1 Tim 4
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable
unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of
that which is to come.
Today we are constantly reminded of our great need for physical training. There are all kinds of exercise machines and videos available for people to get in shape. Doing exercise and being fit certainly is a good thing and should be done by everyone. However, that is not the purpose of life.
The above verse says that physical exercise profits a little bit. It doesn't profit much but it helps a little bit.
Next the verse states that Godliness is good for this world and for the world to come after death. If a person had a choice they should spend time in training for Godliness. Sadly, some folks work so hard exercising their body, that they totally neglect training in Godliness.
Again, do not misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with doing physical exercises and we all should do it! However, it is very important for a person to train themselves in Godliness.
In this article we will talk about training in Godliness and see what that really means!
WHAT DOES TRAINING IN GODLINESS MEAN?
This is a very big subject so I'll list a few characteristics of training in Godliness. The short definition of training in Godliness is to learn to be like the Lord. This involves learning to love like the Lord, to trust in the Lord, to be a lover of the truth, and to love God's people with a burden for the lost.
Be a lover of the truth
This involves loving the good and rejecting sin and evil. As
the Christian grows and matures in the Lord Jesus, he naturally
draws nearer to the Lord and further from sin and evil. Another
part of being like God is to reject evil and false doctrines.
Having a teachable heart that rejects error and doctrinal heresy
is very important. Today we live in very evil days. Instead of
accepting liberalism and doctrinal compromise, those who love the
Lord will hold fast to sound doctrines in the Word of God.
Developing a teachable heart means that a person will align
himself with the Word of God. The goal is to reject doctrinal error
and love sound Biblical doctrine. Here is what the Bible says:
1 Thess 5
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
The word 'Prove' means to test or examine. Here is the meaning from Strongs Concordance:
1) to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
2) to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy
Proving all things means to test all teachings and doctrines and see how they line up with the revealed Word of God, the Bible. In these last days many have given themselves over to error and false teaching. When they are corrected rather than obeying they withdraw in disobedience and even anger. There are many wolves teaching all kinds of heresies and false doctrines in these last days. Those who are learning to be like God also reject the heresies of our day. Christians are commanded to "prove" or test doctrine and hold fast to that which is good. Evil and false doctrine is rejected and the good is accepted. Everything is tested by the Word of God.
Learn to obey the Lord.
Obeying the Lord is part of the Christian walk. In these last days
obedience can take many forms. A major form is to obey God by
rejecting false doctrine while accepting the good. By making righteous
judgments with the Word of God a Christian is commanded to discern
between good and evil. Obeying the Lord would be to reject false
doctrine and accept good Bible doctrine. Obedience would also involve
many areas in the life of a Christian. A walk with the Lord is also an
obedient walk as the Christian seeks to please the Lord in all he
says and does. As we walk and mature in the Lord many times we realize
that changes in our lifestyle is needed. By obeying the Lord, we make
those lifestyle changes.
Learn to walk in faith trusting the Lord
Prov 3
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path
The walk of faith is one easier said than done. It is very easy to walk in faith during the good times or the mountain tops of our life. However, in the valleys or bad times, walking in faith is very difficult. As one grows and matures in Christ, the walk of faith becomes easier than when first saved. Learning to trust in the Lord and walk in faith is a lifelong process and a major part of training in Godliness.
Do not allow yourself to be proud and self-sufficient.
Learn to trust in the Lord and depend on Him for all things! Trust in
the Lord for all things which would include: job, money, car, home,
family, clothes, food etc. The attitude to avoid is one which belongs
to lost people. This is the "I did it my way" crowd who trust in
themselves rather than in the Lord. Below is a parable that describes
how insecure such a person really is in light of eternity:
Luke 12
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a
certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do,
because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and
build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid
up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall
be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which
thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not
rich toward God.
Learn to pray for all things
Pray every day and all day long! As you see a need commit it to the
Lord right on the spot. This can be done anytime during the day.
Immediate prayer is better than building a list and praying at the
end of the day. It is really easy to forget something that may have
happened in the morning. By talking to the Lord and praying all day
long, needs are committed to the Lord as they happen.
