Spiritual Nourishment Part 1

Spiritual Nourishment Part 1:

We all need to be nourished physically and spiritually. I know when I don't get fed physically

I get a bit cranky. When I don't get my dose of caffeine I get down right lethargic and non conversational. Thank goodness for my wife Deena who has in the past even offered to drive me to Starbucks while I was slumped over in our Van with my head bobbing back and forth due to lack of sleep and a desire to venture out into the world. She knows that for a good cup of coffee, I might even go with her to the fabric store. She is well aware of the  energizing effect that Coffee has on me physically and psychologically. Coffee changes my attitude and  "perks" me up. Without it, sad to say, I'm just not running on all cylinders.

Even the spiritual side of my life is like this as well. My attitude and perspective get off kilter when I don’t get my daily nourishment of God’s Word and relational time with God through prayer, praise and petition, If I don’t begin my day with a Godly perspective on life, my thoughts and attitudes can potentially revert back to my old way of thinking. This "Old Self" is the part of me that represents my deeds, attitude and perspective that defined me before I became a follower of Jesus.  This old self is not the most likable guy nor is he the kind of person anyone else would like. This old self reflects my sin nature and is a great reminder that I am a work in progress. So, for this reason, I try to wake up each day trying to connect with God on a deeper level. I regularly ask Him to give me the right perspective on life in order to help me keep the bigger picture in the forefront of my mind. My desire in the big picture perspective is to act in accordance to God's principals and to fulfill His good purpose. Most of all I want my life to reflect the heart of Jesus (the new self). My prayer is that I would be an ambassador for Christ and the work that is produced in me and through me would ultimately define me as a follower of Jesus, and yield a work that is beneficial to His kingdom.

So, there are two parts to this equation: First, in order to maintain and mature in our faith and trust in God it is very important that we prioritize our desire to deepen our relationship with Him. It is easy to say that we have this desire but how often do our words end up getting left by the curb without crossing the street. Second, in order to become a people that reflect Jesus in heart, attitude and action, we have to have a regular diet of spiritual nourishment.

Studying God’s Word can help us fulfill our mission for deeper relationship and spiritual growth. The effect of gaining a deeper understanding of God's Word carries a benefit to us and others. Not only do we begin to have a greater understanding of God’s principles, but we can offer that perspective to others as well. Applying what we learn, we help us mature in our faith, trust, and knowledge of God, all the while helping us to develop a greater love for God. Our deeper sense of who we are in Christ will reinforce the concept of dying to self interest in favor of God-centeredness as well as strengthen the desire to love our neighbor.

The Bible explains why God’s Word is so important:

Psalm 119:105 New International Version 1984    (For Direction in life)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:1-11 New International Version 1984

(For Blessing, to helps us stay in God’s will, to inspire us to live a life of praise to God, to help us set ourselves apart to Him, to shape our hearts and minds and remain obedient to His commands, to help us remain pure and not sin) 

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

This verse from 2 Timothy below reminds me that as Ambassadors for Christ,

we have a greater responsibility to know what the Bible says so we can convey its

principles properly to others.

A person who loves God will analyze Scripture and convey the truth of God’s Word accurately. Always pray for the Holy Spirit to help you understand the meaning of what you  are reading and the opportunity to share it with someone. 

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles (Divides) the word of truth.

A person who loves God will apply His principles to his or her life.

James 1:22 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Applying God’s principles means that we are willing to obey His Word. When we are obedient to God’s Word, we are proving that we love God:

John 14:15 NIV
(Jesus said) If you love me, you will obey what I command.

Loving God and applying His principles shows that we are serious about the spiritual side of our lives. We should continually ask ourselves, as we grow in our faith and trust in God, are we truly modeling Christ-like behavior both in our public and private life? The way to remain Christ-like is through the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version 1984 

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

You see, one cannot correctly portray Christ-likeness without being connected to the Holy Spirit. In order to be to be filled by the Holy Spirit one must be allowing their life to be counseled and directed supernaturally by Him. We when live life separated from God, the Spirit in us will be constrained. We must always understand the non-righteous nature of our works. Only through Christ do our works bear fruit. Our works in themselves are seen as filthy rags.

Isaiah 64:6 New Living Translation 

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

We need the richness, conviction, and inspiration, that comes from God’s Word, to transform who we are from the inside out. Here is a statement from Bill Bright that we should take to heart.

 

Some people say, "I witness for Christ by living a good life." But it is not enough to live a good life. Many non-Christians live fine, moral, ethical lives. According to the Lord Jesus, the only way to demonstrate that you are truly following Him is to produce fruit, which includes introducing others to our Savior as well as living holy lives. And the only way you can produce fruit is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 15:5 NIV 
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

To really understand this above passage, we have to know what it means to remain in Christ. I suggest that remaining in Christ is to live a life filled with love for God and others, doing everything for God’s glory, and setting ourselves apart to Him by giving up our selfish desires in favor of living a life filled with prayer, worship, praise, obedience, love, and dedication to Him.

The reality is this: If we do not remain in Christ we will not produce fruit for His kingdom. We should continually ask ourselves these questions:

Are we continuing to grow in our relationship with Christ?

Are we allowing God’s Word to impact us to the point where we are living for Him first?

If we think we are, can we truly gauge our obedience to God? Ask yourself this question:

Am I obeying God’s command to live a Holy life?

1 Thessalonians 4:7 NIV

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

1 Peter 1:15 New Living Translation 

But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

Obviously, No one can achieve holiness in this life, but those who are true followers of Christ make every effort to be obedient to this command. As followers of Jesus we should take a hard look at our lives. When we do, it may require that we make some significant changes in our behavior. The good news is that the Holy Spirit will help us make these changes. Through the sanctification process. (To make Holy, Act of God by which believers become more and more conformed to the image of Christ) The Holy Spirit continually works to transform our hearts and minds to be God centered as opposed to self centered.  

Here are some tips that can help us live Holier lives:

Rules for Holy Living from Colossians 3

• Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things
• Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature (Sexual immorality, lust, idolatry, evil desires, greed)
• Do not lie
• Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
• Forgive as the Lord forgave you
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
• Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly
• Whatever you do, do it all in the name of the Lord
• Continually give thanks to God

Here are some verses that give real insight into what God desires for us.

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

John 4:24 NIV 
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Philippians 3:3 NIV  
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

Hebrews 12:28 NIV  
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so

worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Luke 10:27 NIV
He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Ephesians 1:4 New Living Translation 

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Living a life set apart to God also means we are defined by how we reflect His Glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31 New International Version 1984 
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Next week part 2.

Just Sayin………………Dave