THE FIVE FAITHFUL SAYINGS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

Series # 3

This faithful say to the apostle Paul is a call for spiritual discipline among all Christians. Spiritual discipline is the one area where we seem to be the weakest.

Most people seem to be very much interested in sports. As a good athlete voluntarily puts himself on a strict training program, we Christians must also put ourselves on a strict spiritual training program. We are very familiar with the rigors of physical training. Some laugh leaks go through a strenuous program of bodybuilding. During the last Olympics, many young people from our country spent years in training for that one event. Year of privation, working out day in and day out. That the last minute they were not able to participate in the games.

The apostle Paul uses this illustration about athletes quite often in the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 9:24 - 27 (KJV) ²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. ²⁵And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. ²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  ²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Paul, here, likens the Christian life to a race. Just as athletes strive to win and bend their whole nature for that one thing, so we need to strive in the Christian life. We have much more to gain. They do it for a reward that will soon fade away, while our reward is eternal and will never fade away or perish.

Today, diet and exercise has become big business. Hundreds of books are published each year on the subject. Many people were very much concerned about it and we are reminded of every sign of how important proper diet and exercise is. And how necessary proper physical fitness is to our well-being.

In my text, Paul reminds us that physical fitness profits only a little. It is important to be in the best physical fitness. I think about is the Lord for us to be careful with our bodies and to treat them with due respect. But, compared to our spiritual fitness, our bodies take second place. Our main concern, so says this man Paul, is to be in the best spiritual form that we can be. Now this is not just happened, nor does it happen overnight. There must be time spent on developing our spiritual muscles. How much time do you really spend in developing you were spiritual muscles?

I. The Purpose of Spiritual Discipline

There are some good sound reasons why we need to be concerned with personal spiritual discipline.

One purpose of spiritual discipline is that we might not be deceived by any of the false prophets that come along. And there have been many of them. It would take too much time to name court to begin to name some of the major ones. Every generation has had more than it share of false prophets, pretending to come in the name of God leading many people astray and far from God.

1 John 4:1 (KJV) 1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

This is a warning that we all need to pay particular attention.

Spiritual discipline develops within you a certain amount of discernment.

Ephesians 4:11 - 14 (KJV) 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

This will set up is designed to keep every Christian from being deceived by false prophets that will come along. You cannot stop the false prophets, but you can, in that sense, immune yourself from their effect. And that's exactly what Paul states here in Ephesians 4. There's just no reason for you to be deceived. Everything is in your favor if you are a Christian and if you are striving to be what God wants you to be through spiritual discipline.

But, that's not the only purpose for spiritual discipline. That's the negative side but there is a positive side as well. Let me explain the positive side for you.

Godliness is the great aim that every Christian should set before him as the one supreme purpose in life.

1 Timothy 4:7 (KJV) 7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 

Another version has this verse as: "... On the other hand, discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness." (NASB)

Above all that we attain unto in this life, let us attain at the godliness. If we fail here, we have failed altogether.

What is godliness?

The word itself means, "well directed reference as shown in conduct.” In other words, it means conduct that corresponds with our beliefs. It is our religion put into practical and helpful use. This of course is based upon the plain teachings of the Scriptures. Our beliefs must come from the Bible.

But there's a deeper and more basic meaning than this. Godliness is that conduct or attitude which springs directly from our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the reflection of his life to our life.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV) ²⁰I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This is what to godliness is, allowing cries to live his life through our life. This is spontaneous and cannot be worked out. It comes through spiritual discipline.

II. Basic Guidelines in Our Spiritual Discipline

How can this kind of godliness be attained by yes? What kind of spiritual discipline is necessary for us to live a godly life?

Let me again say that godliness, such as this, can only be attained through spiritual discipline. Without it, there is no hope for a daily, consistent walk with Christ.

This is not something that we can develop overnight. It's not anything that can be acquired by taking a course of "five easy lessons on godliness.” It is something that we must work out with all diligence.

Philippians 2:12 (KJV) ¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Paul emphasizes the fact that our daily Christian look must be a matter of serious diligence.

There are two basic ingredients and spiritual discipline or training.

A. Elimination...

By this, I mean the getting rid of some things in your life. Our lives today are so cluttered and mostly with mod essentials. You don't need have as much as you think that you do. Get rid of everything in your life that you really don't need and that serves no real purpose.

Get rid of everything in your life that would hinder your walk with God.

Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) ¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

Many things entangle us and cause us to fall. Get rid of them. A runner strips down to the essentials. You never see a runner all dressed in his finest suit. Coat and tie. Brand new shoes. Those things or niacin have their place, but not on the racetrack. We are to live our Christian lives as though we were on the racetrack. Stripped down to only the basics.

Also, get rid of everything in your life that would drawl you back into your past life of sin.

Ephesians 4:21 - 24 (KJV) ²¹If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  ²²That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  ²³And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  ²⁴And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Don't evaluate a man by what he can do, but rather, by what he can do without.

B. Concentration...

This is the positive side. We must concentrate on those things that will promote good sound spiritual health. This is setting before us those things that God has outlined in the Bible for us.

Philippians 3:13 - 14 (KJV) ¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

In order for us to concentrate, we must get our priorities squared away.

Is your life characterized by godliness? Do these two things, elimination and concentration we will be able to attain unto godliness.