Keep It Spiritual

Text. Gal 3: 3b

Intro: How can we keep it spiritual this year, as we become all we can be?

As the scripture teaches: we can begin in the spirit and find ourselves wanting to obtain our

goal by human effort..

Keeping It Spiritual:

I. STARVE FLESHLY APPETITES

Our flesh has an appetite..Gal 5: 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity,

and debauchery, idolatry, and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions,

factions and envy; drukness, orgies, and the like

To Starve:

• Pray

• Fast

• Word

Exampl: Of Not starving Fleshly appetitie - watch T.V. instead of being in the word

Next time you're sitting in front of the T.V. keep this in mind:

THE T.V. IS MY SHEPHERD

The T.V. is my shepherd my spiritual growth shall want

It maketh me to sit down and do nothing for his name sake

It keepeth me from doing my duty as a christian, because it preseneth

so many good programs that I must see

It restoreth my knowledge of the things of the world, and keepth me from

the study of God's word

It leadeth me into paths of failing to attend the evening services and

doing nothing for the kingdom of God

Yet though I live to be 100, I shall keep veiwing my T.V. so long as it shall work, for it

is my closest companion, It's sounds, It's pictures they confort me

It presenth entertainment before me and keepth me from doing important things

with my family

It filleth my head with ideas which differ from those in the word of God

surely no good thing will come of my life because of so many wasted hours, and

I shall dwell in my regrets and remorse forever..

II. SUBMITT

• God's Will

The greatest battle is not with the devil - But The battle of the wills

• God's Word

• God's Way

Jer 10: 23 - I Know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps

Keep It spiritual:

III. SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Inward: Outward:

Prayer Service

Fasting Solitude

Meditation Simplicity

Study of His Word

IV. SPIRITUALLY MATURING

We can grow in many areas - this is one that is a must if we are to keep it spiritual

How will we do this:

Starve Fleshly appetitie

Submitt

Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual Maturing

It is easier said than done: allow me to suggest 3 steps...

1. PULL AWAY

• Stop

• Seperate

• Stand - on your convictions

2. PRESS IN

Only God can Help us keep it spiritual - Stave, Submitt, Sp. Discipline, Sp. Mature

3. PULL TOGETHER

• Predecessors

• People

• Pastor

Concl:

Wanting to be all you can be by human effort? > Want to keep it spiritual!

Be all I can Be - Need to keep it spiritual > make a commitment to the steps..