Spiritual Discipline

Imagine looking in the mirror one year from now and seeing someone familiar -- yet different. Someone wiser, more mature, more peaceful.

Picture someone who loves God more and loves sin less. Who is more patient, kind, and caring. Who weeps for the lost and is bold to share the gospel. That someone could be you.

How do we grow in godliness and become more like Jesus Christ? The Bible offers a spiritual workout routine, but it will not be easy. For the path to holiness involves discipline.

"Train yourself," Paul said, "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 fro the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7-8).

The most valuable things in life usually come at great personal sacrifice. This is true of raising a family, earning a degree, building a home, or pursuing a career. And spiritual growth is no exception. No pain, no gain.

As Philip Yancy wrote, "Human beings grow by striving, working, stretching; and in a sense, human nature needs problems more than solutions" (Disappointment with God, p. 207). 

Last summer, we spent some time studying the Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life. Using Donald Whitney's book as a springboard, we looked through several core disciplines God uses to consume our dross and purify our hearts, conforming us more into the image of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). This was the second module in our Wednesday night series Growing in Christ.

Here's the complete set of lessons:

"Spiritual Disciplines"

Growing in Christ, Course 2

Lesson 1: Intro to Spiritual Discipline (handout | audio)
Lesson 2: Bible Intake
     Hearing the Word (handout | audio)
     Reading the Word (handout)
     Bible Study & Teaching Worksheet (handout | audio)
     Memorizing & Meditating (handout | audio)
Lesson 3: Prayer (handout | audio)
Lesson 4: Fasting (handout)
Lesson 5: Worship (not available)
Lesson 6: Stewardship (handout)
Lesson 7: Learning (handout)
Lesson 8: Simplicity (handout)
Lesson 9: Evangelism (handout | audio)
Lesson 10: Journaling (handout | audio)
Lesson 11: Suffering (handout | audio)
Lesson 12: Fellowship (handout)

Related posts:

• Growing in Christ
• Am I Really A Christian?

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Is the Rapture Near?

Hamas Launches Rockets from Gaza City

Israel May Declare War 

America Reaches Fiscal Cliff

Syria in Civil War 

Iran Expands Nuclear Program

Today’s headlines are just the kind we would expect to see in the last days (Matt. 24:4-8; 2 Timothy 3:1-9). The rapture may be near, but we shouldn't set dates or pack our bags just yet. 

The fact is, the rapture could be today. It could be this year. Or it could still be 500 years from now. This would not be the first time Christians thought “This is it!” 

Here's part of an article written by John Walvoord in 1999, showing how current events point toward a rapture that could occur very soon - and how we should respond. It sums up well what I believe... 

Undoubtedly [in the 21st century] there will be changes in the Holy Land, where now the Israelites and the Palestinians are in tension over the possession of the land. Any fair assessment of the situation reveals immediately that the Palestinians are not going to be content until they possess all the land, not just part of it. Palestinians believe, based on the Quran, that Abraham gave the land to Ishmael, Abraham’s son by the Egyptian handmaid Hagar, and that the land belongs to them, not to Isaac and the children of Israel. The fact that the promise to Isaac was written 1, 500 years before Christ and that the Quran did not appear until hundreds of years after Christ does not deter them from accepting its legitimacy… 

…With this evidence before us it is obvious that, if the Rapture occurs soon, there is an unparalleled opportunity at the present time for aggressive evangelism, using all the modern means that are available for dissemination of the truth. While evangelist Dwight L. Moody could only reach twenty thousand people because this was the limit of the human voice unaided by electronic means, today millions of people have heard the gospel at one time. 

In my own experience of responding to questions regarding Armageddon at the time of the Gulf War, I either appeared in person or was discussed on television stations reaching a hundred million people, and I was able under that circumstance at least to affirm that Christ is coming and that the world should get ready. Such a widespread publication of the facts of the coming of Christ was impossible in many generations. Obviously we should do what we can to get the gospel out, and the many means that are being used today—radio, television, Internet, and the printed page—all need to combine to accomplish this task. 

The present prophetic situation also puts emphasis on the necessity of Christians walking in the light (1 John 1:7), that is, walking in the will of God and bearing a testimony to the transformed life that follows a new birth. Too often Christians have clouded their testimony by being identified more with the world than with the church, and this of course hinders the winning of people to faith. 

In my own experience of teaching prophecy more than sixty years and seeing the development that has occurred in that period, I find there is every reason to be excited and to believe that the coming of Christ could be very soon. One of these days, without further waiting, the Rapture will occur, and everyone who belongs to Christ will be caught up together to meet Him in the air to go to heaven. What a tremendous event that is, and now each day, as the light of day comes upon us, we naturally raise the question, “Could it be today?” The fact is that it could be.

(Emphasis added. Source: "Signs of the Times," Journal of Ministry & Theology Vol. 3:2, p. 16).

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The Effectual Call of the Spirit

This is one of the most beautiful statements I've ever read on God's sovereignty in our salvation. Just chew on it awhile like a good bite of steak...

"Original sin renders all human beings naturally dead (unresponsive) to God, but in effectual calling God quickens the dead. As the outward call of God to faith in Christ is communicated through the reading, preaching, and explaining of the contents of the Bible, the Holy Spirit enlightens and renews the heart of elect sinners so that they understand the gospel and embrace it as truth from God, and God in Christ becomes to them an object of desire and affection. Being now regenerate and able by the use of their freed will to choose God and the good, they turn away from their former pattern of living to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to start a new life with him."

