At one time it seemed like our home in these islands was isolated from all the increasing violent crimes that are occurring on the mainland and in the world but now it has become worrisome seeing the increase in murders, violent crimes, robbery and abuse of children and women in our islands.

Paul tells believers to mark these terrible times that will increase during these last days before the Lord returns.

2 Timothy 3: 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

Paul was not only talking about people in this world he was identifying people in the church who had a form of godliness but denied its power, those who did not love God but loved pleasure and those who were weak willed who were always hearing God’s word but never acknowledging its truth.

Some of those who committed crimes may have gone to church at one time or were brought up in a family who attended church but when at church did they witness the power of God and acknowledgement of God’s truth by members in church especially in their own family.

If the church only had a form of godliness because they did not teach the power of God and acknowledges its truth, they would bear the fruits of terrible people which would reproduce in their children. They would be people who love what pleases them and not what pleases God

This is where Paul teaches that the church must judge within itself to see if their church has the power of God and acknowledges its truth. Paul tells us what the power of God is and why it must be taught.

Roman 1: 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

The power of God is the good news that the Word of God has come to us in the flesh to bring God’s salvation to the world. The gospel is the teachings and commandments of our Lord Jesus which must be the foundational teaching whenever the church gathers in his name.

So, that they know how to love and please God and become the righteousness of his Son and receive the power of his salvation. A church that wants to be saved by the power of God will bear Spiritual fruit and not terrible ones.

When we live in the power of God’s word we live with the wisdom and understanding of our Lord Jesus who teaches us not to worry.

Matthew 6: 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than
food, and the body more important than clothes?

Matthew 6: 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Jesus said we should not worry about our life necessities because your Father knows our needs and he will provide them if you seek him first.

Matthew 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God’s kingdom is where God reigns and seeking his kingdom first is making God your king above all other things. Seeking God righteousness first is being like his Son first in our life. Doing this first you will receive God’s kingdom and his righteousness and everything for our life.

Does this include not worrying about the evil in this world?

If you receive the kingdom of God and his Son’s righteousness, you have the power of God’s salvation knowing neither death nor life can separate you from the love of God.

Romans 8: 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us be in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ps. Glenn