The P s of Self Care Committed, Purging, and Pruning. Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Practical Living Ministry

Transcription

1 The P s of Self Care Committed, Purging, and Pruning Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Practical Living Ministry

2 Introduction: The P s of Self Care Prayer: Man is the being that prays (nepesh); Genesis 2:7 Praise provides strength and victory (Psalms 8:2) People (God made us relational which is where our strength comes from) Presence (Where you spend your time is where you find your life) Process (It s truly how you go about it) Power (Connection, Association, Authority) Purpose (People without purpose lose strength, restraint, and focus) Perspire (Exertion of Ministry) Pruning and Purging Strengthening our faith and requiring commitment Participation (Activities, Associations, Actions, and Alignment) Priorities (God, Others Self Prepares you for Eternal Life) Pursue Perfection (completeness or wholeness) (Hebrews 13:21; Matt 5:48) Patience (Endurance, Temperance) (1 st Tim 6:1; Hebrews 10:36) Peace (keeping your mind and hearts free from worry) (Philippians 4:7)

3 What Is Commitment What is Commitment? In simplest terms, a commitment is "something pledged. Commitment additionally includes the responsibility to practice specific activities [Gk poieo to do, cause, commit; prasso to do, practice, commit]. Love for God is more than a feeling or affection but a commitment to follow Him all the way. If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). Each believer is responsible to respond to God s call by committing their heart, mind, body, and life to serve Him, to share the Gospel, and to be His ambassadors in this world. Deny Take Up Follow Luke 14:27

4 How Can One Identify a Committed Christian? One s greatest concern is His Lord's glory. He lives so that whatever he does brings glory to his Lord. Since God's glory is wrapped up in His attributes. His love, mercy, grace, wisdom, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence. We not only praise and glorify Him, but we also reflect and declare His glory by demonstrating aspects of godly traits of love, wisdom, patience, righteous behavior A committed Christian loves God s people (Romans 5:5; Romans 13:8-10) One reason pseudo-christian cults, Eastern mysticism and false doctrines have so much influence today is that not many Christians are definitive disciples. We should be known by our love one for another and our commitment to one another and godly principles (John 8:31; John 13:35) Committed To Use One s Abilities/Spiritual Gifts For The Church 1 Peter 4:10-11 we read, As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

5 How About a Un-Committed Christian? Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. James 1:7: So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. A lover of worldly pleasures

6 Spiritual Identity and Commitment Barna Study: The study also examined people s spiritual identity. For instance, 83% of Americans identified as Christians, yet only 49% of these individuals described themselves as absolutely committed to Christianity. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? A Christian without commitment is such an oxymoron. You are Committed to Something even if it is being committed to being uncommitted When Commitment becomes a struggle.surrender Are You Committed to Your Christian Identity? Are You a Nominal Christian? Nominal Christianity is defined by those who proclaim the name Christian, yet remain uncommitted in any real sense. This person may believe but have no passion for service or for God s people (Evangelical vs. Born Again: Christians) But I m Just Not Committed

7 Psalms 15: Here is a Good Model LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. He who swears to his own hurt and does not change: The idea behind this is the man keeps his promises even when it is no longer in his advantage to do so. He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent: David described the man who is concerned to live a righteous life when it comes to money.

8 Keep in Mind Zeal according to Knowledge: Romans 10:2 - For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Zeal without a knowledge of God s righteousness and glory, will lead one to establish his/her own righteousness how you perceive God is to be serve and your identity over His requirement Spiritual service (Romans 12:1; Romans 1:9) This is not an external service merely, but service generated from the spirit of man Serve within an environment where you can grow and learn (Hebrews 10:26) 1 Tim. 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Don t over-commit Avoid unwise, flippant, deceptive, and pressured oaths James 5:12 - But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

9 How To Stay Committed Examine Yourself Daily Be bold as to ask God to test you 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Come to God daily for forgiveness and the cleansing of sins Stay in an attitude of repentance and godly fear 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Seek the Lord with all your heart daily Maintain a daily spiritual focus Psalms 27:8 - When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Commit to a Kingdom work Do what you were saved to do Work for the kingdom Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

10 All Things Work Together For Good Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ALL THINGS Can we truly quantify that? But we can truly Qualify that What are you doing while you are waiting for God to do something for you? For Who? Results: Those who love God, and, consequently, who live in the spirit of obedience and Connected to God s Purpose. All these things work together; while they are working, God's providence is working, his Spirit is working, and they are working Together with him. We should not be passively waiting, but actively producing.

