Sep 9 – Isaiah 20, Isaiah 21, Isaiah 22, Isaiah 23 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 Proverbs 22:7-16

Isaiah 20:1-3

In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it- at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Then the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush,

Isaiah walked naked and barefoot. For three years. Sorry, let me say that again. 

Isaiah walked naked and barefoot. For three years. Three years!!!

Can you imagine someone doing that prophetically in a church today? You’d be kicked out! If not right away certainly after one year let alone three!

What can we say about this? God sometimes will ask for the dramatic to make a point? It’s pretty hard to wrap your head around really isn’t it. But we must learn, God doesn’t move in ways we expect. His ways are higher than ours. We can’t pretend to understand them. Maybe in your life there’s things going on that you just don’t understand. You can’t see where God is going with it. That’s where trust and faith comes in. 

Oh and spare a thought for poor Isaiah. That can’t have been much fun for him. 

2 Cor 11:13-15

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Satan disguises himself as an Angel of light. He pretends to be something good and glorious and fools many. He has even on occasion pretended to The the arch angel Gabriel and convinced people that they are prophets who have then gone on to start new religions. 

Paul warned us that he does that. 

And we know this verse well. But often we don’t include the whole context around it. Paul also says if Satan does it so do his servants. They pretend to be servants of light. Who is he talking about? Not demons or principalities (which certainly you can imply from this and would be a reasonable assumption – but that’s not the point Paul is getting at here) No, he’s talking about people. People who appear to work for Christ, but are working for the enemy. Some knowingly, some unknowingly.

False apostles – deceitful workmen. And you know where you’ll find these people? In churches.

You see other people came after Paul and taught falsehood – some thinking it was truth, but that doesn’t make it any less false. 

We cannot accept another Gospel or listen to those who teach it.

Be on your guard against them. Just because a teacher is popular doesn’t make them right. Just because they say what you want to hear, doesn’t make it true.

Judge everything through the word of God, don’t be deceived. Don’t be led astray like the serpent led Eve… don’t put up with false Gospels. And the only way to know the difference? Make sure you know the word.