Spirituality: Spiritual Tonics or Spiritual Biblical Discipline

SPIRITUAL TONICS by ~Abraham Feinberg

• 1.  Stop worrying. Worry kills life.
• 2.  Begin each day with a prayer. It will arm your soul.
• 3.  Control appetite. Over-indulgence clogs body and mind.
• 4.  Accept your limitations. All of us can’t be great.
• 5. Don’t envy. It wastes time and energy.
• 6. Have faith in people. Cynicism sours the disposition.
• 7. Find a hobby. It will relax your nerves.
• 8. Read a book a week to stimulate imagination and broaden your view.
• 9. Spend some time alone, for the peace of solitude and silence.
• 10. Try to want what you have, instead of spending your strength trying to get what you want.

OF COURSE ANY PERSON CAN DO THE ABOVE:  A CHRISTIAN OR JUST A RELIGIOUS PERSON: 

Some people want to have the Christian spiritual life without Christ or the belief in the God of the Bible. Some people want the spirituality without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Some people who don't want to believe in God, still don't want to go to Hell. Many people want to be known as a good person, but don't want revealed their inward soul and thoughts.  

Many people and some Christians want to have a spiritual experience, and be really happy about life, so they want to try other methods of meditation and adopt other forms of spiritual activities other than Biblical discipline.

 
Many American Christians think they have discovered the answer to a Oporh spirituality is found in Buddhism, or Yoga, or Zen.  

Far too many Christians (?) are too lazy to do daily Bible Reading, or even listen to a 13 minute video sermon to strength their spiritual life.

Most people have a weekend spiritual experience where they take in one hour of spiritual music and high sounding preaching. But too lazy during the week even to review the outline and notes from the sermon.

Many people want to have a high doze of spiritual energy  like they take the five hour doze energy drink in less then 1 minute it take to drink it.

 

Spiritual discipline is required to develop spiritual strength. Just picking out the pieces of different religious  and philosophies cannot be helpful but harmful.

Spiritual junk food  tells us happiness can be had without sacrifice.

Can I say that spiritual growth biblically promises joy but it comes with much prayer and study and discipline.

Can I say if all you do is sit in a pew at a local church on a weekend and never do more than that, you will never experience spirituality of Christ

Evidence of Spiritual Growth

TEN EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
Outline from December 08 2010
Rivers of Joy Baptist Church
Charles e. Whisnant, pastor/teacher
Video forth coming

WHAT I LOOK FOR IN THE LIVES OF THE BELIEVER AS A RESULT OF PREACHING AND TEACH THE WORD EACH WEEK.

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1. GROWING TRUST IN THE LORD.
2. GROWING CONFORMITY TO THE LORD, BOTH IN ATTITUDE AND ACTION.
3. GROWING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE FOR THE LORD.
4. GROWING DEDICATION TO THE WORSHIP OF THE LORD, BOTH PRIVATELY AND CORPORATELY.
5. GROWING STABILITY FOR LIFE IN HIM IN A FALLEN AND FRACTURED WORLD.
6. GROWING FREEDOM TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AUTHENTICALLY TO GOD AND OTHERS.
7. GROWING REALIZATION THAT THINGS THAT USED TO BRING DEEP SATISFACTION SO SO LESS AND LESS.
8. GROWING HUNGER FOR GOD THAT COMPETES WITH ALL OTHER HUNGERS; REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND RELATIONAL DIFFICULTIES.
9. GROWING APTITUDE FOR HEARING GOD'S VOICE MORE CLEARLY THROUGH SCRIPTURE, PRAYER, AND INTERACTION WITH CHRISTIANS
   
10. GROWING DISSATISFACTION WITH LIFE AT THE DEEPEST LEVELS,WHICH LEADS TO AN INCREASING ATTACHMENT TO CHRIST THAT NOTHING IN THIS WORLD CAN FULFILL.
    

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST

Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment——to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession——to the praise of his glory."

A SPECIAL GROUP OF REDEEMED PEOPLE

Those whom these verses speak of are born again of God. And all who have been purchased, have a common source of life and a common kind of life. We came into the body the same way, by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We all possess the same nature (2 Peter 1:4) We are all moving toward the same ultimate destiny - the kingdom of God and eternal glory in Heaven with Christ. So there is this wonderful unity among believers. We are one in Christ.

Paul is teaching us in Ephesians that the Church is a special group of redeemed people. We are:

• The hottest commodity in the universe.

• The angels look at us to see the things that they can't comprehend.

• We have been purchased for God by the Blood of Jesus.

• Forgiven, accepted in the Beloved, we've become slaves and Sons of God.

• Protected by Divine Love, sustained by Divine Providence, and energized by Divine power.

• We're priests, and kings

• We've been taught, lead, ruled, loved, made alive, built up, blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

• We are blessed with the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ

• The God of this universe has set His love upon us. We're His family, and He continues to pour on us the gracious gifts of His Love, now and for ever. WE'RE RICH.

No wonder there is such a wonderful bond, something that binds, fastens, confines, or holds together those who have the same like nature. Christ.

Do you realize that we came into the mind of God before the creation of the world, we are now in the midst of His eternal purpose, and what is best, we will be a part of God's eternal plan for all eternity. It's not over yet, it has hardly begun, all that the Lord has prepared for those whom God has redeemed. Are we blessed or what?

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant 03 04 07 Agreed with by Charity Whisnant 03 04 07