11 God s Call For Commitment 2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. This country is suffering because of a lack of committed Christians, called to be lights in this world have taken the world s narratives rather than obey God s commands Humility Is a very hard concept in this culture. We don t need another Revolution. We need a Revival Faithfulness and Blessings are connected

12 How Does This Work? All things - All our afflictions and trials; all the persecutions and calamities to which we are exposed to. Though we must face the sufferings of this present time (Romans 8:18). God is able to even make those sufferings work together for our good and His good. Work together for good - They shall cooperate; they shall mutually contribute to our good. Some aspects is that it will bring us closer to God, strengthen us spiritually, develop spiritual fruit This has been the experience of all saints; and at the end of life they have been able to say it was good for them to be afflicted; Psalm 119:67, Psalm 119:71; Jeremiah 31:18-19; Hebrews 12:11. For good - For our real welfare; for the promotion of true piety, peace, and happiness in our hearts

13 Self Care: Allow For God s Pruning & Purging Pruning occurs for two purposes: to bring greater health to the plant and to prepare for greater multiplication. God will prune even the good things in our lives in order to get us ready for greater health and multiplication. God s Word is the perfect tool for pruning us. (Hebrews 4:12) along with the work of the Spirit in our lives (Conviction, teaching, and reminding) Pruning, whether physical or spiritual, doesn t seem pleasant during the process, but it really is necessary for health and growth. Hebrews 12:11 - Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

14 Self Care and Spiritual Productivity comes through Abiding in the Vine John 15:1-8: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

15 Points of Emphasis We are required to bear spiritual fruit This spiritual fruit is not to be confused with only bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5), but also to be fruitful in accomplishing God s purpose for us God purges and uses only productive branches Any fruit you may or exemplify apart from the true vine is not profitable to God When people tend to seek God apart from the Spirit of God which provides the life to the vine, they are not in true relationship with the vine The Vine provides Connection, Strength, Comfort, and Blessings

16 The Pruning Process Pruning involves cutting off superfluous branches. This is done to make the tree bear better fruit, grow higher or to give the tree a more handsome appearance. The dictionary defines pruning as "to trim by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to encourage growth, This means pruning is not to diminish you but to grow you and make you better God directs our pruning through the Holy Spirit. God s Spirit guides us into all truth, helping us to study what we need in God s Word which becomes our most significant tool of growth This Pruning may also come through trials that we experience

17 Purging 2 nd Timothy 2:19-21: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

18 What Does This Cleansing Involve? Repentance and Renouncing of Sin in our lives It is a fleshly and spiritual cleansing: 2 Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Let us cleanse ourselves. This aspect of cleansing is mostly connected with intimacy with God, and usefulness for service. The request is for Us to cleanse ourselves, requiring a conscious, committed act Sometimes it is easier to deal with the filthiness of the flesh than the filthiness of the spirit. Filthiness of the spirit: Our pride, envy, jealousy, our legalism, our self-focus, our selfrighteousness, our bitterness, and our hatred Perfecting holiness: Not only purge, but submit to a process of increasing in holiness

19 Thoughts to Carry Over Where are you in your spiritual self care? Do you feel prepared for the work ahead? Where are you in your commitment to God? What is that one thing that you feel needs pruning or purging right now? Are you willing allow God to trim that area in your life? To abide in the vine represents connection and relationship Realize apart from the vine, you cannot receive God s nourishment

20 Exercising the D s of Early Self Care and Spiritual Development Dependence upon God Faith builds us up Discipleship disciplined lifestyle Deliverance freedom from bondage Devotion to God Strengthened in our praise, worship, and prayer Discernment Exercising godly judgment and observation to keep and protect oneself 20

21 R.E.S.T. Always Relationships fellowship; roles (spouse, father, son, etc); connected to God Exercise Physically: bodily exercise profits little; Spiritual: exercise spiritual senses Schedule- Redeem your time; Cease or manage all unnecessary activity; time=importance Trust that God will comfort, strengthen, restore, bless, and keep you