-J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993).

Related posts:

• What is Limited Atonement?
• The Five Points of Calvinism

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Finding Freedom from Addiction

Last week, Colorado and Washington State took a bold step and legalized marijuana for recreational use. How should we react? Should we celebrate the private liberty of individuals to do what they want with their own bodies? Or should we mourn the fact that drug abuse and possession by minors will likely increase?

Let’s take a step back from marijuana for a moment. The fact is, we already have plenty of addictive substances that are fully “legal” in our culture. Alcohol can be addictive. Nicotine can be addictive. Prescription drugs can be addictive. Even comfort foods can be addictive. And let’s not forget other activities like gambling, pornography, shopping, and video games.

 If there is anything you find yourself constantly craving -- that you can’t live without or that you would do anything to get -- you are struggling with an addiction. It can be a miserable way to live.

Thankfully, the Bible offers great hope for addicts. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

This verse offers three basic steps for addicts: 

1. Remember you are not alone. Your temptation is “common to mankind.” It is shared by thousands of others. Whatever your struggle, know that you are not the first to face this temptation, and you will not be the last. Other people have beaten this habit, and so can you. 
2. Trust in God. He is faithful and can give you the power to say “no.” Those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord receive strength from above. “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22). 
3. Look for an escape route. Addicts can feel like they’re being held hostage against their will. But God says there is always a “way out.” The Bible, the Holy Spirit, godly friends, and a loving church are just some of the keys God provides to unlock those handcuffs and escape the bondage of sin. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

The legalization of marijuana may continue to be fiercely debated. But this much is clear: addiction is something we all struggle with. And only God can give us the power to say no and follow Him.

This article first appeared in today's edition of our local newspaper, the Hi Desert Star

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Take the "Isaiah Challenge"

Isaiah has been called the "prophet of hope" and the "gospel of the Old Testament." He is quoted often at Christmastime, yet most of us know almost nothing about Him.

Together, our church will be reading through the Book of Isaiah over the next three months. Will you join us? Here's how...

1. Download our reading guide bookmark (a bookmark will also be enclosed in Sunday's bulletin)

2. Starting Sunday, Nov. 11, we will read one chapter a day, six chapters a week, taking Saturdays off as a catch-up day.

3. Use our Isaiah Challenge Facebook page to write comments of what God is teaching you!

4. Attend First Southern or listen to our weekly podcast as Pastor Stephen reviews the last six chapters and draws out lessons from the text.

Will you join us and take the "Isaiah Challenge"?

An Election Day Prayer

Our church prayed this prayer together on Sunday, November 4, in preparation for Tuesday's election...

You are King of Kings, and You are Lord of Lords.
Your Name O God is matchless.
You are the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

You are in charge of the galaxies that swirl around our universe
and You are in charge of the tiniest molecules and atoms.

God, we know that all of our days hang in your balance.
We know that kings are raised up by You, and that other kings are torn down.

Lord, we are blessed and we are thankful today to live in a free country.
We have the privilege -- unlike the majority of this world --
We have the privilege to cast our vote for
Who will be the next President of the United States
And to elect leaders over our Congress, our State legislature,
Our local Town Council, judges, and police force.

We have the privilege and duty to share our voice.

But we know that you are the One who is ultimately in charge,
So we come humbly this morning before You.
You are so great, and we are so small.
We are thankful for this country,
And we pray that You would keep Your hand upon us.

Father, You tell us in 1 Timothy 2 to pray for our leaders --
To pray for our kings and all of those who are in authority
That we would be able to live a peaceful and quiet life
So that the Word of God can spread

We pray Lord that You would preserve the peace and
The religious freedom that we have in this country.
We feel that the days are evil, and that the time may come where
We will be persecuted for gathering like we are this morning.
We pray that that would not be the case,
And we pray for all of our brothers and sisters scattered across the world
Who already face those kinds of difficult choices of where and when to meet to worship You.

God, we commit America to You.
We pray that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray that You would give us hearts of compassion for the needy,
Hearts of jealousy for Your name.
We pray that the laws and leaders of this land would defend justice,
And love mercy, and walk humbly in the sight of God.

God, we pray that You would show Your grace,
And Your favor, and Your kindness
And that You would do what is most needed:
That You would bring revival in this land
Lord, cause an awakening, perhaps through this hurricane,
Perhaps through other crises in people's lives.


Lord, these are dark, dark days. We need only turn on the television
To be reminded how sinful and desperately wicked we are.
We don't deserve Your love, but You have been so patient with us.
We pray You would bring a spiritual awakening to our land.
Let it start right here in Yucca Valley, California
And through other evangelical churches
And through disaster relief efforts going on right now.

Lord, heal our land. We pray for Your name to be glorified.
We pray for Your will to be done.
We pray that whatever the results, that we would rest in Your sovereignty.
Help us be careful, because we know people will be watching how we react this week.

Help us never to damage our witness.
We're concerned first and foremost that people come to know Jesus.
You left us on this earth not to have a perfect government now.
You left us here to share the gospel with those who still are lost.

So we pray O Lord that You would guard our hearts and minds.
Knit us together to trust in You.
And we pray Lord that Your will would be done.
We surrender to it.

We pray in Christ's Name, Amen.

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