Training for Godliness
Victory Life Church, Durant, OK — Sunday, January 7, 2024
Jeremiah 12:5a (ESV) “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?”
Jeremiah 12:5 (MSG) “So, Jeremiah, if you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can’t keep your wits during times of calm, what’s going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”
We exist to see people transformed by Jesus
1 Timothy 4:6–8 (ESV) 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. 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.
Transformation is not sustained without training.
James 1:2–4 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Trials and tests are opportunities for training in godliness.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Training in godliness is learning how to rely on Jesus’ grace in the midst of trials and tests.
“A [spiritual] discipline is…nothing but an activity undertaken to bring us into more effective cooperation with Christ and his Kingdom…to grow in grace is to grow in what is given to us…by God. The disciplines are…a means to that grace and also to those gifts. Spiritual disciplines, “exercises unto godliness,” are only activities undertaken to make us capable of receiving more of his life and power without harm to ourselves or others.” ~ Dallas Willard The Spirit of the Disciplines, pg. 156
Spiritual disciplines are intended to train us to rely on grace in the midst of trials.
James 1:4 (ESV) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Training in godliness develops the endurance necessary for maturity.
1 Timothy 4:7b–8 (ESV) 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.
Jeremiah 12:5a (ESV) “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?”