Spiritual Living

Spiritual Living

Introduction:

To misunderstand spirituality leads to frustration & misery. Spirituality is not just found in attending services; participating in worship; teaching bible class; or other externals. Prayer & meditation play a large role. How spiritual are you? Do you deeply desire an intimate, close, personal relationship w/God? Or…do you find yourself in a rut, not seeming to go anywhere spiritually? What can you do to remedy this situation?

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

A. Is your involvement in church mechanical? Are you in a spiritual rut?

B. Spiritual maintenance mode has always been a problem.

1. 1 Sam. 3:1 – look at the spiritual condition of Israel at this time.

2. 3:1 – the word of the Lord was rare – but not nonexistent.

C. We’re no different!

1. Great challenge – fighting spiritual habituation.

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

a) 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?

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. Which of the above fruits are most evident in your life? 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.

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

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

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

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

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; Phil. 1:21-24

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

Conclusion:

A. Do you need to make in the way you are pursuing your spiritual life?



Spiritual Living Introduction: To misunderstand spirituality leads to frustration & misery. Spirituality is not just found in attending services; participating in worship; teaching bible class; or other externals. Prayer & meditation play a large role. How spiritual are you? Do you deeply desire an intimate, close, personal relationship w/God? Or…do you find yourself in a rut, not seeming to go anywhere spiritually? What can you do to remedy this situation? I. Spiritual maintenance is not the ONLY goal we have. A. Is your involvement in church mechanical? Are you in a spiritual rut? B. Spiritual maintenance mode has always been a problem. 1. 1 Sam. 3:1 – look at the spiritual condition of Israel at this time. 2. 3:1 – the word of the Lord was rare – but not nonexistent. C. We’re no different! 1. Great challenge – fighting spiritual habituation. 2. We simply drift into acceptance of spiritual maintenance mode. a) 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? 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. Which of the above fruits are most evident in your life? 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. 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. His goal was to accomplish the will of the Father. 2. John 4:34; 5:19-20; 5:30; 6:38 B. He surrendered to God to the point that HIS LIFE revolved around the Father! 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) Every thought carries a “spiritual charge” that either moves us closer to or a little farther from God. 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; Phil. 1:21-24 1. What about you? Can you say Phil. 1:21 with confidence? Conclusion: A. Do you need to make in the way you are pursuing your spiritual life?