But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1Timothy 4:7-8.
Welcome to the month of February in Jesus name.
From the text before us this morning, three major things lay bare before us (a) the warning to refuse profane and old wives fables (b) the encouragement to exercise yourself, both for physical fitness and spiritual exercise for growth in godliness (c) the present super benefits and eternal profitableness of spiritual exercise in godliness over the physical bodily exercise. The former exercise is very unique for having the promise of the present life and of that which is to come, the eternal life.
Physical exercise is not a sin if it be done in a proper way to glorify God in your body which is the temple of his spirit with decency of an irreproachable clothing which does not reveals or expose the sensitive parts of your body as a male or female believer, so as not to cause any onlooker to lust after you, thereby, they should sin against God. Even in your physical exercise, you should practice godliness because it is profitable in all things, lest your legitimate sportive activity cause you to have someone blood on you, being a stumbling block or occassion for someone to sin by your inappropriate sportive dress.
Godliness is the sum of God’s nature, his express image as shown to us by Christ life, nature and character during the days of his flesh on earth: great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1Timothy3:16. Note: practical Christianity entails constant practice of imitation of God as dear children, sincerely striving to portray his image and nature in every aspect of our lives and conducts; otherwise, we shall fall into the sin and condemnation of misrepresenting God – a salt that loss his sweetness. Keep exercising yourself in godliness; it is profitable in all things. Ephesians 5:1-6.
When it comes to physical exercise for fitness, many people are lazy, so is spiritual exercise, many people have its form, but they don’t practice or exercise themselves therein. You should earnestly pray and seek to keep company with genuine and serious godly men and women in the church to help you growing in godliness. 1Timothy: 6:11.
If you are a moron, godliness and godly lifestyle should be your code of conduct as are a born again believer. Anytime you messed up to exercise godliness, just go back and cry to God in repentance for more of him and more of Christ in all things in your life. Godliness and godly lifestyle is a serious issue of a spiritual task before us in an ungodly world and society wherein we’re living today.
Like the Pharisees hypocrites were denounced by Christ, you don’t need to fake godliness and its lifestyle because you have all that it takes from God to live the life of godliness in a godless world. Matthew 23:1-5.
Start today by practising living a godly life style by your willing and increasing obedient life to the word of God, and you will be gradually changing and increasingly growing stronger in the ways of the Lord who knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2 Peter 2:9.
It is a command. It is also a duty, obliging you to exercise yourself in godliness. This is intended to bring you into the fullness of the measure of Christ you ought to attain. It is for daily renewing of your inner man for strength and spiritual fitness, being strengthens within by the holy spirit against the day of apostasy when many shall fall away from the faith and truth: but you will be spiritually stabilize in your walk and faith, steadfast in the word of truth against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men.
Godliness depicts God’s purity, holiness, goodness, justice, equity and integrity etc, for he changes not; therefore, any preacher or believer whose aspiration, example, leadership and expression is not after spiritual exercise of increasing godliness is a false professor of faith in Christ Jesus.
Godliness is the main focus and centrality of the doctrine of Christ on earth, if any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife’s of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1Timothy 6:3-6.
Religion or church should not be used for monetary exploitation or self enriching business as seen from the so called false prosperity preachers and brethren today. Whosoever go or act beyond what is allowed from the scriptures to make money from the church or make a gain from the brethren (2 Corinthians 12:17) like selling holy water, holy anointing oil, selling of wrist bands for whatever spiritual reason, charging money to pray over anointing oil, paying money for prayers before prayer is offer for someone, selling of holy and protective handkerchiefs, demanding people to pledge to give money before praying for them, forcing people to vow to do certain things for the church after their prayer is answered, is a spiritual scam and smart spiritual financial exploitation. This is evil, horrible and unacceptable, but punishable by God. People should be allowed to give freely as they are led, not to coerce obedience. Have we not received freely? Micah 3:11-12.
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. Titus 1:1. Note: doctrines from any church, practices of any church, pattern of life of any leader, demand or requirement from anyone, association, organisation, family or church which is not after godliness, allowing you to growing into Christ likeness and increasing in the fear of God as you tremble with great reverence to live by his word should be rejected, resisted and be avoided at all cost – exercise yourself rather unto godliness, it is profitable in all things. Jeremiah 23:14.
The knowledge of godliness with its lifestyle is what Christ brought to us from heaven to earth: for the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14.
In his letter to the Thessalonians church, Apostle Paul sum up the meaning of godliness with such these three words holily, justly and unblameably, declaring to the brethren, you are witness and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:10.
You are not godly because you are rich. Riches, prosperity, poverty or lack doesn’t make you godly. Godliness is a lifestyle having nothing to do with your financial stature of being poor or rich in the kingdom.
Many are rich in the kingdom, but they do not exercise themselves unto godliness, being dishonest, like Ananias and sapphire his wife. Many are poor in the kingdom, yet they bite, and devour one another to be consumed one of another, instead of exercising themselves unto godliness, they oppress one another: a poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food. Proverbs 28:3. Galatians 5:15.
Many are rich before they came to the Lord, but strictly required to exercise themselves unto godliness, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1Timothy 6:17-19.
Many are in poor financial state when they come to the Lord. To them the scriptures has this to says, hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? James 2:7-9.
The poor of this world who are in Christ Jesus are warned not to be speaking in terms of need (Philippians 4:14), but to let their conversation be without covetousness, having contentment with such things as they have: for God has promised, never to leave them, or forsake them. Hebrews 13:5-6.
Is the little that a righteous man possesses, not better than the many riches of the wicked, if he is content, able to abase and will not exercise himself in things too high for him, will cut his coat according to his cloth, neither seek to live beyond his means?
Labor not to be rich, cease from your own wisdom. Proverbs 23:4.
This text implies the necessity to exercise godliness in all your labor and desire to make money. It should not be by unrighteous mammon of a crooked way (Jeremiah 17:11), but by good work and genuine labor for the blessings of God which makes a man rich, without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22): but they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1Timothy 6:9-11.
God will judge all forms of ungodliness, ungodly nations, ungodly men, ungodly words and acts in the church or in the world: for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Romans 1:18-25.
The Lord utters curses and condemnation on the Pharisees and scribes who seems to represent God among the Jews and to instruct others in the ways of God but lacking the practical – visible spiritual and moral qualities of fruits of godliness.
The Lord further accused and charged them that they outwardly appears righteous unto men, but are inwardly full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Their pretentious pious life compared to whited sepulchres who outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness Matthew 23: 27-28.
In the book of Psalms 37 verses 37, it says, Mark the perfect man, and beholds the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
In the world, if a man or woman has strong will of endurance to exercise daily, even at their old age, we can testify to their physical fitness. Likewise in the realm of the spirit, if we are disciplined and mindful to give ourselves unto spiritual exercise everyday in godliness, it becomes parts of us to the end, enabling us to finish well in the Lord.
The godly man is an upright man, his integrity direct him (Proverbs 11:3) not to walk in the counsels of the ungodly, nor to stand in the way of sinners, nor to sit in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1.
His devotion to God is in spirit and truth, not as men’s pleasers, but unto God who tries his heart. He is consistence, just and true in his ways. His yes is yes, and his no is no in his quest to conformity after God’s likeness in whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17.
If you don’t stand your ground in this perverse and crooked world where godly lifestyle is very challenging and ridiculous to the eyes of the world because they erroneously think like David once thought and confessed before God that godly men ceases to be among men, you will follow after the crowd. Psalms 12: 1.
It is a very tough call where iniquity increases in the world and church, but a rewarding lifestyle here on earth and in heaven afterwards. The Lord knows them that are his, the godly: therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalms 1:5-6.
Those who are pursuing to live the life after godliness shall suffer persecution. Many people will not like to do business with them, and they shall falsely speak evil of them. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13.
Today, there is a great moral corruption and different scandalous reports in the church because many believers refused the instruction to exercise themselves unto godliness by the power of the indwelling spirit of God, thus they're despising the spirit of grace to be caught up or entangled with the corruption that is in the world through lust. Hebrews 10:29.
What is divine power? In a simple answer, it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Why is the sprit given to the believer and his body becoming the temple of the Holy Spirit?
The answer is to facilitate the believer able to live a life of divine nature which is the life of godliness, totally different from the corruptible lifestyles of the world as the new creatures in Christ Jesus: according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3-4.
