The Spiritual Disciplines - Godliness

The Spiritual Disciplines

Godliness

1 Tim 4:7-8

Me:

The woolly worm

a. A cold winter

ii. Here’s the meaning: The longer the woolly bear's black bands, the longer, colder, snowier, and more severe the winter will be. Similarly, the wider the middle brown band is associated with a milder upcoming winter. The position of the longest dark bands supposedly indicates which part of winter will be coldest or hardest.

Ground Hog Day

i. If he sees his shadow or not

c. Weather dot gov

i. The National Weather Service

ii. “The woolly bear caterpillar's coloring is based on how long caterpillar has been feeding, its age, and species.”

d. 1 Timothy 4:7

i. 1 Timothy 4:7 (CEV) — 7 Don’t have anything to do with worthless, senseless stories.

1 Timothy 4:7 CEV

Don’t have anything to do with worthless, senseless stories. Work hard to be truly religious.

ii. To be honest this verse has nothing to do with woolly worms or ground hogs.

iii. But here’s the point

We:

False teaching

a. When you don’t have a good foundation

i. Like the wooly worm there is lots of false teaching

ii. It can be easy to fall prey to the false teaching

“Holy laughter”

iv. Paul is saying we shouldn’t listen to it.

b. How do we guard against false teaching

i. Other believers – There is nothing new under the sun

ii. Godliness

God:

Godliness

a. A spiritual discipline

i. 1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) — 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

1 Timothy 4:7 NIV

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

Underline train

b. Training

i. When you start a new job

ii. The software I use for bible is vast and in-depth – I pay for a training program

iii. I like to lift weights – It’s called training

c. Greek word for “training”

i. Refers to physical exercise or training.

ii. Notice the next verse

iii. 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV) — 8 For physical training is of some value

1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

d. Of some value

i. The greater value is godliness

ii. 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV) — 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

iii. Good for all things – every area of your life

iv. And in combating false teaching

What is godliness?

i. Reverence for or devotion to God, producing a practical awareness of God in every aspect of life.

ii. A practical awareness

iii. Rule number one in life is God first

You:

“This life and the one to come” - Godliness’ Benefit

Huge profit

i. 1 Timothy 6:6 (GW) — 6 A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.

1 Timothy 6:6 GW

A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.

ii. When you are content you don’t covet

b. They profit everyone

i. Titus 3:8 (NIV) — 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Titus 3:8 NIV

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

ii. Your godliness flows to others

c. Planted like a tree

Psalm 1:1–3 NLT

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

d. How blessed we are

i. Isaiah 3:10 (CEB) — 10 Tell the righteous how blessed they are; they will eat the fruit of their labors.

Isaiah 3:10 CEB

Tell the righteous how blessed they are; they will eat the fruit of their labors.

ii. A job well done

iii. Like cooking a fine meal

We:

The work of discipline

a. You just don’t become godly

i. No athlete becomes a world class Olympic star by just stepping onto the racetrack

ii. It requires hours of practice

iii. But the reward is great

b. Godliness is no different

i. It requires some effort

ii. A daily walk and time with the Lord