“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.   Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.   But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.   Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:14-19.

Many want to argue about the Word of God.  They always want an opportunity to rationalize their wrongly dividing the Word of God so they need not be ashamed.  Once their vain babblings have been heard they want condolences and understanding.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me (Paul) among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:2-4. 

A good soldier of Jesus Christ will always strive to rightly divide the Word of God and have nothing to do with vain babblings of false teachers.  Those who get upset when the soldiers of Christ mention the names of those whose vain babblings are teaching anything other than the Cross of Christ,  should take note of the Apostle Paul who did indeed “mark them which caused divisions and offences contrary to sound Doctrine” (Romans 16:17) when he called out Hymenaeus and Philetus and said their word will eat as does a canker.

There is a lost and dying world out there who desperately need to hear and want to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  They need deliverance preached to them.  While there remains others, who fill up the pews on Sunday morning listening to a preacher who no more rightly divides the Word of God than the devil himself.  “Don’t touch God’s anointed” you say….these are NOT God’s anointed and if you don’t know the difference it could be because you are sitting under them and you are deceived my friend.

While these words may sound harsh to some, those are the very ones I am speaking to.  I may not be saying it as eloquently as you would like to hear it but I’m telling you the best I know how…the vain babbling of the false teachers of this day and time are just as much as a canker today as they were in verse 17.   Canker worms consume the buds and leaves of trees.  The words of these false teachers are doing that very thing to God’s children and His “good soldiers” are scared to say anything because they themselves don’t know the Word of God rightly divided.  Do I claim to know everything about the Word of God?  Absolutely not!  But I am blessed enough to have a Bible, several as a matter of fact, and I do test the spirits.  Does it take me a while sometimes?  Sure it does.  Do I miss it all together at other times? Of Course.  But the Lord is faithful and He will always guide us back to His Truth when we are seeking His Truth.  If we are seeking something else, something that appeals to our flesh, we will find that too but it won’t be of the Lord.    A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

If you are indeed a soldier of Christ, study to show thyself approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God.  If you are a soldier of a false teacher…your babblings are vain and profit us nothing.  Playtime is over and it is time to get off the fence.  My loved ones and your loved ones need deliverance from bondage and strongholds and there remains only One Way, One Truth and One Life who can deliver them – Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Preach to them their deliverance and if it hurts their feelings, I will remain thankful to God for my faithful fellow soldier of Jesus Christ. – Donna Clark Warren.