Romans 139

Be ye Wise unto Good

September 20, 2003

Brian Kocourek

 

This morning I would like to examine by the Grace of God Romans 16:19 ¶ For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto all which is good, and simple concerning evil.

 

I would like to examine what the Apostle Paul is speaking here regarding these two statements concerning good and evil. Noticed he says, I am glad  on your behalf that your reputation is such that that your obedience to the Word of God is known by quite a few people, and then he says,  but yet I would have you wise unto all which is good, and simple concerning evil.

 

Now, I want you to notice that he is telling them this not so much as a praise, but more so as an of admonition because by doing so he is telling them more important than being obedient is to know what you are obeying and why you are obeying. The Apostle Paul not only wants them to be obedient to the Word, and he actually tells them here that he is glad for their sake that they have a good reputation for being obedient to the Word of God. But what he is conveying thought is that obedience for obedience sake is not enough. The message he is bringing to them here is that although he is glad that they are obedient, yet obedience without an understanding will not last very long, and therefore he tells them to be wise unto that which is good, and be simple concerning evil.

 

Now, this morning I want to examine these two thoughts, of knowing or understanding that which is good and being simple concerning evil.

 

Now, for the next few minutes let’s examine the first of these two thoughts, Being wise in that which is good. Now, remember, we can not examine this without keeping in mind the context is that he was praising them for their reputation of being obedient, but then he adds, but I want you to be wise in that which is good. So we se that he is placing more importance on being wise in that which is good than merely being obedient.

 

Now, that is not to say that there is anything wrong with obedience. But if you do not know what you are obedient to or why you are obedient, then you can be easily de4rceived even as Eve was deceived. For this same Apostle warned the Corinthian Church that they were too negligent in discerning the motives of men who claimed to be preaching the Gospel. 

 

 2 Corinthians 11: 1- 4    Would to God ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].

 

Now, I like the wording better from the New International Version.

 

NIV 2 Cor 11:4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 5 But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." 6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?

 

Look, Paul was a teacher, and so when he preached he taught, he was not eloquent like a polished up preacher. But just because his homilitical skills were not polished did not make him ignorant concerning what he was teaching, and neither did brother Branham. He said, But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." 6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?

 

And I say, was it a sin for Brother Branham to reduce his preaching to make it understandable to the least educated among us? I don’t think so.  And neither was it sin for Jesus to do the same. Jesus came speaking many parables, and we will find out what those parables were all about in the next few weeks when we begin our series on the parables of Christ.

 

Notice that in verses 1-4 Paul is making the case that the people have been too easily persuaded by men who claim to be ministers of Christ, just like Eve was too easily persuaded to go against the Word of God. Even though for a time she had been obedient to that same Word, yet she allowed herself to become deceived away from that Word and the Promise associated with obedience to that Word, which was eternal life.

 

And it wasn’t that she believed a totally different word, as though the serpent came with an altogether different Gospel. But the Gospel he preached was the same Message but with a twist to it. And that same thing has happened in every age, and is happening in this age as well.

 

Paul had to warn the Galatian church of the same thing. He told them that they were in danger of doing falling away from the pure unadulterated Gospel by the same conniving trick that satan used in the beginning.

 

GALATIANS 1:6   I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (Now, this word another is not the Greek word allos which means totally different altogether, but it is the Greek word heteros which means of another nature. They were listening to men who were using the same words to bring a gospel that had a different nature to it. They might have been saying what Jesus said, and they might have been quoting the Scriptures, but the way they were connecting scripture, and in the context they were quoting Jesus they were actually taking the Gospel and presenting it in such a way as to present a false nature to it. Now, the word nature means The essential characteristics and qualities of a person or thing: And therefore, they were presenting the Word of God in such a way as to present a nature or characteristic to the people which was not God’s nature at all. And that is exactly what the serpent did to Eve. So Paul goes on to say,) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another (that’s, Heteros of a different nature) gospel. 7 Which is not another;(this word is allos meaning it is different, not only in nature but in substance,) but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.(Now this perverting the gospel is the key to their presenting it with another nature. The word pervert here was translated from the Greek word Metastrepho which means to turn or twist. Therefore they were presenting the Gospel with such a twist as that it would say what they wanted it to say, and they put such a twist to the Words of Christ as to present something altogether different in nature to that which Christ had presented. And that is the same thing men are doing today when they preach the feminine spirit of God, and the idea that the fullness of the Godhead is in the Bride. They have taken the same words and by context and order, or by they way they divide that word, and the order in which they present it, they have changed it’s nature altogether. But now, here is the warning from Paul.)

 

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10    For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

God had told Eve not to eat of the forbidden tree for as long as she did not do such she would live forever, but the day she did so she would Most surely die. Now, Even had remained obedient for many, many years. But because she did not really understand the promise she opened herself up for deception.

