EXERCISING - cce.hr

Croatian Kneza Branimira 11 T+385 1 4920 726
Evangelistic 10 000 Zagreb F +385 1 4813 871
Outreach Croatia www.cce.hr

EGXOEDRLCIINSIENSGS

Mario Dučić, that profits little while neglecting or
November 2006. hardly mentioning godly exercise
for which the apostle Paul, when
„For bodily exercise profits a little, but encouraging young Timothy, says,
godliness is profitable for all things, “Godliness is profitable”
having promise of the life that now
is and of that which is to come. This This is evidence that today’s church
is a faithful saying and worthy of all of Jesus Christ is not in the condition
acceptance. For to this end we both it should be; she expends her efforts
labor and suffer reproach, because on that which has little value for
we trust in the living God, who is the promoting the Kingdom of God.
Savior of all men, especially of those
who believe. These things command While looking at the back cover of a
and teach. !“ (1 Timothy 4:8-11) DVD recently I noticed a picture of
a female singer wearing a small t-
It is interesting to see how church shirt that effectively showed off her
undergoes pressure from the world’s perfectly flat belly. The church has
emphasis on physical activity, physically well developed Christians
nutrition and health yet less and less
on godliness. It is sad to see how This is evidence that today’s
so many fall into these traps and church of Jesus Christ is not in
attribute more value to something the condition it should be.

Pulpit Series 1

who are perfectly willing to show exercising godliness in the church. It
their skills or starved bodies but is our only hope if we as individuals,
are spiritually on the level of a little and collectively as a church, are to
child – constantly weeping, whining, return to real life in Christ!
and arguing.
1. EXERCISING GODLINESS
Paul gave a good description of PROMISES LIFE – PRESENT
such people in 1 Timothy 6:3- 5: AND FUTURE
„If anyone teaches otherwise and
does not consent to wholesome „For bodily exercise profits a little, but
words, even the words of our Lord godliness is profitable for all things,
Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which having promise of the life that now is
accords with godliness, (Greek word and of that which is to come. “
Eusebeia– godliness) he is proud, (1 Timothy 4:8)
knowing nothing, but is obsessed with
disputes and arguments over words, The word godliness (Greek word:
from which come envy, strife, reviling, eusebeia) has an interesting history.
evil suspicions, useless wranglings of The Greek poet Homer first used
men of corrupt minds and destitute of this word around 1000 B.C. After
the truth, who suppose that godliness him this word was usually used in
is a means of gain.“ classic Athenian Greek as describing
one’s personal godliness through
We desperately need an awakening! fulfillment of human relationship.
There is too much of this kind of This word was also used to describe
worldly thinking that is responsible a person who was faithful in
for the spiritual demise of our fulfilling their religious duties to
country. Therefore I would like their Greek gods.
to speak about the necessity of
When the same word started to be
We could say that it is used in the Koine Greek language
actually control or fulfillment it denoted „inner godliness“ or
in the Holy Spirit, which spirituality and „duty“ that a believer
brings the quality of Christ owed to God in the inner man. We
into someone’s life. could say that it is actually control
or fulfillment in the Holy Spirit,
which brings the quality of Christ
into someone’s life. In general, this

2 CEO

EGXOEDRLCIINSIENSGS

word describes a person who lives a only interested in fulfilling their
godly, mature and moral life. own desires or selfishly wish to
profit from faith. They sit with
It is interesting to see how the their arms crossed murmuring
apostle Paul puts these verses into and disputing over the meanings
context in warning of false teachers, of words, therefore, death and
having already pointed out that negativity rule in them; they have
their spiritual senses were not no faith in the Lord.
exercised and that their godliness
was not in line with true godliness. But godliness is that which brings
life – present life, which displays a
Therefore one of the characteristics quality relationship and service as
of such people is that they do not well as investment in the Kingdom
bring life into the church, but death of God and future life; eternal life.
and division, because they heed
“old wives’ tales”. The Greek word When Paul spoke to Timothy about
indicates that they heed “myths”; the practical effects of godliness he
in other words, those things that said: „Take heed to yourself and to
are not true, or that cannot be the doctrine. Continue in them, for in
confirmed as truth. doing this you will save both yourself
and those who hear you.“
Apostle Paul further mentions that (1 Timothy 4:16)
they are obsessed with disputes
and arguments over words, from Many suppose they
which come envy, strife, reviling, exercise their “spiritual
and evil suspicions toward other muscles” by reading and
people. The result is an ungodly life studying the Bible yet they
that brings death. don’t want to stir up their
gifts and talents to serve.
It is no wonder, then, that today’s They are only interested in
churches are in a lifeless condition; fulfilling their own desires
there are few that exercise or selfishly wish to profit
godliness. Many suppose they from faith.
exercise their “spiritual muscles”
by reading and studying the Bible
yet they don’t want to stir up their
gifts and talents to serve. They are

