Spiritual Living

Spiritual Living

2005040

Topic # 0597

Introduction:

A. Started series by getting a true definition of spirituality.

1. To misunderstand spirituality leads to frustration & misery.

2. spirituality is not just found in:

a) Attending services; participating in worship.

b) Teaching Bible Class

c) Affirming correct beliefs.

d) Giving money & doing church work.

3. There must be more to it.

B. Prayer & meditation play a large role.

1. Prayer is food for the soul. Yet so many Christians neglect it.

2. Too many starve spiritually for lack of solitude & time to meditate on God’s word.

3. Need to slow down. S T O P. Give time back to God.

C. How spiritual are you? How real is all this to you?

1. Do you deeply desire an intimate, close, personal relationship w/God?

2. Or…do you find yourself in a rut, not seeming to go anywhere spiritually?

3. What can you do to remedy this situation?

I. Spiritual maintenance is not the ONLY goal we have.

A. Sports rivalry. Your team gets ahead – plays “not to lose,” “prevent defense,” “hold the lead.” They lose more often than not.

1. We place our spiritual lives in danger if we play only a “prevent defense” w/the devil.

2. Are you in a “prevent defense” now?

3. Is your involvement in church mechanical? In a spiritual rut?

4. When problems arise – are you more inclined to worry than pray?

B. Spiritual maintenance mode has always been a problem.

1. 1 Sam. 3:1 – describes the spiritual condition in the waning days of the judges.

2. Many of the challenges that made people aware of their dependence on God were behind them.

a) Safely in the Promised Land.

b) God’s law; tabernacle; a fresh remembrance of the significance of God’s deliverance from Israel are old news.

c) The exciting era of Moses/Joshua’s days was behind them.

3. 3:1 – the word of the Lord was rare – but not nonexistent.

a) Yes...the tabernacle was there, prayers were offered, sacrifices were made…

b) But this was hardly a time for spiritual adventure.

4. God was present – but the people were probably not thinking of Him as often as they once were.

C. We’re no different!

1. Great challenge – fighting spiritual habituation.

2. We simply drift into acceptance of spiritual maintenance mode.

a) Not involved in any major sin.

b) I’m doing OK

c) There is danger associated w/living spiritual life on auto pilot! Heb. 2:1-3a.

D. Rev. 2:1-7 – why did the Ephesian receive such a strong rebuke?

1. If they continued in the direction they were going – souls lost!

2. Same is true for us!

II. Spiritual living is to live as if Jesus were in your place.

A. Our goal is to present Christ in everyway in our life. To Let Him be seen in us!

B. Gal. 5:22-23 – a picture of a fruitful spiritual life.

1. Are these qualities present in your life?

2. <go over each quality>

3. After considering these passages & your life – which of the above fruits are most evident in your life?

4. Least evident?

C. Consider Col. 1:28 – our goal is to become complete in Christ.

1. 3:1-2 – full devotion to spiritual living is absolutely necessary.

2. Spiritual transformation is not a compartmentalized pursuit.

a) God is interested in the totality of your life – not just the “spiritual” part.

3. 3:10 – according to the image of Him…

a) 3:12-17 – what personal qualities does this involve?

D. Spiritual living is made possible by our conduct & right living.

III. Spiritual living is made possible by increasing our dependence on God.

A. Do you want to live each day w/a sense of the presence of God?

1. Look at Jesus. So dependent on God – that He looked to His father for everything.

2. His goal was to accomplish the will of the Father.

3. John 4:34; 5:19-20; 5:30; 6:38

4. Doing the will of God was His greatest delight!

B. He surrendered to God to the point that HIS LIFE revolved around the Father!

1. This is what gave Him the calm assurance to withstand the stormy seas; hostile crowds; and even a cross!

2. Nothing could deter Him from living for God!

3. So it must be for us!

C. Spiritual growth, in a sense, is simply increasing our capacity to experience the presence of God.

1. That means letting Him envelope the entirety of our lives.

a) In the ordinary moments. In how we think.

b) Every thought carries a “spiritual charge” that either moves us closer to or a little farther from God.

c) Yes...it gets down to that level.

2. To grow properly, we must break it down to this level. Too often we make it harder than it really is. Perspective!

3. That’s why spiritual transformation is very possible.

D. Because of Jesus’ dependence on God – He could speak with confidence at the end of His life – in having accomplished God’s will.

1. John 17:1-4.

2. same was true with Paul – 2 Tim. 4:6-8

3. It is our spiritual transformation that allows us to approach death without agonizing; paralyzing fear; dread; and uncertainty.

4. Phil. 1:21-24

E. Fearful that some of us are so attached to the world & the here and now that we do not share the same attitude as Paul.

1. What about you? Can you say Phil. 1:21 w/confidence?

2. What are you focused on in this life?

Conclusion:

A. Look at your spiritual life.

B. What changes do you need to make in the way you are pursuing your spiritual life?

1. What will it take for you to have success?

C. The goal of spiritual living is no more complicated than to know Jesus more intimately & live as if He were in my place.

