Day 8: The Last Days and Fake Spirituality
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-9
Memory verse: 2 Tim 3:5 – having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Context: List the “last days” behaviours Paul predicts
Lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power, leading astray weak women, always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth, opposed to the truth, corrupted in the mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
Content: How do Jannes and Jambres illustrate counterfeit spirituality?
There is a type of spirituality that mimics godly spirituality. It can have all the effects and trappings and even appear earnest in the pursuit of truth. It won’t take much, though, to see that it is in opposition to true godly spirituality because it won’t settle on what is true. It won’t affirm the lordship of Jesus Christ; it won’t be set up to take the individual from self to God. If anything, it will only lead to the kinds of false teachings that Paul has been warning about in both letters so far. People can be attracted by the displays and the motivational and inspirational messages, but it’s actually leading people to become more self-absorbed and prone to display the self-centred traits that Paul warns about in this section of scripture. Research indicates that tradition suggests that Jannes and Jambres were among the Egyptian magicians who were able to put out counterfeit tricks to combat the initial signs Moses produced in the effort to liberate God’s people from slavery. The sober irony, then, is that modern spiritual fakes are, in essence, looking to put God’s people back into a bondage of sorts through their fake spirituality.
Concept: What heart posture helps you discern toxic influences?
The only heart posture that can help me work out those toxic influences is one steeped in love for the one true God, through the one true Messiah, in the power of the only Holy Spirit. That pursuit of the rule of the one true King, as expressed in the real gospel, is the measuring stick to be able to have a whiff of anything that appears in any way unlike the real thing. That posture of desiring God above everything else and being totally devoted to Him is what will make the difference. This is a posture of worship of the true God. This is a posture of humility before the Holy One. This is a posture of meekness under the control of the one who rules the entire universe.
Conclusions: How will you remain separate yet compassionate?
Holding myself accountable to God to cultivate the growing relationship with Him and being absorbed and devoted to His will, His word and His way. Dedicating myself to the community of believers who help me understand what it is to love God wholeheartedly, serve God with all of my being and follow God diligently. Having that as the basis to recognise then the wonder of God’s mission to establish His rule that shines light into darkness, which is the compassion for the lost without accommodating, acclimatising, accepting and adopting the ways of the darkness. It’s about staying rooted in Christ to grow out in reaching others to bless and be blessed, but not to be contaminated and unrooted.
Next Up – 2 Timothy – Day 9: The Approved Workman
Read 2 Tim 3:10-17
Memory verse: 2 Tim 3:16-17
Context: Recall the persecutions Paul mentions; where did Timothy witness them?
Content: Chart the four uses of Scripture named in v 16.
Concept: What does “equipped for every good work” entail?
Conclusions: Choose one Scripture intake habit to strengthen this week.
It can be so easy to be lulled into fake spirituality; we have to be alert and aware. That’s another reason to get the Word In so we can get the Word Out!
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
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