Title: Show Your Spiritual Progress!
Contents
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Psalm 73:21-2821. My heart is distracted and my heart is pierced
22. I am so foolish and ignorant that I am a beast before you.
23. I am with you always; you have taken hold of my right hand.
24. You will guide me in Your precepts, and afterward you will receive me in glory.
25. Whom do I have in heaven but you, and on earth I have no one to long for but you.
26. My body and my mind are withered, but God is the rock of my heart and an everlasting portion.
27. For those who are far from you will perish; you have destroyed all who have turned away from you like harlots.
28. It is a blessing for me to draw near to God; I will make the Lord GOD my refuge, and I will proclaim all your works
1 Timothy 4:6-16
6. If you enlighten your brothers with these things, you will become a good servant of Christ Jesus, and you will be nourished by the word of faith and the good teaching that you follow.
7. Let go of the profane and vain myths, and only practice attaining godliness.
8. Physical exercise is of little benefit, but godliness is beneficial in all things, and there is a promise in this life and in the life to come.
9. This word is faithful, and everyone deserves it.
10. To this end we labor and exert ourselves, because we put our hope in the living God, the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
11. You command and teach these things.
12. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to those who believe in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
13. Focus on reading, exhortation, and teaching until I get there.
14. Do not be careful about the gift that is within you, which you received through prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
15. Do all these things with all your heart, and let your progress be visible to everyone.
16. Take heed to yourselves and your teachings, and keep doing this, for by doing these you will save yourself and those who hear you.
Content
Title: Show Your Spiritual Progress!
Text: Psalm 73:21-28, 1 Timothy 4:6-16
Dear brothers and sisters, congratulations on believing in Jesus as the Christ. It is something to be celebrated and something to be celebrated. Because you have been born again. It is because you were not born once in your mother's womb, but twice in the work of the Holy Spirit. This is because he has prepared the first conditions for a citizen of the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3,5). What kind of spiritual sense do you have when you read or meditate on John 3:16 while reading the conversation with Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night? Do you feel the joy of ‘I have gained eternal life too!’ deep in your heart? As you read John 20:31 and 1 John 5:13, what kind of emotion do you feel? Our church slogan for 2007 contains the meaning of living while confirming this spiritual reality. “Are you in the faith? Test yourselves and prove yourselves!” (2 Corinthians 13:5a).
The grace of growth and maturity is given to those who have faith that Jesus Christ is in me and continue to have a life relationship with Jesus. The core content of growth and maturity is becoming like the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 4:11-15). The resemblance extends to the heart (Philippians 2:5), language (Col 4:6), actions (Col 3:10), and habits (Luke 22:39). The poet, who was once in despair due to the prosperity of the wicked and the sufferings of the righteous, eventually receives spiritual enlightenment (Psalm 73:1-20). It is the realization that the wicked are ‘who stand in a slippery place’ (Psalm 73:18), and the good man is ‘the one who is caught in the right hand of the Lord’ (Psalm 73:23). So, “It is a blessing to me to draw near to God. I will make the Sovereign LORD my refuge, and I will proclaim all your deeds” (Psalm 73:28).
Today's New Testament text (1 Tim. 4:6-16) is a warning against false doctrines (1 Tim. 4:1-5) that will become deceitful baits in the church. False doctrines, though plausible, are false. It seems to make sense, but it is untruth. How can you tell them apart? It is to know the truth and the truth right away. It means “Only practice attaining godliness!” Like physical exercise, it is a practice of godliness. It is a way of realizing a life that is beneficial for the present and future life. The first step in godly training is prayer (Acts 10:2). It is also a prayer holding on to the Word (Proverbs 28:9). It is like every food we eat is sanctified by the word and prayer (1 Timothy 4:5). Let's celebrate Lent this year with this opportunity. So let's experience spiritual progress together. I have decided on this topic. [Let's pray together along the river of the Word <Genesis-Revelation>! Rivers of grace will overflow]. This spiritual growth and maturity will allow us to experience sanctification in our lives. Hallelujah! Amen.