"DISCIPLINED"

>>>Review: “Grounded in God’s Word”-“Guided by the Holy Spirit”

>>>The third G is “Growing to Maturity”. This is the core value that emphasizes spiritual growth.

*Spiritual disciplines/growth/topical messages

>>>There is nothing more exciting than a new believer, but believers do not need to state in “spiritual infancy” forever. Through being grounded in God’s Word and guidance by the Holy Spirit, believers are to grow to maturity.

*Spiritual maturity is not just spiritual things. It encompasses ALL of life-physical, emotional, mental, men/women growing as men/women, being diligent, rejecting the flesh, etc.

>>>The title of this message is “Disciplined”.

>>>(Illust.) Chiropractor talking about working out/being disciplined.

>>>Response when asked about motivation: “I’m not motivated. I’m disciplined.”

BEING MOTIVATED IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING DISCIPLINED .

>>>While discipline may be correlated with motivation, it is not motivation in and of itself. Discipline often means being diligent in something even when one doesn’t “feel” like doing it, spiritually speaking as well.

*May not be motivated to read Bible/pray/serve/go to church

>>>The word “discipline” appears 16x in NT with different meanings-correction/teaching/self-discipline/self-control. Though there are different meanings, discipline is something very important when it comes to spiritual development.

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>>>Paul wrote two letters to his disciple Timothy.

>>>Timothy was roughly sixteen years old when Paul met him. He grew to be a pastor in Ephesus.

>>>In 1 Timothy 1, Paul gets right to the point w/Timothy to focus (key) on true doctrinal teaching and not “fruitless speculation”.

*There were teachers drifting away from God’s Word into things that were really truth, and it caused others to “lose their faith”.

1 Timothy 4:7–10 “But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.”

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1 Timothy 4:7–8 “But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

>>>(v.7) Paul told Timothy to “stay away” (avoid/be excused) from worthless stories.

*These worthless stories were myths (profane/untrue). Paul compared them to ramblings of old women-nothing really to listen to.

*Call back to ch.1-don’t listen to what is not true.

>>>This is when Paul tells Timothy to “discipline” himself for godliness.

*“discipline” is “gymnazō”, meaning “train”.

*Timothy was to “train” himself for godliness (right practices/beliefs about God).

>>>Instead of focusing on irrelevant speculations/myths, Paul told Timothy to focus on being godly.

THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON TRAINING TO BE GODLY.

>>>(Illust.) In the “Rocky” movies, Rocky always finds himself in a situation of getting into a major boxing match.

>>>Even when it seems like a long shot, he commits to fighting and starts to train (montage).

*Getting trained/in shape for the fight becomes his total focus.

>>>In the spiritual battle, training to be godly should be our focus.

2 Peter 1:3 “for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

>>>Peter says that God has given everything a believer needs to be godly just in knowing Him (before list of how to apply).

>>>Our ultimate focus in everything we do should be on godliness and becoming more like Jesus.

*Don’t waste what God has already given you to grow you in Him.

>>>(v. 8) Paul goes on to explain that physical training only benefits people physically, but godliness benefits ALL aspects of life.

GODLINESS IMPACTS EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE.

>>>As said earlier, growing to maturity is a part of EVERY area of our lives. We seek to be godly in our work, education, relationships, desires, lifestyle, thoughts, financial matters, etc.

>>>Those who make a practice of being aligned with God in every aspect of life will see the fruit in every aspect of life.

*Eph. 4:15-Growing up in “all” into Christ

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1 Timothy 4:9–10 “It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.”

>>>Paul reinforces this call to pursue godliness in that the benefits of godliness in every aspect of life is true in every way.

>>>(v.10) Achieving godliness is not something that is easy. It takes both hard work and perseverance.

*While we do not rely on our own strength for godliness, we discipline ourselves is staying in line w/the Holy Spirit and obedience to Christ.

>>>Paul says the reason to strive for godliness is because of the hope that is found in God Who saves all who call upon Him.

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.”

>>>Paul tells the Philippian church that he has not yet obtained perfection (godliness), but “presses on” to get it, because Christ has already got him!

THE GOAL IS GODLINESS BECAUSE THE HOPE IS JESUS.

>>>Discipline is not the same as motivation, but it can be born out of motivation. Our motivation to be godly is because of the salvation/hope we have in God.

*We are not motivated by we feel but by what God has already done.

*Even when we don’t “feel” like something, we press on because God keep us going.

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