1 Timothy 4:13-16
Godly Exercise
Part 3
We
are currently studying thru the book of 1st Timothy here on Sunday
mornings
A) We have camped out here
in the 4th chapter to discuss Exercising
ourselves toward Godliness
B) In this section that we
have just read Paul is giving Pastor Timothy instruction on how to be a good Minister of Jesus Christ
C) The Principles that Paul
lays out for Timothy as a Pastor are useful for any of us who desire to be used
by the Lord & live a godly life.
1)
Now we have defined Godliness in the truest sense as being Christ like
Paul
lays out NINE principles for Godly living & we have looked at 5 of them in
Previous 2 studies
1) V.6-7 Proper
Diet
2) V. 8-9
Focused Priorities Bodily exercise profits a
little but godliness is profitable for all things.
3) V.10 Keep
your eye on the Prize. { Key to enduring the hard
times suffering low points
4) Over come your insecurities v. 12a
5) V.12 Be an example to be believers in word & in deed.
Today we are
going to pick up with #6 -
#6
Dont neglect the Basics v.13
13
Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
A) When Working out certain
things that never Change for maximum results.
B) Good
diet { You have to eat right !
1) Good
technique{ Doing the right exercise the right way
C) You can do the right
exercise the wrong way and do more damage than good.
D) Good balance { # Reps in your
weight training and your cardio has to be balanced
1) Those are 3 Basic
Principles for bodily exercise
E) You Cant get away from
those things achieve your goals
Well
Here Paul lays out 3 basics for the Christian life
READING
/ EXHORTATION/ DOCTRINE
A) Paul is writing to
Timothy as a Pastor Key principles for any Pastoral ministry { Any Church
B) Read
the Word:
1) Teach
the word = Doctrine speaks of
2) Encourage
using the word = Exhortation
C)
All effective ministry is going to revolve around the word of God
1) I dont have anything
worthwhile to say that is apart from this book
D) When you come here on
Sundays or Wed. We are not trying to entertain
1) Not trying to impress you
intellectually
2) Not trying to touch you
on an emotionally level
E) My
goal is to feed you the word of God !
1)
Teach the Scriptures & encourage you thru the Word
That
is the goal and if those other things happen in relationship to the goal
sometimes { Fine
A) But the goal is Reading/ Exhortation/ Doctrine
B) Those are the Basic that
we cant get away from.
C) What is good
for a Pastor and for a Church is good for us personally. Exercise yourself
toward
..
1) Daily diet of reading the word
D) Speak
the word Use it to encourage others
1) Gods word is the only
truth There is not a situation to which it does not speak!
E) Teach
the Word: Best way to grow is to teach others
1) Take what you are
learning and Pass it on.
Mike S. 3rd Service Sunday School
#7
Dont neglect your gifts. V.14
A) Paul referred to Tims
gift in Ch.1:18 and will make this same exhortation in 2 Timothy 1:6-7
I remind you to
stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7 For
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind.
B) It would seem that
because of Timothys insecurity about being a young Pastor
1) He was reluctant to use
the gifts that God had given him for Ministry.
C)So Paul had to exhort him
2 times: Use your gifts !
Do
you realize that You have God ordained Gifts and talents ?
A) And if the goal of godliness is being like Christ
then that means we are going to be servants
B) And in order to serve
effectively we need to use our gifts!
C) My
16yr Son is Gifted with Kids{ They love him
1) Encouraged him teach
Sunday School He does that { Iggy the Iguana Puppet Show
D) Gifted
with Computers Designed the JR. High Web site { Blessed to see him
using his gifts serve JC
You
have gifts Spiritual Natural
You
have talents
A) How are you using those
for the Kingdom
B) That is the Primary
reason that God has given those things to you { The
Kingdom
C) In the Body of Christ
Different members one body Different gifts
1) So great because it adds
diversity and color to the body of Christ
D) I watch my Son with Kids
and I am amazed
1) I dont have that gift.
E) Watch Evan play music Jealous I want that gift
I
am so grateful for the Diversity in the body of Christ Different giftings
leads to different focus
A) Different giftings means
more needs are going to be met. More people impacted
B) My Friend Allen Rigg
Austin Texas Lots of Artsy People
1) One day one had an idea
Allen is going to start a new Book Give it a theme Build a set to match it.
C) So Like you women do for
Retreats Theme decorate the Stage
to match theme
1) They do that for every
new series or Book
D)
So when I was there last year Giant X { 10 commandments
1) Nehemiah Scaffolding
Construction site
E) Now I am not artistic at
all Look at that and think man that is a lot of work
1) I could never think that
up
F) But to those artistic
people in his Church it is their Joy helping in the communicating of the
word.
1)
They have also done the same thing throughout their Church- Childrens
ministry etc artistic
My
Point is this: What is your gift You have at least one How are you using
that for the Lord
A) Helene Music : Worship
Kids
B) Leroy: Football
C) Margy: Organization
#7 Dont Neglect your gift
Use it glory !
#8 Give a 100%
effort V.15
15
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress
may be evident to all
A) The Word Meditate means
to take pains with
B) It carries the idea of
thinking thru beforehand, planning, strategizing, or premeditating.
