Transcript: Denying the Power of Godliness: A Warning from 2 Timothy 3:5

Music In the second book of Timothy, chapter 5, verse 1, Apostle Paul gives us great insight into the final days and what we should expect. He tells us that these will be perilous times, and with these perilous times will come perilous men. 2 Timothy 3, verse 1 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, slanders, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Verse 5, having a form of godliness but denying its power, and from such people turn away. Well, these end time days will be fearsome days according to what our apostle is saying in these scriptures. Paul predicted that the last days of human history would be very difficult and with these difficulties he gives the list of the kinds of sinful people who would typify these times. The Greek word for perilous is translated dangerous or exceedingly fierce. This is suggesting the severity of Satan's best and last-ditch effort against Jesus Christ and humanity and also his church. Have you noticed as we read in verse 5, the word declares these men will have a form of godliness, but deny its power and from such people turn away? That was in verse 5. You see, we're not talking about simple ignorance here. We are speaking about people who are in connection with the church and who know exactly what they are doing in bringing such great corruption to the church. These brute beast natured individuals listed in our scriptures says these people will have a form of godliness. That is, they profess their religion or faith, but they live a life contrary to their profession. their life of religious confession lacks the power of God's word at work in their lives God's word did not influence change as it ought to have because their passions and carnal propensities ruled over their lives and the true evil desires of their hearts it is easier for many people to observe forms of religious belief than it is to allow their hearts to come under its controlling influence in an actual true belief and reverence for God. And when we speak about religion, this is not a bad term. True religion is a belief in and reverence for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the only supernatural power as creator and ruler of the entire universe. True religion is an organized system of biblical doctrines with an approved pattern of behavior and proper form of worship given and authorized by the author of life himself. and the most orderly, methodical and bigoted faithful attachment to forms of religious beliefs and furnishes no evidence in itself that there is any true or loyal allegiance or devotion in the heart or that the truth of the gospel has any actual rule of godly conduct over the soul. It is much easier for these people to observe forms of religion than it is to allow their hearts to come under the controlling influence of the truth which promises to bring true godly change to those who practice this way. Paul warns his spiritual son Timothy to turn away from such people as these. He says, son, have no contact or associate with them as if they were Christians. Give no face to the pretense of their feigned religion. Well, Paul is in effect saying, you must not linger with these people, Timothy. They resist the truth, not from simple ignorance, but from a perverse mind. Turn away from them quickly and have nothing to do with them. there will be difficult times wherein it would be difficult for man to maintain a good or healthy conscience as these times are predicted to come the corruptness prophesied by Apostle Paul that will come as a result of these evil minded people will bring great damage to the church and these traitors within are just like those in Moses' day who were called Janus and Jambres. And they resisted Moses. And the people who are called perilous men in these last days' times are just as hostile to and oppose the truth as the magicians Janus and Jambres did in Moses' time. Dropping down in our scripture, in 2 Timothy 3.8, the word declares, Now just as Janus and Jambres were hostile to and resisted Moses, so these men are hostile to and oppose the truth. They have depraved and distorted minds, and are reprobate and counterfeit, and to be rejected as far as the faith is concerned. Verse 9 But they will not get very far, for their rash folly will become obvious to everyone, as was that of those magicians mentioned. these people go about blinding the blind persecuting those who do see by gossiping and slandering them and calling them a cult or a sect and actually hindering the work of God by causing others to stumble and falter in their spiritual journey they cause division in the church yet look innocent in the act because of the mask that they wear they are haters of good but our scripture says that they will eventually be exposed. This always is God's way eventually to expose the evil. They are likened to the magicians in Moses' day. Magicians use evil powers for their evil purposes and these hypocrites are themselves never able to grasp the truth and these latter day sinners will victimize others who are actually weak. Just as Paul had suffered greatly despite his righteousness, which was found in Christ, all those who live for Christ and practice this way of Christianity with holy reverence and devotion to Jesus Christ, these enemies of God will grow only more and more calloused and deceived and will strongly oppose the truth with cunning and underhanded plots and schemes with intent of destroying the church. remember the church is not a building but it is made up of God's people Paul also goes on in these scriptures in 2 Timothy 3.10 by saying but you my son Timothy you have closely