Psalms 8:1, 16:2; 31:1-3

My Shepherd led me into His green pastures and laid me down in 2 Timothy. The Mind of the Spirit drew the spirit of my mind into communion with the Holy Ghost in 2 Timothy 2:17

2Timothy 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus.*

These are the words that eat. 2 Timothy 2:15 speaks of the words that feed:

2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:2). “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Add the thrice repeated command of Jesus to Peter: “Feed my lambs,” “feed my sheep,” and, again, “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). We feed Jesus’ lambs “the sincere milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2), and the full-grown receive the strong meat (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Read the Spirit’s instruction regarding “words to no profit” described as “profane, and vain babblings” and the “word of truth.”

2Timothy 2:14 ¶ Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2Timothy 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Along the still waters, I reflected on words that eat and words that feed. The “body” fed is the believer’s “body,” the Temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19), and the body of Christ, the Church (Colossians 1:18). Pastors are charged to provide the feed (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).

The false teacher babbles words that do not profit, but it’s worse than that. Unprofitable words work like a canker (gangrene), interfering with the “blood” flow in the body (1 John 1:7-9), eventually killing the nerves of the “body,” creating a condition in which it is “past feeling” (Ephesians 4:19a). Such a “body” is overtaken by lasciviousness, and given to the work of uncleanness, with greediness (Ephesians 4:19b).

The only remedy to the canker caused by babbling words is the diligent study and proper, or “rightly divided,” word of truth.

Beware the babbling words of false teachers. Be attentive to the well-studied and rightly divided (straight cut, properly dissected, expounded) word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15; John 17:17; see John 15:7).

What do we watch for? Rightly divided word of truth preaching will heighten our spiritual senses, enabling us to rightly discern good and evil, right from wrong (Hebrews 5:14). Unprofitable words will engender insensitivity to right and wrong and interfere with our ability to discern between good and evil (Ephesians 4:19). If you find yourself becoming increasingly insensitive to what the Bible condemns, you are receiving babbling words that are unprofitable. If you keep moving in that direction, you will finally experience the searing of your conscience (1 Timothy 4:2). That is when the condition has become terminal, because at that point, your spirit is unresponsive to the “word of truth.” This is caused by receiving unprofitable words. On the other hand, if you find that you are becoming increasingly aware of evil things that have crept into your life, or have a heightened discernment between good and evil in this world, this is a condition that arises from exposure to the word of truth.

In the valley, I found Jesus waiting for me. He spoke profitable words to me. There was reproof and rebuke, as the sharp blade of His word divided between soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and laid open the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12), but then the soothing balm of Gilead was gently applied as the great Physician ministered His healing (Jeremiah 8:22). The blood moved again through confession, restoring the circulation, as the Word ministered His words.

When finished, He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Then He beckoned me join Him at His table.

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed as we went into the harvest.

Spew out the “words” that eat, and eat the words that feed.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v74nmd2-shepherds-pasture.html

[*The canker is a “malign and corrupting influence that is difficult to eradicate. It translates γάγγραινα (gaggraina — from which we get gangrene). Gangrene is a physical condition caused by a loss of blood flow, most commonly due to diseased arteries or other circulation interference. It’s an interesting choice of metaphor: profane and vain babblings increase to “more ungodliness,” likened to a disease that arises from interference with the “blood” flow of the “body.” It kills the tissue over time—because of deadened nerves, the body is insensitive to the eating away of the flesh. The “words that eat” devour the “body of Christ.”]