Sunday, July 23, 2017 - The Spiritual Vitamins
Pastor Roger Marcos
July 23, 2017
Greetings:
Text: 3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
Beloved. John’s affection is founded on the high merits for the welfare of Gaius as a faithful believer.
Be in health. The author affirms that Gaius is well-off spiritually (it is well with your soul). He prays that Gaius’ physical health would match his spiritual health. The “health wish” is a standard feature of the first-century epistolary format, but has been extended by the author here to include not only a wish for physical health, but for spiritual health as well.
Verse 3For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.
The meaning of the author’s statement to Gaius, “the brothers came and testified to your truth” in v. 3. When the author tells Gaius that “the brothers came and testified to your truth” he is obviously referring to a report he has received concerning Gaius’ belief or behavior.
Vitamins are necessary for growth and development of the body.
Physical vitamins are essential for good physical health, likewise, spiritual vitamins are necessary for our spiritual health.
Today the great Physician will prescribe some Spiritual vitamins essential for Spiritual Health....
I. VITAMIN A
Benefits = anti-infection properties, boosts your immune system, maintains healthy eye cells by preventing cataracts and preserving eyesight.
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that is also a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin A plays a critical role in maintaining healthy vision, neurological function, healthy skin, and more. Vitamin A- like all antioxidants- is involved in reducing inflammation through fighting free radical damage. Consuming a diet high in antioxidants is a way to naturally slow aging.
Antioxidants like Vitamin A are also responsible for building strong bones, regulating gene regulation, maintaining healthy clear skin, facilitating cell differentiation, and supporting immune function. Some of the best sources of Vitamin A include eggs, milk, liver, carrots, yellow or orange vegetables such as squash, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables
Deficiencies = night blindness, impossible to see in low light, diminishes your ability to fight infections.
Spiritual Realm:
VITAMIN A = ATTENDANCE.
A. Benefits Weekly church attendance Is Essential.
Heb. 10:25 “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.” one version “not neglecting to meet together”
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'" Psalm 122:1
“I have never known a believer to prosper spiritually who neglected public worship.” - John Owen, Thinking Spiritually
Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”
1 Cor. 16:1-2 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
1Co 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
Sunday morning Worship is not a weekly minimum requirement -
B. Results of negligence.
"To be careless, not to care." Hebrews 2:3, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation . . .
1. Spiritual Sickness
Deficiency may cause blindness - 2 Pet. 1:5-9 v. 9 “For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”
See only what is near - near sighted
Spiritually deficient man is able only to see things around Him
He cannot see by faith into the future and see the gate of life eternal
Lack of fellowship and love for one another
Church attendance will help us to be stronger and healthier spiritually.
- Lack of attendance is a sign of failing spiritual health.
- III John 2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
II. VITAMIN B
Benefits = maintain healthy skin, enhance nervous system function, increase metabolism
Deficiencies = anemia (decrease number of red blood cells)
VITAMIN B = BIBLE STUDY
A. Benefits
Mt. 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
II Pet. 3:18 - continuous growth “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
1 Pet 2:2 - milk for babes “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”
Acts 20:32 - builds us up “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
Ps. 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
B. Results of Negligence.
Not able to teach and do not want to teach - Heb. 5:12-14
Not strong, won't fight for the cause of Christ, can't defend the faith like a baby - Eph. 4:14 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men”
Christians - complain of their duties, unhappy unable to overcome the world - Anemic Christians - Applies to all - new converts and older Christians
We need Bible study all of our life - we never outgrow the need for vitamins.
“BIBLE STUDY” “Importance of Studying”
6. Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
III. VITAMIN C
Benefits-protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, regulates development of certain proteins that are useful in maintaining good bone and muscular health, lower blood pressure, and even skin wrinkling.
Deficiencies = scurvy, This is a disease distinctive of bleeding gums, dropping of teeth, very hard to treat wounds and eventually, if not treated well, could lead to death.
VITAMIN C = CHRISTIAN SERVICE
The Foundation of character is service in the church.
Source of true happiness is Christians at Work for the Lord
Gal. 6:10 “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith.”
Eph.2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”
B. Results of negligence.
Mt. 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
We cannot rest on our past work - Phil. 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
IV. VITAMIN D
Benefits-strengthens bones, preventing heart disease, certain cancers
Deficiencies = increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increase cancer risk, cognitive impairments.
Spiritual Realm
VITAMIN D = DAILY PRAYER
Benefits
Body - Vitamin D = prevention of rickets - called the sunshine vitamin
This vitamin is not a substitute for any of the others
Daily prayer is communion with the sunlight of God's love
1 Thess. 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.” You talking to your God, your Creator, your Maker
1 Jn. 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us”
B. Results if neglected.Susceptible to Sin - Mt. 26:41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jas. 4:2 “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
Prayerless Christians show it by a lack of interest in the church.
Conclusion:
Take these vitamins:
- Attendance worship, Bible classes
- Bible Study
- Christian Service
- Daily Prayer
Jesus the Is Calling!