Godliness and its lifestyle make us a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. The godly man in his lifestyle will take heed to the word of life, modifying his ways, actions and steps and every other things by the word of God. Philippians 2:16. Colossians 1:12.
The word ‘saints in light’ revealing the believers who are walking daily in the light of the word of God, having no fellowship whatsoever with the unfruitful works of darkness. He won’t give an audience to any profanity, old or new fables from Satan as Adam and Eve did, but to resists and rebuke him in the name of the Lord. Ephesians 5:11.
By going out of the word of God, fulfilling the lustful desires of the flesh and of the mind, Adam lost that inheritance of the saints in light, bringing the entire human race under the rule of the prince of the power of the air, under the course of this world, the spirit that is presently working in the children of disobedient. Ephesians 2:1-3.
Adam and Eve action, not only showed their rebellion against the instruction given by God, but also reveals their ungratefulness, covetousness, pride and discontentment against the provisions made available for them in the garden and were sent out of it empty handed to till the ground from which they were made to live - godliness with contentment is a great gain. 1Timothy 6:6.
Believers are called to shine forth as light in the world. Philippians 2:15.
The shinning forth as light in the world signifying the unadvertised characteristics, but visible nature of the beauty of the new man, the divine nature of the image of the indwelling Christ that saved us and lives in us which after God is created in righteousness and in true holiness in comparison to some of the brethren in the Lord who have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, of whom we’ve been warned by the Lord to turn away from such. 2 Timothy 3:5.
Christian hypocrites and compromisers who are not living with mindful readiness of growing in godliness and godly lifestyle in Christ Jesus shall not make heaven: but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Peter 3:10-14.
Whatever you like to call it, either godliness or Christ likeness, we are on the same subject. If you are not increasingly growing in the transformative image of Christ until he is formed in you (Galatians 4:19), you are not exercising yourself in godliness, and you are not adding to godliness as commanded by God (2 Peter 1:6-7), so, an entrance to the everlasting kingdom of our God and Saviour Jesus shall be difficult for you to enter: he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:9-11.
If you remove the word ‘godliness’ from the scripture, the opposite word is worldliness, worldly lusts, carnal or prideful lusts which have to do with the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life you have been strictly warned against, knowing that such things are in opposition to the will of God, and they expose anyone as a false profession of their love for God: love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17.
Godliness in the kingdom is a life style a believer’s must inculcate into every areas of his life – exercise yourself rather unto godliness. 1Timothy 4:7.
Godly music, spiritual songs and hymns to the Lord should not be mixed with strange songs from the pit of hell, inspired by demons and released by the unsaved. What about the music you’re listening and dancing to, is it godly or mundane - secular?
Friendship with the world is enmity against God. James 4:4.
Some so called believers goes as far as hair colouring? What a picture of a man fulfulling the lusts of his father - Satan? Your hair style or cut as a man or woman, is it godly or mundane? Are you content with your God’s given natural hair or you’re into foreign hair and diabolical different hair attachments, though you admit to be a child of God?
Your physical appearance, your clothing and presentations, are they revealing Jesus or the world? The attire of a harlot (Proverbs 7:10), the strange clothes and clothing shall stand against you in judgement (Zephaniah 1:8): in like manner also, that woman adorns themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which become women professing godliness) with good works. 1Timothy2:9-10.
The words coming out of your mouth, are they seasoned with salt and filled with grace from the wellspring of life? Proverbs 16:21-23.
Set your affections on things above, and not on things on earth.
What about your business gain? Excessive and unjust gain or moderate and reasonable gain of a godly man? Habakkuk 2:9-18.
Your manners of approach, is it in the mentality and spirit of meekness of wisdom to handle matters wisely, meek and gentle like Christ? James 3:13-18.
He that is holy, let him still be holy. He that is just, let him still be just, and he that is filthy, let him still be filthy. Revelation 22:11.
What about your morality and social lifestyle? Are you increasingly changing into God’s kind of life which is godliness, or you’ve been given up to a reprobate mind?
Godly and holy lifestyle or holiness and godliness is a personal choice you must make daily on how you want to live your life daily in the face of the sinful and ungodly challenges in the world today, making the hard choice of denying ungodliness and worldly lusts by progressively perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1.