Sunday Sermon
SPIRITUAL HEALTH CHECK-UP - Part 2
Getting Better
Date: November 25, 2007
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Galatians 5:25-30
Listen to Audio Sermon

GALATIANS 5:25-30
25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
1. 26So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,
27That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].
28Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,
30Because we are members (parts) of His body.

COMMENT AS AN INTRODUCTION, CHRIST WHO REALLY CARES FOR THE CHURCH AND WANTS TO MAKE IT SPOTLESS, WANTS IT TO BE HEALTHY.

THE LAST TIME WE MINISTERED, WE SPOKE ON BEING THANKFUL FOR GOD’S FAVOR. TO RECEIVE THAT FAVOR YOU MUST BE POSITIONED CORRECTLY AND GOOD SPIRITUAL CONDITION. GOD GRACE IS ALWAYS COMING TOWARD US BUT IF WE ARE NOT IN CONDITION TO RECEIVE, WE WILL NOT GET MUCH OF HIS FAVOR.

TWO WEEKS AGO WE ASKED THREE QUESTIONS AND THEY WERE:
1.ARE YOU THIRSTY FOR GOD?
2.ARE YOU GOVERNED INCREASINGLY BY GOD’S WORD?
3.ARE YOU MORE LOVING?

DO YOU REMEMBER? A QUICK REVIEW -

A)THIRSTY MEANS YOU ARE CONSTANTLY DESIRING HIS PRESENCE. YOU WANT HIS FELLOWSHIP ALL THE TIME. ARE YOU MEDITATING, PRAYING AND SINGING PSALMS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS?

B)ARE YOU GOVERNED MORE BY HIS WORD.
DO YOU CONSIDER HIS WORD YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? DO YOU WANT TO READ IT ALL THE TIME AND YOU ARE YEARNING TO OBEY IT ALL THE TIME? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL BRING YOU TRUE SUCCESS AND IT BRINGS DIRECTION TO YOUR LIFE? ARE YOU CONTINUALLY APPLYING IT IN YOUR FAMILY, IN MONEY CHURCH, DISCIPLESHIP, AND WORK?

C)ARE YOU MORE LOVING? ARE YOU LOVING THE ONES YOU DID NOT LIKE BEFORE? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE THAT GOD PLACES ON LOVE IN HIS WORD AND ARE YOU FOLLOWING HIS COMMAND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER?

WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE CHECK UP TODAY WITH

QUESTION 4: ARE YOU MORE SENSITIVE TO GOD’S PRESENCE?

WHEN DID YOU LAST THINK, “GOD IS HERE?”

MAYBE IT WAS DURING ANOINTED PREACHING, A PASSIONATELY ORATED PRAYER. IT COULD BE THAT GOD SEEMED SO CLOSE DURING THOSE TIMES. WHEN YOU TAKE IN NATURE’S BEAUTY MAYBE IT MADE YOU FEEL GOD’S PRESENCE. MAYBE YOU WERE HEALED FROM A SICKNESS AND YOU KNEW THAT GOD WAS PRESENT. MAYBE DURING THESE TIMES AND EVENTS THERE WAS MORE OF A SENSITIVITY TO THE LORD’S PRESENCE.

MAYBE YOU DON’T FEEL HIS PRESENCE AND YOUR LIKE JACOB IN GENESIS 28:16 —
16And Jacob awoke from his sleep and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.

BECAUSE GOD IS DEFINITELY IN ALL PLACES, YET WE DON’T RECOGNIZE OR SENSE IT.

LOOK AT MATTHEW 28:20 –
20Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you]all the days (]perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
HE SAID HE WOULD BE WITH US ALWAYS. DO YOU BELIEVE MATTHEW 28:20? THEN WHY CAN’T YOU FEEL HIS PRESENCE?

MOST PEOPLE DON’T FEEL HIS PRESENCE AT LEAST NOT CONSCIOUSLY. IN A RECENT SURVEY TAKEN 32 PERCENT OF BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS SAID THEY HAVE EITHER NEVER FELT GOD’S PRESENCE OR HAVE ONLY SENSED IT ONCE OR TWICE IN THE CHRISTIAN WALKS. THIS IS SAD! IF YOU DON’T FEEL HIS PRESENCE, IT COULD MEAN YOU ARE THINKING LESS ABOUT GOD, HIS WORD AND WILL.

LOOK AT JEREMIAH 23:24 –
24Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.

