Yea, I Will Rejoice Over Them to do Them Good

Continuing: there is a characteristic we must discuss in relation to in the prior message and many before it illuminating the same point. Yesterday’s focus was on the difference between the advice and counsel of God in contrast to that of all others, and reiterating in these is found life and death. We have seen these described as waters flowing, either from God in its pure form direct from the source, or as fouled with the impurities of men’s inventions, or additions and deletions.

To begin let’s look at Proverbs 26 and where we are told about sending a message by those who willingly or unwilling foul the waters. The point this will/should take us to is understanding that not identifying the authority of message removes the power. We must further clarify this due to the fact that many come in the name of LORD saying, “I am anointed.” In doing this they invalidate the claim even when sanctioned and reduce it to a cliché as they have with so many truths. They spout truths in sound bites as if all know the deeper meaning, when very few do, and thereby render the term meaningless.

Proverbs 26
6 He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet [meaning the message will never reach the destination], and drinks damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools [meaning the fool chooses what point he will emphasizes more that others].
8 As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool [meaning not to elevate those who aren’t worthy of it].
9 As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools [meaning the fool has no idea what he has taken hold of in His hand – he doesn’t understand the message].
10 The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors [should read – The Great makes plain all things, but he that hires a fool (to deliver his message) hires one that changes the meaning and covers (the message)].
11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 See you a man wise [so wise he continually returns to his own vomit/folly] in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The slothful [refusing to work] man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turns upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed [moving but going nowhere].
15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the LORD warning of this time saying, “Many shall come in my name, saying, ‘I am Christ.'” In all three cases it is to begin His telling us of the events that precede the coming of the Son of man. Matthew and Mark follow this with saying, “And shall deceive many,” and all three Gospels begin it saying, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” We are being told of those who will deceive God’s people about the subject: the end of the age and the coming of the Son of man.

We are told to “Take heed,” using the Greek word blepo, meaning to look at and perceive. It is telling us to see for ourselves, and not where these false ones are telling us to look. In the same passage the LORD tells of who it is He warns against: those who won’t let us look where we should. It says they will come trading upon His name (selling salvation as the way they make their living), saying, “I am Anointed (Christos).” It is speaking of those who say they have the anointing. (2 Timothy 3:1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.)

The word used for the deception is planao, meaning to cause to wander away (from truth, safety, and moral virtue). It is the false ones telling you they are anointed as they go on to sport themselves with the deceptions they’ve invented out of their own imaginations, saying, “God says,” when He didn’t say anything to them. They are hearing from a Spirit, but it isn’t God. (see yesterday’s post and 2 Corinthians 11. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ (anointing). 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”)

2 Timothy 4
1 I charge you therefore before God, and the LORD Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.

We have discussed planao (deceive) and the many variations of the word planos several times in previous posts. These discussions have been in this same context of determining the authentic from the false. The following is from the post of September 18, titled, “Unto You it is Given to Know the Mystery of the Kingdom of God.”

This is the end of the matter: I am the Son of man, and I am the One sent by my Father on this mission, with His message and in His name. This is the authority the false ones leave out of the message.

Philippians 2
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfill you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the LORD Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the LORD that I also myself shall come shortly.
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that you had heard that he had been sick.
27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the LORD with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Again: (When verse 25 speaks of Epaphroditus and later of his recovering it is telling of his regaining his stability. Here are two paragraphs from June 28, 2016 and the post titled, “Fear God, and Give Glory to Him; for The Hour of His Judgment is Come.”

“The name Epaphroditus actually describes one who was a deceiver but now has recovered from his disease. The name is actually derived from epi, meaning distribution (in this case, of wisdom), and Aphrodite, which is another name for Venus the Roman goddess of beauty and love. The planets themself were symbols of deception (false gods), the name planet even coming from the Greek word planos, meaning rover. It is also the root word of planetes, meaning erratic teaching; and of plane, meaning fraudulent; also planao, meaning cause to stray from safety, truth or virtue.The idea of planets being associated with deception is the fact that they appear in the night sky as if stars. The way you can tell the difference is they move all over the sky, as opposed to the stars that don’t go astray, nor do they lead astray those using them to keep their way as they journey.

These false teachers lie in wait to deceive (see Ephesians 4:14), as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour (see 1 Peter 5:8).”)The word translated “Sought out” in Isaiah 62:12 is the word used in Isaiah 8 when we are asked, “Should not a people ‘seek’ unto their God?”)

Isaiah 8
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

The same word is used in Isaiah 65:1 telling of those who haven’t sought the LORD finding Him. We understand this by what we are told in Isaiah 62:12; it is He who has sought us out so that we were able to find Him. Isaiah 65 goes on to tell of those who finding the LORD remain among the dead and choose to linger there eating unclean and abominable things (corrupted truth) which have caused the desolation.

Isaiah 65
1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walk in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
3 A people that provoke me to anger continually to my face; that sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon altars of brick;
4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns [contention] all the day.
6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, says the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills [My high places I have caused to rise out of the earth – even this one nation under God]: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom [return to them their own works shall be their destruction].
8 Thus says the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
10 And Sharon [corrected to be right – straightened out] shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor [where the waters had been troubled, now become stilled] a place for the herds [My flock] to lie down in, for my people that have sought Me.
11 But you are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number [the culture (church and civil) that has rejected Me].
12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
13 Therefore thus says the LORD God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed:
14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
15 And you shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the LORD God shall slay you, and call his servants by another name:
16 That he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

Psalm 145
1 I will extol you, my God, O king; and I will bless your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless you; and I will praise your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 I will speak of the glorious honor of your majesty, and of your wondrous works.
6 And men shall speak of the might of your terrible acts: and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All your works shall praise you, O LORD; and your saints shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk of your power;
12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The LORD upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that be bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon you; and you give them their meat in due season.
16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserves all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.