Becoming a Good, Godly, and Growing Servant

Devotional

Day 1: Daily Spiritual Exercise

To maintain a healthy soul, engage in daily spiritual exercise.

Just as physical exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy body, daily spiritual exercise is crucial for maintaining a healthy soul. This involves daily engagement with Scripture, prayer, and an intentional pursuit of God. Without this, we risk falling prey to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Paul emphasizes the necessity of daily spiritual exercise to avoid spiritual flabbiness, which can lead to falling prey to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. He urges Timothy to maintain a clear conscience, reject false teachings, and pass on sound doctrine. [01:27]

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV): "Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 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."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure you are engaging in daily spiritual exercise? How can you incorporate Scripture reading and prayer into your daily routine?

Day 2: Maintaining a Clear Conscience

A clear conscience allows us to live securely in our relationship with Jesus.

Paul emphasizes the importance of keeping a clear conscience. A clear conscience allows us to live securely in our relationship with Jesus, while a seared conscience can lead us astray. Regular repentance and seeking God's forgiveness help maintain this clarity. Paul advises Timothy to maintain a clear conscience, reject false teachings, and pass on sound doctrine. This clarity is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God and avoiding the pitfalls of false teachings. [09:24]

Acts 24:16 (ESV): "So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man."

Reflection: Is there anything in your life that is causing you to have a troubled conscience? How can you seek God's forgiveness and make amends today to restore a clear conscience?

Day 3: Training in Godliness

Godliness requires intentional effort and discipline, much like physical exercise.

Godliness requires intentional effort and discipline. Paul advises Timothy to train himself in godliness, much like an athlete trains for a sport. This involves avoiding distractions and focusing on spiritual growth through disciplined practices. Training in godliness is not a passive activity; it requires active participation and dedication. By prioritizing spiritual growth and avoiding distractions, we can develop a deeper relationship with God and grow in our faith. [12:23]

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (ESV): "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Reflection: What are some distractions in your life that are hindering your spiritual growth? How can you intentionally focus on training in godliness today?

Day 4: Valuing the Eternal Over the Temporal

Prioritize spiritual health and eternal aspects of life over temporary, earthly concerns.

While taking care of our physical health is important, Paul urges us to prioritize our spiritual health. The eternal aspects of our lives, such as our relationship with Jesus and our spiritual growth, should take precedence over temporary, earthly concerns. By focusing on what is eternal, we can develop a deeper relationship with God and grow in our faith. This perspective helps us to live a life that is pleasing to God and aligned with His purposes. [18:20]

2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What are some temporary, earthly concerns that you have been prioritizing over your spiritual health? How can you shift your focus to value the eternal aspects of your life today?

Day 5: Cultivating Spiritual Gifts

Do not neglect the spiritual gifts given to you; use them to build up the church community.

Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gifts given to him. Each of us has unique gifts that contribute to the body of Christ. By cultivating and using these gifts, we grow in our faith and help build up the church community. It is important to recognize and develop the spiritual gifts that God has given us, as they are essential for the growth and edification of the church. By using our gifts, we can make a positive impact on the lives of others and glorify God. [27:38]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What spiritual gifts has God given you? How can you actively cultivate and use these gifts to serve others and build up the church community today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we delved into Paul's first letter to Timothy, focusing on the importance of being a good, godly, and growing servant of Jesus. Paul emphasizes the necessity of daily spiritual exercise to avoid spiritual flabbiness, which can lead to falling prey to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. He urges Timothy to maintain a clear conscience, reject false teachings, and pass on sound doctrine. Paul also highlights the importance of training oneself in godliness, which requires intentional effort and discipline, much like physical exercise.

Paul's advice to Timothy is broken down into three sections: being a good servant, a godly servant, and a growing servant. A good servant rejects deceiving spirits and maintains a clear conscience. A godly servant trains in godliness, avoids myths and superstitions, and values eternal things over temporal ones. A growing servant sets an example in speech, life, love, faith, and purity, devotes themselves to the public reading of Scripture, and does not neglect their spiritual gifts.

