To Believe or Not Believe that is the Question!

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {false...: or, one who foments strife} Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. {reprobate: or, of no judgment} But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (2 Timothy 3:1-9 KJV)

In the last days there shall be perilous times or in the Greek, we can say the last days hard to do, hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous, fierce and savage times shall come. If I may speak from my own experience we in America have yet to see this come to its full extend but we are in the birth pangs of it. For the scriptures reveal the following:

• Men shall be lovers of self-selfish coveteous- covet money and material things or what someone else has relationship wise
• boasters-an empty pretender now that's a more powerful statement the Greek is good.
• proud-showing one's self above others, over topping, conspicuous above others
• pre-eminent.... with an overweening estimate of one's means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt
• haughty blasphemers-speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive
• disobedient to parents
• unthankful, unholy without natural affections
• truce breakers-without a treaty or covenant of things not mutually agreed upon e.g. abstinences from hostilities... that cannot be persuaded to enter into a covenant, implacable
• False accusers prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer,metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him
• incontinent-without self control
• fierce -savage despisers of those that are good
• opposers of possibly due to jealousy
• traitors -betrayers, Judas
• Heady -irrational
• high minded -typhoo in the Greek to be puffed up with pride to be foolish or stupid

lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God

We can say we see this happening all around us, there may even be a few of these we are guilty of. Look over this list and examine your heart that you may not fall into these categories that God warns us will be evident in the last days. the next verses are sobering and real to the believers heart. First, Lord forgive me for any of these sins, I repent and desire that the condition of my heart be right before you and others. Here is what concerns me the most as we have seen many after these traits and actually the following is more serious:

Having the form of godliness ( or looking like you fit the part) but denying the power thereof. Denying is also refusing or disregarding the power. How many "Christians" do you know that live defeated lives? They have rendered themselves powerless, they come to church, they stay active in service, they even pray out loud, but demonstrate no power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. He says; from such turn away.

What is the condition of their heart? The evidence will be shortly revealed through their words because what is in a heart comes out the mouth. Also under fire will reveal the depths of the heart as well. Scriptures tell us to turn away from these people.These people are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Folks, if we are stuck in this position the key is to BELIEVE! Receive the Word of Truth and live it.

These people are like those before Moses, they resist the truth, reprobates concerning the faith. they shall not proceed any further, before their folly shall be revealed unto all men. God will reveal the false.It would benefit us to obey, trust and live out the scriptures so that we understand the times.

Just because I walk into a Garage doesn't make me an auto-mechanic,, just because I walk into church doesn't make me a christian.A Christian is a believer of Jesus Christ, His Word, and obeys with conviction from the Holy Spirit. A Christian is one who seeks to love God more than anything else, family, friends, "church" "service" "ministry". Love God with all your heart soul and mind and you wont have room for anything else.

Ever learning, and NEVER able to come to the knowledge of the truth???????? Let not that be said about us. Let us pray and seek God diligently! All scripture is given for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness. We need to be in the scriptures to know what they say. Study to show thyself approved unto God..... May we desire a lifestyle that illuminates the power of the Holy Spirit, brings joy to those around us and demonstrates to the unbeliever that God is not only real He works!!!!!