When I was a teen and young adult I became close friends
with our pastor’s wife (Meta). She
tutored me through high school science and taught me much of what I know about
being a woman of God. She lived her walk
daily no matter the situation and she still does. I spent hundreds of houses in her home and
watched as she spent time in the Word, prayer, worship (at home and church), and
in service for the Lord. She took my
under her wing and lived life with me tagging along.
I always wanted (envied) what I saw in her. I wanted her close relationship with the
Savior. I wanted her unquenchable
appetite for the Word and Bible study. I
longed to have a prayer time that resembled hers. I hungered for the Bible knowledge she
had. I often prayed and asked God to
“give” me what she had.
Over the past twenty-five years or so, I have learned that
God doesn't “give” us what Meta had; it takes discipline and work to grow in
our relationship with Christ. It takes Spiritual
Disciplines worked out in our lives over years to have the kind of relationship
I have longed for since I was a teen.
The purpose of Spiritual Disciplines in our lives (adapted
from Authentic Discipleship)
1.
Development and Deepening Our Relationship with
God.
a.
We need relational intimacy with God. This doesn't happen by accident. Too often Christians think that our
relationship with God will just happen. Just
as in a marriage relationship, intimacy takes time and intentional work.
b.
To know, love, and serve God should be our
focus.
2.
Attaining and Maintaining Spiritual Health.
a.
To be physically healthy we must eat right,
exercise, get adequate sleep and relaxation.
This doesn't happen on its own it takes discipline.
b.
To be spiritually healthy takes discipline as
well.
3.
Nurturing and Cultivating Spiritual Maturity.
a.
To grow in spiritual maturity we must move from
the natural into the supernatural.
b.
It also requires us to seek God’s will and
follow his lead as he directs our steps.
c.
Spiritual disciplines keep us on the road to
maturing in Christ.
d.
The goal of spiritual maturity is to become more
like our Savior. To learn to put self
aside and serve His Kingdom and cause in submission.
e.
All believers are called to spiritual
maturity.
Spiritual Disciplines take commitment and dedication. They require us to participate in specific
activities on a regular basis. If I want
to build my leg muscles I can’t just jog once and call it good. I need to jog on a consistent and regular
basis to build the muscles. The same holds true in our spiritual lives.
Dallas Willard gives us two lists of Spiritual Disciplines
(Disciplines of Abstinence and Disciplines of Engagement) he feels are vital
for the growth and development of our Christian life and faith. It is the Disciplines of Engagement I want us
to focus on today and tomorrow.
1. Study: Memorize Scripture and expand your
universe of biblical study helps.
a.
2 Timothy 2:15 “Work hard so you can present
yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not
need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”
b.
Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs
of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way
you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and
pleasing and perfect.” We learn to know
God’s will and change our thinking by being students of the Word.
c.
John 8:32”And you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.” God’s Word is the Truth!!!
d.
Knowing God’s Word sets us on the path to
freedom!
2. Worship: Engage in corporate worship and
include worship in your own prayer time.
a.
Matthew 4:10 “You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.”
b.
John 4:23-24 “But the time is coming—indeed it’s
here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him
must worship in spirit and in truth.”
c.
Worship: proclaiming in our spirit in agreement
with the Spirit the loving greatness of God and holding Him in awe and wonder.
3. Celebration: Practice being grateful and
thankful both in your own relationship with Christ and with other believers.
Express encouragement and thankfulness to others.
a.
Philippians 4:4 “Always be full of joy in the
Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
b.
Celebration: Choosing to look for the goodness
of God, to respond to it and proclaim it to others.
c.
Joy and celebrations flow through me to others
as I acknowledge God’s goodness, grace, and mercy to/for me.
4. Service: Give your time to the church and/or
to others. Ponder tithing your time.
a.
1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift
from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
b.
John 13:13-17 “ You call me ‘Teacher’ and
‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have
given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth,
slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important
than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will
bless you for doing them.”
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