Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Who’s the Boss?
When we stop moving, we stop developing and begin to atrophy. Without exercise the muscles deteriorate. The spiritual muscles are the same way. When we stop spending time and communicating with someone, the relationship stops developing and being to deteriorate. Relationship with God is the same way.
Just as there are exercises and nutrition that foster physical growth so there are spiritual exercises that will facilitate spiritual growth. Just as there are certain activities that deepen relationships, there are spiritual activities that will deepen our capacity to relate to God.
Today’s church has replaced these tried and tested (not to mention Biblical) habits for less demanding things that have little actual value when it comes to genuine life change and dynamic relationship with God.
Merely sitting in a health club without exercising will never bring greater health so coming to church without engaging the necessary exercises will never bring spiritual health.
Being in the same room with another person and not communicating will never develop relationship. Neither will just attending church bring us closer to God. It is my desire to offer the exercise equipment and the relationship tools to incorporate in our lifestyle that will foster a healthy relationship with God and ultimately a transformed life. You cannot be in His presence without experiencing transformation.
TWELVE HEALTHY HABITS FOR A HIGHER WALK
• Take time out with God (Solitude and silence)
• Report for duty (Submission)
• Clear the decks (Confession of sin)
• Renew our thinking (Interaction with Scripture)
• Affirm our trust (Faith)
• Respond to God with words and actions (worship, thanksgiving, praise, obedience)
• Talk to God (Prayer and fasting)
• Give it all you got (Sacrifice & suffering)
Sacrificially serve others (time)
Sacrificially give (resources)
• Eliminate the clutter (Simplicity)
• Join the team (Connection with people)
• Spread the news (Sharing Christ)
• Watch you back (Spiritual Warfare)
I want this to be a very practical series.
I want to provide the materials and tools to build a spiritual journal and “exercise” program to develop a deeper relationship with God.
Habit 1 Solitude and Silence “Devote Time with God”
Purpose: "Be still (cease striving) and know God". Come away, come out of the rush of life in order to refuel and refresh at the fountain of life.
Take the time to learn and develop habits that increase our capacity to relate to God. No relationship can survive let alone flourish without specific time devoted to relating. "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19
The word translated “refreshing” comes from the word “ana” (up) and “psycho” (breath)
Times to “catch your breath” come from the presence of the Lord. “presence” face, countenance, appearance, sight. Only when we get a glimpse of Jesus can we get a “good breath” in life.
Length 1 – Morning and Evening
Length 2 – Weekly Extended periods (three for maintenance, more for growth)
Length 3 -- Quarterly Day for the Lord
The main goal for any of these times of silence and solitude is time alone with God. We need to take time for silence and solitude to let the “silt” in our lives settle to the bottom enough to see more clearly. This is why it is one of the Ten Commandments. We need to institute a Sabbath to the Lord.
Habit 2 Submission
The prominence and need for this first habit is clearly demonstrated by James (3-4). Trying to drawing near to God with a rebellious heart is futile. God desires obedience over sacrifice. There were those who prayed and sang songs with enthusiasm.
"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. "When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. "I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:11-17
There will be those at the judgment that expect a grand entrance and applause.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Matthew 7:21-23
James illustrates the proper approach to a holy God beginning in James 3:13-4:10
Key verses!
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
Most of Israel’s history reveals a rebellious heart. Stiff-necked, rebellious, resist, wayward sheep, cast my word behind you, you would not, rest my ways, refuse, transgress, disobey. Over and over God urged them to return, obey, submit, listen, hear, follow, abide, yield.
Note: Keep a page in your life journal to collect passages related to submitting and following God and the consequences of rebellion.
Samuel declared God’s perspective to Saul and he disobeyed.
Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23
I must make it a regular habit to yield to God’s claim on my life. He is not here to serve me.
I am His servant.
He is Lord.
He is Master.
He is King.
These must be more than poetic lyrics set to music. They must be a powerful reality backed by a way corresponding way of life. We must abandon demandingness. We must offer our lives a living sacrifice. If we have not given everything to God He is not Lord of all and if He is not Lord of all He is not Lord at all and if He is not Lord at all we are living in proud self-centered rebellion. God must resist the proud but generously lavishes grace on the humble.
