A FOCUSED LIFE
Out with the Bad -- In with the Good • Sermon • Submitted
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· 35 views...living honorably by developing a lifestyle patterned after God’s Word
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Series Title: “Out with the Bad — In with the Good”
Introduction
Look at the following pictures and tell me what you see
Grid illusion
Apple
Fedex
Northwest Airlines
In each of these pictures, the white space (where nothing is actually drawn — it’s just empty space) is what creates the most important elements of the picture
For some of these, you really have to focus to see what is really there — for others the empty space stands out over the actual design
What makes the Apple logo unique? The part that is missing…where a bite is taken out. That identifies it as an apple…could be other kinds of fruit, but the bite makes you see an apple. And of course the bite also points to b.y.t.e
Explain Fedex
Explain Northwest
I ran across a book entitled The Laws of Subtraction: 6 Simple Rules for Winning in the Age of Excess Everything, by Matthew May. I didn’t read the book, but the title stood out to me because of the new series we are beginning today, “Out with the Bad — In With the Good”.
Sometimes the best way to do a reset in your life is to get rid of bad habits and replace them with good ones. We will be looking into that concept. Other times you simply need to erase the bad stuff and, by doing so, you create a nice clean space in your life that helps better define who you desire to be moving forward
I don’t even know if I would agree with everything written in May’s book, but I love some of the chapter titles:
Limiting Information Engages the Imagination
Break is the Most Important Part of Breakthrough
Doing Something Isn’t Always Better than Doing Nothing
Main Text
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Prayer
Big Idea: Live your best life by living a focused life, gradually growing in God’s image, living honorably by developing a lifestyle patterned after God’s Word.
Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.
In this passage Paul teaches Timothy the importance of being shaped by the Gospel. In context here, Paul challenges Timothy (the new Pastor) to speak the truth to the church. They were falling prey to bad teaching and practices and needed help to focus on the truth
He also challenges Timothy, by his teaching and lifestyle, to set an example to help the church persevere in the context of all this false teaching among them.
Paul described the focused life by calling out bad practices and beliefs (godless ideas, silly religious stuff)
He said, in essence, “get rid of all that worthless stuff in your life and put your energy into developing a focused life...” — “train yourself to be godly”
Physical exercise is great…but spiritual exercise is leaps and bonds more important.
Transitional: Today I want to ask a few questions — I have a mic for you to come up and bring your thoughts about how to live a focused life ...
...live honorably by developing a lifestyle patterned after God’s Word
Question 1: How can we prepare ourselves to recognize bad teaching and religious subject matter that is not only dangerous, but a silly waste of time?
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
“All Scripture” refers to both Old and New Testaments — To make it even more clear… “All Scripture refers to ONLY the Old and New Testaments (the Canon of Scripture)
“God-Breathed” theopneustos
Stresses the divine origin and thus the authority of Scripture — it is inspired, inerrant…God-breathed
Some of Paul and Timothy’s opponents only stressed certain parts of scripture (geneologies, 1 Tim 1:4; Titus 3:9. But Paul reminded Timothy of the authoritativeness of all of Scripture.
The reason for the authority of Scripture is because it is inspired by God…it comes from God
Silly and dangerous teaching develops when people twist scriptures to fit their own agenda or personal opinions
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Sticking with God’s Word Brings the Best Kind of Prosperity
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Not only reading God’s Word but meditating on it brings great prosperity
…meditating…active pondering, actively pursuing insight
…preparing to face every situation in life, with the goal of pleasing God by knowing and following His Word
Question 2: What things can we do to help us stay focused on our relationship with God and how we live for Him in this life?
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Love, characterized by joy, is a basic mark of being a Christian
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit begins with Love and Joy (Gal 5:22)
“Pray without ceasing” — a mindset and attitude of prayer-fullness and continued fellowship with God
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Prayer was a pillar of Jewish piety. Public prayer, said aloud in the morning, afternoon, and evening, was common. At the set time of prayer, pious Jews would stop what they were doing and pray, some discreetly, but others with pretentious display. Jesus did not condemn all public prayer, as indicated by his own prayers in public (e.g., Matt. 6:14:19; 15:36). One’s internal motivation is the central concern. shut the door. Though public prayer has value, prayer completely away from public view allows a person (or group) to focus more exclusively on God. — Crossway.org
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Various kinds of fasts were commonly practiced in Old Testament times, though the law required only one fast a year, on the Day of Atonement (though fasting is probably implied by the command to “afflict yourselves”; Lev. 16:29–34; Lev. 23:26–32). In addition to abstaining from food, people were to humble themselves by praying, mourning, and wearing sackcloth. As with giving (Matt. 6:2–4) and praying (Matt. 6:5–15), fasting is to be a matter of the heart between the Christian and God. when you fast. Jesus assumes that his disciples will fast. “Disfigure” indicates leaving one’s face unwashed and sprinkled with ashes, with the intention of publicizing the physical hardships of fasting. their reward. Anointing and washing (Matt. 6:17) signify preparations to enjoy life (cf. Eccles. 9:7–8). — Crossway.org
Conclusion
...live honorably by developing a lifestyle patterned after God’s Word
Over the next few weeks “Do it for a Day: How to Make or Break Any Habit in 30 Days” by Mark Batterson
What do you need to subtract today?
What do you need to change in order to live a focused life?
What priorities should be most important moving forward?