observed and diligently followed my teaching and conduct purpose in life faith patience love and steadfastness persecutions and sufferings such as occurred to me at Antioch and Iconium and Lystra persecutions I endured but out of them all the Lord has delivered me verse 12 indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecutions and will be made to suffer because of their religious stand But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading others astray, and being deceived and led astray themselves. Verse 14, but as for you, continue to hold the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you have learned them. And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to instruct and give you the understanding for salvation, which comes through faith in Christ Jesus, through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus, in absolute trust and confidence in his power, wisdom and goodness. Paul is saying, this is good. What you have learned from your mother and grandmother, this is good. Continue to study them, absorb them as well, since they will provide everything you need for a successful Christian life and ministry. Our focus on this message today is found in 2 Timothy 3 verse 5. For although they hold a form of piety, true religion, they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it. Their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession. Avoid all such people. Turn away from them. You see, these people hold a form of godliness, but deny the power of it. And we're going to look at this particular word since many people have such a weak understanding of what Paul is saying here. Many people hear this saying, and it is like they tilt their head to the side and their eyes look glazed over and they say, Huh? What does that mean? Having a form of godliness but denying the power of it. Well, first of all, a form of godliness is absolutely necessary if we are saved. We are clearly and unquestionably commanded to assume a form of godliness. This means that we will testify by external acts our allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ. We dare not be ashamed of him and keep the knowledge of what he did silent. Jesus, in fact, says in Luke 9, verse 26, For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes into his own glory and in his fathers and of the holy angels. And we are told to hold fast to what Jesus commanded to maintain a form of godliness. And not only are we to hold fast to his teachings, but we are to practice them. We dare not neglect his teachings and then say we love him and worship him. How dare us say that? Dear one, it is impossible for there to be any inward godliness or reverence for God without some outward manifestation of it. Romans 10.10 declares, for with the heart a person believes and so is justified declared righteous, acceptable to God and with the mouth he confesses he declares openly and speaks out freely his faith and confirms his salvation Hallelujah! May I be so bold to say what right do you or I have to withhold the acts of external worship from Him who is the God and ruler over all flesh as well as the Father of spirits? The Word declares in Hebrews 12, verse 9. Hebrews 12, verse 9. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? The God of all creation created your body as well as your soul and showers his mercy upon it daily. Should we not have a form of godliness in our outward or external praise and thanks, giving him thanks for being such a great and loving Savior who purchased us by his sufferings when he offered himself as a living sacrifice and spared the agony of our souls from the torments of hell and its ever-burning flames of fire for all eternity? Glorify him then in your body and in your spirit, which both belong to him if you are truly his. Those whom Jesus Christ has associated himself with and has had influence on is quite evident by both their outward and inward way of life But dear ones this form of godliness is insufficient unless it be united with the very power of God and His godliness or godhood which is His divinity but for those who are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to God, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, they will only have a form of godliness but deny its power. And what these kind of apostate deceivers display is merely an outward service of feign worship that is not conformed to the nature of God's way and his character. Their outward display of godliness lacks conformity to the commands of God. And this conformity is not to the design of the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ and His precious gift to us, which is His Holy Spirit. Their conformity is not to the nature of the covenant, which is the true foundation of our hope. And Jeremiah 31, verse 33 lays out this covenantal promise of God. In Jeremiah 31, 33, It declares, but this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, says the Lord, I will put my law within them, and on their hearts will I write it, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. When this covenantal promise and blessing is engraved in the walls of your heart, you truly belong to God. There will be no feigning or pretending here, dear ones. This relationship is real and obvious. Jesus Christ made this possible through the power of his Holy Spirit who lives within each true member of the body of Christ. For the impostors, their conformity is not to the examples of those of true saints of God who have gone before them. Such are the types like Paul and the language he used, such as the God whom I serve in my spirit. The God whom I serve in my spirit. Look with me in Romans 1.9. Romans verse 