How we respond when things don’t go our way is one sure indicator of our level of submission.
Blame God or bless Him. Trust God or resist Him. Job did OK for a while but finally succumbed to the pressure to demand that God answer to him and fix his life. It is not about me, it is about Him. We need to return to a God-centered Gospel rather than a man-centered Gospel. This habit should be practiced daily, weekly and periodically.
The goal of this habit is to continually affirm His sovereignty and my servanthood. The goal is to continually purge pride and selfishness.
Morning and Evening (develop your own affirmation prayer)
Take time to yield yourself and your day to the Lord and His purposes. Pause to affirm who is boss and report for the day’s duty.
Weekly take time to ask some probing questions.
Is God really in control of my life? (Schedule, money, appetites, dreams, aspirations)
Am I really pursuing the things of the Kingdom FIRST?
Am I living for HIS purposes or do I expect Him to serve my desires. (Success, comfort, health, pleasure, power, prestige, security, significance)
Am I thanking God in everything? If I am not truly grateful, I am not submitted. Since God works all things out for my good, then the things that happen must be a part of God’s plan for my growth and I should be filled with gratitude rather than grumbling.
How much of my time and personal resources are actually dedicated to HIS purposes?
Am I more concerned about what I am getting and how I am feeling than how I am serving?
What evidence backs up my answers to these questions?
Meditate on a Relationship Visuals
(Pick one to focus on through the day. Meditate on the ramifications of this truth i.e. Since I am a wayward sheep I need to keep my eye on the Shepherd)
You are the good Shepherd – I am the dearly cherished but stiff-necked sheep
You are the King – I am your loyal subject
You are the Master (boss) – I am the servant (employee)
You are the general – I am the enlisted soldier
You are the Creator – I am the creature
You are the loving Parent – I am the dependent child
You are the Vine – I am the dependent branch
You are Infinite (unlimited) – I am severely limited
You know everything about everything – I know very little
You are All-powerful – I am powerless to change apart from You
You see the future – I am ignorant of the future.
Reaffirm what God wants from me
"Now, Israel (child of God), what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? "Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Deuteronomy 10:12-14
How am I doing regarding these requirements on a scale of 1-10?
(FEAR) INDIFFERENCE 1 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 FEAR (Reverence)
(WALK) UNGODLY 1 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 GODLY LIFESTYLE
(LOVE) PASSIVE 1 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 PASSIONATE
(SERVE) DISOBEDIENCE 1 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 OBEDIENCE
(KEEP) DISOBEDIENCE 1 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 OBEDIENCE
REMEMBER WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO GOD - GOD DESIRES...
• Obedience over sacrifice
If I truly love God, I will willingly do what He asks of me and walk in ALL His ways.
If you love me you will keep my commandments.
Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23
I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hos 6:6
• Truth in the inward parts
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Psa 51:6
• Sanctification (purity) over success
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Thess 4:3
• Faithfulness over greatness
In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:2
"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? "And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luk 16:10-13
• Humility over pride
Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? "For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:1-2
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:6-10
• Walk by the direction and power of the Spirit over the drives of the flesh.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
If (since) we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
• Actions, not just words
Reaffirm your commitment to God’s basic purposes for all believers
• God desires unrivaled relationship with me (love God fully) so I will consciously cultivate deeper relationship with Him.
• God designed me to live in community (love people fervently) so I will persistently pursue meaningful connection with others.
• God destined me to be like Jesus (live life purely) so I will resolutely resist evil in the world around me, entrenched in my flesh and directly promoted by the devil (spiritual warfare) I will do my part to see righteousness restored first in my life and then in my circle of influence.
• God directed me to proclaim the good news of reconciliation with Him by life and lip (proclaim Christ boldly) so I will intentionally speak the words and work the works of Jesus at every opportunity God provides.
Take the time to summarize your personal life purpose in a sentence to continually affirm each day.
I purpose to intentionally cultivate my relationship with God until it transforms every area of my life and touches every person in my life.
Remember what God promises
• Granted everything for life and godliness
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4
• Works in me until I want do His will and actually do it.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
• Provides victory over the flesh
Walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh
• Wants to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think according to the power that works IN us.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
TODAY?
Admit
Affirm
Agree