Pulpit Series 3

We should take care of ourselves man is a man who prays.” Today
and exercise ourselves spiritually the average believer “prays” only
in order that we might be several minutes a day, does not
spiritually alive, bring life to those serve in the church with their gifts
around us and have the promise of and talents, does not read their
life to come! Bible daily, and are not an example
to others by their words, behavior
2. EXERCISING GODLINESS (some Christians need to learn
REQUIRES EFFORT, WHICH better etiquette and manners), and
RESULTS IN DESPISING THE cleanliness yet still want to have all
WORLD the blessings from the Gospel!

„This is a faithful saying and worthy of C.H. Spurgeon once said, „You
all acceptance. For to this end we both who do not know what is a cry or
labor and suffer reproach, because tear shedding are deprived of basic
we trust in the living God, who is the godliness.“
Savior of all men, especially of those
who believe. These things command Godliness requires great effort.
and teach. .“ (1 Timothy 4:9-11) If you take a closer look at the
directives Paul gave to Timothy
Godliness is not a kind of anointing in 1 Timothy 4:12 up to the end
that descends on us while we sleep. of chapter 6 you will better see
Many would like to become godly that much of it was written in the
but godliness has its price! imperative mood; he commanded
certain actions that show true
Someone said once, “A godly godliness and then told him to
“command and teach”
We should take care (1 Timothy 4:11).
of ourselves and exercise
ourselves spiritually in order Greek word for command is
that we might be spiritually “paraggello”, which means to share
alive, bring life to those information or give a command. It
around us and have the comes from the word “paraggelia”,
promise of life to come! which means information or a
command and is closely related to a
comman given by a superior person
to be forwarded to others.

4 CEO

GEXOEDRLCIINSIENSGS

In other words, in any other When Paul, in 1 Timothy, says that
context, godliness is not passive they “fought“, the root of the Greek
but active. What often confuses word oneidos is used – it means
many believers is as they make an to mock or use somebody. It also
effort toward godliness the more describes an object of denigration
they are pressured by the world, or shame.
the greater the effort the greater
the battle. However, rather than Have you ever felt like that? At work,
staying strong in the midst of in school, even among believers
the battle many neglect spiritual – that they belittle you, blame,
exercise because of increased use you, or put you to shame, and
pressure from the environment the more you practice godliness
around them and because of the worse it becomes? Sometimes
passivity and lack of exercise they we ask ourselves, ”God where are
become despondent and bow to you?” We expect to get help quickly
the pressure of the world in order because of our godliness.
to rid themselves of daily pressures
around them from work, school, or Certainly exercising godliness brings
even their own home. blessing and benefit but we do not
put our hope in circumstances or
Christ promised us that heavenly in any man who will se our “outer
and eternal rewards but never godliness” and praise us for it. Our
promised an easy life while trying hope is in the living God because
to live a godly in the world. On the true godliness is the inner heart of
contrary, Paul writes: “…and all who man is a lifestyle!
desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will
suffer persecution .But evil men and „ …We both labor and suffer
impostors will grow worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived. .“ What often confuses many
(2 Timothy 3:12-13). believers is as they make an
effort toward godliness the
This troubles us as we ask more they are pressured by the
ourselves if it is worth it all; then world, the greater the effort the
in bitterness toward God we give greater the battle.
up. The more we give ourselves
to godliness the more trials and
hardships we will face.

