Read 2 Timothy 3, 1 John 4:1-6, James 4:8, Ephesians 6:12
The Bible speaks on godlessness in the last days. 2 Timothy 3 seems to capture many of the things we are seeing today. Verse 5 notes that people will have “the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” In the day and age that we are living in, we must be in fellowship with the Lord on a consistent basis. As mentioned in earlier devotionals, we need to be face to face with the Lord and build our lives upon the Rock of Jesus Christ. We need to be in the Word of God and seeking Him through prayer, worship, etc. If we are not in fellowship with the Father we may be easily deceived by this world.
Have you ever heard the saying “if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it must be a duck?” Unfortunately that isn’t always true. We need to be careful of the new age doctrine that is infiltrating sermons, worship music, and ministries around the world. Many things have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power. This is why we must pray for discernment, wisdom, and knowledge to distinguish rightly between such things. We need to guard our hearts. Philippians 4:5-7 says “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)
Ultimately we cannot judge others’ motives and why they may do something. Nonetheless, this does not mean that we cannot distinguish between right and wrong. It is very beneficial to test things and the Word of God says to do so (ref 1 John 4: 1-6). Also, there are things that sometimes appear to be good, but something may feel off. The Holy Spirit guides us daily and as we spend more time with the Lord we will become more sensitive to His Spirit. This correlates with the Word of God in James 4:8 which states “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (ESV).
There are many things in the world today that may seem okay to one believer and not to another. We need to be people that have the leading of the Holy Spirit. If something is checking you in your spirit then we must follow that. At the end of the day each has to stand before the Lord and give account for himself or herself. Also, remember, that the enemy knows the Word of God very well. satan used it against Jesus when he came out of the wilderness. Jesus however, used scripture once more to put an end to satan’s games. Stay close to Jesus and experience victory! The Word says in Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (ESV).
I think we can all agree that we have failed numerous times in our lives and can relate to the verses in 2 Timothy 3. Whether we have been boastful at times, lovers of money, struggled with self-control, etc., we all struggle with things. However, we must remember there is a distinction between struggling with sin and living in sin. Generally, we know if we have zero intentions to live for God or not. Also, God is not mocked, so He judges the intent of the heart. Generally we know our motives. The good news is, when we repent before Jesus, we are forgiven and washed clean!
We must never lose sight of Jesus. We must continue in the things we have learned (ref 2 Timothy 3:14-15), which all comes down to the Cross. The answer is Jesus—a genuine relationship with Him. It is not about the lights, the camera, the money, the status, and many other things we sometimes put in the place of the Lord. It is simply about Jesus. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do not be deceived by those that try to manufacture the presence of God or a move of the Holy Spirit. Continue in what you know in Jesus. Stay in fellowship with Him daily and ask for discernment. You will be able to distinguish between what is of God and what is not.
Finally, be strong in the Lord. Jesus Christ paved the way for us all. We encourage you to stay close to Him and walk with Him daily. It will bless your life abundantly. Also, if you do not know the Lord, we would ask you to pray this prayer with us:
Dear Lord, I come to You and ask You to come into my heart as my personal Savior and to forgive me for all my sins. I believe that You, Jesus, are the Son of God who died on the Cross for my sins. Thank You Lord. I love You and believe in what You did on the Cross at Calvary and thank You for it. I proclaim today that Jesus Christ, You Lord, are King of my life, and I live for You. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
If you prayed that prayer today genuinely unto the Lord, then you have walked into a new life with Jesus. He has saved you from the eternal fire and rather has given you eternity with Him as you have chosen to follow Him and serve Him only in your life. If you would like guidance on further steps in your walk with the Lord feel free to email us at wearethegatheringofficial@gmail.com. We encourage you to find a local church to attend regularly and to get in the Bible daily. We encourage you to get with other believers and a pastor(s) to discuss more about living for Jesus. Also, we encourage you to pray and listen to Christian music. We love you all. We hope that you draw closer to the Lord every day.
May His Name Be Praised