SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES 2 – DEVOTIONS
(I Tim. 4:7d – Train Yourself to be Godly)
OVERVIEW OF I TIMOTHY 1:1 to 4:7
1:1-2 – Overview of Christian Faith based on His names and blessings.
1:3-4a False teaching in Ephesus and how humanistic philosophy effects us today.
1:4b-6 – Commanded to love. (Loving God, fellow Christians, the non-Christian world)
1:7-8 – The law’s deterrent, punitive and educative purposes
1:8-11 – “Whatever else …” The Gospel Ethic. (Law-Philia University)
1:11 – Our Relationship with “The Blessed God.” (Causing God pain or joy)
1:12-16 Why Paul considered himself the worst of sinners.
1:12-16 Conversion of the apostle Paul.
1:12-16 Paul’s call to ministry.
1:17 Paul’s doxology of praise for his conversion.
1:18-20 How to avoid shipwrecking our faith.
2:1-3 The Christian is to pray for all men.
2:4,6 Comparison of Calvinism & Armenianism.
2:5-6 The man, Christ Jesus, the only mediator.
2:1-7 The vision, the message, the means.
2:8-15 Treatment of women in the ancient world, the early church and the Bible.
2:8-15 Three key hermeneutic principles to follow when studying the Bible.
2:8 Praying Men with Peaceful Hearts
2:9-10 A First-Century Christian Woman’s Dress and Deeds
2:11-12 Does Submission Demand Silence?
2:13-15 Paul’s Logic for Requiring Women to Be Silent in The Ephesian House Churches.
3:1 Why Aspiring to Church Leadership Can Be a Good Thing.
3:2 Spiritual Gifting Required of an Ephesian Elder – Teaching
3:2 Spiritual Gifting Required of an Ephesian Elder – Hospitality
3:4-5 Spiritual Gifting Required of an Ephesian Elder –Leadership
3:2-7 Ethical Demands of the NT and the Ethics Tests for Elders
3:2-7 Ethical Qualities Required of an Ephesian Elder
3:8-13 The Ever Present Danger of Ethical Disconnect in a Christian’s Life
3:8-13 The Ministry of Deacons in the Early Church
3:9 Keeping Hold of the Deep Truths of the Faith
3:11 An Official Deaconesses in the NT Church?
3:14 Results That are Better Than Answered Prayer
3:15 God’s New Community – The Church of the Living God
3:15 God’s New Community – God’s Household
3:15 God’s New Community – The Pillar & Foundation of the Truth
3:16a Introduction to the Hymn in I Tim. 3:15 – The Mystery of Godliness
3:16a The Mystery of Godliness – A Life Focused on Christ
3:16b The Incarnation – He Appeared in a Body
4:1-2 How False Teaching Enters the Church
4:3-5 Common Grace
4:6 Word of God in Life of the Believer
4:7a Godliness – Divine / Human Role
4:7b Train Yourself to be Godly
4:7c Spiritual Disciplines (The Word of God)
4:7d Spiritual Disciplines (Devotions)
7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE GODLY. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (I Tim 4:7-9).
“Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit for both today and forever” (I Tim. 4:7 – The Message).
INTRODUCTION:
1. Abbreviated version of John Stott’s definition of “godliness”
A godly person has experienced a Christian conversion. Whereas his life was previously focused on himself it is now focused on Christ. Knowing, loving and pleasing God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit dominates and gives direction to His life. A godly person lives a truly God-centered life.
We know salvation is by grace, it all starts with God yet the Bible also speaks plainly about our personal responsibility to strive for godliness.
“TRAIN YOURSELF to be godly” (I Tim. 4:7) …“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him …. For this very reason MAKE EVERY EFFORT to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge … etc” (II Pt. 1:3,5).
QUESTION: How do we become a ‘godly’ person and cultivate a life that is focused on loving God, a life conformed to the image of Christ that is dedicated to do the work of God and glorifying Him?
Spiritual Disciplines help us train toward godliness, enable us to add to our faith the qualities of a godly person.
QUESTION: What are the “spiritual disciplines” of the Christian?
Devotions which should include: Bible study, meditation, memorization, confession, thanksgiving, prayer, worship. Also fasting, solitude & silence, journaling, giving, service, fellowship attendance, practicing the presence of God.
I. BIBLE READING (INTAKE)
Maybe better called “Bible Intake” because one can read and walk away empty.
QUESTION: How do you move from Bible Reading to obedience, to inculcating and incarnating the Word of God in your life?
II. MEDITATION
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:2).
QUESTION: What keeps us from meditating on the Word of God?
III. MEMORIZATION
The order needs to be: Reading, Memorization, Meditation, assimilation, incarnation (actualization). I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
IV. THANKSGIVING
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world (Romans 1:8).
17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted (Romans 6:17).