C) These
things refers to everything that Paul has been saying in this section
the first 7 Principles
1) Meditate
on these things Contemplate/ think about Pray in
D) Greatest problems in
American Christianity especially here in So. Cal so busy
1) We dont do this Hear a
message God speaks to us in Devos / We dont pray
it in
E) So eager to get off to
the next thing! Get on with our day our agenda
That
is why What Paul says to Timothy is so important for all of us. Meditate
on these things
A) When it comes to ministry
and walking in godliness there is some forethought involved in it
B) Time that is spent in
Prayer / time that is spent in contemplation
1) Time Praying thru Lord
what are you seeking to do in my life? What teaching me ?
C)
Lord how can I be more effective as your instrument
1) How can I use my gifts more effectively for
you?
Meditate on
these things AND GIVE YOURSELF ENTTIERLY TO THEM.
A) There is no room
whatsoever for ½ hearted ministry ½ hearted service / or ½ hearted following
of Christ
B) I
picture in my mind the Olympic athlete:
1) There is a commitment / a
Devotion / an Intensity that is giving to their calling
C) We need that in the
Church today: A Holy Passion to pursue God
1) A diligence to draw near
to God/ to serve God / to Know Him more and make Him Known
Now
it is obvious that there is not a person here who can put in the time and
devotion that an Olympic Athlete does to his Sport
A) That is there life that
is almost all that they do
B) We have Jobs to go to /
families to run / ministries to take part in
C) My point is this When
it comes to the time that we give to exercising ourselves toward godliness
Give it your all
Football
game { Leave it all on the field
Basketball
All on the Court
A) No reserve That should
be our heart when it comes to seeking God, serving God
B) Lord I have 15 minutes You have my full and undivided attention
C) Seek God with Passion and
Discipline
1) Serving God Give him
your best effort
2) Worshipping God Do it
with a whole heart
C) Lord I am teaching SS this week Give it my all.
I
am Teaching JR/SR Bible this year at School
A)First assignment
Inductive Bible Study for Phil 1
B) Many in the class did the
Bear minimum I Challenged them on it Dig Deeper
C) CCS Our Goal Students
growing the way Jesus did Luke 2:52
And Jesus
increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
D) Grew Wisdom academically
Grew Stature Physically
Grew in favor with man Socially
Grew in favor with God Spiritually
B)
Now in order for that to happen Encouraging the students in the 1st
commandment
Mark 12:30-
you shall love
the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and
with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
C) Love God with all my
Heart and Mind Give Him my best when it comes to my academics
1) Nothing ½ hearted
D) Jesus said to Peter Give Caesar the things that are Ceases to God the things
that are Gods
E) The time you spend
seeking the Lord Give Him your Best Full Heart Full attention
1) Awesome Rewards
Now
notice Paul says Meditate on these things and give yourself entirely to them-
that your Progress may be evident to all.
A) This is something that we
dont always think about in terms of our Christianity
B) God is looking for and
expecting progress- He is looking for
and expecting Growth
C) That
growth and progress should be evident to those who are around you.
In other
words they should be able to see that there is fruit in your life ! Growth
A) They look at you after a
year and they can see areas where you have grown
B) They can see areas where
you appear to be more like Christ.
C) Someone my say: But they
cant see my heart
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your
heart with all diligence,
For out of it
spring the issues of life.
D) The issues of life How
you live and conduct yourself is reveals where your heart is at
1) Out of the abundance of
the mouth the heart speaks
So
it is not necessarily true that no one can see your heart
A) The Bible says your heart
is on display everyday it is revealed in how you live and how you talk
B) Seen in the things that
are your priorities
C) The Lord says: I want to
see and I want others to see your progress
D) So meditate on these
things and give yourself entirely to them.
Finally #9 Pay
attention to details.V.16
Take
heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you
will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Now the Word
Salvation that Paul uses here is not talking about redemption
A) Timothy was already saved
and so were most of his hearers
B) The Word Salvation used
here is speaking about fulfillment growth, maturity & deliverance from evil
C) The Phrase Take Heed =
Pay close attention to.
In
most gyms there are mirrors all over the place
A) They are not there so
that people working out can constantly check out themselves or see their
muscles growing
B) No those mirrors are
there to help you make sure that you are doing exercises the right way
C) Not arching your back
when should be straight
1) Full
extension on reps
D) Well Spiritually there is a place for self evaluation
Timothy,
and every spiritual leader , must examine constantly the two great areas of
concern:
A)
ones life
and ones doctrine;
failing to do this would mean peril for both Timothy himself, and those in his
congregation.
B) Without giving heed to
his life, Timothy might suffer shipwreck (as
in 1 Timothy 1:19).
C) Without giving heed to
his doctrine, Timothy might lead others
astray, or leave them short of Gods salvation.
The
Last principle in Exercising ourselves toward Godliness Pay attention to
details
A) Bible encourages us to
not be self focused or consumed except in this area
B) How we live and what we
believe
1) Make sure it is right and
true !
C) Dont assume Ok!