Reading: Training for Godliness: Spiritual Disciplines

Train yourself for godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)

Spiritual disciplines

 Can actors succeed in a play without memorizing and rehearsing?

 Can athletes succeed in sports without exercise and practice?
 Can soldiers succeed in warfare without drills and training?
 Can students succeed in career without education and study?
 Can a disciple succeed in godliness without spiritual disciplines?

1 Timothy 4:6-16

6
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ
Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you
have followed.
As a young pastor, Timothy already had received much training in his home and
under his mentor, Paul.

7
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for
godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every
way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Know what to avoid, know how to focus, and know the promised benefits.

9
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we
toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior
of all people, especially of those who believe.
We count on the grace of God to save us, and we toil and strive to be godly.

11
Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but
set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until
I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to
teaching.
A leader worth following lives a disciplined and godly life.

14
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the
council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself
in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and
on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your
hearers.
Spiritual disciplines hone gifts, shape character, and guard doctrine.

Training for godliness

Train yourself for godliness... godliness is of value in every way, as it holds
promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Tim 4:7-8)

The goal: godliness = Christ in you

 Growing closer to Christ in experience

 Growing like Christ in holy character
 Growing like Christ in eternal impact

Trained by constant practice

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of
discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:14)
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things... I discipline my body and keep it
under control (1 Cor 9:25,27).

Some Spiritual Disciplines

 Bible Intake
 Prayer
 Worship
 Rest
 Silence/Solitude
 Fasting
 Celebration
 Journaling
 Serving
 Learning
 Confession
 Accountability
 Simplicity
 Submission
 Evangelism
 Stewardship
 Sacrifice
 Watching/vigil
Newness of life

 The message of Jesus himself and of the early disciples was not just one of
the forgiveness of sins, but rather was one of newness of life. (Dallas Willard)
 The Spiritual Disciplines are the God-given means we are to use in the Spirit-
filled pursuit of Godliness. I've never known a man or woman who came to
spiritual maturity except through discipline. (Donald Whitney, Spiritual
Disciplines of the Christian Life)

What did Jesus do?

 Prayer, silence, solitude, worship

o And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and
went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
o Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. (Mark
6:31)
o After he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
(Mark 6:46)
 Fasting: After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew
4:2)
 Bible intake: But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4)
o Bible intake: hearing, reading, study, memorization, meditation, application

Memorization Transformation
As a pastor, teacher, and counselor I have repeatedly seen the transformation of
inner and outer life that comes simply from memorization and meditation upon
Scripture. Personally, I would never undertake to pastor a church or guide a
program of Christian education that did not involve a continuous program of
memorization of the choicest passages of Scripture for people of all ages. (Dallas
Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines)

Dangers of disciplines

1. Saving yourself: ignoring God's grace

2. Body bashing: despising created gifts
3. Showing off: polishing public image
4. Feeling superior: despising others
5. Trivial pursuit: majoring in minors
Saving yourself
Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism ... and not holding fast to the
Head... These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made
religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in
stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:18-23)

Body bashing
... teachings of demons ... liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid
marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with
thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by
God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is
made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Tim 4:1-5)

Showing off
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and
pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by
others... And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they
disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. (Matt 6:5,16)

Feeling superior
God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I
get. (Matthew 18:11-12)

Trivial pursuit
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and
cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and
faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
(Matthew 23:23)

Healthy disciplines

1. Not saving myself, but developing my born-again self to greater maturity.

2. Not body bashing, but training body to submit to God's Spirit and my spirit.
3. Not showing off, but cultivating real character that impacts others.
4. Not feeling superior, but being daily humbled in God's holy presence.
5. Not trivial pursuit, but love for God and for other people.

What holds you back?

 1. Overreaction against dangers
2. Lack of teaching: ignorance
3. Lack of drive: laziness
4. Lack of desire: deadness

Mature in Christ
...asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom
and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to
him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May
you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all
endurance and patience with joy...Christ in you, the hope of glory...that we may
present everyone mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:9-11,27-28)

Beholding and becoming

We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed
into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the
Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18).

1. Are you beholding Jesus' glory?

2. Are you becoming more like Jesus in your character and impact on
others?
3. Will you practice disciplines to do so?

Reading: Disciplines to Meet God and Beat Satan

Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become
loaves of bread.” But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is
written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will
bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'”
Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the
test.'” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you,
if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For
it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Meet God and Beat Satan

Spiritual disciplines are practices that help us to draw closer to God and to become
stronger in fighting Satan.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives
grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:6-8)

Jesus our representative does what we could not do. Adam and Israel sinned
and fell for Satan's trick. Jesus obeyed God and defeated Satan. God counts
Jesus' perfection as ours the moment we believe.

