Managing Our Time for Spiritual Growth
2003016
Topic # 0612
Introduction:
A. 1 Peter 1:22-23 – Christians have been born
again.
1.
As Christians,
their spiritual diet was to change to where they feasted on the pure milk of
the word.
2.
Why….so that we
may grow.
B.
Spiritual
progress is expected of the Christian.
1.
Eph. 4:14-15 – no
longer tossed to & fro
2.
2 Thess. 1:3
– an enlarged faith
3.
But…how do we in
following through on this?
a)
Think of
spiritual life NOW compared to 6 mths ago; 1 year ago? 5 years ago?
b)
Stronger? Weaker? Either one or the other.
c)
Either moving
closer to Jesus or moving away from Him.
C.
Why is it that we
do not grow into maturity as quick as we should?
1.
Some do well
& never look back.
2.
Others never seem
to get off to a good start & always struggle.
3.
Curtis
Flatt: I am afraid many of us have not ventured far from the baptistery.
D.
Which parallels
your spiritual life? Luke 8:14 or 15?
1.
Ask: Is my life so hectic that we no longer have
time to grow spiritually?
a)
The pace of life
must be of critical concern to the Christian.
b)
If we become too
busy to spend time in activities God has designed for our spiritual growth
– we are in spiritual jeopardy.
E.
Let’s get busy
talking about how time mgmt is important for the Christian.
I. Over Commitment.
A. Stress. Tremendous stress.
1.
A recent
internet search revealed thousands of products on internet to help individuals
to cope w/various forms of stress.
2.
We do spend much
of our time under tremendous stress – why?
3.
Stress
is when your heart says, “don’t do it, your priorities will suffer.” & your
mouth says, “Why sure, I’d be happy to do it.” (Gary Henry)
4.
Even with good
deeds – we can have so much output that there is not enough time for
personal replenishment and spiritual growth.
B.
Why do we think
we can go indefinitely w/o spending time alone w/God?
1.
We must make time for spiritual maintenance.
2.
Don’t? It is RISKY! It is FOOLISH!
3.
We cannot
increase productivity by diminishing maintenance time.
C.
We distracted by worry
about many things.
1.
Lk.
10:38-42
2.
What is really
important?
a)
Yes…we know…but
is it revealed in our actions?
b)
Are we choosing the part that shall not be taken away?
c)
What WILL matter
100 years from now?
3.
We can get busy
here and there with life & then wonder why spiritual lives are weak.
4.
How many of us
are running on empty spiritually?
5.
How many of us
are spiritual accidents waiting to
happen?
D.
Gary Henry: burnout
may be a danger for some…but many of us may be more likely to fizzle out.
II. Look at the perfect example.
A.
Mk. 3:20 –
none of us come close to be as pressed for time as Jesus was. – Mk.
6:30-32
B.
But…Jesus made
necessary arrangements for time alone w/His Father.
1.
Mt.
14:13-14; 22-25
2.
Mk. 1:35
3.
Lk. 6:12
4.
He made this a
habit –
Lk. 5:16
C.
Some have
speculated that Jesus had used Garden of Gethsemane before.
1.
Owned by Lazarus?
2.
Others: was the possession of the rich young
ruler who came to Christ after the story in Mt. 22. Pure conjecture.
D.
John 18:2 –
Judas knew right where to go.
1.
One CAN take time
to commune w/God.
2.
We will do what
is important to us!
III. We are in need of better time
management.
A.
Talk often of
being good stewards of money.
1.
But…must also be
good stewards of TIME!
B.
Must guard
against being miserly with our time for spiritual things!
1.
Why?
2.
It is the MOST
important thing we can do!
C.
Why “miserly” in
this & yet willing to squander time on so many things unimportant?
1.
We can be down
right prodigal in this regard.
2.
Prodigal: “recklessly wasteful; extravagant”
3.
Lk. 15:11-13
– prodigal son WASTED what he had been given.
D.
We must reallocate our resources in the use of
our time.
IV. This requires discipline.
A.
Spiritual growth
is IMPORTANT!
1.
What are we “feasting
upon?” 1 Pet. 2:2
2.
Mt. 4:4 – LIFE
is connected w/the word!
3.
Must give
diligence to this – 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim. 4:13, 15-16
B.
This means we
must turn off the TV. Put down the
NEWSPAPER.
1.
There is NO
spiritual growth in these!
2.
This is the #1
culprit robbing us of spiritual vitality!
C.
Take time to be
holy.
1.
SPEAK oft w/thy
Lord.
2.
FEED on His word.
3.
SPEND much TIME
in secret w/Jesus ALONE
4.
Be CALM in thy
soul.
D.
We CAN build some
“quiet spaces” somewhere in there among many other activities.
E.
Are we following
through when it comes to the following passages?
1.
1
Cor. 15:58
2.
Js. 1:27
3.
Phil.
2:14-15
4.
WE ARE to ABOUND
in it!
Conclusion:
A.
Are we giving
ourselves ENTIRELY to spiritual matters? Lk.
8:14-15
B.
Significant time
for spiritual growth must be more than a resolution we keep for a few days
& then fall back into our old ways.
C.
WE need to ask
for God’s help…
D.
Are you a
Christian?
E.
I N V I T A T I O
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