"Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."1 Crth:9:26-27
Many years ago while I attending classes for pastors in California , we pastors were given the book "Celebration of Discipline" copyright (c) 1978, by Richard J. Foster. This well known book, has been ,over the years, very helpful to many Christians both Laity and Clergy alike.With that acknowledgement I would like to offer in my own words as best that I may, what I have gleaned from Mr.Foster work
It speaks to believers about how Christians can avail ourselves of the "Spiritual Disciplines" and grow in the Christian life thru a relationship with Jesus Christ by way of the "Spiritual Discipline"
Spiritual Opportunities
The Spiritual Disciplines are not Religious Duties, but rather, are Spiritual Opportunities that aid in the Christian life and bring us ever deeper intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ and thru Jesus into an ever growing relationship with the Holy Trinity , the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Again, the "Spiritual Disciplines" do not earn us salvation, our salvation is accomplish thru and by Jesus alone on our behalf. He has accomplished it all for us, Jesus has done what none of us could ever do. Jesus has saved us.
What the "Spiritual Discipline" are, are Spiritual Opportunities for each and all of us to Communion with our God in times of deep personal intimacy which brings us to see that he is with us and wants us and loves us.
What the "Spiritual Discipline" are, are Spiritual Opportunities for each and all of us to Communion with our God in times of deep personal intimacy which brings us to see that he is with us and wants us and loves us.
Need for Maturity
In the Church of today there is great need for spiritual maturity. Superficiality is a problem facing many in some quarters of the Church Universal , that is all Christians , wherever they are gathered under whatever name they are assembled.
It is unfortunate that some Christian , after years of believing are still limited in the Christian life, (we all are to some degree, "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God") There is need for maturity if we are to cope with growing demands of this life and shine forth as lights ion the darkness.
The Great God has called each and all of us into a relationship.This relationship should be one of depth and fullness. How can we experience this blessed condition which lifts us up above the superficiality that plagues so many within the Church of today?
Some have concluded that they are beyond the very basics and too sophisticated and have no need, believing, that once they have come to accept the saving work of our Lord that is all there is. They have embraced a form of "liberal grace" which cheats them out of so much that our Lord has to offer us, it is already ours thru Jesus, and Jesus freely offers it and yet some have embraced this "liberal grace" that does not full utilizes the "Spiritual Disciplines" . They are un-Disciplined.
Some Christians have , however, embarked on a regimen of "good works" which they believe will help them build Christian Character hoping to overcome the pulls of the flesh thru the strength of will, "helped" by the Holy Spirit.They approach the Holy Word of God as if it is a self help book.
Do not misunderstand, good works are apart of the salvation that we believers experience, but good works do not produce that salvation, rather , they are a result of that salvation as we live that salvation out in our daily interactions with those around us.
In the end both ways fall shot of the promised results and produce in some a deep sense of failure and condemnation.
the Scripture tells us;
"all (that is each and all of us) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Rm:3:23
With that truth, that each and all of us fail, what hope do we have then when we come to the truth that we can never be "righteous" on our own?
Thankfully for all of us that our gracious Lord has made provisions which takes into account that we all are unable to be "righteous" .
Understand that Paul tells us that "righteousness" is a free gift from God. Rm:5:17.
This all comes from him, it is not generated by the power of the flesh.
Again some have received this truth but have gone no further in the Christian life, they have remained spiritual Children concluding that there is nothing more for them.
"Deification"
So how do we grow into the the image of the son of God, this "growing" was what the Post-Apostolic Church called 'Deification" , which means becoming Christ like?. This is what the "Spiritual Disciplines" bring us into and advance us in the Christian life. We need to grasp that it is God himself who must transform us and work with us.
Paul wrote to the Church two-thousand years ago, and to believers down thru the ages , of choosing to allow our God to form the life of his Holy Son Jesus in each of our lives. When we look to him and set our hearts upon our Lord than we will reap the spiritual fruit of our choice.
