Practical Tips for Godliness Training

Sunday, December 16th> 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27; Hebrews 12: 1-17

What PRACTICAL advice would you give to believers on how to CONSISTENTLY participate in godliness training (Scripture reading, prayer ,fasting, Bible study, worship, evangelism, etc.)?  In a Bible study session at Abundant Life Ministries, some of the students were asked this question, and here were a few of the answers they gave.  

1.  Fit your schedule around GOD, not the other way around.  There will never be convenient times to train -- so take advantage of "God-moments", and be faithful no matter how uncomfortable it gets.

2.  Set your gaze on the LONG HAUL, not just on right now.  This race is not for the ones who jump out and start running without pacing themselves.  Realize that this race is for eternity, and everyday choices are a reflection of that attitude.

3.  Practice healthy habits that set us up for success in our quest for godliness.  Pray as often as you can -- not out of obligation, but from the mindset that it is our LIFELINE to God Himself.  Incorporate worship and praise into this time, so that there is always an anticipation of what God is going to do.

4.  Read God's Word.  Do not make substitutions for this time, but prioritize and set aside time to hear from the God of the Word.  It's the time to receive instructions for life.  Who knows what He wants to prepare you for?

5.  Have a MADE-UP MIND to keep training-- not as an afterthought, but without giving it a second thought.  There are some things that are non-negotiable, and godliness training is the first on that list.

In this passage, God has given us even more "tips" for godliness training:

6.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, our perfect Example of how to run and not grow weary.  He's finished the course already, being completely man even while completely God.  We must study His life and emulate that.  He removed all excuses that the Christian life is impossible to live SUCCESSFULLY.

7.  Receive God's discipline with gratitude, realizing that He chastens those whom He loves.  God will require us to go without certain things and people so that we can learn the essential lesson that we must NEVER value anything or anyone above Him.

8.  Surrender to God's methods of training.  Don't rebel against the hardships.  He's preparing us for growth and maturity, and we can't get there without relying on the Master Trainer, Who knows exactly what we need to be successful.

9.  Stay connected with each other!  Help each other along the way.   Like-minded believers MUST maintain a desire to see each other succeed, and not be content with being the only one staying on track.  Pray not just for yourself, but for whomever God puts on your heart-- FRIEND OR FOE.  

10.  Pay attention to the emotions that threaten to derail our quest for godliness.  Guard against ingratitude and discontentment.  Remember-- there are rewards in maintaining godliness AND contentment.

Ready, set, BEGIN TRAINING!!!!!

Choose Wisely!

Thursday, December 6th> Job chapter 28

In what way do we sell ourselves short by only seeking temporary earthly treasures?  We've all made the comment at one point or another, "If only I had riches... Added to my faith, that would be the BEST of both worlds!" and it probably would.  What an awesome thing it would be to be able to have all-expense-paid trips to the mission field! And what about all the opportunities to be a blessing to people everywhere?  It would  truly be "the answer to all things" that the Bible talks about.  But many times, we ONLY want those earthly things and not God.  We seek Him only to the point where we're able to accomplish our financial goals.  We seem to have the misguided notion that  those things can provide true fulfillment in and of themselves.

Except when it comes to the REAL issues of life.  What good would it do to have all the money in the world if the most important relationships  -- those with your family -- don't work?  Even the best psychiatrists and psychologists couldn't help fix a broken heart or a wounded spirit.  Where in the world do you go, even with lots of money, to escape the tormenting thoughts inflicted by the enemy of our souls?  These are the questions to consider when the temptation to pursue earthly treasures becomes stronger than the passion to pursue God.

There simply is no better way to say it, folks: seek the God Who buried the earthly treasures deep inside the earth.  In Him are treasures that cannot be compared to anything earthly.  He alone holds the key to unlocking the mysteries that cause love to flow between two people who couldn't get along; He alone releases the peace that passes all understanding, even in the midst of the most violent storm.  WITH Him, you can have both the spiritual AND physical treasures.  WITHOUT Him, you may experience the latter for a brief moment in time without the rich fulfillment that comes with knowing the One Who holds it all together.  CHOOSE WISELY. 

What's Working Through You?

