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Organized But Powerless2 Timothy 3:5“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”In the first 5 verses of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 the Holy Spirit lists 19 characteristics of what people will be like in the last days. We can see every one of these characteristics in people today. Our text verse gives us the last one on the list, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”. People can look Godly, seem Godly on the outside but not actually be Godly. Organized religion, buildings and ministries may have the look that they pertain unto God, but in reality they lack the power of God. The telling sign of a true church or true ministry is their trueness and faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone has the power to change lives, and which I believe the context of the text is speaking of. Think with me… What makes the Gospel of Christ different than any other message one could hear or program one could be a part of? It is because the Gospel of Christ “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). No other message carries with it the power to change a life. Our text verse warns and admonishes us to turn away from any “form of godliness” that denies the power thereof. That does not give any Christian the right to not go to church, but it does tell us to be sure we are a part of a church where their preaching and programs are centered around the life changing power of the Gospel of Christ!