Spiritual Disciplines (7)

Moderation

Tonight, we are starting a new section in the Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual Disciplines for my walk in the world

This is our testimony. This is what others see. This is often what others gossip about.

An example of this might be a teenager who walks the walk for years around their non-Christian friends. Their friends are trying to get them to swear or to party, and finally this person falls into temptation, and then their “FRIENDS” turn on them and tell them that they are no different than they are.

Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1–4 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Moderation

Here’s one that might catch us where we can be very private. This is our own business, and not anybody else’s business.

Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

There are some obvious sins that we all might see: drunkeness, swearing, cheating, slandering, etc. Yet there might be some that we don’t consider sins that are just as wrong. One I can think of is over-eating.

You quite likely heard the statement, “Hate the sin, and love the sinner.” I remember reading where the author wrote, “But how much do I hate my own sin?”

You are the temple of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 3:5-17

1 Corinthians 3:5–17 NIV

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Here’s just a little background about me:

I grew up in a Christian home where my parents really loved Jesus. In many ways, it might have been a strict home. We started out going to an Evangelical Church and later to a Pentecostal church. I wasn’t very old but I do remember some of the women having long hair and wearing dresses to church.

I was too young to know if there was much controversy, but it did seem like a big deal when women started wearing “slacks.” Women weren’t supposed to wear men’s clothing. The men generally wore suits to church.

I don’t think that there were too many men wearing GWG’s, Lee’s, or Levi’s in Jesus’ day.

Mom came from an alcoholic home and Dad had a brother or two that had drinking problems.

In our home, we didn’t drink, dance, smoke, chew, swear, sass, lie, etc. That was holiness. Yet, you could eat until your heart’s content. I don’t think that there was much gluttony, but at special occasions like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Church Potlucks, I remember having a sore stomach from eating too much. BUT in my mind, it wasn’t a sin.

Probably from 8 or 9, I was always a little stocky. When I graduated from High School, I weighed about 195#. I look back and think, I wish that I was that fat today.

In Bible School, bad habits were developed. Most of us skipped breakfast, and then we had buffets for lunch and supper. Later in the evening, we often would go to McDonald’s or some other restaurant. When I lived out of Dorm, my friend that I shared the apartment with had access to all the pop that he wanted. You know the rest of the story.

I put on 45# over the course of 4 years of College. Friends, sometimes it’s hard to say it, but we need to hold each other accountable as Christians. There’s times that we need to exhort and there are times that we just need to encourage.

Our Testimony

I took my outline from Brandon Cox. This is what he said about moderation.

“I use the word moderation to refer to a broad sense of self-control for our testimony’s sake. We can’t just eat, spend, drink, or party all we want to. There are limits. There is moderation.”

Another word that we might use for testimony is Witness.

The devil wants to destroy our testimony or our ability to witness.

John 10:10

John 10:10 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We are letters read by everybody

2 Corinthians 3:2-3

2 Corinthians 3:2–3 NLT

The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

People see how we live. They see that Christ is working in us. When we over indulge, it may not keep us out of heaven, but it can ruin our testimony.

If we overeat or spend carelessly, or even go to parties and drink, what message of Jesus are we sending out to the world?

Many people will say, “I believe in God! I believe that Jesus died on the cross.”

Faith without action...

James 2:8-19

James 2:8–19 NIV

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

We may be the only Bible somebody reads. Let’s be aware of the message we are sending.

Salt & Light

Jesus called us Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13–16 NLT

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Because the Holy Spirit lives in you and me, we have been empowered to be salt and light.

My prayer is that people would see the good that we do and give glory to God.

Romans 2:4

Romans 2:4 NLT

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

God uses us to show kindness to others so that people will be drawn to the Lord. We are His representatives. We are His hands and His feet to bring Christ to our families, our communities, and ultimately our world.