Knowing the truth v. Possessing the truth /being possessed by the truth.

 Luke8:4-8NIV"4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 

Luke8:11-15NIV"11“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."

The call of Christ is a call to arms.

Matthew 10:34NIV"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

But having made common cause with JEHOVAH and his Son how does one avoid becoming numbered among the casualties on this battlefield. Obviously knowing the truth or knowing JEHOVAH is not enough.

James2:19NIV"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."

So what then?

James4:8NIV"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." 

The trouble is ,that like every other truly worthwhile achievement this kind of transformative intimacy with the Lord JEHOVAH requires disciplined effort. Note also that an outward change is not the primary objective ,for this change must affect the examiner of hearts himself.

1Thessalonians2:4NIV"On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts."

We leave off the transactional way of thinking that marked our initial relationship with JEHOVAH and with his unfailing help adopt a more devotional mindset. Our Lord has shown us the way to wage victorious spiritual warfare.

John16:33NIV"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”" his intimate relationship with his God JEHOVAH is our model.

The Lord JEHOVAH and numbers.

 Deuteronomy7:7NIV"The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples."

Matthew22:14NIV"For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Luke6:26NIV"Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

Matthew7:14NIV"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew7:21-23NIV"“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"

Matthew5-11,12NIV"“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Judges7:2NIV"2The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ "

The Lord JEHOVAH is a majority all by himself thus unsurprisingly his view of numbers is very different from that of mere men.

The Lord JEHOVAH vs. all flags.

Only when mankind is governed by a ruler who needs nothing from it (including it's consent) will there be liberty and justice for all.

 1JEHOVAH hath reigned, The earth is joyful, many isles rejoice.

2Cloud and darkness [are] round about Him, Righteousness and judgment the basis of His throne.