Spiritual Nourishment Part 2:
So, what really matters when it
comes to a life that is set apart and pleasing to God?
- Our Worship and love for God (Living a Spirit filled life - daily Worship)
- The Condition of our hearts (Attitude of surrender and obedience to God)
- The way we treat our bodies (Stewardship of the Body)
- The things we fill our minds with (Stewardship of the Soul)
- The way we treat others (Loving our neighbor)
- Our Christ-likeness modeled for the world to see (Ambassador for Jesus or self?)
- Our understanding of good and evil (Do we have a biblical worldview?)
Our Goal as followers of Jesus
is to live a life set apart to God. However, when we feel separated from God, we
should take a seriously look at the things we are filling our minds and our bodies
with.
Followers of Jesus should ask themselves these questions:
1. Are there things in my life that build walls of separation between me and my
Heavenly Father?
2. Can I be defined as a hypocrite when it comes to some things I say and some
things I do?
I am sure we all can answer yes to both questions. Through the discernment of living a Holy Spirit filled and directed life, we can detect where we are sinning against God and where our actions are not lining up with the principles we espouse. We should all strive to take our head knowledge and put it into practice.
God's Word is our source of spiritual nourishment. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we gain a deeper understanding of God's Word and principles, and are able to live in accordance to them.
It is God's desire to nourish us spiritually and fill us with true joy. It is His desire to replace a wrong worldview with an
eternal biblical perspective that gives us a true picture of what a God centered life looks
like. It is up to us, (our free will) to be willing to live for Him. Living a life that only aims to please oneself
is fleeting at best.
We are
warned about living unwisely. As followers of Christ we need to be careful how
we live.The
Bible tells us to live with wisdom.
Ephesians 5:15-16
New International Version 1984
Be very careful, then, how you
live—not as unwise but as wise, making the
most of every
opportunity,
because the days are evil.
The
truth is this: we need daily transformation that changes our worldly
perspective into a
Godly
perspective on life. With this Godly perspective we can discern how we are to
live a life pleasing
to God. Living a life set apart to God is real life, filled with blessing for
us and pleasure for Him. We can bring pleasure to God through our
worship and
praise (acknowledging who He is - His attributes - and all the marvelous things He has done). We can bring God pleasure by the way we treat others and love. The Apostle Paul instructs us in the principles of how we can please God with our bodies and our minds. This one passage from the Book of Romans gives us the big picture on what God desires from us.
Romans 12:1-2 New International Version
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ah ha!
The key - become a living sacrifice in body and in mind (By sacrifice in mind we forgo what is common to the world in thought and replace it with God's reality)
Here are some more verses on how we should live in the presence of God and His response to the way in which we live for Him.
Romans 14:17-18 New
Living Translation
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat
or drink, but of living a life of goodness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will
approve of you, too.
Psalm 98:1-3 New
Life Version (NLV)
Sing a new song to the Lord. For
He has done great things. His right hand and His holy arm
have won the
fight for Him. The Lord has made His
saving power known. He has shown to
the nations how right and good He is. He has shown His loving-kindness and how beautiful He is to the house of
Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen
the saving power of our God.
Psalm 147:10-11 Good
News Translation (GNT)
His
pleasure is not in strong horses, nor his delight in brave soldiers;
but he takes pleasure in those who honor him, in those who trust in his constant love.
but he takes pleasure in those who honor him, in those who trust in his constant love.
Living a
life pleasing to God requires sacrifice and transformation on our part and requires spiritual
growth. Everybody worships something in their life. But it is God's desire and command that we worship only Him. Worshiping
God has a lot to do with the understanding of who He is and what He has done. All this
information is contained in the Bible where He has revealed Himself clearly. The Bible is His-story (History)
Here is what God desires when it come to worship:
Luke 4:8 New International Version 1984
Jesus
answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the
Lord your God and serve him only
Exodus 20:1-6 New International Version
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
As far as the sacrifice part goes, Jesus gives us the way to do it. Die to self.
Matthew 16:24 New International Version
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Let’s
also take a look at what Apostle Paul says about how spiritual transformation and
growth take place:
Colossians 3:16 New International Version
1984
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Ephesians 4:22-24 New International Version
Colossians 3:1-3 New
Living Translation
Since
you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in
the place of
honor at God’s right hand. Think about
the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with
Christ in God.
Jesus tells us about how obedience to the Word is not only nourishing to the soul but also a sign of our love for Him.
1 John 2:3-6 NIV
We know
that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says,
"I know him," but does
not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete
in him. This is how we know we are in
him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
John 14:21 NIV
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
John 14:23 NIV
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 15:10 NIV
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Luke 11:28 NIV
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
With
spiritual nourishment comes wisdom and understanding. It is evident in the
early church that the
understanding of God’s principles were beneficial to ones walk with God, and
equipped one in service
to His kingdom.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
NIV
All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Then
Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age."
2 Timothy 3:15 AMP
And how
from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you
and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith
in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the
entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and
confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness.
Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
"Therefore everyone who
hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock..........
James 1:25 NIV
But the man who looks intently
into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not
forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Some more benefits of Godly
wisdom and understanding:
Joshua 1:8 NIV
Do not let this Book of the Law
depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then
you will be prosperous and successful.
Colossians 2:2 NIV
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
Philemon 1:6 NIV
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
1 John 5:20 NIV
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Proverbs 2:1-7 New
International Version 1984
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
My son, if you accept my words and store up my
commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
Proverbs 3:1-2 NIV
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life
many years and bring you prosperity.
Because
of the many distractions in this life, along with the enemy who is working hard
to derail us from our
mission, we must be on constant guard for our spiritual well being. There is a
risk of becoming spiritually complacent
where we feel we can take a break from growing spiritually. This is dangerous
territory and leaves us open
for attack from our enemy.
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Because
of all these factors and more, we are going to need help to stand firm in our
faith. God’s Word and the
Holy Spirit will provide that help. Daily spiritual nourishment consisting of the
reading and study God’s
Word, prayer, meditation, and time alone with God will help to keep us connected
to God and His wise
counsel, equipping us to face the challenges of being a follower of Jesus in a
fallen world.
With
God’s Word at the forefront of our thoughts, we can discern what is real truth
in this life.
It is
God’s truth that will set us free.
Jesus
said this:
John 8:31-32 NIV
To the
Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free."
So let’s
remember to be thankful for all God has done to give us a hope and a future. Let’s continue to mature in our faith and trust in God through a consistent diet of real truth. Let's strive for daily Spiritual Nourishment and continue to make living for God the number priority in our lives. Let's actively bless God by the way we live and by the way we worship.
Just Sayin……………..Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment