Sunday, December 11, 2011

A real way to celebrate the coming of Christ!

It is that time of year again, when we reflect on the coming of Christ to earth – made flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14).


There is a dimension of thought and strategy of the Wisdom of God to which the enemies of God (demons, powers of this age) have no access or understanding. This we understand from the context of the following scriptures:
„no human mind has conceived the things that God has prepared“ ( 1 Corinthians 2:9 & Isaiah 64:4)
“None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:8)
“And the Light shines in darkness, and the darkness comprehends it not.” (John 1:9)

But for those who have been born from above (John 3:3 & 3:7) these things have been revealed by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10) – which dwells in us.

Realizing this, we must of course ask ourselves, how can we operate in this dimension – and as such live a life of continual victory against these powers!


Paul explains his apostolic mandate to us in Colossians 1:25-29 and so gives us the answer to this question:

In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you] -- The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints), To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.
Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).  For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.

Paul says that God wanted the riches of the Glory to be brought to all nations that they may be able to take hold of, live out of and live according to this Glory. He says that he is totally committed to this Message (of Christ in us), because it is through this realization that men can become spiritually perfected. His commitment to this Message is enforced through the Power of God at work in him, testifying that the Lord also desires that men lay hold of this great revealed truth, which was previously hidden. 


Paul further stresses in Romans 5 that “we have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in his life”

The Greek Word translated save here is sozo (G4982) meaning to save, i.e. deliver or protect and used elsewhere in the KJV: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

So bringing this together, we understand that it is the Life of Christ in us that heals us, delivers us, protects us and makes us spiritual complete.


After many years being involved in the commonly called “deliverance ministry” I realized that it is possible to cast demons out of people, but as long as their soul remained in darkness, they were not really free. It is the entrance of the living Word of God that needs to be laid hold of by the person through their faith. This then brings forth the Light of the Glory of Christ (in them). If this light has started to shine, then they can be guided and protected by this Light and are no longer living in darkness.


As we deny the old self life that tries to define its identity in this world and turn to Christ to receive and become a habitation for His Life, we continue to remove the veil that has blinded us to the true purposes of God in our generation. 


Let us commit in this time of reflection to use the situations that are provided us (e.g. through attacks by demon forces) to die to self (for we have been crucified with Christ - Galatians 2:20), so that we can allow the Life of Christ to be manifest in us and finally through us.
As we train our souls to submit in this way to the Lordship of Christ (in us) we attain to the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Entering into the Dimension of the Mind of Christ, we enter into the Rest God has prepared for us where we rest from our works and allow the Power of God to work through us. (Hebrews 4:10). Amen! ?

Let us again welcome and celebrate the coming of Christ into our lives, saying:

“Lord establish your Lordship in us, let your Kingdom come, let you Will be done – Come Lord Jesus, come and be revealed through my Body – which is now your Body.  I serve and worship you alone – I am yours and you are mine!” Amen

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Sexual unity in marriage leads to Life

“Haven’t you read,” he [Jesus] replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

This is an interesting verse because Jesus clearly states that God’s original intention was the creation of male and female that these two should be joined together (in marriage) and form a spiritual and sexual unity.  This intention of the Creator is questioned today by those that demand that they as homosexuals have a right to get married too.  This right demanded does clearly not conform to the God-given and biblically approved understanding of sexual unity.

Although a homosexual marriage is not biblical, the right to choose to enter into a homosexual marriage is.  Someone may suppose that he does not believe in God or the bible as a written authority for his life. It is biblical that men have been given a free will to make this decision – even though it is just as clear that this decision against the Creator is not what the bible nor God wants nor recommends. A rejection of God and the bible then removes all biblical constraints in this area and they then have the “freedom” to make this personal choice.

