Download... August 1, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
There has been a struggle since Christ came, between a mere “affiliation and a true relationship (or “ownership”) in Christianity. Mere religion is only a shadow of a relationship, whereas a true relationship projects a godly substance. It is truly a spiritual change that demonstrates a spiritual ownership! That ownership is more than just something that “clears the blemishes” or smooths over the lies. That spiritual ownership will actually bring a true change, whereas a mere affiliation will only bring a “makeover.” As with a house that has had a beautiful makeover,...without the inhabitants having an inward change in their lives. Again a spiritual ownership is more than a cosmetic makeover, not just an affiliation, that mere religion or it’s membership only,.. has to offer. It is mercifully a true conversion, ..a direct introduction with God. To know God, is to have an ownership with Him! To have that, is to depict a testimony and attitude of great care, and spiritual intimacy.
TEXT: II TIMOTHY 3:1-9
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
The above scripture depicts a set of “nasty” behaviors that undelivered souls display in their lives...
Many people may have a form or verbal profession of godliness, but have no power over sin. Verse 8: “They”.. Jannes and Janbres, had only an affiliation without true spiritual ownership. Verse 1: The last days are now, in our personal life. Who could find fault with one who might be expectant that God would soon end this world, based on the great level of wickedness now present? That wickedness is not only manifested in the young, but in the older generation as well.
Too often today, people despise goodness and have a hard time to recognize the goodness of God. It is not recognized based in outward fashions, or any superficiality, but from the demonstration of those spiritual fruits from within,.. that many would deem “old fashioned.” Again in these first four verses, you might separate any of those spoken about here, from having any profession of God. Yet Verse 5 tells us wickedness has a “form” of godliness, without having a power over the fleshly lusts of this life. Those “professors” spoken of here are attempting to claim God, yet live without any pure power,.. as one of dry and dead bones. These verses depict an extreme condition of one who claims God, yet lives in the midst of sin. It clearly illustrates someone who started out with God, but ended up back in darkness, while still “believing” in God, and without the present conversion out of sin. The devils believe,.. yet tremble! James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
God doesn’t play church, for He has offered us so much better! He expects us to follow in that, since His blood paid for that redemption.
Revelations 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Having the mark of the beast, is speaking here of those partaking of fleshly doctrines, while still professing godliness, ultimately imbibing dark and satanic spirits. We are all “marked” or branded.. by what we believe. Before salvation, we are branded by Satan just as much as those that deliberately or directly worship the devil. After being delivered out of sin through salvation,.. we are then branded by His holiness.
As an example in the temporal sense,.. "branding" tells of the ownership of the cattle. God also brands us when He purchases us (ownership) through our repenting and acceptance of His will for our life. Regardless of what membership “roll” we are enrolled in, it holds no importance compared to being on God’s roll,..in the book of life. Again more than an affiliation.
John 20:24,25 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Any one of us potentially would have responded as Thomas here, having a human and doubtful "mindset." He was a person who had not yet seen God after Christ’s return from the grave. He like anyone else might,.. lacked faith, yet not technically an unbeliever. God then mercifully blessed him with His presence, to increase his weak faith. It can happen to any of us where we know of our forgiven sins, yet there still will come a point where we doubt.. lacking faith. Then, we as Thomas need to press our “hands” into the wounds He bore,... as demonstrated by Christ word and sacrifice for us.
Mere affiliation only weakens a meager faith,.. potentially still present. People can though have an ownership with God, yet still from time to time have an affliction of doubt and fears. Yet likely they can press through it,.. to greater faith. Those of mere affiliation, will stoop to the wickedness mentioned in the first four verses of the text.
Spiritual ownership entails salvation From sin.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Saved From their sins!
Matthew 3:1-3 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Repentance means you turn away from your sins, leading to that “true ownership.” You are not saved so you can have grace IN sin, but grace Out of your sins. Any religious doctrines that teach less than deliverance from sin, only leads to religious confusion. Those taken in by false doctrines can never truly escape sin's penalty. God’s plan and desire is for you to escape and be separated from sin.
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
We are made free and then become servants of righteousness. Not sinners “sometimes” and then having Christ’s righteousness other times.
In studying Paul’s life, we find that even after his many years of christian service (approximately 25 years) he still retained his experience of being free from sin because of Christ. God desires that same experience for each of us, as He is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Paul like any other man was given a portion of faith to serve God. Paul also, like all of us, was subjected to temptation, but it is what you do with that temptation that shows whether or not you have “ownership” with God. If sin is still around, you will be separated from God. One way our ownership with God will be manifested, is by how we treat our neighbor.
A temporal example of ownership, would be like with renting a car. You then do not have ownership, but have to give it back. Obviously if you own it, you will not have to give it back.
Matthew 13: 45-46 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
We must be willing to give up all that we have, including all of our self, to obtain ownership with God! To enter the kingdom of God, He will require the forsaking of everything that you possess to truly have Him rule on the throne of your heart. It may cost you family, friends, career, education, property, and etc. It is then that God can give you the pearl of great price. You can not hold on or “reserve” one thing for your own self and purpose. You must be broken. Do you understand what it is to be broken? “Naked” before God. For it does take being broken, to obtain that "pearl of great price!"
Ownership is not an off and on again experience, but again.. much more than an affiliation. Otherwise those with only an affiliation or mere profession, will depict those “nasty” behaviors mentioned in the text's first four verses. None of us humanly, are permitted to judge anyone else’s spiritual position of ownership. We are exhorted though, to pray for any to obtain this ownership with God. Do you have an ownership with God this morning, or only an affiliation?