Paul's counsel to Timothy is not just for him but for all of us. We are encouraged to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, to meditate on the deep things of God, and to cultivate our spiritual gifts. By doing so, we will grow in our faith and become more like Christ, setting an example for others to follow. The sermon concludes with a call to self-examination, asking whether we are growing in our Christ-likeness and setting a godly example in our daily lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. Daily Spiritual Exercise: Just as physical exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy body, daily spiritual exercise is crucial for maintaining a healthy soul. This involves daily engagement with Scripture, prayer, and intentional pursuit of God. Without this, we risk falling prey to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. [01:27]
2. Maintaining a Clear Conscience: Paul emphasizes the importance of keeping a clear conscience. A clear conscience allows us to live securely in our relationship with Jesus, while a seared conscience can lead us astray. Regular repentance and seeking God's forgiveness help maintain this clarity. [09:24]
3. Training in Godliness: Godliness requires intentional effort and discipline. Paul advises Timothy to train himself in godliness, much like an athlete trains for a sport. This involves avoiding distractions and focusing on spiritual growth through disciplined practices. [12:23]
4. Valuing the Eternal Over the Temporal: While taking care of our physical health is important, Paul urges us to prioritize our spiritual health. The eternal aspects of our lives, such as our relationship with Jesus and our spiritual growth, should take precedence over temporary, earthly concerns. [18:20]
5. Cultivating Spiritual Gifts: Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gifts given to him. Each of us has unique gifts that contribute to the body of Christ. By cultivating and using these gifts, we grow in our faith and help build up the church community. [27:38]
### [27:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:27] - Introduction to Timothy's Context
[02:57] - Being a Good Servant
[04:36] - Rejecting Deceiving Spirits
[06:06] - Doctrines of Demons
[08:00] - Identifying False Teachings
[09:24] - Keeping a Clear Conscience
[10:43] - Seared Conscience Explained
[12:23] - Training in Godliness
[14:00] - Avoiding Myths and Superstitions
[15:33] - God Helps Those Who Cannot Help Themselves
[16:56] - Thinking, Feeling, and Acting Like Jesus
[18:20] - Valuing the Eternal Over the Temporal
[20:00] - Growing as a Servant
[23:14] - Public Reading of Scripture
[27:38] - Cultivating Spiritual Gifts
[29:08] - Keeping a Firm Grasp on Character
[32:36] - Self-Examination and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean by "spiritual flabbiness," and how does he suggest we avoid it? [01:27]
According to Paul, what are the characteristics of a good servant of Jesus? [02:57]
How does Paul describe the importance of maintaining a clear conscience? [09:24]
What does Paul mean by "doctrines of demons," and how can they affect believers? [04:36]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize the need for daily spiritual exercise, and how does it compare to physical exercise? [12:23]
How can believers identify and reject deceiving spirits and false teachings in today's context? [06:06]
What does it mean to train oneself in godliness, and why is it important for a believer's spiritual growth? [12:23]
How does valuing eternal things over temporal ones impact a believer's daily life and decisions? [18:20]

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily spiritual practices. Are there specific areas where you feel "spiritually flabby"? What steps can you take to strengthen your spiritual discipline? [01:27]
Think about a time when your conscience was not clear. How did it affect your relationship with God and others? What practices can help you maintain a clear conscience regularly? [09:24]
Identify some modern "doctrines of demons" that you or others around you might be susceptible to. How can you guard against these false teachings? [04:36]
In what ways can you train yourself in godliness? Are there specific spiritual exercises or disciplines you can incorporate into your daily routine? [12:23]
How do you currently balance your focus between eternal and temporal concerns? Are there changes you can make to prioritize your spiritual health more effectively? [18:20]
Reflect on the spiritual gifts you believe God has given you. How can you cultivate and use these gifts to serve your church community better? [27:38]
Consider your example in speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Are there specific areas where you feel you need to grow? What practical steps can you take to improve in these areas? [23:14]

