Your faith is a gift from God. The condition it's in depends on how well you're exercising it.
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1 Timothy 4 Summary
The last two chapters have been about order in the church, specifically the need for godly men to fill the roles of elder and deacon. In today's chapter we find out why having this order established is so critical.
The church always has been, and always will be (until Christ returns), under attack from deceiving spirits and teachings from hypocritical liars. There are seasons like what we're in now, where those who wish the church harm are bold and easy to spot, and there are other times where the attacks are more subtle.
Dig Deeper
Rather than gorge on religious junk food (godless myths and old wives' tales), you are to:
Train yourself to be Godly.
This is one of the most important commands in the Bible. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most ignored.
We tend to get so wrapped up in the busyness of life (which, as Paul points out in v8, has some value) that we have no time or energy left to invest in things that hold promise both now and in the life to come.
Like physical training, there are no 'get fit quick' plans that can help you 'become spiritually disciplined in three easy steps.'
Doing this is hard work, something we are to "labor and strive" towards.
As a reminder, there are three key disciplines that you must be practicing:
Reading the Bible,
praying,
and participating regularly in gathered worship.
Doing these things at a minimum will naturally lead you into many other disciplines.
AAA Prayer:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God, who created all things good (v4) and who provides for all people (v10)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to give you the endurance to train yourself for Godliness (v7)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