Jesus our example provides a pattern of life for us to imitate. As we rely on his
Spirit, practice his disciplines, and pursue his pattern of obedience, our character
gradually becomes like His.

Temptation 1: Stones to bread

 Satan: Use your divine power to benefit yourself. Seek pleasure. Avoid pain. If
you're God's Son, your Father doesn't want you to be uncomfortable. Do
whatever you desire.
 Jesus: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
comes from the mouth of God.'” (Deut 8:3) A meal is less vital than God's
Word. The Father told Jesus to help others, not Himself.

Temptation 2: Leap of faith

 Satan: Show off, expect special privileges beyond other humans, ignore good
sense, twist a Bible verse, and expect God to prevent damage.
 Jesus: "It is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” (Deut
6:16) There's a huge difference between faith and folly, between trusting God
and showing off.

Temptation 3: Worship Satan

 Satan: Get instant results--the whole world--without trusting God's timing and
walking His path.
 Jesus: "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'” (Deut 6:13)
  God is to be worshiped for his own sake, not because he can give the world.
Satan promises the world--but Satan lies.

"Follow me.”
Jesus our representative is to be trusted, thanked, and praised for the
justification he earned for us.
Jesus our example and our strength, is to be imitated and followed in the
sanctification he works in us.

Training for Godliness

... those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to
distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:14)
Train yourself for godliness (1 Tim 6:)

The goal: godliness = Christ in you

 Growing closer to Christ in experience

 Growing like Christ in holy character
 Growing like Christ in eternal impact

Jesus coaches us in godliness

 "The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don't want to do in
order to achieve what they've always wanted to be.” (Tom Landry)
 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things... I discipline my body and
keep it under control (1 Cor 9:25,27).

Desert Power

 Moses: forty years in desert; forty days fasting in the wilderness on Mount
Sinai
 Elijah: forty days without food at Sinai
 John the Baptist: desert dweller
 Jesus: forty days fasting in the wilderness
 Paul: I did not immediately consult with anyone... but I went away into Arabia
(Galatians 1:16-17).

Desert Disciplines
  Solitude: no humans as companions
 Silence: no noise, diversions, conversation
 Secrecy: no people to impress
 Fasting: no pleasure or comfort from food

Disciplined Detachment
The appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives
live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not
mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who
buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though
they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1
Cor 7:29-31)

Daily life is different after desert

 Solitude can make us better at relationships; we are more aware of our faults
and more able to draw on God's power.
 Silence can make us strong in speech. Our tongues controlled, our words well
chosen.
 Secrecy can enhance our witness; we will be more eager to honor God and
help others than to glorify ourselves in others' eyes.
 Fasting can enrich our feasting: everything tastes better when we delight in
the Giver.

Sword of the Spirit

 Jesus to Satan: "It is written... It is written... It is written."

 ...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment
makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. (Psalm 119:97-98)

Detach from the world, wield the Word, meet God, beat Satan, and transform
your world.
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore
whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God... But
he gives more grace... Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:4-
8)

Relief, reward, refreshment

  Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
(Matt 4:11)
 Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Jesus our example provides a pattern of life for us to imitate. As we rely on his
Spirit, practice his disciplines, and pursue his pattern of obedience, our character
gradually becomes like His.
Jesus our representative does what we could not do. Jesus obeyed God and
defeated Satan. God counts Jesus' perfection as ours by faith. So when you fail,
trust your representative; then get back to imitating his example.

Reading: Meditating: Treasure in Your Heart

Mary's Christmas experiences

 Meeting God's messenger Gabriel

 Becoming pregnant without a man
 Reaction of Joseph (and others)
 Seeing Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John
 Caesar's bothersome tax census
 No room except a stable
 Meeting shepherds, Simeon, Anna
 Visit from foreign wise men
 Flight from Herod; refugees in Egypt

Mary's treasury
Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)
And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51)

 treasured: stored and guarded in memory

 pondered: meditated long and often

Was Mary a source for Luke?

