Restoring Spiritual Vitality -Part 3 Galatians 6:9 May 5, 2013 INTRODUCTION: To grow weary or to lose heart are both terms that carry the idea of becoming exhausted and giving up. Sometimes in life it s the extra weight that has been placed on us and at other times it is the sin that seems to surround us. Hebrews 12:1, says; let us lay aside every encumbrance (weight), and the sin which so easily entangles us (surrounds us), and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing (as if turning away from all else) our eyes on Jesus. 1. Encumbrance: Remove anything that hinders-as an athlete would strip away every piece of unnecessary clothing before competing in the race. 2. Entanglements: Sins cherished by the one competing. 3. Endurance: A steady determination to keep going, regardless of the temptation to slow down or give up. We derive our word agony from this word, reminding us that at times it is a grueling effort. A faith that can t be tested, can t be trusted, or a faith that hasn t been tested, can t be trusted The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to see Jesus as our example, for He persevered so He might receive the joy of accomplishment. 2 John 8, Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. The idea here is of the fullness of a believers reward for all the good he/she has done (1 Corinthians 3:10-17) I. THE INCARNATION FOR RESTORATION OF SPIRITUAL VITALITY Jesus Temptation Narrative We have recorded something so real to every Christian that so desires to live a life pleasing to the Lord, a life that will rebound to God s Glory. In the Temptation Narrative, Jesus exposed the tactics (devices) of the enemy and revealed to us how we can overcome when we are tempted to give up. Remember, temptation is Satan s tool to defeat us (give up), but it can become God s tool to develop us. The Jews of the first century had a saying, The Holy One, blessed be His name, does not elevate a man to dignity till He has first tried and searched him, and if He stands in temptation, then He raises him to dignity. 1 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt Restoring Spiritual Vitality May 5, 2013 AM
What I Have Noticed In Life The Lord doesn t seem to keep us from temptation but He seems to bring us through temptation. The Hebrew children were not delivered from the fire, but in it! The key more times than not, is endurance; not giving in or giving up. Ecclesiastes 7:26, And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be trapped by her. (Literally translates he who is good before God. ) The temptations of Adam and Eve after creation and the temptations of Jesus before redemption, did not change in the sense of Satan s tactics. First: Matthew 4:1-3, Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. Deals with the Flesh Teaches us to trust God to Provide Second: Matthew 4:5-6, Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" Deals with Faith Teaches us to trust God to Produce. The Deuteronomy 6:16 passage reminds us that Moses could not produce water for Israel, only God could. Third: Matthew 4:8-9, Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. " Deals with Fame Teaches us to trust God for Patience. Satan always offers immediate delight. He wants you to sacrifice the eternal for the temporary and take the easy way. Psalms 37:4, Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. God s pattern is to start with suffering and ends with glory; while Satan s pattern is to start with glory and end with suffering. 2 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt Restoring Spiritual Vitality May 5, 2013 AM
The best is yet to come with Jesus. Satan will give you his best now, and then it gets worse. Revelation 11:15, Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" It s as if Satan is saying to Jesus, You don t have to go to Calvary, just bow to me. Adam and Eve in the Garden 1. Flesh Genesis 3:6 pleasant to the eyes a desirable thing 2. Faith Genesis 3:1 Has God indeed said. questions God s absolute moral authority 3. Fame Genesis 3:5, For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." His lies always promise great benefits, but he never comes through. II. THE EXHORTATION FOR RESTORATION OF SPIRTUAL VITALITY We are to wait Isaiah 40:28-31, Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. 3 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt Restoring Spiritual Vitality May 5, 2013 AM
We must be PATIENT We are to PRAY Luke 18:1, Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, Followed by a story from Jesus reminding us that the Lord responds to those who cry for His help. Note: Luke 18:2-8 Luke 18:7, And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? When He delays, He has good reasons! We must consume God s Word Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in You richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Revelation 12:11, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Testimony of my calling to FBCW 1 Samuel 21:1-2, Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no one is with you? So David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, 'Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.' And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. III. THE MOTIVATION FOR RESTORATION OF SPIRITUAL VITALITY Galatians 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men. Opportunity refers to a fixed and distinct period of time. The phrase while we have does not refer to occasional opportunities that may arise in a believer s life, but to the total opportunity of his present earthly existence. It is during my life on earth. In other words, a believer s entire life is his unique but limited opportunity to serve others in the Lord s name. The idea is also implied of seeking for and even making particular opportunities within the broader opportunities of our time on earth. 4 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt Restoring Spiritual Vitality May 5, 2013 AM
let us do means to be active, derived from the word for energy. To work effectively and diligently, and is here a self -call to grant efforts in taking every opportunity to sow for God s glory. good a definite article in front of it speaks of the good 2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. the Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow when you now have it with you. In verse 27 the word those refers to its owners. In verse 28 neighbor is anyone in need whom God brings across your path. Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he who considers the poor;the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. to consider feels with a compassionate heart, uses a benevolent hand, and resembles his Maker. The good spoken of in this text (Galatians 6:10) is the internal goodness provided by the Spirit in the hearts of obedient believers, which then finds expression in external goodness spoken by his mouth and performed by his hands. One of the best ways to silence criticism of Christianity is for believers to do good to unbelievers; loving concern. 1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Don t quit, don t slack up! 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 5 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt Restoring Spiritual Vitality May 5, 2013 AM
Song by: Jason Crabb THROUGH THE FIRE He never promised that the cross would not get heavy And the hill would not be hard to climb He never offered our victories without fighting But He said help would always come in time So just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision And the adversary says give in Just hold on, our Lord will show up And He will take you through the fire again So many times I've questioned certain circumstances Things I could not understand Many times in trials, weakness blurs my vision Then my frustration gets so out of hand But it's then I am reminded I've never been forsaken I've never had to stand the test alone, no But when I look at all the victories I'm reminded of all that God has done for me Through the fire my weakness is made strong Come on, let's sing He never promised that the cross would not get heavy And the hill would not be hard to climb He never offered our victories without fighting But He said help would always come in time Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision And the adversary says give in Just hold on, hold on, our Lord will show up And He will take you through the fire again I know within myself I know within myself that I would surely perish But if I trust by the hand of God He'll shield the flames again, again He never promised that the cross would not get heavy The hill would not be hard to climb He never offered our victories without fighting But He said help would always come in time Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision And the adversary says give in Just hold on, hold on, our Lord will show up He will take you through the fire again Just hold on, our Lord will show up He will take you through the fire again, again 6 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt Restoring Spiritual Vitality May 5, 2013 AM