4I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus (I Corinthians 1:4).
20Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).
3I thank my God every time I remember you (Phil. 1:3).
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Phil. 4:6).
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col. 3:17).
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (I Thes. 5:18).
3We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing (II Thes. 1:3).
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—(I Tim. 2:1).
* Having a list of things to refer to is helpful. Be sure to be thankful for the spiritual blessings, your relationship with God (He is your Father, you His child), the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, the church etc.
* Try to think of new things to be thankful for every day.
“For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of heaven.”
V. CONFESSION
40 But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers-their treachery against me and their hostility toward me (Lev. 26:40).
6 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you (Neh. 1:6).
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD “- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:5).
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Psalms 66:18).
13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Prov. 28:13).
Leave your gift at the altar, go be reconciled to your brother (Sermon on the Mount / The Divine Conspiracy Pg 157)
VI PRAYER
Chapters in the NT to various churches: Corinthians 29, Romans 16 (432) and Ephesians 18 (426).
Verses re prayer from NT chapters related to the Ephesians
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—(I Tim. 2:1).
8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing (I Tim. 2:8).
5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer (I Tim. 4:5)
5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help (I Tim. 5:5).
3I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers (II Tim 1:3).
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Eph. 3:14-15).
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should (Eph. 6:18-20).
36When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed (Acts 20:36).
* What should we pray for if we want to pray according to the will of God? Start with prayer requests listed in the Scriptures.
* Don’t give up because prayer is unanswered. Several of the prayers of Jesus are unanswered still: God’s will be done on earth; unity among the church.
VI. WORSHIP
21Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24).
11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him (Mt. 2:11).
2A man with leprosy came and knelt before (worshipped) him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Mt. 8:2).
18While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him (worshipped him) and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live” (Matthew 9:18)
25The woman came and knelt before him (worshipped him). “Lord, help me!” she said (Mt. 15:25).
20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down (worshipping), asked a favor of him (Matt 20:20).
The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say (Revelation 4:10).
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped (Rev. 5:14).
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God (Rev. 7:11).
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God (Rev. 11:16).
At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10).
8I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” (Rev. 22:8-9)
QUESTION: What is similar between all of these verses?
QUESTION: What does falling down, kneeling signify?
QUESTION: Can a person truly worship without submitting to God’s rule?
QUESTION: If we are not submitting to God’s rule can it be said that we are worshipping Him?
* The bodily act of kneeling, bowing, falling down prostrate is helpful in worship.
* Meaning of “Worship” in the Greek:
Proskuneo = From the Greek word to kiss the hand, like a dog licking its master’s hand. (Pros – towards; Kuneo – to kiss). Among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.
Sebomai = To revere stressing the feeling of awe, devotion (Acts 16:14, 18:7,13; Mt. 15:9).
* Definition from “The Expository Dictionary of NT Words” by W.E. Vine, pg. 1247.
“The worship of God is nowhere defined in Scripture. It is not confined to praise; broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement (recognition, confession) to God, of HIS NATURE, ATTRIBUTES, WAYS AND CLAIMS, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in acknowledgement.”
QUESTION: What statements below acknowledge, confess or recognize God’s Nature? What refer to His attributes? To His ways? To His claims?
O worship the King, all glorious above,
And gratefully sing His pow’r and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old,
Hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.
Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, It shines in the light,
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.
O measureless Might! Ineffable Love!
While angels delight to hymn Thee above,
The humbler creation, Though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall lisp to Thy praise.
(R. Grant)
VII. SILENCE / SOLITUDE
I know little of what is meant by these “spiritual disciplines” so let’s think about them together.
QUESTION: What keeps us from silence and solitude.
TV, radio, people around us, activities, deadlines, pressure, worker, no alone time, no quiet time, no still times, hobbies, reading
It seems to me that meditation closely relates to silence and solitude and in fact meditation and reflection can’t take place apart from silence and solitude.
“In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent” (Ps. 4:4).
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps. 40:10).
“When Jesus heard what had happened (the murder of John the Baptist), he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place “Mt. 14:13).
“At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place” (Lk 4:42).
VIII. JOURNALING
IX. FELLOWSHIP
X. GIVING
XI. FASTING
XII. SERVICE
XIII. PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
SO WHAT???
1. We are commanded to “Train ourselves to be godly.” If we are to “train” then we need a “training program.” The spiritual disciplines are the “training exercises” provided by God to enable us to move forward towards becoming godly.
2. Our greatest goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ. That will not happen apart from our participation with the Holy Spirit. We participate with him when we regularly utilize the spiritual disciplines of the Christian.
3. Confess, prayer and thanksgiving need to be a part of the Christians daily life.
4. Only worship that flows from submission and recognizes and acknowledges God’s attributes, person, ways and claims can be classified as Biblical worship.