Pulpit Series 5

reproach, because we trust in the godliness... Fight the good fight of
living God, who is the Savior of all faith, (originally: hold out; hold)
men, especially of those who believe.“ lay hold on eternal life, to which you
(1 Timothy 4:10) were also called and have confessed
the good confession in the presence
He is our Savior, not a man or of many witnesses.“
change of circumstances, He is the (1 Timothy 6:11-12)
one we live for and sanctify! He is
the one who will give us our reward Paul here uses active and strong
– eternal life. He is our Savior! But verbs to describe the Christian godly
remember, the world and false life connected with active faith: run
Christians will despise you for the away, fight, and hold on!
sake of godliness!
Godly exercise, Christianity in
3. EXERCISING GODLINESS general, is not a passive religion,
WILL KEEP YOU FROM “waiting for God”. This is one of
WANDERING AWAY FROM THE the reasons why believers of other
FAITH Christian denominations often
resist “Pentecostal expectation”
„But you, O man of God, flee these because it is often misunderstood
things and pursue righteousness, as spiritual manipulation of people
or situations. It is also often used
Certainly exercising to justify laziness or passivity for
godliness brings blessing and Christ and His work.
benefit but we do not put
our hope in circumstances or Instead of immediately responding
in any man who will se our to a situation we say that we are
“outer godliness” and praise not certain that the situation is
us for it. Our hope is in “God’s will” or we do not have
the living God because true “a confirmation”. We use various
godliness is the inner heart clichés, for example “I will pray
of man is a lifestyle! about it”, while in advance we know
that we do not want to assist in the
situation that has been brought
before us: in reality it is spiritual
sorcery; and we blame God if it
does not work!

6 CEO

GEXOEDRLCIINSIENSGS

If we want to live godly and do a home on earth and so pierce
something for Jesus our faith must themselves with various tortures
be active, we must be obedient to that will lead them far away from
God, be encouraged and do what the faith.
we know is right!
Unfortunately this is the condition
If we actively exercise godliness it of those who do not exercise
will keep us from wandering away godliness – they still come to
from the faith! Today’s believers church, bringing their Bibles with
wander and do not believe because them, and look like Christians but
they are passive and bow to the their inner man is not strengthened
world and consider faith only as a by faith but passive. Because of
source of profit. their reputation and pride they
still continue to go to the church
But those, says Paul, will fall into but in their heart they are “lovers
temptation and a snare, and into of themselves, boasters, disobedient
many” foolish and harmful lusts to parents, unforgiving, slanderers,
which drown men in destruction and traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers
perdition. For the love of money is a of pleasure …” because they deny
root of all kinds of evil, for which some the truth. But they will progress no
have strayed from the faith in their further,” for their folly will be manifest
greediness, and pierced themselves to all, as theirs also was....“
through with many sorrows.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5,9)
(1 Timothy 6:9-10)
We must flee this condition! Run
These are lazy, immoral, lustful, toward spiritual exercise instead
and are disobedient according to of physical exercise and actively
the apostle, they maintain a show
of godliness but deny it’s power If we want to live godly
because they are „men of corrupt and do something for Jesus
minds, disapproved concerning the our faith must be active, we
faith; (originally “godliness)” must be obedient to God, be
(2 Timothy 3:9) encouraged and do what we
know is right!
They are the slaves of materialism;
they want to build their careers,
buy houses and apartments – build

Pulpit Series 7

look for God. We should use all our confession before Pontius Pilate,
efforts to fight the battle of faith that you keep this commandment
and hold on eternal life to which without spot, blameless until our
we are all called! Only in this way Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which
will we keep from wandering away He will manifest in His own time,
from the faith. He who is the blessed and only
Potentate, the King of kings and Lord
A “faithful saying“ should be taken of lords, who alone has immortality,
seriously! Therefore, flee worldly dwelling in unapproachable light,
and false teachings. We have the whom no man has seen or can see,
Word of God before us. We do to whom be honor and everlasting
not need new theology or a new power. Amen.“
revelation; we must cling closer (1 Timothy 6:13-16)
to Jesus! This will keep the church
and the people around us alive; we We should use all our
must not wander away from the efforts to fight the battle of
faith! We must exercise godliness faith and hold on eternal
– make it alive, and strengthen life to which we are all
our faith for “ Now godliness with called! Only in this way will
contentment is great gain.“ we keep from wandering
(1 Timothy 6:6) away from the faith.

„I urge you in the sight of God who
gives life to all things, and before
Christ Jesus who witnessed the good

All material in this issue is subject to International copyright laws and may not be reproduced
without prior written approval. Permission to reproduce may be obtained by writing to
Croatian Evangelistic Outreach.
Copyright © 2005 CEO. All Rights reserved.
Private duplication of this message for friends and neighbors is authorized.

Gifts designated for this ministry are received by Spirit Life checks payable to Spirit Life Ministries International and
Ministries International, 37 Red Clover Drive, Sandpoint, write CEO (Croatian Evangelistic Outreach) in the memo of
Idaho 83864-8805. For tax-deductible receipts, please make your check. Thank you.

8 CEO