Friday, November 16th> Ecclesiastes 10: 1; 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8

What mistake do we make by allowing the "little" issues to remain unaddressed and only deal with those we consider "big"?  Yeast is an interesting ingredient.  It's actually a single-celled fungus that produces on its own by budding and division.  All it takes is two .5 -ounce packages of this substance, mixed in with 5 cups of bread flour, 3 cups of wheat flour, and other ingredients to make 2 to 3 loaves of delicious wheat bread.

It's amazing how quickly and thoroughly yeast works its way through the entire batch.  All it needs is the right conditions -- warm water, all the ingredients mixed together, and time to sit and grow. The yeast, which seems like such an insignificant part of the whole process when it begins, now takes over.  Its presence now becomes known as it causes the whole thing to rise, changing the composition of the ingredients and  causing them to become something other than they were before.

Need I say more?  Our lives and all the parts that make up our attitudes, beliefs and actions start with our thoughts.  These images that enter our minds can either be holy and God-given, or diabolical and conceived in the satanic realm.  Whatever we allow to be mixed in will eventually "work it's way through", ultimately changing who we are from the inside out-- just like the yeast.  All those thoughts need are the right, deeply-embedded desires that we think no-one knows about, and time to sit and grow -- just like the yeast.  The fact that we think those secret, hidden ideas will remain secret and hidden is a major sign of our immaturity and lack of knowledge of spiritual things.

If we want to truly see ourselves set free in our thought life and hearts, we must begin to treat ungodly thoughts as the deadly ingredients they really are -- capable of changing our attitudes and devotion towards the Father.  Before we know it, we go from on-fire and closely-connected to other believers to cynical and withdrawn, having negative things to say about everything that has to do with God.  Watch out indeed for the leaven that works itself through everything we are.  Deal with those thoughts as they come -- expose them for what they really are, and certainly DON't give them time to pile up inside.  Instead, allow your heart to become the right condition for growing the seeds of God's Word.  Just like that yeast, it will completely transform you, and EVERYONE will be able to tell you've been in the presence of the Living God.

Are You Ready to RECEIVE?

Wednesday, October 17th> 1 Corinthians 2:10-15; Rom. 12:2

What is the ONLY way we will benefit from the NEW revelations, answers and ideas God wants to pour into His people?  It's a vicious cycle if you allow your flesh to dictate.  God is a Spirit, and those who desire to worship, have relationship, and commune with Him MUST do so in spirit and in truth.  In the spirit realm,  God's heart towards us is revealed.  Answers to questions that haven't even been asked yet are given.  He sends visions and dreams, as well as the interpretation of others' dreams.  God also prepares His children for storms coming ahead, and propels them into the process necessary for the next level of their lives.

    

The only way to benefit from these treasures, mysteries and gifts is to STAY IN THE SPIRIT WHERE GOD DWELLS.  But wait... There's no entry into the spirit if fear, anxiety, and frustration are in abundance.  A mind cluttered with these and other carnal things stays in the soulish realm where only the cares of this world matter.  Regardless of how important earthly matters appear to be, they occupy important space and time where the Holy Spirit should be.  Every moment we spend being concerned about what they said and did causes us to miss what the Spirit is trying to get through to us.

So it's really about what we choose to RECEIVE-- what's eternal, or what has already passed away.  God wants His kingdom treasures passed on to His children.  What He can get TO us, He can get THROUGH us.  We were created to be the SOLUTION to this world's problems.  Whether or not we're doing that depends on how positioned we are to receive what God so willingly wants to give.  As for me and my house, we're determined to be on the receiving end of such an awesome heavenly word as POUR; what about you?

God deserves Our ALL!

Thursday, November 8th> Exodus 29:21; Revelation 3: 1-6

The garments represented being set apart completely for the will of God.  How does this symbol of total devotion manifest in our daily lives?  A people set apart for Him alone has always been God's plan from before the foundation of the world.  Ever since Adam and Eve, God has desired a love relationship with His creation.  Totally devoted believers take a stand to live consecrated lives for the purpose of bringing God glory.

