2 Tim 3:5
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
ESV
- There are those who want to play church but don’t let it affect how they live day to day. Avoid such people. They rob the gospel of its power by refusing its work in them.
- Not only do they refuse to let its power work in their own lives, but they profane the name that could save others. Prov 30:9; Titus 1:16;
2 Cor 6:17
17 Therefore
“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
NKJV
- LIVE DIFFERENTLY, NOT ISOLATED
- Matt 5:13-16; John 17:15-17
- We are to live in the world, but not like the world. We are suppose to be close enough that they can see that we live differently, not that they hear us condemn them, but that they may see the light. (Matt 5:14, John 13:35)
- 1 Cor 5:10-11 We are suppose to be a light to the dark, not to associate with those who have seen the light and have chosen not to live in it.
- Are you isolated? Are you living Differently?
- From 2 Cor 6:16- 7:1; God is calling us out to live differently. He isn’t just saying, “Here are rules” but he is telling us he wants to be with us. God wants to be with us. Are we living lives with God or with selfishness? God, help me to put behind me all forms of selfishness and to walk in your light with you.
2 Cor 7:1
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (NKJV)
- God help me to cleanse myself and to walk in the fear of you. Prov 8:13; I want to walk closely with you. Remove any sin or selfishness that separates us.
Gal 3:4
You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away? NLT
- It can all be thrown away. How you start is not what counts but how you finish. Lord, help me to finish right. Help me to place my faith in you, not in my ability to do what is right. Help to me to live in a way that brings you joy.
Eccl 12:1
12:1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living. NLT
-While there is still time. Joel 2:12;
Eccl 12:2
2 It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. NLT
-There is a “too late”. Your window to acknowledge and turn to your Creator is limited. What are you doing with the time that you have been given? Have you turned to God or are you waiting? If you are waiting, what are you waiting for? James 4:14 tells us that our life is but a mist, here for a moment and then it is gone. Heb 9:27 tells us it is appointed once to die and then judgment. Have you turned to God while you have time?
Ex 5:2
2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” ESV
- Prov 8:13; Ex 14:4; Pharaoh doesn’t know God so there is no reason to obey him. The first step in the fear of the Lord is knowing that He exists. If someone was to look at your life does it demonstrate the fear of the Lord through obedience, or does it display that they you say you believe in a God you never give thought to? Do you think about the fact that He is and that you will give an account to him?
- Throughout the rest of Pharaoh’s story God wants him to know that he is God. Ex 7:5, 17; 8:10, 22; 9:14, 29; 14:4, 18;
- At first his magicians were able to do the same signs, so pharaoh begin to harden his heart, 8:19 his magicians told him this is God, yet pharaoh’s heart was already hardened. In Ex 10:3 Pharaoh is asked how long will you refuse to humble yourself before God. So it is no longer a question of if this signs are from God but the question now is who is stronger Pharaoh or God.
- (see notes on pharaoh’s hardening his heart Ex 4:21)
Prov 20:6
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? NKJV
- Talk comes cheap, but people who actually live it are a rare jewel.
- This is true in every area of life. It is easy to say that you love God and that you are a Christian, but have you really given Him your life? Are you living for Him. The evidence is not in what you claim, but in the fruit your life produces.
- Vs 11; Prov 19:22; 1 John 1:6;
