2 Timothy 3:1-5
A Form Without Power: Denial of Power
I. Introduction
-This morning I woke up and took a shower. (15 min.)
1. Got dressed, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, shaved, etc. (25 min.)
2. On most days I may take more time to get ready for the day.
-Maybe you took a long time to get ready.
-My question is: How much time did you spend getting ready spiritually?
-Don't we tend to spend more time on our appearance than our soul?
-We sometimes try to work on our spiritual appearance.
1. There's no real substance.
2. But superficially we can fool some people.
II. Scripture
III. "Last Days"
-Paul is writing to the young Timothy to encourage.
-He says in v. 1 "...in the last days..."
1. Then he describes the present for us.
2. We are living in the last days!
3. Last days = everything after the ascension of Christ.
-"in the last days there will come times of difficulty."
-Why? B/c of the people described.
1. "Lovers of self" "Abusive"
2. "Heartless" "ungrateful"
3. "Treacherous" "brutal"
4. Amen! Amen! Amen!
5. All these descriptors are accurate today... even in the church.
-The difficulty we face is a result of these descriptions being a reality in our world and in our own lives.
-But the one I want to focus on is v. 5 "...having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power."
-All the things described are bad descriptions!
-But this one doesn't seem to be too bad.... "the appearance of godliness."
IV. That's Not Bad!
-"...the appearance of godliness."
-Sounds positive & good.
-I've seen a lot of ppl who didn't look very Godly!
-Wouldn't our churches be better off if people had the appearance of godliness?
-I wouldn't be insulted if someone said: "You appear to be a Godly man."
-So why is this bad?
-Ill. Car Junk Yard
1. Man looking for something to work on.
2. Saw a corvette.
3. Worker: "This car is a beauty!"
4. No scratches, no dents, no missing windows, all the seats were in perfect condition.
5. The car wouldn't start.
6. It had no engine.
-The appearance alone denies the power.
-The church today has settled for the appearance of godliness instead of the substance.
-We need more than just the appearance!
V. More than Appearance...
-We have denied the power by settling for appearances.
-There's a big difference between appearance & power.
-Ill. Appearance vs. power.
1. Dress like a policeman.
2. Put on a fire helmet.
3. Walk in front of the White House w/ a cord from my ear into my jacket, but not protect anyone.
4. I could bark like a bull dog, but not tear you up like one.
-Don't settle for the ‘appearance of godliness.'
-"There are three ppl living within your body..."
1. "Who you think you are."
2. "Who others think you are."
3. "Who God knows you are."
4. The only one that matters is the third one.
5. We have put all our attention on the first two.
VI. A Holy Nature
-God desires to make who you are: holy.
1. Not look holy, act holy, seem holy, appear holy, etc.
2. But a change of your very nature, the foundation of who you are, your spiritual DNA.
-2 Peter 1:4 "He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
-Don't settle for appearances, but strive for the power.
-God desires to give us his very essence so it might be at work in our lives!
-And if God's Spirit is at work in our hearts it works it's way out into everyday life w/ power.
-You might...
1. ...know "Amazing Grace" but do you know amazing grace?
2. ...walk into the church every Sunday, but do you walk w/ the Lord on Monday?
3. ...sing praise, but do you live a life of worship?
4. ...know how to talk spiritually, but do you truly speak of what God has done in your life?
5. ...put some money in the offering plate, but have you offered up yourself to God?
6. ...have your name on the membership role, but is it written on the Lamb's book of Life?
7. ...look like a Christian, but are you a Christian?
-Ill. "Keeping Up Appearances."
1. BBC show about a lady trying to appear to be something she is not.
2. Too many Christians today are just ‘keeping up appearances.'
3. And it would be comical if it were not so sad.
-God desires to start a work in our hearts that transforms us from the inside-out!
VII. Appearance and Reality
-This is a concern in the church today, but it is in our church as well.
-Ill. People come to fun stuff.
1. Potluck next Friday, Singin', something for you!
2. People would fill the place.
3. But call a prayer meeting: intercession, tears, clinging to the throne of grace; and nobody shows.
-Where are you on Wednesday night?
1. "The best tv show was on."
2. "I usually just pray at home."
-How many visits have you made to invite someone to church?
1. I'm no good.
2. ...in the last year?
-How many people have been saved as a result of you allowing God to use you? ...ever?
-How much time did you spend in prayer for this service?
1. "Preacher just didn't preach well this morning."
2. But did you pray for the preacher? ...song leader? Etc.
-Too many good ppl mean well, but settle for the appearances of godliness!
VIII. The Whole Church
-Some whole churches have fallen to it.
-God said to the church in Sardis in Rev. 3:2b "I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead."
-Ill. Fisherman
1. He had a beautiful boat, sonar, rod & reel, a net, bait, tackle box, wadin' pants, etc.
2. All top of the line stuff.
3. He would appear to be a great fisherman.
4. But he never caught any fish.
-What about your life?
-We've bought into the idea that if you have your life under control you are okay.
1. As long as I'm not having family troubles
2. No money problems, no major illness, no ‘big' sins, etc.
-But God wants to work in your life.
1. He wants to give you real power.
2. To make you a Christian from the inside to the out.
-Many "christians" today have never experienced this kind of conversion, they've only learned how to keep up appearances.
IX. Conclusion
- Do you know what it really means to walk w/ the Lord?
-You haven't prayed this whole week? ...you only have appearances.
-Don't deny the power of God in your life.
-The worst thing about keeping up appearances is that you can never be honest w/ God.
-You can never admit to a problem you have in your life.
-I want to invite you to shed the appearance of godliness, and take on the nature of God this morning.
-To begin to live in the power of God.
1. The very power at work when Christ rose from the dead.
2. The very power at work at Pentecost.
3. The power that will be revealed to the world when Christ returns.
Response
