In
2 Timothy 2:16-17 it says, "But shun profane and idle
babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their
message will spread like cancer." Contextually, these verses
applied to Hymenaeus and Philetus. They were two men who were
involved in spreading their idea of the truth. Unfortunately, they
had strayed away from the truth. In fact, they were telling people
the resurrection of believers had already happened. They spouted
opinions as if God breathed! Their perversion was exposed by Paul,
and a warning was issued to Timothy and the early Christians.
Obviously, the way these two men convinced others was through
talking...philosophy. While they had partial truth, their overall
message was a total lie! When you come into contact with super
spiritual men and women who value themselves as theological
philosophers...beware! I recall experiencing this firsthand at a
"Bible Study". In reality, it was not a Bible Study.
Instead, it was a gathering of people (theological philosophers) who
resembled the description of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They were
engaging in scripture dissection. Sadly, it was more like scripture
embalming! They were taking out scriptures from the Bible and
replacing them with their own assertions! As the evening progressed
we heard people exclaim how the New Testament was not a valid
representation of truth. We heard others say that following the
letter of the law was the only way to know true freedom in Christ!
What?! The letter of the law kills! Why, if Dionne and I had been
willing to receive all of their spiritual psychobabble we would have
left there doubting everything we believed...in effect, the Bible!
It's important to know there are people out there like Hymenaeus and
Philetus who are so concerned with imparting a fresh revelation from
the Holy Spirit (themselves), that they are willing to twist, and
even outright contradict what the Word says! Why? One word sums it
up...PRIDE. Satan himself was originally motivated by this sin.
Pride is what convinced him to rebel against God. Pride was the
angle satan took against Eve in the Garden of Eden. Throughout the
Bible, pride played a part in the down fall of so many! The Bible
tells us not to think higher of ourselves than we ought. The Bible
also says that pride goes before a fall, and a haughty spirit before
destruction. He who lifts himself up, will be abased, or brought
down! ANYONE who comes against the authority of God and His Word,
are courting the most dire kind of trouble. God has called us to
study to show ourselves approved unto Him, workmen that need not be
ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth! The best way to know a
counterfeit is by studying the REAL THING...NOT by studying the
counterfeit. Sure, it is good to be aware of the works of the enemy.
It's important to stay vigilant, and walk circumspectly. However, it
is not healthy to immerse oneself so much in what the enemy is
doing, that we think more about that than of God's Kingdom!
"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them,
for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear
you", 1 Timothy 4:16. "Now the Spirit
expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the
faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with
a hot iron". It's good to know that Oprah Winfrey is actually
promoting the church of satan instead of the church of Jesus
Christ...that way we can avoid her, and warn others to beware.
However, it isn't necessary to read her books, watch all of her
shows, and spend countless hours learning about who she is. When she
denied that Jesus is the only way to heaven on national
television...we KNEW who she was! A deceiver given over to doctrines
of demons. I don't have to know everything certain prominent
politicians have done in secret in order to know they are not in
line with scripture! If I know scripture, and am seeking Jesus
Christ with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, the Spirit
will expose their sin. In Romans 16:19, Paul exhorted the church to
"be wise in what IS GOOD, and SIMPLE concerning EVIL". In
other words, major on knowing the TRUTH of God! In James 1:21
we are instructed to "lay aside all filthiness and overflow of
wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is
able to save your souls." While I am for seeking out knowledge,
I do not agree with seeking out an abundance of earthly knowledge.
When God said in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack
of knowledge, He was indicating lack of the knowledge of the
law...basically, the knowledge of Him and His ways. He wasn't
suggesting they were lacking knowledge of the evil around them.
1Corinthians 8:1-3 puts it plainly. "Now concerning things
offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge
puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows
anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone
loves God, this one is known by Him". Wow! I like that! It IS
more important to KNOW HIM, and be KNOWN BY HIM, than to have
knowledge about worldly things! None the less, we should be
vigilant. We should be watching for the soon return of Jesus! We
know not the day or hour He will return...but we can discern the age
of his return in regard to prophecy and evidence we can see. As the
Word says in 1 Corinthians 13:12-13, "For now we see in a
mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then
shall I know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope,
love, these three; but the greatest of these is love".
Everything we do as Christians should be motivated by love...HIS
love! Even the attainment of knowledge should be motivated by the
love of Jesus. If we seek knowledge for knowledge sake, we have
sought in error. The attainment of knowledge for love's sake will
EDIFY the body of Christ. If we seek to expose evil for the sake of
exposure alone, we have missed the point! The exposure of evil must
be done in love, in order to effect change. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3,
we are reminded of this by Paul..."Though I speak with tongues
of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding
brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have
all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and
though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me
nothing". Where is the profit of being knowledgeable, yet
unloving? How can theories and suspicions build up the body? Only
through the love of Jesus will His church be built up. His Spirit
reveals truth. His Spirit comforts. His Spirit validates. His Spirit
confirms. His Spirit unites. May we be lead by His Holy Spirit! May
we seek to glorify God at all cost! May we know Him, and be known by
Him...no other knowledge can compare to that! Until next time, may
you be blessed with God's BEST!
Your
Partner In Ministry,
Greg McCowen
Covenant Life Fellowship - Lubbock
Church - (806) 771-4244
