WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POWER?

The Spirit speaks expressly concerning the "last days." As the consummation of all things draws closer, Satan increases his aggression against the truth of God and His saints. Knowing his time is short, he unleashes an unparalleled attack, calling into play every vice men will allow him to have.

Arresting Words!

With words that startle the conscience of the sensitive, the Spirit speaks of the induction of a religious era marked by irreligious behavior. "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."

The Mandated Response

This is not a description of people that have abandoned religion, but of those who have corrupted it. The Spirit continues, "having a form of godliness but denying its power." Theirs is a powerless religion that only gives occasion for the fulfillment and justification of their own base natures. This is a departure from the faith, in which men are seduced by lying spirits into embracing the "doctrines of demons" (1 Tim 4:1). The mandated response to those exposed to this abandonment of the truth of God is, "And from such people turn away!" (2 Tim 3:1-5).

Form Without Power

Do not miss the heinousness of the foretold corruption: "having a form of godliness, but denying its power." This is religion institutionalized--a mere fabrication of the real thing, that leaves men unchanged, and has no effect upon the powers of darkness. It is strong on philosophy, but weak on thought. It boasts of noble aspirations, but accomplishes little of eternal value. It has "form," but nothing Divine is within the form. Like the Pharisees of old, it is like "whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness" (Matt 23:27). The absence of the "power" is not owing to any Divine time line; i.e., the "day of salvation" did not begin with a burst of Divine power only to have it pass away, as it were, after a good beginning. The power is "DENIED" by this reprehensible "form of godliness." This is a strong word, which means to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate:--deny, refuse. The denial has been deliberate. The defectors have chosen the world order as an alternative to the power of the Living God!

The Real Kingdom

Mark it well, the Kingdom of God is not an academic kingdom! Scholarship, while it is often present in this Kingdom, is not its hallmark! This is the meaning of the expression, "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Cor 4:20). That is, it is not in empty talk, or mere philosophy and arguments. Neither, indeed, is the Kingdom found where men merely profess allegiance to the Christ. As the King has said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matt 7:21). The Kingdom of God is "in power." The message of the Kingdom--the Gospel--is the very "power of God" (Rom 1:16). Every Word of God is "living and powerful," deciphering the thoughts and intents of the heart, and even distinguishing between the soul and the spirit (Heb 4:12). The Kingdom has within it moral power--the Divine enablement to choose the good and refuse the evil (Heb 5:14). It can empower the vision of the soul to see Him Who is invisible (Heb 11:27). Working through faith, the individual is empowered to "resist the devil," forcing the wicked one to flee (James 4:7). However, this power must be preferred, and eagerly pursued. It is the "power of His resurrection" (Phil 3:10). When it is rejected, form becomes dominate--and so does Satan. The flesh breaks forth unrestrained, because the power of God has been refused. We are living in a time, I fear, when this has occurred, and it is grievous.

-- MONDAY: CONTROLLED POWER --