... those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses... it seemed good to me also,
having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for
you (Luke 1:2-3).
When Paul visited Jerusalem, Luke was with him (Acts 21:7). Luke probably met
Mary and recorded her memories.
What is meditation?
to dwell upon, keep thinking about, run through your mind over and over

 "If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate.” (Rick Warren)
 You might meditate on football, car, ice skating, finances, problem, argument,
hairdo, boyfriend, movie character

Godly meditation

 "deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the
purposes of understanding, application, and prayer” (Don Whitney)
 "to more deeply gaze upon God in his works and words” (Adele Calhoun”)

God's people meditate much

 You shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. (Deut
11:18)
 On his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1)
 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:12)
 I have stored up your word in my heart... I will meditate on your wondrous
works... your testimonies are my meditation. My eyes are awake before the
watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. (Psalm 119)

Meditating Like Mary

1. Meditate on God's Word

2. Meditate on Jesus
3. Meditate on the marvel of having Jesus in your family
4. Meditate on God's purposes in the events you've experienced

Meditate on God's Word

Gabriel: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord
God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house
of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end... The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the
child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God” (Luke 1:32-35)

Mary's Meditative Magnificat

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior... for he who
is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49)
Mary's prayer echoes many phrases in Psalms and Hannah's prayer (2 Samuel 2).
Evidently Mary's mind had been shaped by much memorization and meditation.
Biblical meditation shapes strong prayers.

Meditate on God's Word

 Zechariah: "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you
will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to
his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our
God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who
sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of
peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)
 Angel message: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord... Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:10-14)
 Simeon at Jesus' dedication: "My eyes have seen your salvation that you
have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the
Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Simeon blessed them and said
to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of
many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through
your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
(Luke 2:30-35)

Memorize: store away treasures

Meditate: swim in treasures

Ponder in your heart

The word of Scripture should never stop sounding in your ears and working in you
all day long, just like the words of someone you love. And just as you do not
analyze the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you,
accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart, as Mary did... Do not ask,
'How shall I pass this on?' but 'What does it say to me?' Then ponder this word
long in your heart until it has gone right into you and taken possession of you.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Meditate on Jesus
The goal of Bible study, memorization, and meditation is to encounter Christ Jesus
and to know Him more intimately.
  You enter more deeply into his life.
 He enters more deeply into your life.
 "Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Focus on Christ within and above

...the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory... If
then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where
Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth... Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.(Col 1:27;
3:1-2,16)

Meditate on the marvel of Jesus in your family

Seeing Christ in your family

 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. (Matthew 18:5)
o Treasure and train your children as you would treasure and train Jesus.
 He is not ashamed to call them brothers (Hebrews 2:11).
o Meditate and focus on how to treat family members with the love and
holiness you would show to Jesus.
 Ponder God's plans for your child, not just your plans.
o And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold,
your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he
said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must
be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he
spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and
was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in
her heart. (Luke 2:48-51)
o When Joseph told his dream to his father and to his brothers, his father
rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed?
Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves
to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his
father kept the saying in mind. (Gen 37:9-11)
 Meditate on honoring Jesus' Spirit in your heart and home
o Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.
(Mark 3:35)
o I will ponder the way that is blameless.
o Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my
house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. (Ps 101:2-3)

Meditating Like Mary

  Meditate on God's Word
 Meditate on Jesus
 Meditate on the marvel of having Jesus in your family
 Meditate on God's purposes in the events you've experienced

Mary's Christmas experiences

 Encountering God's messenger Gabriel

 Becoming pregnant without a man
 Difficulties convincing Joseph
 Seeing Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John
 Caesar's bothersome census
 No room except a stable
 Meeting shepherds, Simeon, Anna
 Visit from foreign wise men
 Flight from Herod; refugees in Egypt

Meditate on God's purposes in the events you've experienced

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for
those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

 When you meditate on Scripture, God shows you ways it applies to life events.
 When you meditate on your life events, God will bring Bible truths to mind.

Meditating Like Mary

 Meditate on God's Word

 Meditate on Jesus
 Meditate on the marvel of having Jesus in your family
 Meditate on God's purposes in the events you've experienced

Meditating: Treasure in Your Heart

 Memorize key portions of the Bible.

 Mull over great acts and doctrines.
 Set aside daily times to think long and longingly. This will result in being
meditative day and night.
 Enjoy deeper personal knowledge of Jesus and closer bond with Him.