One may attempt to justify his rejection of God the Creator and the bible by saying that he believes in the theory of evolution. It may be pointed out to him that there are no “forefather” mammals such as apes that are homosexual, no “great forefather” reptiles such as snakes that are homosexual, no “great great forefather” amphibians such as salamanders that are homosexual etc. etc. …. because the very idea is against Nature itself.
The reply of the homosexual might be, that he has evolved beyond heterosexuality to homosexuality – but I believe every honest student of evolution would then have to point out to him, that this “evolvement” is bound to last only one generation – because he has reached a dead end in the process. The hard truth is that there is no procreation between homosexuals – and in terms of “survival of the fittest” the chances of their survival stands at null. They have “evolved” into a type of species that cannot survive! They live only for themselves, because they can no longer reproduce!

From this discussion we can understand that in His infinite Wisdom and Love, the Creator has implemented sexual unity in marriage between male and female as the natural way that leads to Life! 

Friday, June 17, 2011

For this reason was the Son of God manifest!

Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (Mark 7:13)

Although Andrew Murray was undoubtedly a very godly man, especially in the area of prayer and experiencing the deeper life, we still need to apply the Word of God to prove what he said.  His statement marked in red below is something that I wish to call attention to:
Quote from Chapter 1: Divine Healing by Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
We see, by the accounts given in the Gospels, that it was more difficult for the Jews at that time to believe in the pardon of their sins than in divine healing. Now it is just the contrary. The Christian Church has heard so much of the preaching of the forgiveness of sins that the thirsty soul easily receives this message of grace; but it is not the same with divine healing; that is rarely spoken of; the believers who have experienced it are not many. It is true that healing is not given in this day as in those times, to the multitudes whom Christ healed without any previous conversion. In order to receive it, it is necessary to begin by confession of sin and the purpose to live a holy life. This is without doubt the reason why people find more difficulty to believe in healing than in forgiveness; and this is also why those who receive healing receive at the same time new spiritual blessing, feel more closely united to the Lord Jesus, and learn to love and serve Him better. Unbelief may attempt to separate these two gifts, but they are always united in Christ. He is always the same Savior both of the soul and of the body, equally ready to grant pardon and healing.
 The redeemed may always cry: “Bless the Lord, 0 my soul.., who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases” (Ps. 103:3).

Does Scripture confirm that after the death and resurrection of the Lord the disciples fundamentally changed the way they had been healing and delivering people? Did they from then on require people to first confess their sin and to purpose to live a holy life before they could receive the Grace of God manifested as Healing and Deliverance?

This is a fundamentally relevant question for us today because the vast majority of teachers (in their books and sermons on mp3 and DVD) who teach healing and deliverance (in all their different forms) adhere to the above statement – this means it has such wide acceptance that very few would ever think about questioning it.

Firstly we have to establish that as Andrew Murray confirms above, Jesus did not require people to repent (turn from their sins and live a holy life style) before healing them.  This we can clearly see in many examples (Mark 5:1-20 – deliverance and mental healing; Luke 13:10-17 - Jesus expels a spirit of infirmity from the body of a woman)

In John 5:14 we read the following: Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."  From the context it is clear that the man at first did not even know who had healed him and only afterwards did Jesus confront him with the need to repent of his sin.

Now we should compare how the disciples healed and delivered after Jesus had risen and ascended to determine if there was any fundamental change in approach – to that which they had learnt from Jesus.

The first example is that of Peter and John at the gate beautiful in Acts 3:1-7. Clearly the beggar looked at Peter and John expecting to receive money.  Then in the Authority of the Name of Jesus Peter grabs the beggar by the hand, hauls him up up his feet – healed. No preaching of the Gospel and clearly no repentance by the beggar before he was healed! It was Peters faith in the Authority of the Name of Jesus that resulted in the healing – and this afterwards provided a platform for him to confront the religious leaders with their sin and demand that they repent!

The second example we see in Acts 14:8-10. This Gentile man had been a cripple since his birth. Paul was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and the cripple man was receiving the message with an open heart. Paul told him to stand up – which he did. There is no account that the cripple man had done any repentance, he had not come forward to repeat some prayer – it is recorded that he had faith to be healed – so obviously Paul was preaching exactly that – that through faith in the Authority in the Name of Jesus people can be healed and delivered. We are sure of this because it is written that faith comes through hearing the Word of Christ preached (Romans 10:14). Afterwards Paul confronts the Gentiles with the need for repentance (Acts 14:15)

Thirdly Paul is harsh with the Christians in Galatia (Galatians 3:1-5) and wanted to know who had bewitched them into thinking that they could receive the Spirit by their own works (e.g. commitment to a holy lifestyle). He also confirms that the Works of Holy Spirit were manifest among them only because they believed in the Victory of Christ over disease and demons through His crucifixion (paraphrased).   

I have discovered no biblical confirmation that Christians ministering healing and deliverance in the post resurrection and ascension period fundamentally changed the way that Jesus had healed and delivered. Rather I see a confirmation that it remained unchanged! If we take this teaching that repentance is required first to an extreme situation – in a situation where someone needs to be raised from the dead – we realize that it is totally insufficient. How is a dead person going to first repent and commit to live a holy life before they can be raised from the dead?

Paul describes far more serious consequences resulting from this kind of teaching in Romans 2:1-4. Here Paul warns against judging others and asks if we do not realize that it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance. Once we are of the opinion that people have to first repent before they can be healed – we stand in the very dangerous place of becoming judges declaring that they still have sin in their lives that needs to be repented of – maybe giving this as a reason for them not being healed by our prayer for them.  Actually it is most probably the unbelief of the one who ministered healing and/or deliverance that resulted in the person not being healed / delivered.

As Curry Blake has confirmed through the teachings of John G. Lake and his own healing and deliverance ministry, there is no requirement for someone to repent to receive the grace of God. The only requirement is that of Faith – and in the area of healing and deliverance – it is mostly the faith of the one ministering healing and deliverance that is required – as the example of raising someone from the dead confirms!

The example of how Jesus healed and delivered does not negate or diminish the importance of repentance or of stressing the importance of living a holy life in any way. It instead refocuses us on the total victory of Calvary over all sin, disease and demons and allows us to access the Grace of God through faith and not by our own works. Own works are here defined as confessing of sin, breaking of curses, searching for iniquity committed by our forefathers or anything having to do else other than focusing on Christ.

Once people have tasted that the Lord is gracious and have seen His power – they exercise the freedom of Will in choosing or rejecting Him. They need to understand that by rejecting Christ and returning to sin – something worse could happen to them. Not because this is the Will of God, but because the demons are going to build up a better stronghold next time round (Luke 11:24-26).

Let us not be the ones to hinder the flow of God's Grace to people – we are supposed to be channels of His Grace on the earth. The one ministering healing and deliverance has to live in obedience to the Lord by healing and delivering people from the power of satan unto the Kingdom of God (Acts 26:18). These ministers are not to keep backdoors for their unbelief open. Here are some examples what some of these backdoors can be:” It is not God’s will to heal you”; “You have hidden sin in your life”; “There is some undefined curse on your life”; “The iniquity of your forefathers is hindering your healing”; “You don’t have enough faith”; and so on an so forth! Jesus never used one of these backdoors, ever! Nor does the bible record that the first believers did either! We have the Mandate to pray for the sick to be healed - when we become the ones who decide who God will heal and who not, have we then "not discriminated among ourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:4)

Let us become convinced of what the Bible describes as the complete Victory of Christ over the devil, powers and principalities, all demon power, every sickness, disease and infirmity, every wound and all pain, death and hades! As we develop our understandings through the Word of Christ and refuse to live by the senses trapped in this world and as we reject the traditions of men – we by faith enter into the manifestation of the Kingdom and Will of the Father on this earth (Matthew 6:10)!

In this way we will bring Glory to the Father, destroy the works of the devil and see many enter into the Freedom offered by Christ. Hallelujah! For this reason was the Son of God manifest!


So finally, the Heart of Christ in this matter is revealed in the following:

* “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:10) 

* "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'" (Mark 2:17) 

* “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Matthew 9:13) 





Thursday, March 24, 2011

Keep your focus to do what Jesus commanded!

Luke 8:23-25
But as they (the disciples) sailed he (Jesus) fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind (whirlwind) on the lake; and the boat was filling with water, and they were in great danger.
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we are perishing! Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging waves: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him.


The disciples find themselves in the midst of a storm, which appears to threaten their lives. They shout to the Lord knowing “that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved”. Bill Johnson remarks that he was always taught that it was an expression of Faith to call upon the Lord when we are in danger. However in contradiction to this: Jesus wakes up, rebukes the storm and then He rebukes His disciples for their lack of faith. Jesus was obviously expecting something very different from His disciples.

He was obviously not expecting that they quietly sit in the boat and pray in their hearts to Him to save them either!
Jesus had earlier told His disciples, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” (Luke 6:40). So I believe that the expression of Faith that Jesus expected from His disciples was that they should do what He had done, that is, command in the Authority of His Name.

Let us now investigate how we can relate this passage to the current disasters that are shaking the world!

Acts 1:6-8 (New International Version)
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


As we see the increasing number and intensity of apocalyptic images of natural disasters coming upon the earth, we are tempted by feelings of hopelessness – questioning ourselves and not understanding why God is allowing all these things. We read the various confusing interpretations of the book of Revelations and hear so many saying that now is the End of Time!

The early disciples also battled with these thoughts, albeit for different reasons. The Old Testament prophets had spoken of a glorious future for Israel but since returning from the captivity in Babylon things did not appear so great. This caused some of the Jewish people to seek for answers in hidden symbols and numbers that were revealing the Masters Plan. Out of this search for answers the so called early Jewish apocalyptic literature developed.

The influence of the Greek thinking on the early Jewish apocalyptic literature caused people to take a very passive position on current events, because they developed a philosophy that they "knew" the Master's Plan. God would come and restore the Kingdom and there was nothing that anyone could do to change that – one just had to “survive” and remain faithful until that glorious Day!

In the Book of Revelation Jesus the Messiah reveals Himself as the One who is coming and is busy establishing His Kingdom on the Earth. He has clearly stated that we will not know the time of His coming. Despite this so many continue to try and press this book into a specific time schedule.

We need to break the Greek Philosophical View of the End Times (amongst other things by not debating about which Interpretation we subscribe to) over our lives and become active Ambassadors of God, by allowing Him to manifest His Kingdom in and through us. Let the People taste and see that the Lord is Good (through the Fruit of our lives).

Jesus requires and expects us to demonstrate Faith in these times – how do we do that? By doing the things that He would do if he were on the earth today – by healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead and teaching people how to enter and live in the reality of the Kingdom of God. (Actually He is on the Earth – living in His disciples)

This is so different from getting people to come forward in a meeting and repeat some small prayer!
It is also very different from getting people to a meeting where some “anointed one” can perform some demonstration of Power to the delight and amusement of the crowd – where the crowd returns home unaffected and unchanged in their hearts to wait for the next great entertainer!
It is also different to warming a church pew and hearing some orator encourage and motivate people that they too can be successful in this world – occasionally throwing in enough bible passages to convince that this is all happening “in the name of the Lord”!

Jesus is very clear in His command to His disciples:
He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)

My paraphrase of the command of Jesus:
Get baptised in the Holy Spirit and then be led by the Spirit to be the witnesses of all I have done – by doing the same things – and teaching people to obey all I have commanded you. Bring them into the Kingdom of God by demonstrating that my Kingdom has come upon the earth – my rule of Authority and Power is already established on the earth – by casting out demons and healing the sick. Oh and by the way, you have to renounce your life in this world if you desire to enter into the fullness of my Kingdom on this earth – you have to die to self to live for me – because it will actually be me living in and through you!

I want all men, woman and children to be delivered out of darkness – now go forth in the Authority of my Name!

... AND DO WHAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Are you dying to live?

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24 -25)


The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11)


In the beginning we see that our lives have become empty and devoid of order. It is our experience that we are living in deep darkness, totally without hope. God sees us in this situation and His Spirit begins to move upon us. As we are prepared the Word of God comes to us; God speaks to us meeting us where we are.

As His Words find entrance into our lives, the Light of His Glory begins to shine in us. As this Light shines in us, so God begins to separate us from those things that had caused the darkness. To the degree that we renounce this world and our lives in this world, we inherit the Life that only God can give.

