Discipline Yourself for Godliness 1 Tim 4 6

Discipline Yourself for Godliness 在敬虔上操練自己 提前 1 Tim 4: 6 -11

J. Oswald Sanders • “There is no spiritual ministry apart from personal godliness, since ministry is the overflow of a godly life. ” • “沒有個人的敬虔生活就沒有属灵 的服事, 因為服事乃是個人敬虔生 活的延伸. ”

提前 1 Timothy 4: 6– 8 (NASB) • In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 6 • 6你若將這些事提醒弟兄們，便是基督耶穌的 好執事，在真道的話語，和你向來所服從的 善道上，得了教育‧ 7只是要棄絕那世俗的言 語，和老婦荒渺的話，在敬虔上操練自己‧ 8 操練身體，益處還少‧惟獨敬虔，凡事都有益 處‧因有今生和來生的應許‧

提前 1 Timothy 4: 9– 11 (NASB) • It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 11 Prescribe and teach these things. 9 • 9 這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的‧ 10 我 們勞苦努力，正是為此‧因我們的指望在乎 永生的神‧他是萬人的救主，更是信徒的救 主‧ 11 這些事你要吩咐人，也要教導人‧

I. Some characteristics of godly leaders (ministers) 敬虔牧者/領袖的一些特色 (4: 6 -11; 林前 1 Cor 9: 24 -27; 11: 1; 提前 1 Tim 2: 3 -5) • • • A servant (4: 6 b) (僕人) Warning about errors (4: 6 a) (警戒錯誤) Expert student of the scripture (4: 6 c) (忠实学習聖經) Avoid/reject false teaching. (4: 7 a) (拒絕假師傅教導) Discipline himself for godliness. (4: 7 b-9; 林前1 Cor 9: 24 -27; 11: 1; 提後2 Tim 2: 3 -5; 箴Prov 3: 7 -8) (操練敬虔) • Committed to hard work. (3: 10) (辛勤 作) • Teaches with authority. (3: 11) (教導帶權柄)

II. Discipline yourself for physical health/purposes 操練身体 • Greek culture (希腊文化) • Athletic activity & competition (体育活動与比賽) • Training/Discipline (訓練/操練)

III. Discipline yourself for godliness 操練敬虔 (提前 4: 7 -11; 1: 5; 2: 8; 3: 2, 10; 6: 11; 提後 2 Tim 2: 1, 21 -22; 箴 Prov 4: 23)

Godliness (敬虔) • The right attitude and response toward God. • 對神合適的態度与回應. • A preoccupation from the heart with holy and sacred realities. • 心中充滿聖潔与属神的实际. • The respect of what is due to God, and thus the highest of all virtues. • 對属神事物的尊重; 乃是最高的德行.

IV. What and how to discipline? 操練那些方面? 如們操練? (4: 7 -11; 來 Heb 5: 14; 林前 1 Cor 9: 24 -27; 提後 2 Tim 2: 3 -5; 箴 Prov 4: 23) • • • Inward/Internal discipline 內在操練 Outward/External discipline 外在操練 Corporate discipline 集体操練

Inward Disciplines 內在操練 • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Meditation (默想, 深思) Prayer (祈禱) Fasting (禁食) Study (学習) Abiding-Oneness with God (与主合一) Perspective/Value (視野, 角度, 价值)

Outward Disciplines 外在操練 • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Simplicity (簡僕生活) Solitude (与主獨處) Submission (順服) Service (action, doing)(服务, 行動) Giving (捐献, 給予, 施捨) Application/Living (應用/生活)

Corporate Discipline 集体操練 • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Confession (彼此認罪) Worship (崇拜) Guidance (輔導) Celebration (庆祝) Community/Body life (教會生活, 身体建造)

Discipline/Train (如何操練) • 林前 1 Corinthians 9: 24– 27 (NASB 95) • 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. • 24豈不知在場上賽跑的都跑，但得獎賞的只有一人‧你們 也當這樣跑，好叫你們得著獎賞‧ 25凡較力爭勝的，諸事 都有節制‧他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕‧我們卻是要得不 能壞的冠冕‧ 26所以我奔跑，不像無定向的‧我鬥拳，不 像打空氣的‧ 27我是攻克己身，叫身服我‧恐怕我傳福音 給別人，自己反被棄絕了‧

提後 2 Timothy 2: 3– 5 (NASB) • Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 3 • 3你要和我同受苦難，好像基督耶穌的精兵 ‧ 4凡在軍中當兵的，不將世務纏身，好叫那 招他當兵的人喜悅‧ 5人若在場上比武，非按 規矩，就不能得冠冕‧

來 Hebrews 5: 14 (NASB) • 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. • 惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧， 他們的心竅，習練得通達，就能 分辨好歹了‧

箴 Proverbs 4: 23 (NASB) • Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. • 你要保守你心，勝過保守一切‧﹝或 作你要切切保守你心﹞因為一生的 果效，是由心發出‧

V. Benefits of Discipline for Godliness 操練敬虔的益處 • 提前 1 Timothy 4: 8 (NASB) • for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. • 操練身體，益處還少‧惟獨敬虔，凡事都有 益處‧因有今生和來生的應許‧

V. Personal Response 個人回應