Sermon Clips

1. "Exercise daily in God. No spiritual flabbiness, please. I love this. Paul says, hey, look, Timothy, if you're going to pastor a church, if you're going to help people, if you're going to be a part of this people who are God seekers, who want more of God, if you're going to do that, you can't be flabby spiritually. It won't pass the test. You'll fall to doctrines of demons. You'll fall to these little things that'll pop up here and there. Spiritual flabbiness will not cut it, the apostle Paul says. So you've got to exercise daily." [14:00] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Train yourself to be godly. Paul says to Timothy, Timothy, you have to train yourself to be godly. He says, Timothy, look, you're not going to be godly by sitting around watching television all day. It won't work. I mean, you're not going to be godly by sitting around listening to talk radio all day. It won't work. He said, you have to train yourself to be godly. This is, you got to be intentional about this. You got to really work at this. You've got to go through a training program in order to be godly." [12:23] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Keep a clear conscience. Paul says it's very important for us as people, as Christians, to have a clear conscience. You know, you've been in that state we all have where your conscience is not clear, where you've got something in your conscience that is causing you to fret. It's causing challenge for you. There could be shame. There could be guilt. And it's weighing on your conscience. And you know the difference between that and when you come before the Lord and you ask for forgiveness. And of course, the Lord, you repent. And of course, what does he do? He washes you completely clean and your conscience is clear." [09:24] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Value the eternal over the temporal. What does this mean? The temporal is things that are of the earth, that are temporary. So it is important that you and I keep ourselves healthy, that we have a healthy diet. That we exercise those type of things. Those are temporal things. Paul says, look, there's some value in that, but it's far more important for you to value the eternal, your intimate walk with Jesus, your time in the scriptures, your time in serving the Lord, your time in developing yourself in Christ likeness. That's the eternal things that Paul says that we should value above the temporary." [18:20] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Think about this. Paul says, think about this. All the things that I've just taught you, all these things, I want you to think on them. Now, we as modern people, we may just kind of overlook this little, little sentence here. Paul says to stop and meditate. Stop and contemplate the deep things of God. Find a place where you can just sit and think. Now, if you're a mother and you got a bunch of kids running around, that's really hard to do, isn't it? It's very difficult. Sometimes we have very busy lives, but here's what Paul's saying is that in order to grow in the things of God, you have to be able to just think about God." [20:00] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Paul says, Timothy, you got to keep a firm grasp on your character. Timothy, look now, hold on, Timothy, this is real important. Let me say this again. Timothy, you got to really hold on tight to your character. Timothy, don't let go of your character. Timothy, you got to hold on. You got to watch over your character. You got to guard your character because if character is lost, everything is lost. If money is lost, nothing is lost. But if character is lost, everything is lost." [29:08] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Train, discipline, and exercise yourself to think, feel, and act like Jesus. Now, this fascinates me. I've always heard that I'm supposed to be like Christ, become like Christ, to be a Christ follower, that I more and more become in his image, that we're image bearers of God. That I'm supposed to look like Jesus, but am I supposed to think like Jesus? Yes, when I read the scriptures and memorize scriptures, I begin to think like Jesus. And when I act like Jesus, maybe I go and I feed the hungry, I do something, I do a service project or something like that. I'm acting like Jesus, but feeling like Jesus, man, I want some of that." [15:33] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Paul says, look, just keep at it. The only way you lose is when you quit. As a Christian, if you and I have given our lives to Jesus Christ, the only way we lose is if we quit. And then he goes, closes by this. He says, both you and those who hear you will experience salvation. Salvation is a one-time thing. It's an event, but also salvation is a process of sanctification that I walk out for the rest of my life." [30:49] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Pass on the counsel of faith and sound teaching. Look, just pass on sound teaching from the scriptures, proven teaching, not weird, crazy ideas, not things that will cause you to go out into the desert and do weird things. Sound teaching, sound teaching. He says, pass those things on." [10:43] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "God helps those who recognize they can't help themselves. If you can help yourself like the Pharisees who came and said, hey, we have Abraham as our father. We don't need you to be our Messiah. Would you imagine saying that to Jesus? We don't need you to be our Messiah. We don't need salvation. God helps those who recognize they can't help themselves. This is why Jesus in the opening line of the greatest message he ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, he says this, blessed are those who are poor in spirit. The translation, directly from the Greek means this, blessed are those who know they're dependent upon God." [15:33] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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