Daily Devotional | Lovers of Self | 2 Timothy 3:1–5 | Pastor Jim Cymbala

>> Hola. >> Hola. Como esta usted? Buenos dias. Como esta usted? Buenos dias. Como esta usted? Buenos dias. Mis hermanos, mis hermanas, mis amigos. Mi nombre es Jim Cymbala. Mi nombre es Jim Cymbala. Mi iglesia es Mi iglesia es Mi iglesia es El Tabernaculo Tabernacle de Brooklyn. Mi comida favorito, Mi comida favorito, no la comida, el comida. no la comida, el comida. no la comida, el comida. See, I see that's where I messed up. The See, I see that's where I messed up. The See, I see that's where I messed up. The adjective has to adjective has to adjective has to agree with the noun, the gender. See, agree with the noun, the gender. See, agree with the noun, the gender. See, that's where I messed up. My favorite that's where I messed up. My favorite that's where I messed up. My favorite food I wanted to say food I wanted to say food I wanted to say is today is today is today if you haven't eaten. if you haven't eaten. if you haven't eaten. I'm thinking Spanish food. Maybe my I'm thinking Spanish food. Maybe my I'm thinking Spanish food. Maybe my favorite Spanish food right now favorite Spanish food right now favorite Spanish food right now is bacalaitos. is bacalaitos. is bacalaitos. Ooh. Ooh. Ooh. I know you haven't eaten that. I know you haven't eaten that. I know you haven't eaten that. That's like the manna that came down in That's like the manna that came down in That's like the manna that came down in the Old Testament. In fact, I want to do the Old Testament. In fact, I want to do the Old Testament. In fact, I want to do an investigation if that wasn't an investigation if that wasn't an investigation if that wasn't bacalaitos coming down.

bacalaitos coming down. bacalaitos coming down. No wonder they ran out there early and No wonder they ran out there early and No wonder they ran out there early and got it. No, it was manna. It was like a got it. No, it was manna. It was like a got it. No, it was manna. It was like a honey wafer. honey wafer. honey wafer. But bacalaitos is like a pancake with But bacalaitos is like a pancake with But bacalaitos is like a pancake with fish, bacala, bacala. fish, bacala, bacala. fish, bacala, bacala. Mhm. Listen to about the terrible times Listen to about the terrible times coming on us. coming on us. coming on us. There will be terrible times in the last There will be terrible times in the last There will be terrible times in the last days, chapter 3, 2 Timothy, verse 1. days, chapter 3, 2 Timothy, verse 1. days, chapter 3, 2 Timothy, verse 1. People will be lovers of themselves and People will be lovers of themselves and People will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money. The parting part is at the end of all The parting part is at the end of all this description this description this description of the terrible times, verse 5. of the terrible times, verse 5. of the terrible times, verse 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying Having a form of godliness, but denying Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. its power. its power. Have nothing to do with such people. Have nothing to do with such people. Have nothing to do with such people. Ooh. Ooh. Ooh. That's so That's so That's so harsh. harsh. harsh. Who are you, Paul, to say have nothing Who are you, Paul, to say have nothing Who are you, Paul, to say have nothing to do because bad company corrupts to do because bad company corrupts to do because bad company corrupts people, corrupts morals. people, corrupts morals. people, corrupts morals. But notice this, what he's going to But notice this, what he's going to But notice this, what he's going to about to describe here, which we're about to describe here, which we're about to describe here, which we're going to go over, is in the church they going to go over, is in the church they going to go over, is in the church they have a form of religion.

