Summary: To show that we don't live our lives here on earth ascetically, but we live like CHRIST.

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you ascetic?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we don't live our lives here on earth ascetically, but we live like CHRIST.

IV. TEXT:

1 Timothy 4:3 (Amplified Bible)

Who forbid people to marry and [teach them] to abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and have [an increasingly clear] knowledge of the truth.

V. THESIS:

We don't live our lives here on earth ascetically, but we live like CHRIST.

VI. TITLE:

Ascetic living

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: About 64 A.D., but uncertain

C. To whom written: Timothy, Paul's true son in the faith

1 Timothy 1:2 (New International Version)

To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

D. Main themes: Advice and exhortation to a young pastor respecting his personal conduct and ministerial work

E. Keyword: conduct

F. Key verse:

1 Timothy 3:15 (New International Version)

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

Ascetic living is found in Colossians 2:23:

Colossians 2:23 (Amplified Bible)

Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]

Definition of Ascetic:

Retired from the world; rigid; severe; austere; employed in devotions and mortifications.

Example of people in the Bible living ascetically:

1. John, the Baptist and his disciples - depicted living ascetically, in his choices of food and his clothing.

Matthew 3:4 (Amplified Bible)

This same John’s garments were made of camel’s hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Matthew 9:14 (Amplified Bible)

Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, inquiring, Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, [that is, abstain from food and drink as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?

2. Apostle Paul

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 (Amplified Bible)

But to the unmarried people and to the widows, I declare that it is well (good, advantageous, expedient, and wholesome) for them to remain [single] even as I do.

But if they have not self-control (restraint of their passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame [with passion and tortured continually with ungratified desire].

Both of them are single, and eating ascetically, usually in fasting. Marriage and food are usually supressed by ascetic people.

A. They forbid marriage

"Who forbid people to marry"

1. Marriage in GOD's eyes

Matthew 19:4-12 (Amplified Bible)

He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

They said to Him, Why then did Moses command [us] to give a certificate of divorce and thus to dismiss and repudiate a wife?

He said to them, Because of the hardness (stubbornness and perversity) of your hearts Moses permitted you to dismiss and repudiate and divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been so [ordained].

I say to you: whoever dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

The disciples said to Him, If the case of a man with his wife is like this, it is neither profitable nor advisable to marry.

But He said to them, Not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those to whom [the capacity to receive] it has been given.

For there are eunuchs who have been born incapable of marriage; and there are eunuchs who have been made so by men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves incapable of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let him who is able to accept this accept it.

2. Apostle Paul's advices regarding marriage - although Paul did not experienced marriage because he's single, it doesn't matter, for we live by faith and not by sight, obviously, he learned from our LORD JESUS CHRIST and not from men.

1 Corinthians 7:36-40 (Amplified Bible)

But if any man thinks that he is not acting properly toward and in regard to his virgin [that he is preparing disgrace for her or incurring reproach], in case she is passing the bloom of her youth and if there is need for it, let him do what to him seems right; he does not sin; let them marry.

But whoever is firmly established in his heart [strong in mind and purpose], not being forced by necessity but having control over his own will and desire, and has resolved this in his heart to keep his own virginity, he is doing well.

So also then, he [the father] who gives his virgin (his daughter) in marriage does well, and he [the father] who does not give [her] in marriage does better.

A wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she will, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord.

But in my opinion [a widow] is happier (more blessed and to be envied) if she does not remarry. And also I think I have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:7-16 (Amplified Bible)

I wish that all men were like I myself am [in this matter of self-control]. But each has his own special gift from God, one of this kind and one of another.

But to the unmarried people and to the widows, I declare that it is well (good, advantageous, expedient, and wholesome) for them to remain [single] even as I do.

But if they have not self-control (restraint of their passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame [with passion and tortured continually with ungratified desire].

But to the married people I give charge—not I but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband.

But if she does [separate from and divorce him], let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband. And [I charge] the husband [also] that he should not put away or divorce his wife.

To the rest I declare—I, not the Lord [for Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ] and she consents to live with him, he should not leave or divorce her.

And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she should not leave or divorce him.

For the unbelieving husband is set apart (separated, withdrawn from heathen contamination, and affiliated with the Christian people) by union with his consecrated (set-apart) wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart and separated through union with her consecrated husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean (unblessed heathen, outside the Christian covenant), but as it is they are prepared for God [pure and clean].

But if the unbelieving partner [actually] leaves, let him do so; in such [cases the remaining] brother or sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to peace.

For, wife, how can you be sure of converting and saving your husband? Husband, how can you be sure of converting and saving your wife?

B. Abstain from foods

"and [teach them] to abstain from [certain kinds of] foods"

1. GOD created foods

"which God created"

1 Corinthians 8:8 (Amplified Bible)

Now food [itself] will not cause our acceptance by God nor commend us to Him. Eating [food offered to idols] gives us no advantage; neither do we come short or become any worse if we do not eat [it].

Matthew 15:17-19 (Amplified Bible)

Do you not see and understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the abdomen and so passes on into the place where discharges are deposited?

But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech.

2. To be received with thanksgiving

"to be received with thanksgiving"

Psalms 95:2 (Amplified Bible)

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

1 Corinthians 10:30-31 (Amplified Bible)

If I partake [of my food] with thankfulness, why am I accused and spoken evil of because of that for which I give thanks?

So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

1 Corinthians 11:23 (Amplified Bible)

For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally], that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread,

3. By those who believe

"by those who believe"

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Amplified Bible)

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified Bible)

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

4. By those who know the Truth

"and have [an increasingly clear] knowledge of the truth"

Truth is the GOD-Man - CHRIST our LORD.

John 14:6 (Amplified Bible)

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

John 8:32 (Amplified Bible)

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

The Truth that we know, understand and apply in our lives will set us free.

IX. CONCLUSION:

We don't live our lives here on earth ascetically, but we live like CHRIST.

1 John 4:17 (Amplified Bible)

In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

I command you poverty, lack and hunger to leave these families. I command you sickness/diseases to leave the houses of those who can "hear" this sermon. For as CHRIST so I am in this world. In His Name, Amen!

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