2 Timothy 3:1
This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come.

Are you functioning from a religious obedience or as directed by God?

With each generation that passes, 2 Timothy 3:1 is quoted and the statement, “we are living in the last days” is made. It is just as true today as it was in previous generations, “you are living in the last days”. Let’s take a moment and look at what it means to live in the last days.

2 Timothy 3:2- 5a For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. (AMP)

You live in a time where anyone can say anything they want, anywhere they want, about anyone they want. Christians are going with the flow. There doesn’t seem to be a distinction between the standard of living for someone who is saved and someone who is not. In a response to this world, churches have become “legalistic”. The spiritual leaders of today don’t realize they are doing the same thing the Pharisees did with the 10 Commandments. If they can create enough things you “can’t do”, then you will uphold what God has ordained for you “to do”. Which means they can look and act like God’s people. However, they’re not because they deny His power to work His will in you. Thinking they are responsible for who you are and what you should and should not do usurps the authority of God and adds to the perils of these times.

Your transition to the next level of training will happen when you learn how to successfully navigate these perilous times, trusting in the leading of the Holy Spirit, first.

2 Peter 3: 17b-18 Keep up your guard and don’t let unprincipled people pull you away from the sure ground of the truth with their lies and misunderstandings. 18 Instead, grow in grace and in the true knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Anointed, to whom be glory, now and until the coming of the new age. Amen. (Voice)

Growth is based on your relationship with God. Your relationship has to be real and personal. Don’t become confused and start to serve legalism and not God.

Ephesians 4:14-15 And then our immaturity will end! And we will not be easily shaken by trouble, nor led astray by novel teachings or by the false doctrines of deceivers[g] who teach clever lies. 15 But instead we will remain strong and always sincere in our love as we express the truth. All our direction and ministries will flow from Christ and lead us deeper into him, the anointed Head of his body, the church. (TPT)

Your responsibility is to continue to do what God is calling you to do: spend time with Him, study, worship and allow Him to lead you without the need for validation by anyone but Him.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I thank You that I can be at peace in the midst of perilous times. I thank You for giving me the strength not to be pulled to the left or to the right. I stand on my growing knowledge of who You are and my desire to fulfill Your purpose for my life.  Though I praise You for the Spiritual Leaders You have chosen to speak into in my life, I am grateful my relationship with You is not dictated by man-made rules and restrictions. I know the leaders use Your word to guide, direct, protect and discipline. As You lead me, that is and will continue to be my job also. Because of the time I spend with You, You show me when I am moving in the wrong direction or when I have wrong thinking. Without You I can become just like those in 2nd Timothy 3. Thank you for being faithful to light to my path, convict me when I am straying and chastise me when I am wrong. That let’s me know I am Your child. Your presence enables me to do what You have called me to do. I thank You for freedom; I thank You for liberty; I thank You for keeping me so I don’t use the liberty and freedom You have provided callously or as an excuse to sin Help me to continue to follow You as I lead others to You…