1.9. Hmm, so tasty. How savory sweet this is. For God is my witness, Paul says, whom I serve with my whole spirit, rendering priestly and spiritual service in preaching the gospel and telling the good news of his son how incessantly I always mention you when at my prayers. For God is my witness and whom I serve with my whole spirit, he says. For those who have a form of godliness but deny its power, they have not conformed to the example of our precious Redeemer Jesus Christ in that his whole body, soul, and spirit was so committed and meshed in doing and in suffering the will of God until he could say, It is finished. For these apostate sinners, their conformity is not with the great plan of God's salvation and sanctification in their plans or desires. These were to set the soul free from guilt, to renew it, to reprint upon it the very image of God in order to make us fit for the inheritance of the saints who are to live in the light and glory of God. And Paul gives insight to this in another letter to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 verse 6 when he says, If you lay all these instructions before the brethren, You will be a worthy steward and a good minister of Christ Jesus, ever nourishing your own self on the truths and faith of the good Christian instruction which you have closely followed. Verse 7. But refuse and avoid irreverent legends, profane and impure in godless fiction, mere grandmother's tales and silly myths, and express your disapproval to them. Train yourself towards godliness, piety, and keeping yourself spiritually fit. Verse 8, for physical training is of some value, useful for a little, but godliness and spiritual training is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is yet to come. well basically Paul says how certain all these things are necessary for the great purposes of God but bodily exercise will profit you little in other words the physical holds very little value but the spiritual holds great and eternal value for the true Christian whose life has been conformed to sound Christian instruction we are seeing and hopefully you are understanding by the clear evidence in this truth that there are many and will be many more who will only satisfy themselves with the form of godliness without the power of godliness. Precious church, I must tell you that these folks are labeled as intentional hypocrites by our Lord Jesus Christ because they are utterly destitute of the love of God and His Son Jesus Christ who have no desire at all for holiness but position themselves constantly in seizing new opportunities to deceive while wearing the cover-up and mask of religion for their sinful purposes. These not only wear their masks but could also wear these various titles, the cold and rigid keeper of rules, better called the formalists, and also the vain enthusiast is a mask wearer, and the worldly-minded professor of the faith, the bitter and critical-tongued apostate, and also the unfruitful hypocrite. You see, godliness is in the man or woman who purports to be a Christian, or it is not. True godliness is in a man or woman who purports to be Christian, or it is not. The very word godlikeness is just as the very word implies. Either God dwells in the true believer, or he does not. Godliness is the man being like his God. And that image was lost. But when the Holy Spirit came to live within true believers, the image of God is now restored. And this restoration is provided through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ and by the work of ministry of the Holy Spirit. And the form of godliness without the power, which belongs to the form or pattern and which ought to be inseparable from that form. There can be no true and living power which brings restoration and conformity. It's kind of like this. Have you ever walked along a shoreline or a beach and you picked up an empty shell and you know that there has been a living creature in that shell at one time? just so there is a power belonging to the external form of godliness, but the two things really exist apart. This can't be with God living within. No way. There are many types and examples which may be given of form without power. For instance, take a statue representing a famous individual. It is a form without power. There is the form of the eye there, but no power of sight. There is the form of the ear there, but there is not power of hearing. And there is the form of a mouth, but no power working on those lips. And there is the form of a body, but there is not power of life in that form. so in the form of godliness there is the appearance of spiritual knowledge without the true and real knowledge of God there is the appearance of an individual listening to God and seemingly hearing his voice as the word of God is being spoken but yet without a truly attentive ear that individual has only feigned the appearance of one whom the Spirit of God breathed his life into, but is in fact still dead in his trespasses and sins, and is therefore still without life. The outward appearance of godliness here then is the appearance of faith in the ways and truths of God's word which are according to godliness. But dear one, I ask you, where will you find the appearance of faith without faith? The gospel truths of God's word may be held in one's intellect alone. These truths may be understood as statements and held by the individual's understanding without spiritually and reverently appreciating them and embracing them. For these imposters, they only mouth these words and engage their tongues to give the appearance of having the knowledge of the truth. And their form of godliness may be in the appearance of obedience to the laws of