"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 Cor:9:26-27
Many years ago, while was 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, and 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 through 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 through 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 accomplished
through and by Jesus alone on our behalf. Jesus 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.
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.
The Great God has called each and all of us
into a relationship. This relationship should be one of depth and fullness. But
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 through 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 a part 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 short 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” apart from him.
Understand that St. 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 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.
St. 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 Jesus
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, that when we focus upon
Jesus, the things of Jesus are produced in our lives, that is, sow to the
spiritual, reap the spiritual.
Through 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 Cor:9:26-27
Meditation In the Old Testament there are two
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 ponder 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 the night watches as he slept, summonsing him to
serve him. Samuel heard the voice of God calling in the night mistaking
it for High Priest 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 quiet place to be alone with his
Father and consider the things of God. Matt: 14:13
Meditation gives 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 from 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
your 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
Make time to spend with our minds focused upon
our God consider his acts of Salvation for us all not just in times past but within
each and all of our lives. Consider his act and words focus upon Jesus. Listen
for his voice and know that he will never speak contrary to what is revealed in
the Holy Bible or if Scriptures are brought to mind if there are read them and
meditate upon them how they might apply to you.
Mediation a Spiritual opportunity to grow in the Christian
life and knowing the Lord who have given us his holy Son.
The Benediction: May we each and all have our mind and
heart be ever stayed upon our Lord Jesus Christ today, tomorrow and for ever
more . Amen
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
Topinabee Community Church
Topinabee Michigan
https://topinabeechurch.org/index.html
You Can Follow Topinabee Community Church on Face Book –
https://www.facebook.com/Topinabeecommunitychurch
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