1. Rev. Andy Ching @ Cumberland Presbyterian Chinese Church September 6, 2015 Build Your Spiritual Muscle (1 Timothy 4:7-12 )

2. How do you keep fit? “…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. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.” (1 Timothy 4:7b-9, NIV) 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-122

3. Level 1: A LIFE SHAPED BY EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING The Bible says, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales.” (1 Timothy 4:7a, NIV) 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-123

4. Level 1: A LIFE SHAPED BY EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING [… no longer be] infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14 NIV) 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-124

5. Level 1: A LIFE SHAPED BY EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16 NIV) 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-125

6. Level 2: A LIFE SHAPED BY WHAT IS ONLY TEMPORARY … train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value... (1 Timothy 4:7b-8, NIV) 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-126

7. Woman Dies After Holding Wee for Wii Radio Contest Level 2: A LIFE SHAPED BY WHAT IS ONLY TEMPORARY First, this thing going on between you and God is sacred! You can’t build spiritual muscle if you keep eating vomit! 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-127

8. Level 2: A LIFE SHAPED BY WHAT IS ONLY TEMPORARY “… a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud" (2 Peter 2:19b-22) 1) First, this thing going on between you and God is sacred! 2) You can’t build spiritual muscle if you keep eating vomit! 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-128

9. Level 3: A LIFE SHAPED BY WHAT IS PERMANENT 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 4:8, NIV) 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-129

10. What is God’s promise? Living a godly life is...  A simplified life  A transcendent life  An important life  A model life  An honorable and hence a peaceful life  A big life  A life that is useful to God 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-1210

11. WHAT NOW? Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’” 9/6/2015@CPCC-EcAChingOn1Tim4:6-1211