Reading: Set Your Mind on the Spirit

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and
peace. (Romans 8:5-6)

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the
way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the
LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by
streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the
wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will
perish. (Psalm 1)

Living Water

 Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The
water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to
eternal life.” (John 4:14)
 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water.' Now this he said about the Spirit (John 7:38-29)

Holy Spirit Within

 ...his Spirit who dwells in you (Rom 8:11)

 ...strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Eph 3:16)
 We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this
comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18)Set Your Mind on the Spirit

Set Your Mind on the Spirit

1. Read Spirit-inspired Scripture daily.

2. Meditate on truths and applications that the Spirit impresses on you.
3. Pray (and/or sing) in response to the Word as the Spirit leads you.
4. Write insights and events in a journal as a record of the Spirit's activity.
This presentation focuses especially on #2 and #4.

1. Read Spirit-inspired Scripture daily.

2. Meditate on truths and applications that the Spirit impresses on you.
3. Pray (and/or sing) in response to the Word as the Spirit leads you.
4. Write insights and events in a journal as a record of the Spirit's
activity.

Godly meditation

 to dwell upon, keep thinking about,run through your mind over and over
 "If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate.” (Rick Warren)
 "deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the
purposes of understanding, application, and prayer” (Don Whitney)

Meditation refocuses us
"Meditation refocuses us from ourselves and from the world so that we reflect on
God's Word, His nature, His abilities, and His works ... So we prayerfully ponder,
muse, and 'chew' the words of Scripture. ...The goal is simply to permit the Holy
Spirit to activate the life-giving Word of God” (Bruce Demarest, Satisfy Your Soul)

The fire of meditation

 "The reason we come away so cold from reading the Word is because we do
not warm ourselves at the fire of meditation.” (Thomas Watson)
 "They usually thrive best who meditate most.” (Thomas Brooks)

Meditation, action, success

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
(Joshua 1:8)

Soul satisfaction
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you... Because
your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you... My soul will be
satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the
night (Psalm 63:1-6)
The first fruit of love
The first fruit of love is the musing of the mind upon God. He who is in love, his
thoughts are ever upon the object. He who loves God is ravished and transported
with the contemplation of God. God is the treasure, and where the treasure is,
there is the heart. By this we may test our love to God. What are our thoughts most
upon? Do we contemplate Christ and glory? Oh, how far are they from being lovers
of God, who scarcely ever think of God! (Thomas Watson)

Delightful meditation
11
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
15
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
16
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your
27

wondrous works. (Psalm 119:11, 15, 16, 27)

Meditating day and night

97
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandment
makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more
understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 148 My
eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your
promise. (Psalm 119:97-99, 148)

Spirit leads in meditation

 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done;
 I ponder the work of your hands... Teach me to do your will, for you are my
God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (Psalm 143:5-10)

Focus heart and mind

 Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)
 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth... Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly.(Col 1:27; 3:1-2,16)

Abiding and bearing fruit

 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in
an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)
  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it
will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and
so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:7-8)

Meditating

 As you meditate on the Bible, the Spirit shows applications to life events.
Christ enters more deeply into your life.
 As you meditate on your life events, the Spirit will bring Bible truths to mind.
You enter more deeply into Christ's life.

Set Your Mind on the Spirit

1. Read Spirit-inspired Scripture daily.

2. Meditate on truths and applications that the Spirit impresses on you.
3. Pray (and/or sing) in response to the Word as the Spirit leads you.
4. Write insights and events in a journal as a record of the Spirit's
activity.

Biblical Examples of Journaling

 Most of Job is a journal of conversation, inner struggle, and encounter with

God.
 Many psalms are feelings, thoughts, and prayers that have been put into
writing.
 Ecclesiastes is a journal of mid-life crisis leading to fresh insight.
 Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and other prophets write down personal struggles.
 Epistles share personal experiences.

Blessings of Journaling

 Tracking God's activity in your life

 Seeing how God answers your prayers
 Setting goals and evaluating progress
 Getting realistic and knowing yourself
 Keeping mind focused in meditation
 Clarifying impressions and insights
 Remembering what the Spirit shows you, rather than forgetting in a few days
 Supporting other spiritual disciplines
Set Your Mind on the Spirit

1. Read Spirit-inspired Scripture daily.

2. Meditate on truths and applications that the Spirit impresses on you.
3. Pray (and/or sing) in response to the Word as the Spirit leads you.
4. Write insights and events in a journal as a record of the Spirit's activity.