A Form Of Godliness - Christian Daily Devotions - April 17 2007
A Form Of Godliness - Verse of the Day :
Then she named the child, Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and her husband.
-1 Samuel 4:21
Daily Bible Reading Plan
Morning : Acts 18
Evening : Samuel 4-6
A Form Of Godliness
In 1 Samuel 4, Israel needed the power to fight against the Philistines, but she was found wanting. She lost. The Philistines
won.
The Philistines represent a type of the lawless self or the fleshly nature in man. The first time the Philistines are mentioned in the Bible, they were a people without fear of God (Gen. 20:11).
The second time they were mentioned, they were a people filled with jealousy and envy (Gen. 26:14). They pleased themselves
with immorality (Is. 2:6). God ultimately judged them for their pride (Zech. 9:6). Therefore, the Philistines speak of the
self-life, self-love, self-pleasure and self-exaltation in the soulish man.
God never lets His people face a battle unprepared. Yet, when the Israelites fought against the Philistines, they were
resoundingly defeated. You can never defeat an enemy you have embraced as a friend. Israel was behaving exactly like the Philistines themselves.
April 17 - A Form of Godliness - Christian Daily Devotions
The leaders were self-centered, and indulging themselves with the food and offerings that were given to the temple. They were perverting the house of God into a prostitution den with their gross immorality. Israel may have had the priesthood and the temple, but she had become undisciplined, lawless and carnal.
The worst thing that can happen to a church is to have a form of godliness but not the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Having
the outward religious motions but not the inward spiritual reality. Maintaining the external form of ecclesiastical
structure but devoid of the Holy Spirit's fire and power.
Israel went into battle against the Philistines with a very impressive number of troops. They were very loud and excited
because the ark of covenant was with them. Unfortunately, the two sons of Eli the high priest died and the ark was captured
(1 Sam. 4:11). The glory of the Lord had departed from the people.
The scariest thing that can happen to a believer is for him to have a form of godliness, but no presence and power of the
Holy Spirit in his daily walk. Or for that Christian to invoke the name of Jesus in prayer, and find no power and anointing
in his invocation.
May the glory and power of the Holy Spirit never depart from your life!
April 17 - A Form of Godliness - Christian Daily Devotions
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