God, which are definitely requirements of true godliness. But the imposters of the faith may fulfill these in the letter of the law, but break them in the spirit of the law. Well, for example, I might love my fellow man in word, but fail to love him or her in deed and in truth and in action. Do I give to the needy as the Lord directs? Do I visit the sick or those in prison? Do I encourage the stranger who might need a kind word or sunny smile? Do I do kind things for my neighbor or lend a helping hand to a little old man or woman in the neighborhood grocery store? True godliness says that my deeds and actions must be coupled with faith. If it is not, then it is a dead and cold work devoid of love and power. And the power of godliness is true faith in the teaching and instruction of God's word. and the power of godliness is in the worship and praise of God which can only be done in spirit and truth. This is truly doing the will of God from your heart and not from or out of your head. The power of godliness is found in the love for the godly who are the Lord's godly people. and the power of godliness is found in my joy that I have for my God and this power cannot help but demonstrate itself externally because it is the fruit of the internal godliness that expresses itself in this way joy cannot be contained dear church doing the will of God brings great joy and peace to your whole being, and it is like a light on a hill. The contrast here is the formalist, or the one who practices a set of strict doctrines, we also may call a hypocrite, rigidly sticks to external forms rather than to true and practical knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. the formalist or as I said maybe better known as a hypocrite has knowledge that is merely speculative and empty of godly knowledge and these people ramble on with analytical reasoning of knowledge but it is only called a form of knowledge in a mere empty shadow and show of the knowledge as described by Paul in Romans 2 verse 20 Romans 2 verse 20 An instructor of the foolish A teacher of babes Having the form of knowledge and truth in the law You therefore who teach another Do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal Do you steal? You who say do not commit adultery Do you commit adultery? You who abhor or hate idols Do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? You see, these pretenders of the faith, who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it do not obey the commands of Scripture And because of this they actually deny Christ and not only that disown and renounce Him by what they do Titus 1 verse 16 declares, They profess to know God, but they deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do. They are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and are unfit and worthless for good work, of any kind. This sounds serious, doesn't it? It sure does. And precious ones, may I tell you, this is serious. It is truly a serious matter. But for the one who has his power of godliness rooted and established in his or her sanctifier and stands on the practical knowledge and foundational truths of Scripture, can certainly know that he knows that he knows Christ is truth because all truth is found in him, Christ. Ephesians 4, 21 declares, Assuming that you have really heard him and been taught by him, and all truth that is in Jesus embodied and personified in him, you see, dear ones, the form of godliness that lives in you is true when you know and do the will of God. your soul is so convinced of God's converting sin crucifying and conquering light that now shines and radiates out of your soul that there is not a glimmer of doubt but you know that you have truly had a soul awakening and a soul enlivening fire lighted within whose light cannot be contained hallelujah hallelujah Ephesians 5.14 Paul declares Therefore he says Awake O sleeper and arise from the dead and Christ shall shine he shall make his dawn his light shine upon you and give you light But for the formalist or the hypocrite their strict adherence to the practice and obedience to their religious ways is merely external in words and show. In and by their deeds, they deny the power of godliness. They live as if godliness was but an empty name in a matter of fashion, but void of all power that produces fruitful evidence of their profession. Paul warned us to beware of these kinds. They are evil ministers, teachers, and even those who sit in the pews beside us each week who wear masks and look fair on the outside, but are foul inwardly. They look like an inn or a place to stay that has an angel standing guard on the outside, but really only has a devil within and evil schemes in mind. Jesus had something to say about people like this Matthew 23, 27 when he said Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites for you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but inside are so full of dead man bones and all uncleanness even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Let us be reminded again, as we had previously touched on the fact, that there is such a thing as a form of godliness. This godly form of godliness is beautiful, lovely, kind, gracious, and full of righteousness and godly love. This form of godliness is quick to make wrongs right by admitting errors and blunders. This form of godliness is advantageous in the renewing of the old man and his ways and produces fruit that show and evidence this beautiful change. And dear ones, the power of godliness is contained in the love of God and for our neighbors. This is the New Testament commandment given to all true believers by our precious Savior Jesus Christ himself in Mark 12 verse 28. Mark 12, 28. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked of him, Of all the commandments, which is the most important? Verse 29. The most important one Jesus answered is this Hear, O Israel The Lord our God The Lord is one Love the Lord your God with all of your heart And with all of your soul And with all of your mind And with all of your strength And the second is this Love your neighbor as yourself There is no commandment greater than these You see The love of God will guarantee and mesh us to trust in his protection and to accept and to comply with his commands and precepts. The love of God will draw us to meditate on his perfections and to declare our confidence and submission by profound and frequent adoration that cannot be contained or go unexpressed. The power of godliness springs from the love of God that impresses His glory upon our minds by songs of praise which act to inflame our holy gratitude by acts and expressions of thanksgiving. The love and power of godliness aims to strengthen our faith and exalt our hope by reverent meditations and silent and frequent prayers both within and without. The love of God implores or begs his protection from our own foolish ways, our mind of reason and fleshly faults. When we love God with our whole heart, dear ones, the power of godliness will be shown by our steadfastness in the resistance of temptation, by being patient in our afflictions, by demonstrating faith in God's divine promises, and by constant fear and hatred of sinful encroachment into our lives. The power of godliness will be demonstrated by the continual drawing and breathing after higher degrees of holiness and having a hatred of the pains and pleasures of the world when they come in to rob or steal the progress of this divine and internal perfection of godly excellence. The power of godliness as it is put forth and wielded in the love of our neighbor appears in the form of forgiveness, not harboring offense, nor the desire to cause or do injury of any type. It is absolutely necessary for the form and power of godliness to continually and persistently coexist together in your Christian life. We have seen in the hypocrites whom Paul describes as imposters in 2 Timothy 3, verse 1, that these men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control. They'll be brutal and despisers of good. They will be traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. From these people, turn away. You see, there may be the appearance of godliness in these without the reality of it being so or true. But dear ones, there cannot be the reality of godliness without the true appearance or evidence of it being so. God alone gives the divine grace and power and infinite wisdom to ascend to the highest plane in the arrival of true godliness. Godliness is powerful because it is the embodiment of God. This means that the living God lives in you and gives life to your spirit, to your soul and body. Godliness is powerful because it is the avenue of new birth to the redeemed and floods your soul with righteousness and truth and love and the desire to be made totally holy as He is holy. true godliness is powerful because it is continual growth in an upward climb up the mountain of love and is not satisfied until it has apprehended the lover of his or her soul and completely in the promise consummation of the marriage union described in Revelation 19 verse 6 and I am reading this out of the amplified version because the translation is very picturesque. Revelation 19, verse 6. After that, I heard what sounded like a shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves and like the roar of terrific and mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah, praise the Lord, for now the Lord our God, the Omnipotent, the All-Ruler reigns. Verse 7, let us rejoice and shout for joy. Let us celebrate and ascribe to him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb at last has come, and his bride has prepared herself. Verse 8, she has been permitted to dress in fine, radiant linen, dazzling and white, for the linen signifies and represents righteousness, the upright, just, and godly living, and deeds and conduct and right standing with God, of all the saints, God's holy people. And then the angel said to me, Write this down. Blessed are those who are summoned, invited, and called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me further, These are the true words, the genuine and exact declarations of God. True godliness is very powerful, dear church. this day of betrothal is the day that will come in the very near future and I am afraid many people will not have taken their Christian journey serious many think this is their deserved reward even though they go to church out of duty and give God a kiss on the way out the door every morning as their token of prayer and worship it will give him a little hand clap as an expression of their gratefulness. These may be called nominal believers, but they do not know God. But let me tell you, please, God will not allow His Son, who was completely innocent of all sin, but willingly offered Himself as the answer to man's sin in order to be reconciled back to God, and who died a horrible death upon the cross and spilled out his life's blood to be married to those who do not know him intimately and stand in awe of him with reverent and obedient fear and respect. This true godliness is powerful because it is a personal ownership. God's word is like a book of music. It contains all the rules for complete harmony and balance for this Christian way of life. Godliness sings forth out of this book and is displayed upon the melody of your heart. It is like the music of God that takes