Even When You Don’t Want To

Introduction

Oh Father, draw me close to you. Come now, my dear peace, and yet I know you here for you, for you have promised and I need then I will pray your name forever. I’ll give you things to magnify your loving favor and love your salvation for all your promises are true and I give my hand to reach your face finding your heart of these place to be informed.

And I then I will pray your name forever of give you things and magnify your loving favor and love yourself and for all your promises are true, and I speak your name to love seek through the thing, your mean and then I will not fear for you are here for you have promised and I then I will pray your name forever I’ll give you things and magnify your loving favor and I will tell of your salvation for all your promises are true and I secure my heart for you make sure I trust my deal then I’ll be wanting you I do for you have promise as I will pray your name for the love giving you thank you to magnify your lovely favor.

Well, it’s good to have Taylor back. We’ve been missing him in these parts. He’s been up at college station, and we welcome all of our visitors this morning, and I would be greatly amiss if I did not welcome Isabel. Or is that Izzy? Or is that Belle? All of this is to be determined. But it’s good to have that little youngster at her first service today. Of course, she’s been listening to me from the womb for several months now. One of the first voices she recognizes, I’m sure, in our group.

Do it because you don’t want to.

Because you did it. Perhaps that’s not precisely the idea in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, but Paul is talking about foregoing liberties for the sake of others, like not taking a wife, as some of the other apostles did, including Cephas in verses 1 through six. And he begins that whole section in 1 Corinthians 9 by saying, Am I not free? I have liberties to take advantage of if I desire, but that doesn’t always mean that I will do so. And then he concludes this section in verse 19 and following, when he says, Though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all that I might win the war. To the Jews he became a Jew, to those under the law as one under the law.

To the weak he became weak, that he might by all means save some, he says in verse 22. And he says in verse 23, I do all things for the sake of the gospel. Now, if there might be an occasion when you need to do something just because you don’t want to do it, if you are doing it for the sake of the gospel, no higher motivation exists, that I might become a fellow partaker of it. And then he says this in perhaps the more familiar verses to our audience.

But only one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.

Therefore I run in such a way as not without aim. I box in such a way as not beating the air. But I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly after I have preached to others. I myself should be disqualified. You know, it may appear at first glance, and I thought about that this week, that Paul is saying that sometimes the body just gets out of control. And it does things almost involuntarily. It just, it just occasionally gets unruly. Is that what happened? I mean, your body just starts doing things. And you know, why is my body doing that? I had a close call on that this morning. Sherry at one point puts her hand on my leg. As some of you who sit around me know, right before I preach or teach, my leg really bounces really fast.

And it’s almost, it’s a nervous reaction kind of thing. I don’t even know I’m doing it sometimes, but I can stop it if I’m made aware of it. But it’s almost like Paul is thought, you know, the body just gets unruly sometimes and it just goes on a has a mind of its own, but we really know that’s not the case. Not in regard to sinful conduct. We know that really where all of this starts is in our mind, in our thinking. And that’s why he says we exercise self-control in all things. He talks about the tongue in James chapter 3 and verse 2. How that no man can tame the tongue. It’s an unruly member of our body. But we know from things that Jesus has said that it speaks out of things which fill the heart, and that if one can control the tongue, he is then able to do what?

James 3 and verse 2. Control the whole body as well. And so Paul is talking about here, sometimes foregoing liberties for the sake of the gospel, for the benefit of others. That is reigning in. Exercising self-discipline and self-control. Reigning in the body for the benefit of his soul and for the benefit of others and their salvation. So the self-control to which Paul alludes in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 is an art developed within. I want you to hold this thought this morning. Thus, it would be healthy, would it not, to do something every day that we don’t want to do. Just for the exercise of having done it. There is great benefit. There is great benefit to be gained from the practice of self-discipline. Engaging in self-discipline regularly, just for the benefit of building mental or spiritual muscle.

Well, what is this involved? Paul’s allusion to physical exercise makes the point. Some of us are trying to do some physical exercise from time to time. And if you haven’t been, and you ultimately go to the doctor, the doctor’s going to tell you. Do some physical exercise. It’s good for the body. But you know how it is when you’re sitting there in the comfort of your living room with the air conditioner on full blast and your feet are cropped up in the recliner. You know what your body is saying, right? -Not going to do that. Don’t want to. Or you say, come on now, come on. We’ve got to have some exercise here. We’ve got to bump at the body, not buffet the body. We’re good at that.

He wasn’t saying buffet the body, saying buffet the body. And so we’ve got to get out of there, we got to do it, right? And here we sit. And our recliner, gotta do it, gotta do it. And we don’t want to do it. The body’s saying, no. And when you start this exercise, even sometimes all the way along, and those of you who exercise regularly know some days are better than others. Some days you’re doing it, and your body’s still saying, I don’t want to do this. And in the 30-minute exercise at Planet Fitness, the last thing you get to do is the ab crunches. Nobody ever made likes those. Those are not fun. No wonder they put them last. You have to make yourself do those things.

