Digging Deeper Day 38

Barrier: Form of Godliness But Denying Its Power

Breakthrough: Godliness

Today’s focus is extremely important. The nature of the barrier is deceiving. It is proof that a person can believe he is following God, believe she is honoring God, but in truth only hold to a “form” of godliness, which is not godliness at all.

“…having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:5- NIV)

“…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”
(ASV- Most accurate translation of this verse)

“Holding”
· to have, i.e. to hold
o to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
· to have i.e. own, possess
o external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
o used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
· to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition
· to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
o to be closely joined to a person or a thing

“Form”
· · the mere form, semblance


“Godliness”
· reverence, respect
· piety towards God, godliness

“Denied”
· deny

· to deny someone

· to deny one's self
o to disregard his own interests or to prove false to himself
o act entirely unlike himself
· to deny, abnegate, abjure

· not to accept, to reject, to refuse something offered


“Power”
· strength power, ability

· inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
· power for performing miracles
· moral power and excellence of soul
· the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
· power and resources arising from numbers
· power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

“…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”

USING THE DEFINITIONS
“Possessing, clinging to a mere semblance or appearance of piety toward God, having rejected, refusing to accept the power of God---His Omnipotence (All Power) His Ability, His Supernatural Ability to Overcome, to Heal, to Change, to Transform, to Make Himself Known, His Purity and Spirit, God in all His fullness and glory and majesty and power… “

Let’s make this personal.

After announcing to the teenage virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God, the angel Gabriel proclaimed: “For nothing is impossible with God.” Do you have the faith of Mary? Whose response was simply: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:37-38) Do you believe nothing is impossible with God? Or have you placed God in a box of “that was then, this is now.” Do you believe in the power of God (“Nothing is impossible with God.”) or have you resigned to a mere semblance or form or should we say “manmade idol” of god? Nothing more than an idol you sing songs about and read about three times a week.

What are the limits on “nothing is impossible with God?” Why do we as mere men think that we have to explain away scriptures that talk about the mighty nature and power of God? Why do we read those scriptures and say this was something for the first century but not us? Why do we take liberty with what the WORD DOES NOT SAY instead of putting our faith in the mountain moving God the scriptures do speak of? Where do we get the nerve to take such liberty with the word? Could it be that we have laid hold of a mere caricature of God, a mere thought of God, a warm-fuzzy religion that makes us feel good about ourselves and sometimes really, really bad about ourselves but offers nothing but lukewarm snake oil for our true ailments?

If “nothing is impossible with God,” what is impossible? NOTHING! Maybe we should look up nothing… No, we know what nothing means… Zero…Nothing… Nada!

Jesus told the apostles the following about God: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27) That is the other way of looking at it. Gabriel covered man’s tendencies to look at things as impossible and said “nothing is impossible with God.” Jesus looked at it from God’s point of view “with God all things are possible.”

What is impossible with God? NOTHING!

What is possible with God? ALL THINGS! What is the meaning of all? In Hebrew, Greek, and English “all” means “all.”

So I ask you: Do you believe in this God? The God of the Bible, not man’s limited semblance or form of God. God! Almighty! Omnipotent! Omniscient! Omnipresent! Holy! Mighty! Loving God! The God you need, the God Who is real! He is real!

FYI: God can’t be placed in a box. You can think He is there but He is God. If you have limits on God, you are the one who is limited! God is waiting, longing to give you a breakthrough! The greatest breakthrough you can possibly have is to place your faith in Him! Completely! No limits! No impossibilities! All Possibilities!!!
Don’t deny His power, you are only denying yourself when you do that! Trust Him!

Check out the words of our scripture for today as this is closed. I’ve highlighted the God statements.


3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (You can breakthrough (His Divine Nature) these barriers (evil desires) through His Divine Power)

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(That is what the entire 40-Day process is about)

9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. (I, too embrace the charge of repeating myself in my preaching because I want everyone of you to have the BREAKTHROUGH that is yours through Christ!)

"I am the Lord's servant, may it be as you have said!"