12th July 2020 - Sunday Church Service | Difficult Times In The Last Days Due To A Form Of Godliness
12th July 2020 - Sunday Church Service | Difficult Times In The Last Days Due To A Form Of Godliness
Summary
The sermon focuses on the difficulty of being a Christian in the last days, arguing that the primary challenge will not be persecution, but rather a mere outward appearance of godliness. The speaker urges the congregation to listen attentively to God's Word to be stripped of any superficial religious practices and become effective witnesses for Christ.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Welcome and opening hymnThe service begins with a welcome to the brothers and sisters and the singing of a hymn of praise to God our Father.
Transition to further worshipThe service continues with a transition into subsequent songs of praise.
Call to worship and prayer of adorationThe speaker invites the congregation to bow before the Lord and offers a prayer celebrating God's majesty, His creation, and His worthiness of all praise.
A reminder of God's promises and commandsThe speaker begins by reciting promises from the Gospel of John and a command from 1 Peter regarding rejoicing through shared sufferings.
The challenge of the last daysDrawing from 2 Timothy, the speaker explains that the difficulty in the last days stems from a 'form of godliness' rather than external persecution.
The warning to avoid spiritual infectionThe speaker warns that those with a false form of godliness can spiritually infect others and instructs believers to cleanse themselves to be useful vessels for God.
The two sides of cleansing ourselvesWhile God cleanses our past, we must take responsibility for our present walk by judging our own attitudes and seeking the Holy Spirit's power to remove sin.2 Timothy 2:211 John 3:3
The practical strategy of fleeing temptationInstead of trying to stand and fight temptations that are too strong, such as lust, we should run away toward righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Beware of lovers of self and moneyWe must avoid leaders who are lovers of themselves—seeking to impress others with their spirituality—and those who are lovers of money, using spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues to mask greed.
Distinguishing between sin and mistakesIt is important for leaders to distinguish between a person acting in rebellion versus someone simply making an error.
The danger of being a revilerRevilers are people who treat holy things, like the Bible or marriage, with lightheartedness or mockery, which borders on blasphemy.
The importance of practicing gratitudeThe speaker encourages expressing sincere thanks to others, sharing a personal story about writing a thank-you note to his father-in-law.
The danger of carelessness in the last daysIn an age where the internet makes temptation easy to encounter, being careless can lead a person to possess only a form of godliness while destroying themselves.
The lack of natural affection and reconcilabilityThe speaker warns against those who lack natural affection for others and those who are irreconcilable, urging believers to pursue peace instead.
A call to spiritual maturity and discernmentThe speaker concludes by urging believers to use these biblical warnings for self-examination and to seek the discernment necessary to avoid harmful influences.
