Desire spiritual things:
A. Our spiritual life must take precedence over our physical life
1. Our goals, ambitions and affections ought to be spiritual - not carnal -
Colossians 3:1,2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Mark 12:30 "And you shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind, and with ALL your strength."
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
a. Too many find pleasure in worldly things: {We do what we want}
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
2. We must have our priorities right:
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Luke 12:15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."
a. It begins in our heart or mind!!!!
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
B. We should desire to partake in spiritual activities -
1. We should desire to assemble?
Heb. 10:24,25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
a. Desire to worship God -
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."
Psalm 63:1,2 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.
b. Desire the company of our brethren -
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Are you here ONLY because you are commanded to be here?
2. We should desire to study God's word?
Psalm 119:36,37 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, . . . . Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.
Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. . .
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! .
2Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
a. Assembling to study God's word, ought to be attractive to us.
b. Do we hunger and thirst after God's word as much as
1) Our news-paper?
2) Our Monthly Magazine - (Sports Ill., Readers Digest, Playboy?...)
3) Our Favorite TV show - (Morning news, Sitcoms, Talk Shows . . . . . )
c. Many have not received a LOVE for the truth . . .
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
3. We should desire to keep the Lord's commandments -
Psalm 119:129-131 Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments.
[WE decide that which is valuable to us - We have placed our priorities in the order that they are in based upon our desires! That which we desire most is that which: . . . . We long for - . . . . We work for - . . . . and excites us the most - Do we desire spiritual things as we should? If we have developed this spiritual desire within our hearts, then we will seek to take the next step . . . . ]
Go to the next section: Discipline
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