have a form of religion. have a form of religion. One translation has it not a form of One translation has it not a form of One translation has it not a form of godliness, but having a practice of godliness, but having a practice of godliness, but having a practice of religion, but strangers to its power. religion, but strangers to its power. religion, but strangers to its power. Do not know what the Holy Spirit can do Do not know what the Holy Spirit can do Do not know what the Holy Spirit can do change our hearts and make us more like change our hearts and make us more like change our hearts and make us more like Christ and live holy lives, separate Christ and live holy lives, separate Christ and live holy lives, separate lives, pure lives. These people are lives, pure lives. These people are lives, pure lives. These people are religious, but we weak heart. religious, but we weak heart. religious, but we weak heart. Isn't that something in the church, Isn't that something in the church, Isn't that something in the church, unsaved people? Mhm. I wonder what the unsaved people? Mhm. I wonder what the unsaved people? Mhm. I wonder what the percentage is today. I don't know. I'm percentage is today. I don't know. I'm percentage is today. I don't know. I'm no one to judge, but obviously there's a no one to judge, but obviously there's a no one to judge, but obviously there's a whole bunch of them out there. whole bunch of them out there. whole bunch of them out there. Imagine the deception. Imagine the deception. Imagine the deception. I'm saved because I go to church on I'm saved because I go to church on I'm saved because I go to church on Always have gone to church on Pastor Always have gone to church on Pastor Always have gone to church on Pastor Jim, always have gone to church. I was Jim, always have gone to church. I was Jim, always have gone to church. I was raised a Methodist, going to die a raised a Methodist, going to die a raised a Methodist, going to die a Methodist. In the last days, terrible times will In the last days, terrible times will come. come. come. People will be lovers of themselves and People will be lovers of themselves and People will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money to begin with. lovers of money to begin with. lovers of money to begin with. They'll go to church. They'll have a They'll go to church. They'll have a They'll go to church. They'll have a form of religion. But you know who they form of religion. But you know who they form of religion. But you know who they love the most? Not Jesus, self.

love the most? Not Jesus, self. love the most? Not Jesus, self. They're looking out for self. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about that. Be something just happened that my wife mentioned to me. that my wife mentioned to me. We saw something as she showed me on We saw something as she showed me on We saw something as she showed me on YouTube. YouTube. YouTube. So in the 1880s, So in the 1880s, So in the 1880s, the lady was born. the lady was born. the lady was born. I I I think her name was Lillian I I I think her name was Lillian I I I think her name was Lillian Trasher. Trasher. Trasher. She met a guy here in America. They were She met a guy here in America. They were She met a guy here in America. They were going to get married. She went, I think going to get married. She went, I think going to get married. She went, I think I'm telling the story right. She went to I'm telling the story right. She went to I'm telling the story right. She went to Egypt on a trip. Egypt on a trip. Egypt on a trip. And she found her calling. It didn't work out with the guy. I don't It didn't work out with the guy. I don't think he wanted to know about Egypt. think he wanted to know about Egypt. think he wanted to know about Egypt. Egypt, like at the turn of the Egypt, like at the turn of the Egypt, like at the turn of the century, 1900s. century, 1900s. century, 1900s. But the call of God was on her life. So, But the call of God was on her life. So, But the call of God was on her life. So, she gave up everything. she gave up everything. she gave up everything. She's famous missionary. Started an She's famous missionary. Started an She's famous missionary. Started an orphanage, feeding program. This is way, orphanage, feeding program. This is way, orphanage, feeding program. This is way, way, way back.

way, way back. way, way back. Believe God for miraculous supply. Saw Believe God for miraculous supply. Saw Believe God for miraculous supply. Saw miracles done in the name of Jesus. miracles done in the name of Jesus. miracles done in the name of Jesus. At the same time, hard times, difficult At the same time, hard times, difficult At the same time, hard times, difficult times. times. times. That's way life is when you serve the That's way life is when you serve the That's way life is when you serve the Lord. It's not a walk in the park. And And people said, people said, people said, "Wow." "Wow." "Wow." Never got married. Never got married. Never got married. Serve the Lord. Serve the Lord. Serve the Lord. Gave up every desire, normal desire of Gave up every desire, normal desire of Gave up every desire, normal desire of self. self. self. Be better stay in America. Be better stay in America. Be better stay in America. Check out that boyfriend again. Maybe Check out that boyfriend again. Maybe Check out that boyfriend again. Maybe get married. Have children. Nope. get married. Have children. Nope. get married. Have children. Nope. She heard Jesus say, She heard Jesus say, She heard Jesus say, "Egypt is where I've called you." Now, there's fewer and fewer of those Now, there's fewer and fewer of those stories, my wife pointed out to me stories, my wife pointed out to me stories, my wife pointed out to me today, than 100 years ago. What's changed? A volunteerism. Listen. What's changed? A volunteerism. Listen. I was just at the Cove, Billy Graham I was just at the Cove, Billy Graham I was just at the Cove, Billy Graham Center, and ministers told me, "How does Center, and ministers told me, "How does Center, and ministers told me, "How does your wife keep a choir?"