D. This is the kind of life that will make a profound impact on those around us.

1. Spiritual living is the only life worth living.

2. It is the only life that brings us in contact w/the full meaning of joy, happiness, and contentment.

3. Does this describe your life?

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Spiritual Living 2005040 Topic # 0597 Introduction: A. Started series by getting a true definition of spirituality. 1. To misunderstand spirituality leads to frustration & misery. 2. spirituality is not just found in: a) Attending services; participating in worship. b) Teaching Bible Class c) Affirming correct beliefs. d) Giving money & doing church work. 3. There must be more to it. B. Prayer & meditation play a large role. 1. Prayer is food for the soul. Yet so many Christians neglect it. 2. Too many starve spiritually for lack of solitude & time to meditate on God’s word. 3. Need to slow down. S T O P. Give time back to God. C. How spiritual are you? How real is all this to you? 1. Do you deeply desire an intimate, close, personal relationship w/God? 2. Or…do you find yourself in a rut, not seeming to go anywhere spiritually? 3. What can you do to remedy this situation? I. Spiritual maintenance is not the ONLY goal we have. A. Sports rivalry. Your team gets ahead – plays “not to lose,” “prevent defense,” “hold the lead.” They lose more often than not. 1. We place our spiritual lives in danger if we play only a “prevent defense” w/the devil. 2. Are you in a “prevent defense” now? 3. Is your involvement in church mechanical? In a spiritual rut? 4. When problems arise – are you more inclined to worry than pray? B. Spiritual maintenance mode has always been a problem. 1. 1 Sam. 3:1 – describes the spiritual condition in the waning days of the judges. 2. Many of the challenges that made people aware of their dependence on God were behind them. a) Safely in the Promised Land. b) God’s law; tabernacle; a fresh remembrance of the significance of God’s deliverance from Israel are old news. c) The exciting era of Moses/Joshua’s days was behind them. 3. 3:1 – the word of the Lord was rare – but not nonexistent. a) Yes...the tabernacle was there, prayers were offered, sacrifices were made… b) But this was hardly a time for spiritual adventure. 4. God was present – but the people were probably not thinking of Him as often as they once were. C. We’re no different! 1. Great challenge – fighting spiritual habituation. 2. We simply drift into acceptance of spiritual maintenance mode. a) Not involved in any major sin. b) I’m doing OK c) There is danger associated w/living spiritual life on auto pilot! Heb. 2:1-3a. D. Rev. 2:1-7 – why did the Ephesian receive such a strong rebuke? 1. If they continued in the direction they were going – souls lost! 2. Same is true for us! II. Spiritual living is to live as if Jesus were in your place. A. Our goal is to present Christ in everyway in our life. To Let Him be seen in us! B. Gal. 5:22-23 – a picture of a fruitful spiritual life. 1. Are these qualities present in your life? 2. <go over each quality> 3. After considering these passages & your life – which of the above fruits are most evident in your life? 4. Least evident? C. Consider Col. 1:28 – our goal is to become complete in Christ. 1. 3:1-2 – full devotion to spiritual living is absolutely necessary. 2. Spiritual transformation is not a compartmentalized pursuit. a) God is interested in the totality of your life – not just the “spiritual” part. 3. 3:10 – according to the image of Him… a) 3:12-17 – what personal qualities does this involve? D. Spiritual living is made possible by our conduct & right living. III. Spiritual living is made possible by increasing our dependence on God. A. Do you want to live each day w/a sense of the presence of God? 1. Look at Jesus. So dependent on God – that He looked to His father for everything. 2. His goal was to accomplish the will of the Father. 3. John 4:34; 5:19-20; 5:30; 6:38 4. Doing the will of God was His greatest delight! B. He surrendered to God to the point that HIS LIFE revolved around the Father! 1. This is what gave Him the calm assurance to withstand the stormy seas; hostile crowds; and even a cross! 2. Nothing could deter Him from living for God! 3. So it must be for us! C. Spiritual growth, in a sense, is simply increasing our capacity to experience the presence of God. 1. That means letting Him envelope the entirety of our lives. a) In the ordinary moments. In how we think. b) Every thought carries a “spiritual charge” that either moves us closer to or a little farther from God. c) Yes...it gets down to that level. 2. To grow properly, we must break it down to this level. Too often we make it harder than it really is. Perspective! 3. That’s why spiritual transformation is very possible. D. Because of Jesus’ dependence on God – He could speak with confidence at the end of His life – in having accomplished God’s will. 1. John 17:1-4. 2. same was true with Paul – 2 Tim. 4:6-8 3. It is our spiritual transformation that allows us to approach death without agonizing; paralyzing fear; dread; and uncertainty. 4. Phil. 1:21-24 E. Fearful that some of us are so attached to the world & the here and now that we do not share the same attitude as Paul. 1. What about you? Can you say Phil. 1:21 w/confidence? 2. What are you focused on in this life? Conclusion: A. Look at your spiritual life. B. What changes do you need to make in the way you are pursuing your spiritual life? 1. What will it take for you to have success? C. The goal of spiritual living is no more complicated than to know Jesus more intimately & live as if He were in my place. D. This is the kind of life that will make a profound impact on those around us. 1. Spiritual living is the only life worth living. 2. It is the only life that brings us in contact w/the full meaning of joy, happiness, and contentment. 3. Does this describe your life? E. I N V I T A T I O N