Where we struggle is with the word TOTAL, as in COMPLETELY or ALL OF OURSELVES when it comes to living for Jesus Christ.  Somehow, we think it totally normal to be head-over-heels in love with another human being; we pride ourselves on being completely committed to standing up for our political beliefs.  We even confess our addictions to people, places and things, rationalizing our feelings because we "just can't help who we are".  Funny how hard it seems to use that same line of reasoning when it involves our Heavenly Father, Who gave us His all and deserves the same in return.

So how does this totally devoted lifestyle manifest in our day-to-day?  From the moment we wake up, God consumes our thoughts.  We focus on what He thinks of us, how His Word calls us to a place of repentance and turning away from the attitudes and patterns of the world, and most of all how blessed we are to be called His own.  The key is in trusting that every requirement God puts on us is for our good, and wholeheartedly responding to those holy requirements with joyful obedience.  There's nothing more rewarding than giving all we have to a God Who will never push us away, harm us or disappoint us.  How much more excited should we be about letting ourselves go and leaning on Him for every move we make?  All we'll get in return is life, life, and more life.  And who couldn't use as much of that as they can take?

THE SPIRIT-LED LIFE

Thursday, October 11th> Romans 7: 13-25

What kind of opposition should we also expect as we recover from our heart transplant?  We MUST expect the strongest opposition to come from none other than OUR VERY OWN SELVES.  We must expect our flesh to want its own way, just like it has ever since we took our first breath on this earth.  As our hearts finally get a fighting chance to side with the kingdom of Light on our behalf, don't expect the old man to just lie idle without putting up a fight.  It's going to take everything in you to stand, having done all to stand , then stand again (Ephesians 6:13-14).  

That's why I absolutely love this declaration from Pastor Antoinette that truly puts our flesh in its place.  As you make this declaration over yourself, remember that these are not just idle words, but that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

"The Spirit-Led Life:

May my animated earth suit (the body) live to serve the Spirit of God... It will be agreeable, accommodating, obliging, considerate, courteous, polite, kind, thoughtful, generous, pleasant, approachable, and attentive to the Spirit of God.. As a host of the Holy Spirit, my body will not grieve, resist, quench, or frustrate the Spirit working in and through my life! I will NOT live to serve the body, but keep the body healthy and strong to serve the Spirit!

As I eat physically, I will first remember the necessity of feeding my spirit the Bread of Life and the Meat of doing God's Will!

As I rest physically, I will first remember the necessity of my spirit resting in God's Words, and not my own devices and plans...

As I dress physically, I will first remember the necessity of my spirit being clothed!  Daily, I will put on Righteousness, put on Christ, put on the Armor of Light, put on the Whole Armor of God, put on Incorruption, put on Immortality, put on the New Man, put on Love, put on Tender Mercies, Kindness, Meekness, and Longsuffering.

This is really being 'Dressed for the Day'..

I WILL LIVE TO SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!"

LIVING "HEART-HEALTHY"

Saturday, October 6th> Galatians 5: 19-21; Exodus 20:1-17; Hosea 4:6

God has given us guidelines to help us avoid things that clog our arteries and stop us from living "heart-healthy".  What causes us not to take advantage of these guidelines?  It's the same thing that causes us not to enjoy the benefits of all the great tips for being healthy physically: WE JUST DON'T WANT TO.  We don't see the value in finding out what it takes to keep us out of the doctor's office because it feels too good to our flesh to be inactive and eat whatever.  We spend years just catering to our carnal nature, making excuses for the things that cause us to feel guilty when we are face to face with the consequences of our actions.

That's why I love the Message version of Galatians 5: 19-21.  Since we've CHOSEN the Christian life, we can't just hold its principles as abstract ideals in our heads.  WE'RE COMPELLED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO WORK OUT WHAT THOSE IDEALS MEAN IN OUR DAILY LIVES.  Only the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, as a result of reading and applying the Word of God, will bring the FRUIT of all God wants manifested in our lives.  Does it feel good all the time?  No... But neither does being left alone after driving away those who love us because of unchecked emotions.  Will we be victorious every time if we let the Holy Spirit be in control rather than our hearts?  YES, because there's no guilt afterwards-- only life leading to more life.  And that's what God wants for us.  WE JUST HAVE TO WANT IT FOR OURSELVES.