A Prescription for Spiritual Health
INTRODUCTION
I. In 3 Jn 2, John expresses his concern for Gaius' physical well- being... "Beloved, I wish
above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”
A. Implied is the excellent status of Gaius' spiritual well being.
B. How about our spiritual health?
II. Spiritual vitality and strength are attained only through effort...
just like physical health requires a practical approach to wellness.
III. What is needed to maintain a good level of spiritual health?
A. I am not a doctor but I know where to look to get the answers:
B. The answerers are in the Great Physician's "PDR" (physician's desk reference, i.e.,
the Bible).
C. Let us look to it to see if we can come up with a "Prescription For Spiritual Health"
BODY
[Both physical health and spiritual health require...]
I. A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM
A. TO WARD OFF DISEASE...
1. Without a healthy immune system, relatively small threats can be deadly.
2. Spiritually, how strong is our ability to withstand threats like:
a. Temptation?
b. False teaching?
c. Persecution?
[Need strong immune system: ]
B. TO FACE THE INEVITABLE...
1. Temptation and spiritual hardships are inevitable.
a. We can't live in a bubble.
b. Going out of the world to avoid all contact with temptation is not possible.
Jn 17:15 "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil."
1 Co 5:9,10 - "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous,
or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world."
2. Spiritually speaking, we need to build up our resistance.
Ja 4:7 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you."
C. WITH A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM...
1. We will be able to take heed, lest we fall.
1 Co 10:12 - "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
2. We will be able to live circumspectly.
Ep 5:15-17 - "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise,
but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
3. We will be able to withstand the wiles of the devil.
Ep 6:10,11 - "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil."
[Contributing to a strong immune system is...]
II. REGULAR EXERCISE
A. WE THRIVE ONLY WHEN ACTIVE...
1. This is true spiritually as well as physically.
2. There is the danger of becoming spiritually "sluggish".
He 6:11,12 - "And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers
of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
B. THE NECESSITY OF SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY Can’t be Overemphasized.
1. We have been created to walk in good works.
Ep 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.”
a. There is work to be done.
Ti 3:8,14 - "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou
affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful
to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
(14) "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses,
that they be not unfruitful."
b. We have been saved in order to serve.
Mt 20:27,28 - "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your
servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
2. Each of us individually has work to do.
1 Co 12:6,7 - "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God
which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every
man to profit withal."
2 Ti 2:20,21 - "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.
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."
a. We each need to exercise ourselves unto godliness.
1 Ti 4:7,8 - "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself
rather unto godliness. 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."
b. We must work while there is time and opportunity.
Ga 6:9 - "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not."
Jn 9:4 - "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night
cometh, when no man can work."
c. We can work most effectively within the framework of the local congregation!
1) Fulfilling needed roles in evangelism, edification, benevolence.
2) Such as personal work, teaching Bible classes, ministering to the sick, etc.
[While there is much work to do, and work is conducive to spiritual
health, so also is...]
III. PERIODIC REST
A. ENERGIES AND RESOURCES NEED REPLENISHING...
1. When much productive work has been done, we need rejuvenation to continue.
a. We must stop and sharpen the saw.
b. Otherwise we become exhausted, and suffer "burnout".
2. Periods of retreat characterized the Lord's ministry.
Mk 6:30-31 - "And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and
told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he
said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while:
for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."
a. We are made such that we need some downtime.
b. There is value in periodic solitude, where we can meditate, reflect, rest.
B. WE FUNCTION BEST ALTERNATING WORK AND REST...
1. Spiritually, as well as physically, the Lord designed us to function best within the round
of cycles and seasons that alternate between work and rest.
2. The Lord Himself took time to be alone, to pray.
Mk 1:35 - "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went
out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
Lk 5:16 - "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."
C. SPIRITUAL REST DOESN'T MEAN DOING NOTHING...
1. It means doing something different that will refresh and restore our energy for work.
2. It allows time for quiet prayer and Bible study.
a. This is a time to release anxiety and enjoy the peace of Christ.
Ph 4:6-7 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
b. Spiritual rest allows time for feeding our minds with things of virtue and
good report.
Ph 4:8-9 - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there
be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things,
which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do:
and the God of peace shall be with you."
3. Whatever the content of our usual activities, we simply cannot remain spiritually
strong without significant periods of restful change.
a. Not only for ourselves, but do we also appreciate the need for our brethren to
"take a break"?
b. Finally, let's not neglect to mention the importance of...
IV. A HEALTHY DIET is an important element in the prescription for health.
A. A HEALTHY DIET provides spiritual nourishment...
1. We do not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God (Mt 4:4).
2. The Lord's words are the “words of life.” (Jn 6:63,68)
3. We grow by virtue of the pure milk of the word.
1 Pe 2:2-3 - "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may
grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
B. AVOIDING SPIRITUAL JUNK FOOD – is important to...
1. The Bible refers to that which is "sound doctrine" (lit., healthy teaching). Ti 2:1 - "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine."
2. There is also that which is opposite "sound doctrine".
a. Anything, which teaches contrary to the blessed gospel.
1 Ti 1:9-11 - "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man,
but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for
unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with
mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be
any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious
gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust."
b. Things opposite sound doctrine may appeal to those with "itching ears".
2 Ti 4:2-4 - "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall
they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn
away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
3. Health-giving nourishment involves both the assimilation of nutritious food, and the
avoidance of toxic substances!
CONCLUSION
I. The "Prescription For Spiritual Health" is a simple one...
A. Assure you get a Healthy Diet
B. Periodic Rest – (Not a problem with Most of us)
C. Regular Exercise
-- Which together builds a Strong Immune System
II. If we follow this prescription, our spiritual health and progress will be evident.
1 Ti 4:11-16 - "These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but
be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit,
in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying
on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to
them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them
that hear thee."
A. God's prescription for spiritual health (which is similiar to what we know to be
similiar to physical health) will result in our spiritual well being.
B. It will also be a blessing to those around us as well (infecting them with good health!)
III. If you are not as spiritually healthy as you know you should be, then follow the Great
Physician's "Prescription For Spiritual Health".
IV. If you are overcome by the disease of sin, then look to Him who provides spiritual
healing and renewal.
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