Managing Our Time for Spiritual Growth

 

2003016

Topic # 0612

A. 1 Peter 1:22-23 – Christians have been born again.

1.        As Christians, their spiritual diet was to change to where they feasted on the pure milk of the word.

2.        Why….so that we may grow.

B.     Spiritual progress is expected of the Christian.

1.      Eph. 4:14-15 – no longer tossed to & fro

2.      2 Thess. 1:3 – an enlarged faith

3.      But…how do we in following through on this?

a)       Think of spiritual life NOW compared to 6 mths ago; 1 year ago?  5 years ago?

b)       Stronger?  Weaker?  Either one or the other.

c)        Either moving closer to Jesus or moving away from Him.

C.    Why is it that we do not grow into maturity as quick as we should?

1.      Some do well & never look back.

2.      Others never seem to get off to a good start & always struggle.

3.      Curtis Flatt:  I am afraid many of us have not ventured far from the baptistery.

D.    Which parallels your spiritual life?  Luke 8:14 or 15?

1.      Ask:  Is my life so hectic that we no longer have time to grow spiritually?

a)       The pace of life must be of critical concern to the Christian.

b)       If we become too busy to spend time in activities God has designed for our spiritual growth – we are in spiritual jeopardy.

E.     Let’s get busy talking about how time mgmt is important for the Christian.

 

I.  Over Commitment.

A.  Stress.  Tremendous stress.

1.        A recent internet search revealed thousands of products on internet to help individuals to cope w/various forms of stress.

2.        We do spend much of our time under tremendous stress – why?

3.         Stress is when your heart says, “don’t do it, your priorities will suffer.” & your mouth says, “Why sure, I’d be happy to do it.” (Gary Henry)

4.        Even with good deeds – we can have so much output that there is not enough time for personal replenishment and spiritual growth.

B.        Why do we think we can go indefinitely w/o spending time alone w/God?

1.      We must make time for spiritual maintenance.

2.      Don’t?  It is RISKY!  It is FOOLISH!

3.      We cannot increase productivity by diminishing maintenance time.

C.        We distracted by worry about many things.

1.      Lk. 10:38-42

2.      What is really important?

a)      Yes…we know…but is it revealed in our actions?

b)      Are we choosing the part that shall not be taken away?

c)       What WILL matter 100 years from now?

3.      We can get busy here and there with life & then wonder why spiritual lives are weak.

4.      How many of us are running on empty spiritually?

5.      How many of us are spiritual accidents waiting to happen?

D.        Gary Henry:  burnout may be a danger for some…but many of us may be more likely to fizzle out.

 

II. Look at the perfect example.

A.     Mk. 3:20 – none of us come close to be as pressed for time as Jesus was. – Mk. 6:30-32

B.     But…Jesus made necessary arrangements for time alone w/His Father.

1.      Mt. 14:13-14; 22-25

2.      Mk. 1:35

3.      Lk. 6:12

4.      He made this a habit – Lk. 5:16

C.     Some have speculated that Jesus had used Garden of Gethsemane before.

1.      Owned by Lazarus?

2.      Others:  was the possession of the rich young ruler who came to Christ after the story in Mt. 22.  Pure conjecture.

D.     John 18:2 – Judas knew right where to go.

1.      One CAN take time to commune w/God.

2.      We will do what is important to us!

 

III. We are in need of better time management.

A.     Talk often of being good stewards of money.

1.      But…must also be good stewards of TIME!

B.     Must guard against being miserly with our time for spiritual things!

1.      Why?

2.      It is the MOST important thing we can do!

C.    Why “miserly” in this & yet willing to squander time on so many things unimportant?

1.      We can be down right prodigal in this regard.

2.      Prodigal:  “recklessly wasteful; extravagant”

3.      Lk. 15:11-13 – prodigal son WASTED what he had been given.

D.    We must reallocate our resources in the use of our time.

IV. This requires discipline.

A.     Spiritual growth is IMPORTANT!

1.      What are we “feasting upon?”  1 Pet. 2:2

2.      Mt. 4:4 – LIFE is connected w/the word!

3.      Must give diligence to this – 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim. 4:13, 15-16

B.     This means we must turn off the TV.  Put down the NEWSPAPER.

1.      There is NO spiritual growth in these!

2.      This is the #1 culprit robbing us of spiritual vitality!

C.    Take time to be holy.

1.      SPEAK oft w/thy Lord.

2.       FEED on His word.

3.      SPEND much TIME in secret w/Jesus ALONE

4.      Be CALM in thy soul.

D.    We CAN build some “quiet spaces” somewhere in there among many other activities.

E.     Are we following through when it comes to the following passages?

1.      1 Cor. 15:58

2.      Js. 1:27

3.      Phil. 2:14-15

4.      WE ARE to ABOUND in it!

 

Conclusion:

A.     Are we giving ourselves ENTIRELY to spiritual matters?  Lk. 8:14-15

B.     Significant time for spiritual growth must be more than a resolution we keep for a few days & then fall back into our old ways.

C.    WE need to ask for God’s help…

D.    Are you a Christian?

E.     I N V I T A T I O N