 

And The Apostle Paul is likening the Corinthian’s to that of Eve, and those false ministers that were working the people like the serpent worked on Eve,  and The Apostle Paul called them Super Apostles. Now, it is not that these men were really Super Apostles, but Paul is being facetious. He is speaking tongue in cheek, because in verse 11 he goes on to describe these men as workers and ministers of Satan, who transform their own selves as ministers of Christ, when actuality they are by no means ministers of Christ.

 

II CORINTHIANS 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].

 

Now, notice in verse 4 he says they bear with these men so easily enough. In other words, He is telling them they are too easy going, and when they should be challenging these men, they just accept what they are being told by these men.

 

II CORINTHIANS 11:5   For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

 

Then in verse 5 he calls them super apostle. The word very is translated from the Greek word huper which means in essence, super. It means above and beyond or superior to.

 

Therefore he is saying “why do you put up with these guys who come on as though they are superior to the Apostle, when they are nothing but ministers of Satan.

 

II CORINTHIANS 11:6 But though [I be] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

 

Here he is saying,  Look, I might not be refined in my speech like these guys appear, but I am not stupid. And I have been thoroughly made manifest before your very eyes, and yet  why would you turn down what God had proven to you in favor of someone who can talk in a polished up manner. 

 

Then in verse 13-15,  we find him warn, II CORINTHIANS 11:13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 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.

 

and then verse 19 II CORINTHIANS 11:19 He says,   For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye [yourselves] are wise. The Apostle Paul just lays his speech open before all, and tells it as clear as can be told that these men that are seducing the people with their fair speeches are ministers of Satan making fools of the people in doing so. He says, when they should be wise they have become fools.

 

EPHESIANS 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

 

We are not to walk blindly as some who would say we do not have to understand, all we have to do is believe, and yet how can you believe if you do not understand what it is you are believing?

 

ROMANS 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

Matt 10:16 Behold I send you forth as sheep among wolves. Be ye therefore wise as  serpents, and harmless as doves

 

MALACHI 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

 

The elect know between good and evil, between righteous and unrighteous, between those who serve God and those who do not.

 

DIVINE HEALING 54-1219M 279 May I, instead of him this morning, standing and quote to this generation, "For except a man be born again, he can't understand these things, the Kingdom of God," as He said to Nicodemus of old. You can't understand it; you'll never understand it, until God comes into your heart. And you'll be a part of Him, then you'll say, "Yes, Lord, every bit of the Word's inspired. I believe every bit of It. I believe It's the Truth. And here I am, Lord, to walk in the Light." As long as you're borderline out there, you can't believe it. You can't do it. May the Lord help you this morning to see the supernatural.

 

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH   55-0220E E-66    Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom." You can't understand it. It's a mystic, mythical thing until you're born again. There the very Life of God comes in you. Everlasting, Eternal Life, Zoe, God's own Life comes in you, and then you're a part of God. You're a Son of God or a daughter of God. And then you see as God sees. You believe as God believes.

ROTHERHAM: ISAIAH 28:8-9  Isaiah 28: 89 For all  tables are  full of  filthy vomit,  there is   no place! Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom would he cause to understand the Message?

 

LAMSA:  Isaiah 28: 89 For all  tables are  full of  vomit and filthiness, so that  there is   no place clean. To whom  shall he teach knowledge, and whom shall he  make to  understand the  report.  Those who  are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. For  filth is  upon filth, filth upon  filth, vomit upon  vomit,  vomit upon vomit; a little here, a little there; For with   difficult  speech and  with an  alien tongue  will he  speak to this people. For  I have said  to them, This is  the place  of my  rest wherewith  I may cause  the weary  to rest, and this  is the  place of  tranquility; but they would not listen. So their  Word of  the Lord  was to  them filth  upon filth, filth upon  filth vomit upon  vomit vomit upon  vomit  a little  here  little  there that they  might return  and fall  backwards an  be broken  and snared and taken.

 

IS THIS THE TIME. pg.2  For all tables are full of filthy vomit, there is no place! Who would  He teach knowledge And whom  would He  cause to   understand the Message? I believe it  was Doctor  Lamsa who wrote  the  Lamsa Bible translation who  said.. On time   was  speaking an   didn't  know  he was there. He came back and was talking about the urim thummim --the  he was  speaking of  that light  and he  said "what is  the  matter  with these  people today? He  said "The reason  the people  the translator  could not  translate the  Bible correctly was  that  the  translator tried  to translate  it the  high yiddish and  Jesus  speaking  spoke in  the common  class just like  the street  people  spoke.  You know  there is   scripture  over in  Luke that  says  "The common  people heard  Him gladly. He  spoke in  their language  I hope that is so again.     

 

SHALOM. pg 34 The  Elected see,  knows It' always  through every  age that they  know it.

 

JOHN 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

Romans 16:19 ¶ For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto all which is good, and simple concerning evil. Now that word simple means harmless. In other words God does not want us to be street wise concerning evil. He wants us not to be naive, but he does want us to be harmless as doves when it comes to evil. And that word evil comes from the Greek word kakos which means of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting; base, wrong, wicked  3) troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful