06AM October 29 1 Timothy 4 8 and 1 Peter 2 2
October 29, 2006—Morning Worship
Growing More Godly Every Day – Part 5
Some of the Most Dreaded Words We Know!
Helpful Truths about Spiritual Disciplines
1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 2:2
Intro: Some of the most dreaded words we know! What could they be? There are many words we don’t like to hear—some words we hope not to hear—& then there are the words we dread to hear.
There are words we dread from a medical point of view: surgery, cancer, medication. There are words we dread from a physical point of view: diet, exercise, fitness. There are words we dread from a spiritual point of view: judgment, wrath, discipline.
Yet all these words from all these points of view are necessary for our overall well-being. From a medical standpoint, you just have to have faith in your doctor & trust God. From a physical standpoint, you just have to stick w/the program & trust God. From a spiritual standpoint, you just have to follow God’s word & trust Him.
I believe we dread hearing some words b/c we think they rob us of our freedom. We don’t like words like command, order, thou shalt not & discipline. But again, these words are necessary for our spiritual well-being.
So, I want to speak to you today on the subject of helpful truths about spiritual disciplines b/c as Christians, we need spiritual discipline in our lives if we are going to grow more godly every day. Healthy spiritual disciplines and solid spiritual nutrition will build our spiritual muscles for the glory of God.
There are 3 ways God causes us to mature spiritually.
1. He uses the people around us – Proverbs 27 17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
2. He uses the circumstances in which we find ourselves – Romans 8 28 & we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
3. He uses the spiritual disciplines we find in Scripture – 1 Timothy 4 7 But reject profane & old wives' fables, & exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is & of that which is to come.
So, let’s carefully consider these tools to spiritual maturity as we see helpful truths about spiritual disciplines.
1st let’s look at Proverbs 27:17, where the Bible says that God uses…
1. The People around us to help us mature spiritually.
Notice 1st of all…
A. The Physical fact (READ v. 17a). “As iron sharpens iron”
1. You didn’t come to church this morning to be instructed in the finer points of metallurgy
2. You came to church today to be enlightened & encouraged from the word of God
3. But here is a physical fact that the writer points out, that will help us grasp the truth that is to come
4. Iron sharpens iron – You can take a file, which is made of metal, & you can use it to sharpen metal tools.
5. I’d like to make several observations about how that works & then apply them to our spiritual walk
a. The file is of a harder metal that what it sharpens
b. The file cannot sharpen anything by itself
c. When sharpening occurs there are always shavings produced
Now we can see…
B. The Spiritual truth (READ v. 17b). “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
1. This is a comparison using something w/which we are familiar to describe something w/which we are unfamiliar
2. As iron sharpens iron tells us that what is about to follow is an explanation of a similar occurrence – IOW in the same manner as… or in the same way as…
3. The writer continues, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend
4. The man in v. 17 is the equivalent of the file – he is the mature believer who is of the harder metal like the file
5. The fact that the file cannot sharpen anything by itself is equivalent to the truth that a mere man cannot mature another man—but he can be used of God to do it!
6. & when sharpening occurs there are always shavings produced is equivalent to the truth that when we are “sharpened” or are maturing, there are always things we leave behind – attitudes, actions, beliefs, behaviors, & on & on
7. This verse explains how God uses the people around us to cause us to mature
8. It’s the benefits of intellectual conversations & theological discussions that help to shape & mold us
9. This is further evidence of the truth that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together b/c we are unable to live up to the grand design God has for us w/o the personal contact & character building encouragements from other believers.
Now let’s look at Romans 8:28, where the Bible says that God uses…
2. The Circumstances in which we find ourselves to help us mature spiritually.
In what circumstances do you find yourself? Remember, God uses them to…
A. Build your faith (“we know”).
1. When Paul used the Greek word for “know” here, he meant we know “by experience; we have seen for ourselves; we have discerned, discovered, observed, examined & cherish this truth”
2. There was no doubt in Paul’s mind that God was doing all He was doing for the good of His elect & the purpose for which He called them
3. That is faith & I don’t know about you, but I really believe our faith could stand some building!
4. Do you realize that if you attend every church service we offer that you would spend 4 hours per week in church?
5. There are 168 total hours each week – 56 hours for sleeping = 112 waking hours
6. If all the Bible intake you receive & all the spiritual influence you get is here in church that would mean that you spend less than 4% of your waking hours even trying to build your faith
7. Paul said we know b/c we’ve observed & examined & learned & experienced & I just don’t believe anyone can do that just once a week!
8. Iron sharpens iron but only as it comes in contact w/the iron!
9. If your faith is to be built, it must come in contact w/the word & learn God’s ability & so God puts you in circumstances that will drive you to Him, so that He can build your faith
But God also uses those circumstances to…
B. Unveil His plan (“all things…for good”).
1. Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace & not of evil, to give you a future & a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me & go & pray to Me, & I will listen to you. 13 & you will seek Me & find Me, when you search for Me w/all your heart.
