Sunday, April 27, 2025

PT-3 "Charlatans of Religion" (2 Tim. 3:5)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/27/2025 8:07 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                               Focus:  PT-3 “Charlatans of Religion”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                     Reference:  2 Timothy 3:5

 

            Message of the verse:  “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.”

 

            I have to say that this is going to be a very short SD, as first of all it is Sunday morning and my Spiritual Diaries are usually kind of short because I do them before I go to church in the morning.  I also want to mention that my wife and I only have two more days to wait before her cancer surgery on Tuesday morning, and if anyone of you who read this before Tuesday I would dearly appreciate your prayers for my wife that the surgery will be successful.

           

            The following is the conclusion of this section from the pen of John MacArthur that is found in his commentary on this verse:  “The second guideline to examine is personal character and its reflection in his lifestyle.  Even if a person’s professed doctrine is orthodox, ungodly living betrays a godless heart.  Godly belief always produces godly living.

 

            “A Third measure of a godly leader is his converts, his most ardent followers.  If his devotees are weak, confused, or unconcerned about doctrine, and if their living does not reflect biblical standards, the leader himself almost certainly is not godly, because godly leaders will not claim or be satisfied with ungodly converts.  Christ-honoring, Scripture loving teachers and preachers will produce Christ-honoring, Scripture loving converts.  Religious charlatans, on the other hand, will produce converts in their own image.”

 

            Now with that said I can say that every since I began to go to church, and this was four years after I became a believer, that the Pastors that I sat under were very good godly men who loved the Lord with the exception of one, and that was what caused me to leave that church and go to another one which I still attend.  I believe that the pastor that I am talking about that caused me to leave the church is not in the ministry at this time.

 

Spiritual Meaning for My Life Today:  I trust the Lord to be with my wife as she prepares her heart and mind for her upcoming surgery.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to realize and believe, for it is true that the Lord is in control of our lives to which I am thankful.

 

4/27/2025 8:22 AM

 

 

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