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KEEPING HOUSE FOR THE LORD
Written by H. Frank Fort

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"KEEPING HOUSE FOR THE LORD"

LESSON #3

Today we shall consider "the power of worship". Paul warned of religions of "the last days" 2 Tim. 3:1, saying that it would be characterized by "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away"

2 Tim. 3:5.

Let us consider "godliness". Godliness has reference to one's attitude toward the gospel scheme that piety essential to worship. Paul refers to it as "the mystery of godliness" and defines it as being that "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" 1 Tim. 3:16. This is "the doctrine which is according to godliness" 1 Tim. 6:3. We are not to confuse it with "the wholesome words…of our Lord Jesus Christ" by which the godly are taught how to act toward others who also are "partakers of the benefit" 1 Tim. 6: 2,3. "Godliness with contentment is great gain" 1 Tim. 6:6. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" 1Tim. 4:8; thus Paul had said, "exercise thyself" into it. vs. 7. Again, Paul said, "follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called" 1Tim. 6:11,12. Notice that righteousness and godliness are distinct. Godliness is the basis of piety or worship, while righteousness is the evidence of it. I speak of righteousness here in the sense of it's performance by a "man of God" 1 Tim. 6:11. As John said, "he that doeth righteousness is righteous" 1 Jn. 3:7, or "every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" 1 Jn. 2:29. The one who is righteous in the sense of being "made the righteousness of God in him" (Christ) 2 Cor. 5:21, "who of God is made unto us…righteousness" 1 Cor. 1:30, is commanded to "be filled with the fruits of righteousness" Phil. 1:11, which are "righteous acts of the saints" Rev. 19:8 A.S.V.

·        "The righteous acts of the saints" demand,

·        "Godliness," producing the spirit of worship

·        "Righteousness", the evidence of worship

Peter said, "his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and Godliness…whereby (the knowledge, vs. 2‑5) are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these (the "all things" vs. 3) ye might be partakers of the divine nature" 2 Pet.1:3,4. This of course, in the sense of "the same image" of 2 Cor. 3:18, as "partakers of his holiness" in Heb. 12:10.

Paul taught that saints were to be "strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner Man…according to the power that worketh in us" Eph. 3:16,20. This power, Paul referred to as "the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead" Eph. 1:17‑20. The "power of godliness" is "the working of his mighty power", and is exerted in behalf of “usward who believe"; thus it is not the power exerted toward the unbeliever. It is the power that makes "the form of godliness" effective. There is nothing wrong with "the form of godliness": It is essential to acceptable worship. It is only as it is without "the power" that it becomes a barren thing. The "unity of the faith" Eph. 4:13 demands both "the form of godliness" and "the power thereof" 2 Tim. 3:5.

·        The "form of godliness" is "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" Jude 3.

·        The "power thereof" which is "to usward who believe", results wherever "God…worketh in you" Phil. 2:13.

When the will, under this working, brings into subjection, that which by purchase belongs to God, then the result of "faith which worketh by love"

Gal. 5:6 is "acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" 1 Pet. 2:5. This is worship in the highest sense Heb. 11:34-12:2.

Now notice again. We are taught that we "should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" Titus 2:12.

·        Soberly, "with sound mind", in relation to self

·        Righteously, in relation to others

·        Godly, in relation to God

To the end that might be done.

·        “ Our Savior, Jesus Christ…Gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity

·        “ Purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” Titus 2:14.

Paul said “we are his workmanship”  “created in Christ Jesus”  “unto good works…that we should walk in them” Eph. 2:10. We are God’s workmanship “ both as to salvation and to service.

·        As to salvation “of him (God) are ye in Christ 1 Cor. 1:30. “ in him…with the circumcision made without hands” Col. 2:10,11; thus “not by works of righteousness which we have done” Titus 3:5.

·        As to service, “ without me ye can do nothing” Jn. 15:5; thus as God said to Israel, so he says to us today, “From me is thy fruit found” Hosea 14:8. It is God’s will that “we bringth forth fruit unto God” Rom. 7:4, but as the prophet said to Israel, “he bringth forth fruit unto himself Hosea 10:1 therefore let us take warning and with “fear and trembling in singleness of heart” Eph. 6:5,6 keeping in mind that it is “God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2:12.

·        The will has to do with the spirit of worship.

·        The do is the evidence of the will. Paul taught that the “inner man” could be “mighty through God…casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” 2 Cor. 10:4-5. Paul did this through God and demonstrated it in the fact that as he said “ I keep my body under and bring in into subjection” 1 Cor. 9:27.

·        “Bringing into captivity every thought “ 2 Cor. 9:27

·        “Bring it (the body) into subjection” 1 Cor. 9:27.

Thus do we  “adorn the doctrine of God” Titus 2:10. The “form of godliness” is to “the power of godliness“ what the cup is to water, does not relieve thirst. The cord disconnected does not convey power. The “power of godliness “ is the exercising of God’s power in and through those “who believe” in connection with “the form of godliness.

·        The electrical cord is the means of conveying from the source of electrical energy, to the appliance, the power needed for it’s operation according to it’s design.

·        The form of godliness is the means of conveying from the source of the power of godliness

that which constitutes the precious promises in connection with

·        self Jn. 13:17

·        others Titus3:8

·        God Jn. 15:8

And so “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly (as to self) righteously (as to others) and Godly (as to our Lord) in this present world Titus 2:12. Now notice the three things essential to the operation of "the form of godliness”:

·        "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" Phil. 2:12

·        "The word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" 1 Thess. 2:13

·        "In Jesus Christ…faith which worketh by love" (availeth) Gal. 5:6

Now when this was true of them, Paul could say "ye did run well" Gal. 5:7.

We have

·        "God" as the source of "the power of godliness" for "there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" Rom. 13:1

·        "the word of God," as "the form of godliness", through which the power is wrought

·        "love" , that by which God "constrains" 2 Cor. 5:14

In connection with the will. Thus, we are commanded:

·        "Be therefore followers of God, as dear children" Eph. 5:1

·        "Walking in the truth" 2 Jn. 4

·        "Keep yourselves in the love of God" Jude 21.

Wherever this is being done, "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus"

Rom. 8:2 is successfully overcoming "the law that when I would do, evil is present with me" Rom. 7:21.  Moreover, all thus being delivered can say in truth, "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us"

Rom. 8:37. In addition, say with Paul "Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ" 2 Cor. 2:14. These can say in truth:

·        "God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit" Rom. 1:9

·        "Walk in newness of life" Rom. 6:4

·        “Serve in newness of spirit" Rom. 7:6

These are "free" who have become servants to God" Rom. 6:22. These "worship in spirit and in truth" Jn. 4:24. For such as these "the Father seeketh" Jn. 4:23. May we respond to the apostolic appeal addressed to "the inner man" as set forth in Rom. 12:1. "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service".

The "ye" is addressed. The "ye" having submitted to the workmanship of God in behalf of "the will" Phil. 2:12, evidences that submission in the presenting of that over which the "ye" is charged to exercise dominion to the glory of God. Let us worship God, God's way, for all other is "vain" Matt. 15:9.

They who worship God acceptably can say with Paul, "God is my witness" Rom. 1:9. Abel experienced God's testimony of approval Heb. 11:4 and so may we, for "the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" Eph. 5:9. Yea, of all the beings of the universe, only one is entitled to all we are and have. "Worship God" Rev. 22:9. Let us "have no other" Ex 20:3.

Prepared by:

H. Frank Fort, Minister, 
Berean Baptist Church,
Houston, Texas.
July 11, 1956.   

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"