THE SECRET OF GODLINESS
By Lay Pastor Janche Soehatan
Johor, Sunday, December 10, 2017
Shalom,
Godliness is valuable in every way since it holds promise for the current life as well as for the life in the future (1 Timothy 4:8). To put it another way, the power of godliness covers up every aspect of our lives here on earth and it never expires. How about the other religions? Without a doubt, the followers have their own goal, but it is different from ours. We have one purpose that other religious groups do not provide.
What does the Bible say about godliness? In 1 Timothy 3:16, we read: “And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
This awsome secret of godliness is not given to everyone just like that, but only to those who have received mercy with which they can accept and digest this secret. The secret of godliness rests on God’s mercy in Jesus Christ.
Jesus – the Word – was born into this world and became man (John 1:14). After He was baptized, the Spirit of God decended like a dove and came on Him. Then a heavenly voice was heard saying, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.” (Matthew 3:17)
Other religions cannot grasp and do not possess this secret. Even His own people, the Israelites, turned it down. That’s why His mercy is offered to those (the Gentiles) who want to accept it.
A phenomenal happening marked the birth of Jesus. The wise men (non-Jews) had obtained mercy to witness His birth. Within 3½ years, more or less, Jesus’ short-term ministry was a magnet for people from all corners of the world. They came to Him and acknowledged His majesty, His death, His resurrection and even His accension to heaven.
What does godliness promise us?
Godliness does not mean regular church attendance. Instead, it includes the power of God’s Word that is mighty to transfrorm human characters on a gradual basis, resulting in a spiritual person ( a devine nature). For our present lives, we can benefit the power of our godliness to get our morals and characters transformed and disciplined in order to be worthy to serve the Lord.
His devine power empowers us to live a godly life and keep the desires of the world at bay (2 Peter 1: 3-4). Being godly is of greater significance than being holy which displays a passive state and provokes arrogance, especially when one lives a holy life in the wrong manner. In contrast, leading a godly life ignites good deeds that can bless others to the glory of the Lord.
Here is a testimony of the preacher, a young man with bad records – a wild, high-strung and vengeful guy. He came from a broken home family and was not good at studies. Later he dated a pastor’s daughter (now his wife). Their relationship prompted him to speak the same language with her
spiritually. Thinking that her father would ask him some things about the Bible someday, he decided to go to church to know what the Word of God was all about. When in church, it was the late Pastor In Juwono who delivered the sermon. By the grace of God, he affirmed what he heard during the sermon except a few points he did not understand. Believe it or not, God’s Word mightily transformed his life. Over time, he experienced a gradual life renewal for the better. This testimony is evidence of the transforming power of godliness that can metamorphose someone into a devine person – a child of God – who is ready to serve Him.
The Word of God mentions three things that will eventually remain: faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Often people view faith, hope and love in a separate fashion. In fact, these three were all granted to us at the point when we believed in Him. But the problem is that we do not see their instant manifestations showing up since they go through phases of growth.
Faith is identical to the truth while hope is related to holiness. But love involves others – people interface with one another and with God as well. The greatest of all the three is love that keeps our faith growing so that God can use us to impart His love.
Godliness teaches us not to live like a fool and not to minister without concern. Remember that anyone who shies away from godliness typically stays standoffish and feels that he is the best of all. When advised, he misunderstands it and loses his temper (Proverbs 18:1). That was what the preacher did before he knew the Lord. Due to his bad conducts, his friends cast him out. He then became reserved and got mad when someone gave him some advice. He even hated the advisor.
It is evident that the power of godliness is mighty to tranfrom a human into a devine human, serving the Lord with the full right to gain entry to heaven. In contrast, those who shun godliness are fools because they lack knowledge. Consequently, they give their work a lick and a promise (v.2). Strangely, they blame God for their own faults and carelessness (v.3).
Foolishness costs spiritual as well as physical poverties that hamper ministries. God may not bless His servant (candidate) with plenty of riches, but may God bless him with His Word in abundance. That way, he will not suffer from extreme poverty for sure.
God is ready to use us, but we must not stay static and touchy. Because no matter how trivial the wickedness is, once it slips into ministry, it will trigger problems like a dead fly making the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor (Ecclesiastes 10:1). As long as a fool keeps quiet, people think that he is a wise man. But once he opens his mouth, he shows everyone that he is a fool (Ecclesiastes 10:1). When godliness turns into a flop, a chaos comes to light.
Godliness provides access to multiple gifts conforming to His Grace for the sake of serving Him (Romans 12: 1, 6-8). What does the Lord expect from us? He expects us to work out our salvation with awe and reverence (Philippians 2:12). Our obedience to godliness brings about grace and blessings. For this reason, we must work (in the realm of salvation) to save not only ourselves but also others.
We work out salvation with awe and reverence. This implies that we serve the Lord with responsibility instead of with a lick and and a promise. At least, we have something to show that we walk with Him every single time. Don’t manipulate the Word of God. However simple a sermon may be, it has power to transform someone’s life if it is based on first-hand experience.
As servants of the Lord, we should work the way soldiers fight – wherever they are – under no command but on their own initiative (Forces Command). We do not want to work like those hired to do their jobs under instructions. They just do not know how to take the initiative in accomplishing their work.
If we work without waiting for instructions every time, the Lord will bring forth in us the desire and the effort as well. Then we will do everything without grumbling and arguing (v.14).
If we minister with thanks and good grace (without grumbling), our ministries will bring about great joy without disgrace / blemish and we become children of God that shine in a crooked and perverse generation (v.15).
Note that the Word of God sheds light on the ministries of those who have impure motivations like the ones described in Jude 11:
Cain was jealous when he found out that God was pleased with Abel, his brother, and his offering. Cain typifies a ministry contaminated with anger and jealousy (Genesis 4: 4-5).
Balaam prophesied in return for rewards / material things (Numbers 22:17).
Korah driven by his ambition rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16: 1-3). Of course, life should have a purpose that should require ambition in moderation rather than greed.
Ministries tinted with jealousy, profit-making tricks and ambition never carry off their missions. They are just like fruitless autumn trees – twice dead, uprooted (Jude 12).
Now, it is clear to us that the great secret embedded in godliness has the power to transform and equip someone to serve the Lord in the good and proper manner. A m e n.