Spiritual Exercise

Introduction

Two weeks ago, we began a series looking at the “Faithful Sayings”.

There are 5 faithful sayings found in the Pastoral Epistles—1 and 2 Timothy and Titus

The phrase “faithful or trustworthy saying” a formula that Paul used only when writing to Timothy and Titus.

These are similar to Jesus saying, “Truly, truly I say to you.”

These sayings were probably memorized in the early church as Paul, Timothy, and Titus spread the gospel throughout Asia and Europe.

The First “Saying” found in 1 Timothy 1:15 said that Jesus came to save the sinners.

It spoke of the preexistence of Christ,

Of His coming into the world,

And the purpose why He came Is distinctly stated—to save the lost, irrespective of race or nationality, sinners who, apart from Christ, are without God and without hope.

The Second “Saying” is found in Chapter 3 of 1 Timothy.

It refers to the work of being a church leading minister of the gospel.

I am skipping this one since it pertains to a certain office within the church - an overseer or pastor.

This was at the time a work so full of danger and always full of difficulty.

The office in question is honorable and Christlike, and, in those early days, it meant stern and ceaseless work, grave and constant danger.

This faithful saying would act as a call to young person to offer themselves for the work of proclaiming the gospel to the world, and of witnessing for Christ.

Leading up to our text today, Paul is warning Timothy and the Ephesian church that false teacher are always around.

As believers, we must be prepared to discern what is truth and what is not.

These demonic lies and teaching can cause us to get caught up in chasing rabbits.

Learning Scripture and understanding spiritual principles to give better answers to others provides more benefit than mentally cataloging issues and viewpoints.

This is demonstrated by cults who use Scripture out of context to prove their point.

Note, for example, how Satan tried to use Scripture in his tempting of Jesus.

Jesus answered Satan’s misuse of Scripture with properly applied Scripture.

We must not be ignorant of what others are teaching, but we must emphasize a thorough grasp of biblical truth and a central commitment to Christ.

Knowing that, let’s begin reading in 1 Timothy 1:7-10

1 Timothy 1:7–10 CSB

7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. 9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching

Train Yourself in Godliness

Have you got a membership to a gym or had one?

What do you do in a gym?

You train right.

You ride the stationary bikes, walk the elliptical, climb the StairMaster, or lift weights.

Why? So you body will be in good shape.

Paul uses the term “train” that has its root in the same word we get our word gymnasium from.

As you discipline yourself in the gym to keep the body healthy and fit

Paul suggest we need to do the same with our spiritual life.

This way we can avoid the false teaching sickness.

Paul is wanting Timothy to train in his godliness and so be a model for the church to follow.

Paul often borrows the athletic words to emphasize the need for spiritual training.

This type of spiritual development just doesn’t happen by chance.

If watch the elite athletes they are focused and committed, constantly training, refusing to let up, always striving.

A believers we must have that same focus and commitment and not get sidetracked by wrong teaching.

Godliness means correct behavior and genuine Christian faith.

This starts in the heart, but must move out into all aspects of our lives.

It takes self-control, continual work, and commitment day by day as we seek to please God.

Just like training our bodies for physical feats, we can approach our spiritual life training in godliness.

Maybe we should start a “Faith Gym” and I’ll be the personal trainer.

In fact, our church can help you in your training, it’s called Bible studies, prayer, etc.

Too often today, Christians resist training by calling spiritual disciplines legalism or extremism.

That leaves ill-informed, spiritually malnourished and unprepared believers to face the lies from our enemy.

Using Paul’s imagery, Christians want to be on Christ’s Olympic team, but they don’t want to live as athletes in training.

The Benefits of Training

Now look at verse 8.

Training the body has limited benefit.

What? Do you mean that all that time at the gym is wasted?

No, that’s not what is meant here, but the extreme training.

In context, it seems that some were teaching that to live the true spiritual life, one needed to refrain from marriage, eating certain foods, and living a life focused on the physical deprivation to get close to God.

Paul counters this false teaching by telling Timothy that marriage and food are a gift from God.

He is renouncing extreme forms of bodily discipline, but he admitted that there is profit in seeking to control the body.

Whether its living a life of asceticism or athletic training, Paul is showing us that focusing only on the physical body has limited benefits for the present.

But it carries nothing forward into eternity.

Physical training is of some value, but godliness is valuable for all things - now and future.

Some people will spend ten to fifteen hours a week in physical activity, but spend little time in Bible study, prayer, and service.

In the verses later in the chapter, Paul shares practical ways for Timothy and the church to live out the godliness he says is beneficial.

Bodily exercise reaps benefits only for the present life.

The Pursuit of godliness reaps benefits for the present life but also for the life to come.

So type of training am I talking about here

Spiritual exercise requires discipline, daily effort, and ongoing commitment.

As an athlete performs daily exercises to strengthen muscles for better performance, so “spiritual athletes” must regularly train their “spiritual muscles.”

Here are some general disciplines that ought to be part of every Christian’s life:

Reading God’s Word

Applying God’s Word

Attending public worship

Praying

Giving time, money, and abilities to God’s service

The Trustworthy Saying

Rather abruptly, there occurs at this point of the discourse the expanded version of the faithful saying formula: “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance” (1:15).

Paul intends the formula as an authentication of the apostolic authority of his teaching, and the expansion emphasizes the need to respond by embracing the teaching.

But to what does it refer?

Some connect the formula to v. 10, but this seems unlikely.

Verse 10 more the feel of a “personal statement” than a “doctrinal statement.”

So, the formula best reflects on the teaching just given in v. 8.

This being a faithful saying underlines both the need to pursue godliness and Paul’s authority as an apostle.

That means we should embrace the Christian disciplines like we do with the physical disciplines.

Why Should We Exercise Spiritual Discipline?

In verse 10 we find the reason for this trustworthy statement.

All our labor and striving shows that godliness useful in all things.

Notice the word labor suggests a strenuous toil that saps our energy,

Strive pictures the athlete putting the last ounce of energy into his effort.

It’s a continual outpouring of energy to reach the goal.

Why go through all this labor and striving?

Because we have our hope in God.

Paul’s wording suggests a settled confidence in God.

The God that brings all His promises to fulfillment.

The God that provides for us now and in eternity.

Hope grows as we remember the promise of the resurrection.

Because Christ came back to life, so will all believers.

All Christians, including those living when Christ returns, will live with Christ forever.

Therefore, we need not despair about tragedy and death.

God will change defeat to victory.

The Race

We are in a race.

A race where there are distractions all around us, that pull at us to drag us our of the race.

With training, we can stay the course and to finish line.

This training includes resistance, difficulty, and hardship.

Toil and struggle in spiritual matters parallel the effort and agony experienced by the athlete in training and competition.

Few athletes enjoy the drudgery of training, the pains that accompany and follow exertion, or the loneliness of preparation that the cheering crowds seldom see.

But the thrill of competing, of doing one’s best, of winning the race, somehow make the rest endurable.

Again, Jesus is our example: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).

None of us deserve or earn the privilege of running the race (Hebrews 12:1); membership in Christ is a free gift.

Once on the team, though, we are challenged to train and run our race!

Let’s pray!