Take Hold Of Godliness

Take Hold of Godliness (1 Tim. 4:6-16) A good servant of God is careful to teach “the faith” (i.e. the essentials of the Gospel.) (1 Tim. 4:6) What are the essentials of the Gospel? (e.g. John 3: 15-16; Rom. 5:8; 10:9; 2 Cor. 5:1921; 1 John 4:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:15) With public reading, exhortation (reminding/warning/encouraging) (see Acts 2:40; 11:23; 13:15; 14:22; 15:32; 18:27; 20:2; 27:22; Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 14:3; 2 Cor. 9:5; 1 Thess. 2:3 & 11; 1 Thess. 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:12; 1 Tim. 2:1; 1 Tim. 4:13; 6:2; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9; 2:6 & 9) and teaching (explaining the Scriptures (see Acts 8:3031). When doing so we must avoid mixing in false (graodes {grah-o'-dace} muthos {moo'thos}Gk. literally “old wives tales”) or irrelevant information. (1 Tim. 4:7; see also Phil. 1:9-11) Being an example in: speech (logos {log'-os}Gk. = speech, word, essentially anything we say) (see Ps. 19:14; Col. 4:6; Prov. 16:24; Ecc. 10:12) Not speaking in a profane (bebelos {beb'-ay-los}Gk. = profane, base or common) way. (1 Tim. 4:7) Profanity, gossip, slander, criticism etc. reveals a corrupt heart. (Matt. 12:34; 15:11 & 19, Luke 6:45) You may never know how much damage (or good) your words may create (Prov. 18:21) No man can tame the tongue (James 3:8) So we need the help of God’s Holy Spirit to do this! conduct (anastrophe {an-as-trof-ay'}Gk. = manner of life, conduct, behavior, deportment, conversation) (see Col. 1:9-11; Titus 2:7-8) Our “walk” should be pleasing in His sight (1 Thess. 2:4; 1 John 3:21-22; Col. 1:10) love (agape {ag-ah'-pay}Gk. = an active and beneficent interest in, and concern for, the well-being of another. It is given unconditionally and unselfishly. It involves a clear determination of will and judgment (i.e. a responsible choice). A loving person, honestly (Rom. 12:9) gives respect and demonstrates compassion. Demonstrating such love often requires courage. The source of such love comes “from above” (James

1:17). This term appears nearly 150 times in the New displaying this kind of love that others will be able to us as disciples of Jesus (John 13:35). Spirit

Testament. It is by recognize

spirit (pneuma {pnyoo'-mah}Gk. = reflecting the presence of God’s Holy within us. We are called to “keep on living by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) Does your life reflect the fruits of the Spirit? (Gal. 5-22-23, Matt. 7:17) faith (both trusting in God and trustworthy) and purity (1 Tim. 4:12) Jesus of course is our example (John 1:14)

Practicing these things ultimately benefits ourselves and well as ours (1 Tim. 4:16) We should train (gumnazo {goom-nad'-zo} = disciplined training/vigorous exercise) ourselves in Godliness (eusebeia {yoo-seb'-i-ah}Gk. = demonstrating reverence and respect for God, holiness) (see also 1 Tim. 2:2; 4:7-8; 6:3-6 & 11; 2 Pe. 1:3, 6, 7 & 11) We are called to sanctification (pure, set apart, holy) (Lev. 11:44; 1 Thess. 4:3 & 7; Rom. 12:1; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pe. 1:13-16) Being God-centered instead of self-centered (Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23) Godliness is something of a mystery to mankind, but Jesus himself is the model (1 Tim. 3:16) Percy C. Ainsworth defines Godliness as “the fulfillment of [Almighty] God’s creative purpose in an [individual’s entire] life.” To accomplish this we must focus our emotional, mental and spiritual energies on following Jesus Christ in all areas of life. (Heb. 12:1,2) God has not give you the spirit of fear but of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7) Setting aside regular time for Bible study and prayer There is a reason we were directed by Our Lord to pray for our “daily” bread. Meditating on the Scriptures Meditating on Scripture involves setting aside distractions and letting His Holy Spirit guide you in understanding what God is trying to communicate to you through His Holy Word. (Ps. 143:10; John 16:13)

Jesus is often shown in the Scriptures setting aside time for prayer (see e.g. Matt. 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:28; Luke 11:1) He also told us that men ought always to pray (Luke 18:1) Knowledge of the truth leads to Godliness (Titus 1:1) But we must have more than just a form of Godliness (1 Tim. 3:5) We are called to pursue and maintain Godliness despite the impure nature of the world around us (Eph. 2:7) Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley did an experiment sometime ago that involved introducing an amoeba into a perfectly stressfree environment. The ideal temperature, optimal concentration of moisture, and constant food supply. The amoeba had an environment in which it had to make no adjustment whatsoever. So you would guess that, that was one happy little amoeba. Yet, oddly enough, it died. Apparently there is something about all living creatures, even amoebas, that demands challenge. We require change, adaptation, and challenge just as we require food and air to live. Godliness has benefits for us in the present and eternally (1 Tim. 4: 8) If God were to pay you a visit today and perform an evaluation of your Godliness, what grade would you receive? We must not neglect the gift that is in us (1 Tim. 4:14) The gift of the truth The gift of the Holy Spirit The individual spiritual gifts that God has given to each of us What are your special spiritual gifts from God?