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Whoever
sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal
life." Gal:6:7-8
The principle here is when we focus upon Jesus than the things of Jesus are produced in our lives, that is , sow to the spiritual, reap the spiritual. Thur the "Spiritual Disciplines" we are sowing to the spiritual .
Paul thru his relationship with Christ grew and gained mastery over his own body of the flesh using the image of a struggle to impose restraint and balance and conditioning of the body of a boxer.
"Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."1 Crth:9:26-27
Meditation
In the Old Testament there are tow words that are used to speak of Meditation these word carry with them implication and meaning, they when considered , speak of Mediation as:
Hearing the Word of God.
Considering God's Works
Rehearing God's Acts
Considering God's Instructions for us.
These are what we can Meditate upon . David wrote of his Meditations in his Psalms
"I love your law, it is my Meditation all the day long" Ps:119:97
David thought deeply about the Law of God and what it meant for and in the lives of the people of God. How it directed their lives each day. David sought to truly understand God's divine intent behind the Law of God. David sought to be faithful to his God in every situation and circumstance.
In the Night Watches
David would often pondered the things of God in the quite hours of the night watches focusing his heart and mind upon God .
"I think of you in the night watches" Ps:63:6
We too can do the same. In the stillness of the night when life's activities come to a reduced pace we can think of the Word of God and what our Lord is saying to us as a whole and to us personally.
God will at times "visit" us, so-to-speak during the quite hours of the night watches when our minds are still. At times our Lord may do this unexpectedly and call us to rise up and pray or to read the Bible, it is in these night watches when we might be more receptive to his "visitation".
God called the child Samuel in night watches as he slept, summonsing him to serve him. Samuel heard the voice of God calling in the night mistaking it for Eli, and when the Old High Priest Eli discerned that it was voice of the Lord who called Samuel he instructed Samuel to answer him. 1Sam:3:1-18
If our Lord calls us in the night we, like the boy Samuel , should answer. When his voice calls us answer .
Jesus Alone With God
Jesus, the very, divine Son of God would often find a quite place to be alone with his Father and consider the things of God. Matt:14:13
Meditation give believers the place of Communion with God in the privacy of our own beings, here, even the midst of others we are alone with our God in the most personal of ways. To hear God speak to us in the very midst of our own being is a very personal and powerful experience, to be aware of the truth our Lord is with us at all times. God is always speaking to us so we should always listen.
When we focus our minds on Jesus in the privacy of our own being we can have a most profound spiritual experience: we can truly experience our Lord and come to know him ever deeper.
He calls us to fellowship with him, in fact the whole message of the Gospel is an invitation to fellowship.1Jn:1:3
How to Meditate
How do we meditate , are speaking of what the culture of day thinks of Mediation, that of an emptying of the mind and entering into an "altered state" of mind or being "detached from reality" ?
No, on the contrary , our minds will be filled with the person and thoughts of Jesus and his Holy word to us and we will be full aware of who we are and where we are.
We will reflect on all that our God has and is doing with and for us, we consider our relationship with God and others around us, we think of the Scripture and what it means to each and all and at all times our mind is stayed upon Jesus not on some "cosmic" realty , but upon the divine Son of God thru whom our God reveals himself to us.Our Focus of our thoughts is upon Jesus.
- We should set time apart For God- "Sanctify" it so-to-speak,Try to let nothing prevent us form our time to think about our God. When we meditate expect to beware of him and his presence in our lives. 2Sam:7:18- David "sat before the Lord"
- Review you life and God's intervention in it."What is my house that you have brought me this far" that is what God has done for us. 2Sam::2:18
- .Think upon God , how great he is and what and who he is. 2Sam:7:19-21 "This is a small thing in your sight".
- Review His Promises "you have promised your servant" 2Sam:7:28
- Ask Him for what you need. "Now therefore, let it please you to bless" 2sam:7:29
Mediation a Spiritual opportunity to grow in the Christian life and knowing the Lord who have given us his holy Son.
The Benediction: May your mind and heart be ever stayed upon our Lord Jesus Christ today, tomorrow and for ever more . Amen
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania. www.gcfountainoflife.org
The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links
No comments:
Post a Comment