Jesus The Body Builder - Part 2
The Diet
2 Timothy 3:10-4:5
How’s your diet going? I can tell from here. You are what you eat. Looking ok, but we have got to watch what we put in our mouths.
I want us to consider this diet, this book that we have – how unique is it, where did it come from, how was it put together. We often hear that the Bible has been changed; over the years the original words have been lost, or their original message changed or lost in translation. Nothing could be further from the truth.
How was the Bible put together? Written over 1500 years, 66 books written by over 40 different authors all pointing to some central theme; 5600 copies, 99.5% accurate. Believe it! Even Paul said of his words, “they are the commandments of God” (1 Corinthians 14:37) “the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.”
Whose Authority? 1. Authority of the Scripture (2 Peter 1:17-21; Psalm 119:9-16; John 17:17) Sanctify them by your truth – your Word is truth. Trouble is, it is distorted with a bias – we all have it – sin – away from God toward self-worship. Sanctified – set apart – from what? – our previous ignorant church experience, our non-Christian heritage in the home, the methods, teachings and impact of the world. (1 Timothy 4:1-2) sanctified by word of God.
Don’t be deluded about your diet. 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12: strong delusion, did not believe the truth, pleasure in unrighteousness. Romans 1. 1: Professing to be wise against God they become fools. 2 Timothy 4:3,4: people would rather hear teachers of lies. 2. To be effective in all church ministries (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) this must be the diet.
NO OTHER DOCTRINE Paul said ( 1Timoth 1:3) Church evangelism, discipleship, worship fails because of poor doctrine. What is success? To bring sinners into a right relationship with God. Can you make the scriptures say what you want? No – only have one meaning, but this one truth may be applied into the different situations we each find ourselves.
Paul said in Acts 20:29, “after my departure savage wolves will come in not sparing the flock”.
What does the training regime and the diet mean for us?
1. Spiritual Warfare (2 Timothy 3:12-14a; 1 Timothy 1:18 – 20) Eg Alexander and Hymenaeus (1 Timothy 1:18) will suffer persecution.
2. Belief system challenged (Nehemiah 8) the people wept after hearing the law, but were told to rejoice. Doctrine of the church is poorly understood. Eg. Roles, who fills those roles, qualifications, what we should expect from church, how will this affect us practically – how will we outwork these truths in the life of the church.
3. God’s promise – individually and as a church. If we are obedient (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). His richest blessings. The reverse is also true; with knowledge comes accountability (Deuteronomy 30:17, 18). God blessed the finding of the law in King Josiah’s time (2 Kings 22) National reform.
Diet brings a response. (Romans 12:1, 2) Because modern Christianity is very ignorant of the truth as it is in Jesus – the Scriptures. Everyone has an opinion on how we do church. “There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25) (1 Timothy 4:7) Have nothing to do with fables, stories, idle chatter/talk – opinions, points of view, human reasoning logic, but train yourself for godliness. Finally, don’t shoot the messenger. Is this what God says; in the Bible?
The diet makes life easier to live. We live better when we eat better. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This verse epitomises the Psalm; the Word of God lights up every area of our lives, it takes our thoughts and assesses them and tells us if they are honouring God or not; the word of God shines a light on our heart motivations: our wills, our desires our core drivers, and assesses their origin and intention.
The diet keeps us alive. Good food is nutrient for the body. The Apostle Paul called it living; it has a will, a desire and an intent or purpose in our lives. Think about that; the Bible is living, having a persona, a being and is made alive by the Spirit of God. It is, in fact, God breathed. As God breathed life into Adam, He breathed life and continues to breathe life into His Word.
The diet feeds the soul. Is there anything that it doesn’t affect? Is there anything that it doesn’t have a comment on or an opinion about or a will to enact? The answer is no. The Word of God has an opinion, a thought, a desire, a will for everything we do. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) We have seen this in the Paris Olympics; diet has an influence. Poor diet, poor performance.
So, why is it that we are so reluctant to read it? Why is it a struggle? It is hard to read sometimes, because what you are doing is fighting in a war.
Sticking to our diet - reading the Bible is a spiritual activity. What did Jesus say about our condition in this regard? To some very sleepy disciples the night he was betrayed, he asked them to pray: a spiritual activity. What did they do? They fell asleep, why? Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Prayer is a spiritual activity, especially when you’re tired; you close your eyes, you’re probably going to sleep and not to prayer.
Paul agreed with Jesus: your flesh is against it, and we know Satan is against it. Paul again said, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) We are in a battle.
Our diet means life and blessing for eternity. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20)
Who will sign up to the diet this morning? Many of you already have: RAPPs, your own daily reading. We are in training, so it is a discipline. Christ is the diet. He is the Word. (John 1:1) Receive Him, then get to know Him by reading His Word. He is the bread and the wine. (John 6) Don’t be like the many who left, who couldn’t handle the diet. Peter said, You are the Christ. Therefore, follow Him.