September 9, 2001 By ROBERT FIGUEROA Exercising Yourself Into Godliness Have you ever felt tired of your Christian walk (you feel like God is not there for you)? Well, there might be a reason for those feelings. When was the last time you exercised unto godliness? Remember the time when you prayed all week, you read your bible everyday; every thing that occupied your time centered on God. Well that's what I want to call you back to. We need to be pursuing godliness - finding where God is at - and keep Him the main focus in our daily walk. The Apostle Paul begins to exhort Timothy about the great apostasy. The Spirit openly and prophetically says there will be some in this age that will depart from the faith. There will be, "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons". Since they have heeded the false doctrines their hearts will become callous and hardened. They will no longer feel the presence of God rather the pleasures of this latter time. The Great Apostasy - 1 Timothy 4:1-2 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron." A Good Servant In Jesus Christ - 1 Timothy 4:6-11 "If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister (Servant) of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach." The Word of God exhorts us to pursue godliness. Godliness is to be holy, or to use what God has given you, to be respectful, a "God Chaser". We know that this world forces a tremendous influence in our lives. How can we avoid becoming worldly when we go to work in the world? How can we live a godly life in a secular environment? Today's society says, "You can do whatever you think is right". We know because we work and interact with these types of people. They are breaking the moral standard which is called Immorality, but there's another attitude. It's called "amorality" and it says, "There is no such thing as moral standard". It seems to me that this attitude is our real danger in the world today. Paul tells Timothy to be careful for there is a form or type of godliness. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." - 2 Timothy 3:5 People will claim and profess godliness, but their worship will be only a form, only an outward profession, only an appearance of godliness. They will not possess God; they will not have God in their hearts and lives. The look-a-likes will: profess God, be baptized, attend service, participate in the church and sometimes talk about God. Sadly, the people that have a form of godliness will deny the Power of God. What is the Power of God? It is the power to deliver men from bondage of sin, death and hell - all through Jesus Christ. It is the power of the cross and resurrection of our Lord. The power to save people from perishing, to give them eternal life "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." - Romans 1:16 Let's Not Deny This Power, Let's Use It! Paul continues to tell us to "exercise ourselves unto godliness". People that exercise themselves unto godliness have the necessary key for accomplishing anything in this life. This is a personal call that Paul is giving Timothy, "train yourself unto godliness", not the Church or a group of friends but you, train thyself. Exercising unto godliness is not a group effort rather an individual exercise. Trying to get yourself to exercise will not work, you simply need to do it; it's called discipline. How to start? You need to break into a spiritual sweat. If we are to excel in this exercise we need to throw off the weights (excuses) and break into a holy sweat. Paul said in Hebrews 12: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2 Many times we are trying to receive something from the Lord but it doesn't happen. You may say: I want a ministry, a spiritual gift, all my prayers answered, to know the will of God, to receive the Holy Spirit. What am I doing wrong? Paul says to identify your problem and fix it: "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…". This tells is to confess your sins daily! You need to consider this verse when you are running the race for godliness. Lay aside every weight - be it arrogance, conceit, yoke. Lay aside every sin, weakness, addictions, or temptations. Run this race (fight) with patience and endurance. Continue, look unto Jesus - He is the head, the author and perfecter of all things. Jesus needs to be our vision and goal and nothing else. What's keeping us from exercising? What things are weighing you down? The call to godliness demands that you throw it off in Jesus name. Run the race of godliness. Once you pass this stage you will began the process of godliness. Focus On Godliness Next, direct all your energy towards godliness. The call to train ourselves for godliness also demands directing all of our energy toward godliness. Paul pictures this in 1st Corinthians 9: "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." - 1st Corinthians 9:25-27 All of our goals, desires, strengths, visions, and time need to be focused on godliness. Discipline yourself to godliness. Place your time and effort into subjection, toward godliness! We spend most of our time for others: but what about our time to becoming Christ-like? Don't leave that for the latter time for now is the day of salvation, today is the day you need to change your habits. When one seriously trains, he willingly undergoes hours of discipline and even pain so as to win the prize. We are not living a life of Christianity for no reason. We have a purpose and when we train for godliness we are to be Godly, it's not in vain. There is a reason why we work out: to win the crown! We have to discipline ourselves; we have to change our priorities! Turn off the T.V, stop reading the fictional books, and pick up Godly books. Stop working on your houses, stop working on your cars, leave the computer alone, and stop shopping. Doing all this would surprise God! Imagine all this time dedicated toward godliness? We simply need to just take time to be Godly: read the Bible, have a time of prayer, talk about Godly books, then you will be exercising unto godliness. 4 Ways Of Discipling Yourself Unto Godliness 1. Control Your Body, the temple of the Holy Ghost. "What? Know yea not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 2. Control Your Mind And Thoughts "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds). Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." - 1st Corinthians 10:3-5 3. Control Your Spirit "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 4. Work Out Consistently In Ministry And Service To Others "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." - 1st Corinthians 15:58 The Reward Of Godly Living "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." - 1st Timothy 4:8 We will bear much fruit, like that tree of righteousness: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." - Psalms 1:1-3 The greatest pursuit in our lives is not to become successful in a career. The greatest pursuit in this life is to become like God! Paul said to Titus: "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you." - Titus 2:12-15 The call to action Church is, "exercise yourself unto godliness". What will you do today or tomorrow to begin the process of godliness? Robert is the co-executive producer for Inspired Christian.org. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and would love to receive email from you, please send your mail to robertfig@inspiredchristian.org. More articles on Your Spiritual Growth We're listening! Send us your comments, staff@inspiredchristian.org. Home | Site News | Reviews | Churches | CyberReading | Bible College Copyright, Inspired Christian.org