GOD IS EVERYWHERE AND YET MOST PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE TO IT. AS A CHRISTIAN, HE LIVES IN YOU -

LOOK AT JOHN 14:16-17 —
16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--
1. 17The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

IF YOU’RE SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY, YOU NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO GOD’S PRESENCE. YOU WILL ENJOY HIS ETERNAL PRESENCE OR YOU WILL FORFEIT IT IN HELL.

IF HIS PRESENCE IN YOU IS REAL, AND GOD IS HOLY, HOW SHOULD YOU FEEL? IF HE IS MERCIFUL AND KIND, HOW SHOULD YOU BE?

PEOPLE DON’T FEEL HIS PRESENCE BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND HIS TRAITS AND CHARACTER AND THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK OR LISTEN FOR.

EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL HIS PRESENCE, IT CAN BE A TIME OF GROWTH AS YOU SEEK HIM EVEN MORE. WHEN YOU PRESS FORWARD IN FAITH, YOU WILL GROW.

QUESTION 5: DO YOU HAVE A GROWING CONCERN FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL NEEDS OF OTHERS?

ACTS 4:33-34 –
33And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all. 34Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales
35And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need.

A FAMOUS GRECIAN PHILOSOPHER FROM ATHENS NAMED ARISTIDES, WHO HIMSELF BECAME A CHRISTIAN WAS CALLED UP TO MAKE DEFENSE OF THE CHRISTIANS BEFORE ANTONIUS PIUS WHO RULED THE ROMAN EMPIRE. IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO WORSHIP ANYONE BUT THE EMPEROR. PART OF HIS DEFENSE WAS THIS, “THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER. THE WIDOWS NEEDS ARE NOT IGNORED AND THEY RESCUE ORPHANS FROM THE PERSON WHO DOES THEM VIOLENCE. HE WHO HAS GIVES TO HIM WHO HAS NOT, UNGRUDGINGLY AND BOASTING.”

CHRISTIANITY IS A RELIGION OF CONCERN FOR OTHERS. IT HAS NO PARALLEL WITH OTHER RELIGIONS WHEN IT COMES TO DEMONSTRATING CONCERN FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR NEEDS. LOVE AND COMPASSION ARE THE EARMARKS OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE. A PERCEPTIVE EYE AND A HELPING HAND ARE BIRTHMARKS OF A BORN AGAIN CHILD OF GOD. MEETING NEEDS WAS THE WAY OF JESUS AND SHOULD BE OURS ALSO.

LOOK AT JAMES 2:15-17 –
15If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,
1. 16And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?
17So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

ALTHOUGH OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO MEET PEOPLE’S ETERNAL NEEDS WE CANNOT REMAIN OBLIVIOUS TO THEIR TEMPORAL NEEDS. LOOK FOR THE HURT IN EVERY HEART AND HOME AND LET GOD USE YOU TO BRING HEALING.

QUESTION 6: DO YOU DELIGHT IN THE BRIDE OF CHRIST?

EPHESIANS 5:25-30 –
25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, 27That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless]. 28Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, 30Because we are members (parts) of His body.

IT’S OBVIOUS WITH THIS SCRIPTURES THAT JESUS THOUGHT ONLY GOOD THOUGHTS FOR HIS BODY. EVERYTHING HE DID WAS TO MAKE IT BETTER AND PRESENTABLE.

ROMANS 8:9 –
9But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God

AND SINCE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST LIVES IN YOU, HOW SHOULD FEEL ABOUT THE BODY OF CHRIST?
DELIGHTING IN CHRIST’S PEOPLE IS NORMAN HEALTHY CHRISTIANITY. SO PERMIT ME TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION TO HELP DIAGNOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH. DO YOU DELIGHT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST? DO YOU TAKE PLEASURE IN THOSE WHO BRING PLEASURE TO HIM? DELIGHT IN HER WILLINGLY, IN HER COMPANY AND IN HER ACTIVITY?

QUESTION 7: ARE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO YOU?

A SPARK IN STARTING A FIRE IN A FIRE PLACE IS BRIGHTER THAN THE BIG LOG THAT BURNS CONSISTENTLY AND GIVES OFF HEAT AND WARMTH. THAT LOG MAY NOT BE AS BRIGHT BUT IT’S THE END RESULT OF THE SPARK WHICH WAS ONLY MOMENTARY WHILE THE LOG BURNS ON. IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT CONSISTENCY YOU HAVE GOT TO GO THROUGH A SET PROCEDURE WHICH KEEPS YOU BURNING. IT’S THE SAME IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALKS.