root in song in your life and rehearses its rhythm over and over in your spirit until you find yourself in complete balance and consistency with it. this cannot help but remind us of the scripture in Ephesians 5 verse 19 that says talk with each other much about the Lord quoting psalms and hymns and singing sacred songs making music in your hearts to the Lord and always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ true godliness is very powerful dear ones, because you see the mortification of sin in the believer's life. He denies himself. He crucifies the flesh with its ungodly passions and lusts. You see that in his outward appearance that he is willing to sacrifice and suffer no matter what the cost. We just have to read our Bibles to see examples of these precious people. And we have so many other testimonies of dear saints who have given their very lives rather than deny their Lord Jesus Christ. These are called martyrs. And there are many alive today at this very moment who are enduring great and horrible trials and grieve in private whose names will never be published in the Journal of the Martyrs but in the eyes of God are greater than the admired heroes of the former ages Hebrews 11.38 declares that the world was not worthy of such people. And this is saying that the world did not deserve the blessing of their presence. the world did not know how to value these special treasures and jewels of God the God of all creation and they are precious in his sight and he is jealous over them all regardless of color, of creed, denomination language or tribe the hypocrite or perilous man whom Paul spoke of in our opening scripture is regarded as the pretentious and self-righteous person and they put forth a vain and empty show of faith and holiness. They are not true Christians with the love and truth of God and his word living in their hearts. They are heathens and liars who are open enemies to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They only have a form of godliness, an external profession of their faith in ceremony, pomp and circus-like exhibition with showy gestures and loud displays and are like stage actors. They sound good in their gospel dissertations and act like they are a part of the king's army, but take off their robe and you will only see a contemptible and mean-spirited and dishonest scoundrel, better called a rogue. they do not have the true form and essence of godliness which consists in an inward change and renewed mind but they only have the formality and outward show and shadow of holiness they have not true life in them to show what the sincere Christian has in its substance and fruit which evidence this change but only a life with no power no godly principles of operation in them nor do they have the Holy Spirit living in them to bring about all these beautiful changes. I would like to challenge you today in this word. The list in 2 Timothy 3 verse 1 describes these terrible and perilous hypocrites. As we have read through the list were you personally able to identify with any one of these? You know, it is always easier to see in other people in these places, but not in ourselves. But at times we must all examine our own hearts. Let me read the list again. And I ask you to personally and honestly examine your own heart and to see if you might fall into any one of these categories of people whom our apostle lists as being treacherous. 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 you have identified with any one of these in some measure or fashion, may I present to you a few helps in guarding your own heart and soul so that you will not continue to deceive yourself right into hell along with all the others who did not stop short and examine their own hearts along the way. and if they would have, perhaps they too would have met the horrible end which they had come to. Just to mention a few. Being a lover of self speaks of selfishness. One who loves the mirror and speaks about me, myself and I. Does money motivate you? Is your mind constantly on making money to where you forget your responsibility and commitment to God and his precepts? Young children, are you disobedient to your parents? Did you know that God hates rebellion? How about being unthankful? Do you regularly thank God for all that he has blessed you with, rather than murmur and complain about what you don't have? And what about slandering and gossiping? Does your mouth condemn you rather than commend you? I had mentioned a few helps that you may want to consider in guarding your own heart and soul so that you will not continue to deceive yourself and walk into the place where you find yourself trapped in Satan's snare to the point of no return. First, go to God, dear one. The Holy Spirit is a quickening spirit and he stands by just waiting for you to implore and beg him to quicken your dead heart in these particular areas where you may be weak. Repent and seek God wholeheartedly. David is our primary example here. And may I recommend that you make Psalms 119 the fountain of life until you see that God will make and cause your dry bones to live as you are in earnest of this holy and precious way of life. And the second point is act on and use the grace that Jesus Christ has given you and extended to you thus far in your Christian journey. Increase these graces, such as his mercy, his love and kindness, by bringing your good intentions into firm resolve with actions that produce fruit that is in keeping with your initial repentance. All of these are gifts of God to you. Blow on this spark until it becomes a flame. Your firm resolve will be painful at first, but it will be very gainful for your salvation in its final