Embracing Holiness Through Training and Indirection

Devotional

Day 1: Training Over Trying

Spiritual growth is not about exerting more effort but about engaging in consistent training and discipline. This approach allows believers to naturally embody the teachings of Jesus, rather than forcing themselves to adhere to them. The journey of faith is not a sprint but a marathon, where the focus is on developing habits and practices that align with Christ's teachings. By prioritizing training over trying, individuals can experience a transformation that is both sustainable and deeply rooted in their spiritual lives. [02:44]

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 is one spiritual discipline you can commit to practicing regularly this week to train yourself in godliness?

Day 2: Empowered Humility

True humility empowers believers, while a state of perpetual brokenness can limit spiritual growth. Living in holiness means recognizing our dependence on God and embracing a humble spirit that seeks His strength. This humility is not about feeling defeated but about acknowledging our need for God and allowing His power to work through us. By embracing empowered humility, we can live victoriously in our faith, moving beyond defeat and into a life of purpose and strength. [05:32]

James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel broken or defeated? How can you invite God’s empowering presence into these areas today?

Day 3: Indirection in Discipleship

Progress toward Christ-likeness is achieved through indirection, where spiritual disciplines serve as a means to develop character, not as an end in themselves. This approach aligns with the teachings of the New Testament, emphasizing the importance of becoming the kind of person who naturally does what Jesus taught. Discipleship is about transformation from the inside out, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our character and actions. By focusing on indirection, believers can cultivate a life that reflects the heart and mind of Christ. [09:27]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: What is one spiritual discipline you can engage in this week that will help you develop a Christ-like character?

Day 4: Holiness Through Self-Denial

Holiness involves full obedience to Christ and self-denial, which is about subjecting our kingdom to God's kingdom. This leads to a life of sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. Self-denial is not about becoming nothing but about aligning our desires and actions with God's will. By practicing self-denial, believers can experience a deeper sense of well-being and joy, even amidst life's challenges. This path of holiness is marked by a commitment to live according to God's standards and to seek His kingdom above all else. [23:01]

Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can practice self-denial this week to align more closely with God’s kingdom?

Day 5: Hope of Heaven

Our ultimate hope lies in the promise of heaven, which provides perspective and strength to endure life's trials. Believers are called to live as vicars of Christ, representing Him in their daily lives, whether in grand or humble circumstances. This hope of heaven offers a sense of purpose and fulfillment, reminding us that our present struggles are temporary and that eternal joy awaits. By keeping our eyes on the promise of heaven, we can navigate life's challenges with resilience and faith, knowing that our ultimate reward is with Christ. [33:36]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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: How can the promise of heaven change the way you approach a current challenge or trial in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, we often encounter three common responses to the teachings of Jesus: trying harder, living in defeat, or progressing through indirection. The first response, trying harder, often leads to frustration and hopelessness. It is not through sheer effort that we achieve spiritual growth, but through training and discipline. The second response, living in defeat, is characterized by a state of brokenness that some have exalted as a constant condition. However, true humility empowers us, while brokenness can limit us. We are called to live in holiness, not in perpetual brokenness.

The third response, which I advocate, is progress toward the character and power of Christ through indirection. This involves discipleship and active grace, where spiritual disciplines are not the end goal but a means to develop a Christ-like character. It is about becoming the kind of person who naturally does what Jesus taught, rather than trying to do it directly. This approach aligns with the teachings of the New Testament and the historical journey of the people of Christ.

Holiness, as Calvin rightly emphasized, is about full obedience to Christ, not merely a set of actions or beliefs. It involves self-denial, which is not about becoming nothing but about subjecting our kingdom to God's kingdom. This self-denial leads to a life of sobriety, righteousness, and godliness, as described in Titus 2. It is about living with a sense of well-being, even amidst pain and sorrow, and finding joy in the hope of heaven.

Our ultimate hope lies in the promise of heaven, which provides perspective and strength to endure the trials of this life. We are called to live as vicars of Christ, representing Him in our daily lives, whether in grand or humble circumstances. This is our vocation, and it is through this calling that we find true fulfillment and purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Training Over Trying: Spiritual growth is not achieved by trying harder but through training and discipline. This approach allows us to naturally embody the teachings of Jesus, rather than forcing ourselves to adhere to them. [02:44]
2. Empowered Humility: True humility empowers us, while a state of perpetual brokenness can limit our spiritual growth. We are called to live in holiness, not in defeat, recognizing our dependence on God. [05:32]
3. Indirection in Discipleship: Progress toward Christ-likeness is achieved through indirection, where spiritual disciplines serve as a means to develop character, not as an end in themselves. This approach aligns with the teachings of the New Testament. [09:27]
4. Holiness Through Self-Denial: Holiness involves full obedience to Christ and self-denial, which is about subjecting our kingdom to God's kingdom. This leads to a life of sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. [23:01]
5. Hope of Heaven: Our ultimate hope lies in the promise of heaven, which provides perspective and strength to endure life's trials. We are called to live as vicars of Christ, representing Him in our daily lives. [33:36]
** [33:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Responses to Jesus' Teachings
[00:57] - The Shower Analogy
[01:38] - Church Service Strategies
[02:04] - Struggles in Christian Progress
[02:44] - Training Over Trying
[03:13] - Living in Defeat
[05:32] - Empowered Humility
[06:49] - Dependence on God
[09:27] - Indirection in Discipleship
[10:51] - Personal Walk with the Lord
[13:24] - The Role of Conscience
[16:01] - Avoiding Manipulation
[18:05] - Teaching and Listening
[19:25] - Calvin's View on Holiness
[23:01] - Self-Denial and God's Kingdom
[33:36] - Hope of Heaven