STAYING HOT AS A CHRISTIAN AND IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN RECEIVE THE FAVOR/GRACE OF GOD REQUIRES US TO FOLLOW A METICULOUS REGIMENT JUST LIKE STARTING THAT FIRE IN THE FIRE PLACE. LIFE WILL NOT ALWAYS BE AS BRIGHT AS THAT SPARK BUT WE STILL NEED TO KEEP BURNING. THERE IS A WAY TO STAY HOT AND CONSISTENT BUT IT REQUIRES DISCIPLINE ON OUR PARTS. WHEN WE COMPARE THE LORD TO A LIFE-GIVING RIVER, THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES ARE THOSE WAYS BY WHICH WE COME TO THE RIVER TO DRINK FROM, DIVE INTO, SWIM IN, EAT FROM, WASH WITH, AND IRRIGATE WITH.

THOSE DISCIPLINES YOU PRACTICE IN SOLITUDE OR ALONE ARE PRIVATE READING AND MEDITATING ON SCRIPTURES, INDIVIDUAL PRAYER, FASTING, AND STUDY FOR PERSONAL GAIN WITH JOURNALING TO CREATE A TWO WAY FLOW IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MASTER.

DISCIPLINES WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS WOULD BE, CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP, CORPORATE PRAYER, THE LORD’S SUPPER AND FELLOWSHIP.

THESE DISCIPLINES ARE BIBLICAL, THAT IS, GOD GIVEN AND FOUND IN HIS WRITTEN WORD. FASTING DOES NOT RESULT IN THE SAME BLESSINGS THAT COME FROM CORPORATE PRAYER. ANY DISCIPLINE NEGLECTED IS AN UNCLAIMED BLESSING.

WHY THESE DISCIPLINES PASTOR GERRY? GOOD QUESTION.

HEBREWS 12:14 —
14Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

WHEN PURSUING HOLINESS WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR US TO EVEN SEE THE LORD, IT WILL REQUIRE METHODS OF PURSUIT. THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES ARE THOSE METHODS GOD HAS GIVE US IN HIS WORD. THEY ARE WHAT GETS YOU INTO THE RIVER TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT FAVOR/GRACE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THIS FAVOR IS WHAT PROMOTES GREAT SPIRITUAL HEALTH. FOR THAT REASON THEY NEED TO BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO US.

QUESTION 8: DO YOU STILL GRIEVE OVER SIN?

DO YOU SEE YOU PAST SINS AND MAYBE EVEN THE SINS YOU ARE INVOLVED IN TODAY AS REPULSIVE? PAUL SAW HIMSELF AS THE CHIEF SINNER.

1 TIMOTHY 1:15 –
15The saying is sure and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AND YOUR SINS IN THAT WAY? THANK GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND GRACE. HE TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT AND GAVE US A NEW BEGINNING.

QUESTION 9: ARE YOU A QUICK FORGIVER?

MARK 11:25-26 —
25And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. 26]But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.

YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO PRAY SO THIS SCRIPTURE SUMS UP WHY FORGIVENESS IS SO IMPORTANT. IF YOU STILL SOME UNFORGIVENESS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE NOT SPIRITUALLY NOT HEALTHY AND WILL NOT HAVE YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED.

BEING BORN AGAIN, WE HAVE BECOME NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST. YOU NEED TO BE A CREATURE WITH FORGIVENESS EMBEDDED IN YOUR SPIRIT. THIS SAME THOUGHT IS ECHOED IN TWO OTHER GOSPELS (MT 6:14-15 AND LUKE 6:37) FORGIVENESS IS ONE OF THE MASTER KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL WALK WITH CHRIST AND PURE SPIRITUAL HEALTH.

QUESTION 10: DO YOU YEARN FOR HEAVEN?

C.H. SPURGEON SAID, “YOU MAY JUDGE A MAN BY WHAT HE GROANS OVER.”
ANYONE ON A LONG PILGRIMAGE INCREASINGLY DESIRES TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION, ESPECIALLY ONE AS GLORIOUS AS HEAVEN. WHILE IT’S OBVIOUS THAT SUCH ANTICIPATION SHOULD CHARACTERIZE THOSE OLDER BELIEVERS LIVING RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF HEAVEN, THESE YEARNINGS SHOULD SURGE IN THE HEARTS OF ALL GROWING CHRISTIANS.

ROMAN 8:22-23 –
22We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God's sons).

THESE LONGINGS FOR THE COMING GREAT CHANGE IN BODY AND PLACE ARE SIMPLY PART OF A NORMAL HEALTHY GROWING CHRISTIAN. AND WE CLOSE WITH 2 COR 5:2

Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling.

Related Article:
Spiritual Health Checkup - Part 1