2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the Last Days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its Power.
The Apostle Paul wrote this warning to Timothy in the year 66 A.D. He speaks of the apostasy of the Church and what the world will be like in the Last Days before the Rapture of the Church. We have heard our entire lives that Jesus is coming back soon, and indeed He is! The list of characteristics spelled out here aptly describes the world we are living in today. Please note that his description is NOT of the lost world but of the Body of Christ; born-again believers; the Church.
Everything listed is the work of the devil to kill, steal, and destroy the people in the Body of Christ. He has little interest in the lost world; they already belong to him. Satan is bound and determined to rob believers of their faith and he will stop at nothing. Just as Paul said, Satan is infiltrating the Church and we are living in perilous times.
The phrase, having a form of godliness but denying its Power speaks of the church denying the Power of the Holy Spirit. Few churches today permit the Holy Spirit to move and minister to the people gathered there together. When we shut down the operation of the Holy Spirit of God, no true ministry takes place. No one is saved. Healing is not an option, and Deliverance from bondage is totally out of the question and never even spoken about. Churches like this are dead and nothing more than social clubs where friends get together once or twice a week for fellowship.
Paul speaks directly to this subject and pulls no punches as to how we are to respond to these people. And from such people turn away! Christians should not attend churches like this because when we do we are subjecting ourselves to the work of the enemy. Any church that does not welcome in the moving and operation of the Holy Spirit is actually banishing one third of the Godhead and this is an extremely dangerous place to be.
God loves everyone and it is His desire that all be saved, but He is also a just and jealous God and will not overlook such actions from so-called believers. We are called into full faith in Him; 100% surrendered and sold out to serving Him and building the Kingdom as we speak the Truth of the Gospel and love people into the fold.
This is serious business my friends and we need to pray and seek the guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit in regard to how we are choosing to walk out our salvation. Read the list of characteristics again and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all righteousness. He will do this for you. That’s His job as our Teacher, Counselor, and Guide and He is VERY good at it.
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its Power. If any one of these describes the leadership of the church you attend PLEASE take heed of the Word of God, And from such people turn away!
The Holy Spirit can……..turn the tide
Seriously, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