your wife keep a choir?" your wife keep a choir?" The average thing now in my church is The average thing now in my church is The average thing now in my church is people come people come people come like two times a month on Sunday. like two times a month on Sunday. like two times a month on Sunday. The actual average I've heard the The actual average I've heard the The actual average I've heard the statistic, 1.8. statistic, 1.8. statistic, 1.8. These are people who call themselves These are people who call themselves These are people who call themselves Christians. They come little less than Christians. They come little less than Christians. They come little less than half the time to church. Why? Because a half the time to church. Why? Because a half the time to church. Why? Because a lot of stuff's going on. It's my lot of stuff's going on. It's my lot of stuff's going on. It's my birthday. I don't go to church on my birthday. I don't go to church on my birthday. I don't go to church on my birthday. birthday. birthday. It's my birthday weekend. It's my birthday weekend. It's my birthday weekend. It's our anniversary. It's our anniversary. It's our anniversary. My dog Fido My dog Fido My dog Fido got he came to our home a year ago. We got he came to our home a year ago. We got he came to our home a year ago. We celebrate that at home. We have like we celebrate that at home. We have like we celebrate that at home. We have like we give him special food. We have special give him special food. We have special give him special food. We have special food. food. food. It's too hot. It's too cold. It's too hot. It's too cold. It's too hot. It's too cold. It's cold. You can't go out. You get It's cold. You can't go out. You get It's cold. You can't go out. You get sick. Lillian Slesers in Egypt and we have Lillian Slesers in Egypt and we have people going to church half the time. So people going to church half the time. So people going to church half the time. So he said, "I can't have a choir. I never he said, "I can't have a choir. I never he said, "I can't have a choir. I never know if they'll come." know if they'll come." know if they'll come." How do you have ushers? How do you get How do you have ushers? How do you get How do you have ushers? How do you get volunteerism? Volunteerism way down. Are volunteerism? Volunteerism way down. Are volunteerism? Volunteerism way down. Are there still people gold sold out to God?

there still people gold sold out to God? there still people gold sold out to God? Absolutely. Thank God for everyone. But Absolutely. Thank God for everyone. But Absolutely. Thank God for everyone. But it's it's not the percentages are way it's it's not the percentages are way it's it's not the percentages are way way way down. Now it's you make me way way down. Now it's you make me way way down. Now it's you make me happy. I'm not here to make God happy. happy. I'm not here to make God happy. happy. I'm not here to make God happy. Give me a service that I enjoy and and Give me a service that I enjoy and and Give me a service that I enjoy and and don't step on my toes and don't mention don't step on my toes and don't mention don't step on my toes and don't mention thing and don't say change. I'm not thing and don't say change. I'm not thing and don't say change. I'm not changing. changing. changing. You're lucky I'm coming. And if the You're lucky I'm coming. And if the You're lucky I'm coming. And if the service isn't what I like, guess what, service isn't what I like, guess what, service isn't what I like, guess what, dude? I'll go down the road to another dude? I'll go down the road to another dude? I'll go down the road to another church. church. church. Trust me. That's the way it is. Paul says, "I beseech you then by the Paul says, "I beseech you then by the mercies of God mercies of God mercies of God that you present your bodies that you present your bodies that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, which is your as a living sacrifice, which is your as a living sacrifice, which is your reasonable or normal form of worship. reasonable or normal form of worship. reasonable or normal form of worship. It's not hallelujah. Look, it's not It's not hallelujah. Look, it's not It's not hallelujah. Look, it's not this. That's worship. That's good. You don't That's worship. That's good. You don't have to do all the generations, but have to do all the generations, but have to do all the generations, but heart worship is good. But the ultimate heart worship is good. But the ultimate heart worship is good. But the ultimate worship worship worship is speak, Lord.

is speak, Lord. is speak, Lord. Your servant is listening. Your servant is listening. Your servant is listening. I'll go where you want me to go, dear I'll go where you want me to go, dear I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. Whether mountain, land, and or sea. Whether mountain, land, and or sea. I'll say what you want me to say, dear I'll say what you want me to say, dear I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord. Lord. Lord. I'll be I'll be I'll be what you want me to be. Let's not be what you want me to be. Let's not be what you want me to be. Let's not be lovers of self. lovers of self. lovers of self. Let's not protect self. Let's not protect self. Let's not protect self. Let's love Jesus. Let's love Jesus. Let's love Jesus. And then you know real peace and joy. And then you know real peace and joy. And then you know real peace and joy. Amen. See you next time. Amen. See you next time. Amen. See you next time. >> [music]