We die to the chaos and darkness of this world and become fruitful citizens of an eternal Kingdom! The symbolism of water baptism has become a reality in our lives. We have been crucified and buried with Christ and now dwell resurrected in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Think that a godly life is a way to make a profit?

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.(1 Timothy 6:5)

Paul wants here to be aware that some people are denying the Teachings of Jesus Christ - regarding holiness, honour, service amongst others - but in their pride and envy cause dispute over words in order to justify their rebellion.

They have persuasive arguments for their position, are doing seemingly right things (like feeding the poor), offer wonderful Christian entertainment and teach on ways to get wealthy and how to have a good positive life in this world. They have redefined the biblical concept "Church" as a profit making organisation. In effect they have become friends of this world and in so doing have made themselves enemies of God.

We are warned to withdraw ourselves from such people and situations, because our eternal life could otherwise be endangered:

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

Instead we are well advised to flee these things and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Timothy 6:11)

What are you waiting for?

Monday, February 7, 2011

The powerlessness of the Will

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
(Romans 7:18 – 20 KJV)


Paul illustrates quite clearly here that his will is not so free and not so powerful, but it has been taken captive by sin. He acknowledges what is good and even decides that this is what he wants to do, but finds out that he fails to do this. Sometimes he finds himself doing exactly that which he has decided is evil and does not want to do. So, a free will alone is not sufficient to enable us to do that which we will to do because we perceive it to be good. What can we do?

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13 KJV)


Paul provides the solution for this problem we face. We use the free will we have to appeal to a higher authority, that is, the Authority of God, who dwells inside of us through His Spirit. We appeal that He would put to death the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) in us.

On what basis can the Spirit do this in us?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. (Romans 6:3-8)

The basis is the statement of faith, that “old man is crucified with him”. As we believe this in our hearts and confess it with our mouths the spiritual reality of the Truth begins to manifest itself in our lives.

This is how salvation works, how healing works, or any other Truth that we take hold of and desire to see manifest in our lives and upon the earth. It starts as a confession on our lips and ends as a reality of the Nature of Christ formed within us. Martin Luther said this was fulfilment of what we expressed when we got baptised in water (Introduction to Romans).

The real experience of this truth in our lives, i.e. where the Word has become Flesh within and through us, delivers us from the power of sin, from the world and from the prince of the power of the air. This is real deliverance!

This is the wisdom of the cross demonstrating its power in our lives – not just an empty doctrine that is distant from our perception of reality! Praise the Lord for His Grace in our lives!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I think therefore I am?

I think therefore I am - Descartes

This is the application of the scientific approach to philosophy – I only accept what I can prove. I can only prove that I exist – because I am aware that I think. Everything else could be an illusion.

This thinking places man at the centre of his provable universe. This thinking empowers not only mistrust towards God, but towards all creation and society – because there may be nothing else. The only way forward for him is to eat from the tree of good and evil – that is to decide for himself what is good and what is not good - out of his own perspective. This has now become the ultimate self-centered life! One who is so ensnared through this self-centeredness is led in a  downward spiral towards a deepening reality of spiritual darkness – which leads to death.   

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16 – 17)

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Where is the Gospel of the Kingdom?

The Mega-Church Movement is moving forward with influence and power: Great packaging, professional entertainment and positive self-assuring messages, but where is the Gospel of the Kingdom and the evidence through accompanying Signs and Wonders? Is a pure and Holy Bride being prepared for the Coming of the King? Are disciples being produced that are willing to deny self, the world and confront and destroy the spiritual forces of darkness?
What was that thing called the Great Commission all about? 
[Matt 23: 25 - 28]

http://vimeo.com/4521963

Habakkuk 1:5 (Amplified Bible) 5Look around among the nations and see! And be astonished! Astounded! For I am putting into effect a work in your days [such] that you would not believe it if it were told you.


The compromise with the World will bring forth the Judgement of the Lord on a people who call themselves by the name of the Lord but are actually misusing His Name to build a Kingdom of this world - that they can make their name great and enjoy the pleasures thereof:

Exodus 20:7 
You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 

2 Timothy 3 1BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. ...  4[They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].