2. That’s the plan of God for you – to come to Him by faith & receive a future & a blessed hope
3. God uses our circumstances to bring us to faith & to build our faith
4. He wants to use you as a display of His grace & power & love & mercy
5. God is at work in you & around you for bring you to Himself & then to work through you for His glory
6. I know—you don’t understand how these circumstances are going to work out for your good—but God knows! Just trust Him to do what only He can do!
B/c God uses those circumstances to…
C. Demonstrate His purpose (“who are…His purpose”).
1. God uses every trial; every tear; every temptation for His purpose
2. God uses every suffering; every sin; every sorrow for His purpose
3. God uses absolutely everything in your life & existence to accomplish His will
4. His will for you is both temporary & eternal
5. Temporary b/c He provides for you here & now – Eternal b/c He prepares you for then & there
6. God’s purpose is to display in you the reality of His love; His grace & His power to save
7. God’s purpose is that you be so different from the world that in shear amazement the world comes to you to find the answer for that difference
8. & that gives you the opportunity to glorify God as you share the truth about the One who changed you forever!
Now that brings us to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, where the Bible says that God uses…
3. The Spiritual Disciplines we find in Scripture to help us mature spiritually.
Now I know what you’re thinking, “I don’t have time for that stuff. I’m way too busy for that.”
1. In a recent polling, 21% of the men polled said they feel “rushed all the time”
2. & 33% of the women polled felt the same way – “rushed all the time”
3. So, let me ask you some questions so you can evaluate whether your priorities in life are what they should be
Question #1…
A. Do you Thirst for God?
1. God initiates spiritual thirst in you so that He can satisfy it
2. On a hot summer day when you work in the sun all day long, do you just take one drink of water that lasts the whole day? NO!
3. You can’t just drink from the water of the word of God one time & be satisfied
4. God creates the thirst in you so that you will come again & again to drink
5. I’m NOT a big fan of Bible reading! b/c you follow a plan w/X # of vv. to read
6. I’d rather you read 10 vv. w/understanding that 10 chapters w/o remembering
7. So mediate on the word of God as drops of rain in a desert – & not like water through a fire hose!
Question #2…
B. Are you Word Governed?
1. Are you more & more directed by the word of God?
2. If Jesus is our example & we are to ask ourselves “What would Jesus do?”, then we should follow His example & live by the word
3. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, He quoted scripture after scripture. “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!”
4. That’s our pattern – but are we living by it?
5. Mediate on the word; make time for the word; & train yourself to ask “What does the Bible say about this?” when facing any decision.
Question #3…
C. Are you more Loving?
1. The Bible says that God is love & Jesus commanded us to love one another as I have loved you.
2. That is one characteristic of God that is visible through actions
3. Are you more loving now than you were last year?
4. Can others detect the love of God flowing through you?
5. If you know God’s assurance of love to you – you should love as He does
6. Identify yourself w/His love & do as He would do – IOW Golden Rule
7. More importantly, demonstrate your love & not expect anything in return b/c Jesus said, Even the pagan love those who love them.
Conclusion: All of these things are ways in which you can exercise yourself toward godliness.
1. Exercise is hard work & its even harder to get started but once you do, you grow to enjoy it & the benefits of it
2. You must exercise yourself b/c no one else can do it for you & even if they did you would not receive the benefits – so commit yourself to it & follow through
3. Remember that what you are doing is working TOWARD godliness – it’s a process to be continued not a once for all activity
4. & your goal in all of this is to be more godly every day. Not so people can talk about you & your progress, but that God would be glorified in your life
5. So it all boils down to those 2 words we dread to hear: diet & exercise!
6. The diet is the word & ways & will of God
7. The exercise is putting all that into practice
8. 1 Peter 2 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
9. IOW if you’ve come to know Jesus, feast on His word & grow by it just like a new born baby cries for milk that causes it to grow
Invitation: How about you: are you thirsty for the word of God? Do you spend time w/God in prayer? Are you growing in the grace & knowledge of Jesus? Are you maturing at a rate that is pleasing to God?
God may have opened your eyes today to your need for the Savior. If you’ve come to know that Jesus is the only way & that a personal relationship w/Him is only possible by faith, would you come today in repentance & place your faith in Jesus as your Lord & Savior?
Maybe God has revealed to you an area of your life that is lacking in spiritual devotion. Maybe you don’t meditate on Scripture as you should; maybe you don’t pray as often as you need to; maybe your witness is being tarnished by your ungodly actions & the Lord is calling you today to repent of these things & follow Him!
There maybe other matters of a spiritual nature which God is addressing in your life right now. I’m simply pleading w/you to respond to God as He offers His grace to you this morning.
Would you come so that in the day of judgment you don’t have to hear those most dreaded words, “Depart from Me, I never knew you!”?
Hymn 280 Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross