Neglected Disciplines II

1. Neglected Disciplines II Habits of the Heart

2. Biblical Basis Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4: 7-8

3. Sports Training • Sacrifice • Pain • Repetition • Persistence • Variety • Growth • Reward

4. Spiritual Disciplines – definition Those personal and corporate disciplines that promote spiritual growth. Habits of personal discipleship which are modelled and taught in Scripture and have been practised by Christians since biblical times. Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian LifeDon Whitney

5. Spiritual Disciplines – Don Whitney • Bible reading • Bible meditation • Bible memorisation • Prayer • Fasting

6. Spiritual Disciplines Questions

7. Spiritual Disciplines Legalistic Expectations – we earn righteousness by the vigour of our discipline A Mechanical, External Expectations – personal growth comes from the performance of the ‘discipline’ Dangers of ‘Spiritual Disciplines’

8. Spiritual Disciplines as Habits of the Heart A Deeper Dimension Habits of the Heart

9. Spiritual Disciplines: Habits of the Heart Repeated, Inner, Gospel-Driven Choices and Movements

10. Habits of the heart Because we change from the inside out • You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds. Ephesians 4: 22-23

11. Habits of the heart • A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 • But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15

12. Habits of the heart: Because we have renewed hearts • I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36:26 • For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.2Cor. 4:6

13. Habits of the heart: Because the Holy Spirit works in and on our hearts • Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 • Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5 • we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 2 Thessalonians 1: 11

14. Habits of the Heart Definition Repeated inner gospel-driven choices and movements…… ……which connect with both Spiritual Disciplines and Personal Godliness

15. Habits of the Heart

16. Questions

17. Habits of the Heart The most basic Habit of the Heart: Strengthening our hearts by grace • Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. Heb. 13:9

18. Habits of the Heart Daily resting on Christ for justification • This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1John 3:19-20

19. Daily Resting on Christ for justification • Repeatedly repudiating my efforts at self-righteousness and instead trusting in Christ’s perfect righteousness • Taking my failures to the cross and receiving forgiveness. Again and again • Consciously resting in Christ and his finished work for my salvation and security

20. Habits of the heart: Daily Drawing near to God let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10:22

21. Habits of the heart: Seeking a closer relationship with Christ by faith • I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Eph. 3:16-17

22. What can you do to strengthen your heart by grace?

23. Habits of the Heart Turning Care into Peace through Prayer • Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.John 14:27 • Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. I Peter 5:7

24. Habits of the Heart Turning Care into Peace through Prayer • Turning to God in prayer rather than assuming I can fix everything myself or that it can’t be changed • Asking for God’s help with all the things that bother me • Trying to see the things I am worried about from God’s perspective

25. Where do I most need to learn to turn cares into prayers?

26. Habits of the heart: Nurturing Gospel driven habits and attitudes in our relationships to other people Love your neighbour as yourself – Matthew 22:39 Make room for us in your hearts. 2Cor. 7:2

27. Habits of the heart: Nurturing Gospel driven habits and attitudes in our relationships to other people • Putting aside excessive thoughts about myself and thinking about others instead • Using the golden rule – ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’ – in everyday situations

28. Habits of the heart: deciding to love others Nurturing Gospel driven habits and attitudes in our relationships to other people • Trying to see people through gospel eyes – not as scalps to be hunted, but sinners needing Christ (just like me) • Pushing my shyness into the background and making an effort to welcome and love people

29. Habits of the heart: • Giving other people the benefit of the doubt • Apologising for my failures and asking people’s forgiveness • Choosing to let love cover over a multitude of sins when people annoy or offend • Deciding to forgive and forgive and forgive • Praying for my enemies

30. Where do I most need to promote gospel-driven attitudes to others in my heart? How can I do this?

31. Habits of the Heart Finding joy in Christ and the hope of heaven Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:1

32. Finding joy in Christ and the hope of heaven • Finding things to be joyful about in life and in Christ rather than finding things to be negative about • Deciding not to regret things I have missed out on in this life because Christ is everything I need and more • Deciding not to hanker after things in this life because heaven will be everything I want and more

33. Habits of the Heart and temptation Turning from sin and towards Christ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:1 • Working out which temptations I am most vulnerable to – and fighting them with the gospel

34. Habits of the Heart and temptation Turning from sin and towards Christ • Turning from sin and towards Christ • Seeing Christ as the answer to my sin and as better than the best my sin can give me • Screwing up my will to do the right thing and doing it • Putting evil thoughts out of my mind by replacing them with wholesome ones

35. Habits of the heart with temptation However much I tried it, the will-power of ‘just don’t look at it’ never worked for me. I could go for a few days, and then the hole left just had to be filled. But then God made me realize that my choice was not simply between looking at porn and not.

36. Walking away from sin and towards Christ It was between desiring Jesus, who would satisfy, or desiring something else, which wouldn’t. The struggle didn’t become easy then, but it did become winnable, because I realized I had to choose not just to walk away from something, but to walk towards someone……. Former student

37. Just do it?

38. Habits of the heart: We can choose • Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 1Cor. 10:6 • Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:1

39. We have help!!

40. We have help!! Other people

41. We have help!! Other people Holy Spirit

42. Making it personal • What can I do to develop ‘Habits of the heart’ as Repeated Inner-Gospel Driven Choices and Attitudes?

45. Submit consciously to God and his will Submit yourselves, then, to God. James 4:7 • Accepting that there are hard and puzzling things in the Bible and trusting God not my doubts • Submitting to God’s will even when it seems hard or unattractive • Submitting to God’s providence, even when events in my life are horrible

46. Habits of the Heart and temptation Examining our hearts and getting help from others Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Prov. 4:23 Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. Luke 21:34 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Heb. 3:12

47. Developing Habits of the Heart • What two or three practical steps can you take to develop these habits of the heart? • Either pray about this on your own or share with someone else and pray for each other