end. Just remember everything worthwhile will cost you something. And the third point, delight yourself in the quickening company of other spirit-filled believers and get acquainted with humble and holy men and women of God who are active and zealous for God's way. Fourth, flee from and shun the company of the dead and formal earthly minded man You must stand up and move far away from the dead before Jesus Christ will give you life Ephesians 4.14 declares So then we may no longer be children tossed like ships to and fro between chance gusts of teachings and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men in every shifting form of trickery and inventing errors to mislead. Remember, these are perilous people that Paul spoke of in our main scripture today in 2 Timothy 3 verse 5, who have a form of godliness but deny its power. And he further says, And from such people turn away, in other words, flee from them and have nothing to do with them. Fifth, strive for sincerity in every area of your life. And it is here where the very power of godliness lies. Let your love and faith and obedience be unfeigned and without hypocrisy. Do not be nominal and half-hearted, but be real in every way. If you have a faith and obedience, but they are not sincere and honest, they are worth nothing in God's sight. The sixth and last suggestion. Let the warnings of God's righteous justice or judgment awaken you out of your sleep and slumber. If one is dead in their sleep, only a great noise and stirring will awaken him. God's judgment have a loud voice and we should pay attention and mark what he is saying. He tells us to turn away. This is not a going thing or word to speak to anyone today. Because nowadays to turn away from a person speaks against him or her as a protest against the principles and character of that person. and this is especially so when it comes to people who are thought of or maybe they are in a high position widely known rich or very popular but God's word speaks to us another path especially if we wish to maintain our souls a healthy state and especially to maintain our uprightness and right standing before God we need to translate what God is speaking to us when he says turn away and flee quickly from such people who bottom line and in a nutshell we can say are God haters we need to put our action into direction away from such types as these precious ones a hypocrite is a contemptible person whether he is in the church or out of it whether he is deceiving in the name of respectability or religion. He is not a Christian any more than a crocodile is a beautiful sounding canary or a fungus is a rose. The devil covers sin and he cannot bear that sin that should be seen in its respectable dress because then it would be so repugnant before all men that they would see it and hate it. So he therefore then puts a cloak or a garment on it to cover it. I believe you have a better and greater understanding of what Apostle Paul meant when he said that these hypocrites or perilous people would have a form of godliness but deny the power of it the power of God's grace did not enter into their lives to cause the promised change and renewal that all Christians must go through in order to enter into the eternal and celestial city above. These hypocrites only go through life walking in their own self-deception and seek to deceive others to bring them down and along the futile road that leads to perdition. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. People in the church of Laodicea were prime examples of this. there are alarming consequences for this lamentable way of life. No true searching of the heart. No sharp or biting sorrow for sin. No love and truth and mostly no conformity to the divine will of God. Unfortunately, these were only imitators of God and of good. It is our prayer today that you will honestly examine your own heart and consider the form and power of godliness that is present in your own life. It is always easier to see what is not in other people's lives, but not so easy in our own. We can all ask ourselves, do I measure up and how does God view me in relation to his true godliness and righteousness being established in my own heart if you are concerned about this dear one and the spirit of the Lord may have convicted you in any one of these points or in Paul's list of hypocrites in 2 Timothy 3.5 please allow us to pray with you today bow your heads please in reverence to the Lord. Father, in the name of Jesus, please minister your love and truth to our hearts today. Lord, examine our hearts and point out to each and every one who has concern over their soul's health and well-being, the state and condition of the sin within, and allow the quickening work of the Holy Spirit to purge all evil within the darkest recesses of our hearts and souls. Father, we ask to make known all sin of ignorance in our own lives since it works against real and continuous growth and fullness of maturity in our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, we also ask that you will give each and everyone who hears this word today a deeper and fuller understanding of what it means to have a form and power of godliness and to help them walk in it as they grow in understanding and revelation in your word. Have mercy upon and intervene in the lives of those who are caught in Satan's web of hypocrisy and who walk in deception in their own lives and lead others on the same futile path down the road to destruction. O Lord, we pray, wake them up, Father, in the name of Jesus. Wake up the hypocrites, Lord, and have mercy upon their lives and souls and visit them, Lord, this day, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. you