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the three common responses to the teachings of Jesus mentioned in the sermon? ([00:19])
How does the sermon describe the difference between trying harder and training in the context of spiritual growth? ([02:44])
What is the role of humility in spiritual growth according to the sermon? ([05:32])
How does the sermon define self-denial in relation to God's kingdom? ([23:01])

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of "indirection" in discipleship challenge traditional views of spiritual growth? ([09:27])
In what ways does the sermon suggest that living in a state of brokenness can limit spiritual growth? ([05:32])
How does the sermon interpret the idea of holiness as described by Calvin, and how does it relate to self-denial? ([23:01])
What does the sermon suggest is the ultimate hope for believers, and how does this hope influence daily living? ([33:36])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you found yourself trying harder rather than training? What changes can you make to focus more on training and discipline? ([02:44])
Consider a time when you felt broken. How can you shift from a state of brokenness to empowered humility in your spiritual life? ([05:32])
What spiritual disciplines can you incorporate into your life to progress toward Christ-likeness through indirection? ([09:27])
How can you practice self-denial in your daily life to align your kingdom with God's kingdom? ([23:01])
In what ways can the hope of heaven provide you with strength and perspective during difficult times? ([33:36])
How can you live as a vicar of Christ in your current circumstances, whether grand or humble? ([37:17])
Identify one area in your life where you can practice obedience to Christ. What steps will you take this week to act on this? ([20:59])

Sermon Clips

"Now what I have found is that people struggle on these first two three paths of Christian progress one is to try harder to live up to the commandments don't do it and that's what makes people hopeless obviously there should be a desire to keep the commandments but you don't get there by trying harder." [00:02:04]

"Brokenness has become exalted in recent years as a constant condition in which you must live. Don't sing that song to me about victory in Jesus there ain't no victory in Jesus you just stay broken until you're dead and out of here and something will automatically happen and you'll become a person who is comfortable in righteousness." [00:03:13]

"I would say that humility empowers you and brokenness doesn't you remember what humility is now and here again I go back to the books why living independence absolutely right give that girl an a in the course that's right now you see brokenness is a limited form of defendants it's dependence on forgiveness." [00:05:32]

"Progress toward the character and power of Christ by indirection that's the way disciplines work is indirection that's true in any area you don't just start with Beethoven's apocanada sonata and try real hard to play it if you succeeded it wouldn't be because you have become a musician maybe you have become a robot." [00:09:27]

"Holiness means full obedience to Christ now that's right and then you have to be careful and one of the things that not only Calvinism but Arminianism and all the isms is they come to this and then they have problems interpreting it and the almost inevitable tendency is to try to interpret it in terms of specific actions." [00:19:25]

"Self-denial does not say oh I am nothing I am nothing I am nothing you ain't nothing you're something and you bring that into subjection to Christ the king and that is self-denial it's subjecting your kingdom to his kingdom it is surrender of the will in precisely that sense and it means anything but that you become a nothing." [00:23:01]

"Joy is not whoopi um joy is as I said a pervasive sense of well-being and that is compatible with pain and sorrow so basically we just have to make sure that they understand what these are and it's really important that we do that and one of the reasons why I spend so much time defining and describing is because we desperately need it." [00:30:32]

"And there really is no solution to the um difficulties of life than the hope of heaven and if that's if see if that doesn't mean anything to us then it won't help us and it's very interesting and it's it's fascinating to watch people handle the text of old writings look on page 67." [00:33:36]

"Hopefulness for the next life is what lifts us out of all of the difficulties in this life and so you get language like on page 70 human life is nothing but a vapor or shadow well the things of earth grow strangely dim right so we've even sung that here in the light of what the full story is." [00:36:22]

"God has placed us in this world at a place in a time and that we are to stand there as his vicars now if you don't believe that you're a vicar of Christ you believe you need a backward collar on or something to be a vicar please work on that you are a vicar of Christ where you are that's your calling." [00:37:09]

"Don't try to do what he said try to become the kind of person who would do what he's that's the indirection that's the indirection so running scales that's the indirection because if you do that it turns out you can actually do that other stuff that Beethoven wrote out for you and it will be something of a surprise and a gift when you do." [00:11:23]

"Holiness does not consist in a specific set of actions or beliefs that would mark you out as a good Calvinist or something of that sort and now he has it right the top of page 19 paragraph opening there we should exhibit the character of Christ in our lives for what can be more effective than this one stirring consideration." [00:20:03]

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