SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
(I Tim. 4:7c – 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
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly (I Tim 4:7). “Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit for both today and forever” (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.
A. We know salvation is by grace, it all starts with God.
B. There is a “Second Work of Grace” after salvation.
1. Paul’s second work of grace: Read Romans 7:14-23 and then Romans 7:24-25 with Gal. 2:20.
2. Bible churches would probably define the “Second Work of Grace” as follows: INITIAL AND CONTINUAL INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. There must be a filling of the Spirit by faith, a filling subsequent to salvation. In faith we pray and accept that the Spirit fills our life, even if there is no inward assurance. Now we move forward be continually filled and also being filled with the Spirit to grow into godliness.
3. Story of electricity in rural Missouri (Dallas Willard, page 30-31).
C. 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).
“Truth is not in the middle, and not in one extreme, but in both extremes.” (Charles Simeon in Searching for the Invisible God, pg. 93)
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?
Bible study, meditation, memorization, prayer, fasting, solitude, silence, service, worship, confession, church attendance (Bible study, small group, adult community etc), giving, journaling, devotions, practicing the presence of God.
QUESTION: What spiritual disciplines should we prioritize?
QUESTION: Of the spiritual disciplines listed, which do you feel are the most valuable in helping a person move towards godliness?
QUESTION: If we had to list them in order of importance, value what would the list look like?
I. BIBLE READING (INTAKE)
Maybe better called “Bible Intake” because one can read and walk away empty.
Scripture must play a unique and fundamental role in the development of godliness in our lives:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (I Tim. 3:16-17).
“Scripture is the most godly book that has ever been written. It is a book by God about God. It might even be termed the autobiography of God, since in it he talks to us about himself. Consequently, we cannot become familiar with this godly book without becoming godly ourselves” (John Stott, pg. 117).
Of course the great challenge is not just knowing the Word but obeying it.
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them (John 14:21).
Paul basically said the same to Timothy in I Tim. 4:6 “…one who is fed by the message of the faith and the true teachings you have followed.” In other words follow what you have been following all your life.
People who obey the Words of God are more blessed than Mary, the mother of Jesus:
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:27-28).
QUESTION: How do you move from Bible Reading to obedience, to inculcating and incarnating the Word of God in your life?
II. MEDITATION
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8).
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:2).
“Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (Ps. 119:97).
QUESTION: What keeps us from meditating on the Word of God?
David said, “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” (Ps. 63:6).
QUESTION: What do we think about when we can’t sleep?
III. MEMORIZATION
It seems like 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).
“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:8).
“The law of God is in his heart; his feet do not slip” (Ps. 37:31).
“Dr. William Evans had the complete Bible memorized in the King James Version and the new Testament also in the American Standard Version.” (Read quote from Henrietta Mears autobiography, pg 148).
One of the keys to “meditation” is “memorization.” If the Word is memorized it is much easier to meditate on it at all times. In fact, although it is not impossible, it is difficult to meditate on a verse or passage day and night if you have not first memorized it.
Actualization or incarnation of the Word into our lives is a long process. It forces the change of our worldview and this only happens after meditation / reflection. Meditation can he aided tremendously by memorization. Memorization and meditation are really ways of increasing the impact of Bible reading and maximizing “Bible Intake.”
IV. 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).
V. JOURNALING
VI. FELLOWSHIP
VII. PRAYER
VIII. WORSHIP
IX. GIVING
X. FASTING
XI. PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
SO WHAT???
1. The primary goal of every Christian is to glorify God. We can only do that as our lives reflect His glory. Our lives will only reflect His glory as we become “godly” people.
2. The quest for godliness starts with experiencing the saving grace of God in our lives. It continues by experiencing a second work of grace, which is a deep, real, vital realization of our identification with Christ in His death and resurrection life.
3. But we must make every effort to add to our faith, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, to train ourselves to be godly. In this quest we have several spiritual disciplines / exercises that, if used routinely will help us move in that direction.
4. One of the key spiritual disciplines is “Bible Intake.” This is facilitated by Bible Reading, Bible Memorization, Meditation at all times but especially during times of silence and solitude.