ICS Dail Devotions
There Is Power within Us
2 Timothy 3:1-3(NKJV) 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. And from such people turn away!
The world is filled with lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God. We seem to either turn a blind eye or completely ignore the instructions of the Lord who prohibit cohabitation and fornication. There is a love of pleasure, unwillingness to listen to the Word of God, and a need for immediate gratification of the flesh. We condone abortion, divorce, same-sex marriage, and we don’t respect the governments or institutions established by God. There is an abuse of the name of Jesus in the media and the lifestyle of the people because whatever is god to us will dictate our lives and lifestyle. It is lawlessness!
For many, the form of godliness is an outward religious practice, a show or rituals. When Christianity is merely a religion, our lives will be no different from the world’s. However, we need to keep in mind that there is a significant difference between us and the Old Testament saints. Righteousness is now a reality because we have eternal redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are made right, or justified by Jesus, who has finished the work of redemption.
The opening Scripture reminds us that there is a power that resides within us—the power of the Holy Spirit—that enables us to live in godliness, because the fruit of the Holy Spirit of self-control is now made available to us. It pleases God when we walk by faith believing that we have the power of the Holy Spirit, the nature of God and the new creation in us, that we can live from the inside out because the newness is in the inner man.
Such a life is walking in the same direction as God. When we walk in the same direction as God, His values, principles, and His nature are in our lives. There is no other god besides the God whom we worship, and we will honour our parents, forgive our debtors, love our neighbours as ourselves, do good to the community, and submit to the authorities that God has put in place. It pleases God when we walk in faith believing that the redemption realities are available for us now!
Sermon Series: What Pleases God
