Train Yourselves

1 Timothy 4:1-11 (ESV) 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 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 for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things.

• It is hard to know where we stand on the timeline of time.
• Every godly generation feels the signs of their times where pointing towards the soon return of Christ.
• We are in the latter times.

1. The deterioration of faith in the last days.

1 Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

1.1. Departing from faith. 1.2. Being deceived.

Matthew 24:11-13 (NKJV) 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

1.3. Being led by liars.
1.4. Being deceived by demons.

2. But, there are those who know their God.

Daniel 11:32-35 (NKJV) 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

2.1. IN THE LAST DAYS WICKED MEN WILL DO WICKEDLY “THE PEOPLE THAT DO KNOW THEIR GOD SHALL BE STRONG AND DO EXPLOITS.”

2.2. “Not those who sing about God, not those who write or preach about God, but they that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.” Ravenhill

3. Retrain oneself for godliness.

1 Tim 4:6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

3.1. Word of god and prayer.
3.2. To no longer fall into silly myths. 3.3. To no longer be tossed around.

Ephesians 4:14 (HCSB) Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

3.4. Trained in the words of faith.
3.4.1. Trained: to educate: — nourish up in.

3.5. “For an experience of God that cost something is worth something and does something” Ravenhill

4. Getting yourself into spiritual shape.

1 Tim. 4:8 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 for the life to come.

4.1. Bodily exercise profits something

4.2. Ela… Getting your body in shape:
4.2.1. how hard it is to get and keep your body in shape.

4.2.2. Certain things you have to take out of your diet.

4.2.3. Certain exercises need to be added to your routine.

4.3. The fluctuation of weight and health.
4.3.1. Up and down in weight and health depending on how well you are doing in these areas.

4.4. Yet we think that it is somehow different when it comes to our spiritual health. Raising the bar, Godly exercise is of value in every way.

5.1. In every generation the Lord raises up people for the time, people with a passion, people with a burden, to go places where others are unwilling to go, to sacrifice things others are unwilling to sacrifice.

5.2. The benefit one receives from receiving the crown of eternal life verses the crowns that come from achievements in this life.

5.3. “Pastor Edwards was one who did not lack in people to preach too or the finances to pay the bills but found his church in a state a spiritual stagnation which haunted him.” We are beaten by the element of time.

6.1. I read once that if our world wide birth rate was to match the born again birth rate that mankind would headed toward extinction. (Not sure if that is accurate but the point is made)

6.2. Ela… What is the use of building a house, decorating and making it beautiful, furnishing rooms, if it were not to be used to build a family, bring new babies into it. So is the same in our Churches with instruments, and AC, and fences and and play equipment, babies need to be being born. New birth bankruptcy.

6.3. As a new born child suddenly leaps to life so revival following the travailing period.

6.4. With all modern day medical science we cannot shrink the nine months of child formation.

6.5. We are beaten by the time element.

6.6. Endurance is built up over time. As a child grows up in the womb over time and is ready for entering this life so does the church travail in training ourselves in prayer and enters into seasons of life giving moves of God.

7. Prayer and seeking God is our heavy lifting.

7.1. One Preacher made the statement “I don’t pray as much as I use to by God understands” And it is true that God understands but He does not excuse becasue we are busier thaan we ought to be.

7.2. You think running a marathon is hard.

7.3. Try a marathon time of prayer.

Conclusion:

Ravenhill:

“If more were strong in prayer, more would be suited to suffer.”
“Prayer develops bone as well as groan.”
“We cannot have big results from small praying.”
“The trouble is we are trying to get from our efforts what we never put into them.”