the 'man of sin' and the 'son of perdition' spoken of in 2Thessalonians 2:3,7 "Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.(destruction, utter ruin:.Hebrews 10:39)....For the mystery of iniquity does already work. Only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way."