Learn to rejoice in the Lord
It is easy to rejoice in good times. But life is not always good
or easy. Everyone goes through good times as well as the bad times.
A hard thing is to rejoice and be happy in the bad times too. This
is not easy and is a part of Christian growth as a person's trust in
the Lord grows!
Phil 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Learn to love as the Lord loves (agappe love)
Learning to love others is not an easy thing to do. This type
of love is not self centered or "what's in it for me". In these last
days it is important for Christians to show love for other born-again
believers.
Gal 6
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all
[men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
True love also involves loving the truth. Show me a man who says he loves the Lord but accepts all kinds of heresies and I'll show you a liar. True love, loves sound Biblical doctrine. As one grows closer in his love for the Lord, he also rejects false doctrines, heresies, and false teachers. Today there is major apostasy and falling away. Many people claim that they love the Lord but they really do not. These people are the first to promote witchcraft in the Church (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings etc), rock music, and ecumenicism. I still remember hearing from a false Christian tare who told me how much he loved both the Lord Jesus as well as Harry Potter. That man is a hellbound liar! The sin of witchcraft is an abomination to the Lord and in Old Testament days it carried the death penalty. God's attitude toward witchcraft and the occult has not changed at all! A person who loves the Lord also loves sound Biblical doctrine and truth.
Titus 1
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny
[him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good
work reprobate.
Here is a interesting thing to think about. The Lord Jesus was God manifest in human flesh. He was incarnate love and truth. As a result he offended many people except those who trusted in Him. Biblical truth offends people. In one article I read recently, a Christian wrote about all the abuse he received after writing about the witchcraft found in the Wizard of OZ. People got angry that someone would dare challenge a classic story that was filled with occultism and witchcraft. I've also seen this type of anger from tares who claim to be Christian but who also love the witchcraft of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Rock and rollers are also known to get very angry when their Satanic and addictive music is challenged. This is a common occurrence for those given over to heresy and false doctrines. Remember that Biblical truth offends people who reject and have no heart for it!
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
So far we have learned a bit about training in Godliness. Next lets look at some practical applications.
First, leave a liberal church. If your church is involved in or approves of the occult (Harry Potter etc), rock music, ecumenicism (Promise Keepers, Alpha Course, Romanism etc) then leave it! Find a good Bible based church that is faithful to the Lord and sound Biblical doctrine.
Next, Love sound Biblical doctrine with a teachable heart. Be a Berean and test all teachings and winds of doctrines with the Bible. Then you will be in a position to reject the evil and accept sound Biblical doctrine! Learn to discern and judge between good and evil doctrine. Everything must be measured with the Word of God. This is exactly what the Bereans did in the below Scriptures:
Acts 17
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by
night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue
of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched
the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Separate yourselve from evil things. Reject the worldly sins of the devil. This would include:
1) Reject immorality in all its forms: Fornication (sex before marriage), Adultery (sex outside of marriage) Sodomy and perverted immorality etc.
2) Reject all forms of occultism: This would include all witchcraft and the occult. Examples are: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, occult based fairy tales, astrology, acupuncture, occult cartoons, occult movies, occult books, and occult tv shows.
3) Reject rock music in all its forms (secular and religious).
4) Reject doctrinal compromise and error. Test all doctrines in light of the Word of God. Many people deny the Trinity, deny salvation by faith apart from works, deny that Jesus is the only way to be saved etc. All doctrines from demons are to be rejected.
Feed on the Word of God daily. Be sure to read the Scriptures each and every day without fail. This will cause you to mature in Christ over time and give protection for false teachings.
Pray for the Christ rejecting lost and perishing who face an eternity suffering in the lake of fire.
Treat all men good especially those who are born again. Develop a love for God's blood bought people. This is needed in these last days when people are falling away from God and many hearts are growing very cold due to sin and rebellion. God's people need to stick together to pray and support one another.
CONCLUSION
It is good if you do regular exercises for your body. But it is even better to train yourself in Godliness. Each of us are stewards of the talents given to us by the Lord. One day,
perhaps very soon, we will be standing before the Lord.
This should be the goal of every Christian:
Matt 25
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
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