We have to get out of our comfort zone. That’s what Paul is telling us in 1 Corinthians chapter 9. We have a saying around our house, and that is that sometimes we have to get out of the nut tree. Because there’s a whole series of children’s books about scaredy squirrel. And at our house, Tony is scaredy squirrel. Scaredy squirrel does not like to leave the comfort of the nut tree. Sometimes we have to get out of the nut tree, and there are dangers out there when we get out of our comfort zone, potential dangers that scaredy squirrel has to take into account. But when he gets out of the nut tree, he finds out sometimes it’s really not all that bad. And so we’ve got to get out of our comfort zone.

And this will help us to do more than give lip service to the concept of spiritual growth. I got all of these thoughts from Gary Henry, who speaks very well, writes very well, and he said in this vein nothing is more valuable than to have our faculties, mental and spiritual as well as physical, trained and ready to respond to important needs. But having faculties that will respond to important needs is not something that happens overnight or without any effort. When the big tests of life come along, we won’t be ready for them if we haven’t been training for them before then. So today, if there’s some unpleasant little duty that could easily be procrastinated, do it just because you don’t want to. Take that little opportunity to put the flesh in its place.

Teach your body to take orders from your spirit.

1. Easy Religion: A 21st Century Spiritual Malady

It is the battle between flesh and spirit. As the disciples slept in the garden, we know the familiar statement Jesus said as he comes back and he finds them sleeping. He says, Well, what? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. And I might go further to say that sometimes our spirits aren’t even willing. In this battle between flesh and spirit. So I want to speak to you for a few moments this morning about doing things even when you don’t want to. And some observations that flow out of Paul’s teaching here in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 about making our bodies our slave, exercising self-control in all things. And one of the observations that I want to make this morning is that it is a great 21st century spiritual malady.

And if you don’t know what malady means, it’s not a good thing. It’s like an illness. Easy religion. Easy religion. And when I say denominations, I’m encompassing all kinds of different religions in our world today. They practically encourage it. Easy religion. Just a little bit. Just give me a little bit.

After all, we like things easy. Religion easy, good. Check. Why? Well, number one, life in the 21st century is demanding. It’s difficult. Something’s got to give. Where can I free up some time? Less devotion to my faith. Tyranny of the urgent rather than the important. I can get away with cutting the Lord out a little. You think? No, you might not be disciplined by the local church, even though your example is really bad leaven. But you won’t get away with it. And no, you won’t be the better for it. Because you have exalted the flesh above all else. Flesh that will ultimately disappoint and fail. And you have neglected things of eternal importance. Things with eternal implications. Things involving immortality. No, the painful sacrifice. The painful sacrifice is sometimes exactly the things that we need for our heart.

For the betterment of our character.

After the example of the Lord. Some people would just like to excise these verses from their Bibles. When Jesus said. Or first, when was said to Jesus, and as they were going along the road, someone said to him, I’ll follow you wherever you go. What a noble sentiment. That guy’s ticket is stand for heaven. Right? I’ll follow you wherever you go, he said. And Jesus said to him. Interesting response. The boxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Have you ever thought about Jesus’ response to the guy’s statement? A little odd, don’t you think? I’ll follow you wherever you go. Let me tell you about the Son of Man, which was a reference to himself.

Being the fulfillment of the Son of Man prophesied in Daniel chapter 7, the Son of God in essence. But the Son of Man, let me tell you about the Son of Man. He has nowhere to lay his head. Now, animals do. Foxes have their holes, and the birds of the air have their nest. Now we know what he’s saying to him, right? You really? You really want to follow me? Wherever I may go? Do you want what that means? And he said to another, follow me. And that fellow said, Permit me first to go and bury my father. But he said to him, Allow the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God. There are going to be things involved in following me that are more important and more urgent than the death of a relative.

And another also said, I will follow you, Lord, but first permit me to say goodbye to those at home. But Jesus said to him, No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. One thing I absolutely know about these verses is that Jesus is calling us to sacrifice. And Jesus is calling upon us to expend of ourselves and his service and to exercise the kind of self-control that Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, the self-discipline that will be required to be a disciple, a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, Only a few things are necessary. Really only one. Only a few things are necessary. Only a few things are necessary. Really, only one. Where did he say that? The very next chapter in the book of Luke. If you’re still there in chapter 10.

Martha and Mary. And while Martha was distracted with all her preparations, Mary is sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to him. Every time I read this story, I’m telling you, my wife is Mary in the story. But I just had to point that out. She’s going to be sitting at the Lord’s feet and not doing the serving. But that’s a good thing. It’s a good thing here.

This is an important thing. As I try to dig out of that.

Has left me to do all the serving alone. She ought to be serving like I am. But the Lord answered and said to her, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only a few things are necessary. Really, only one. And Mary has chosen the good part, like my wife would have done. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. That’s a proper kind of prioritizing. I need association with the Lord and with his people, a selfless exalting of the Lord on a frequent basis more than I need anything else. It’s good for me. It’s good for me to fight through fatigue and weariness and extend myself in the service of the Lord and cast my thoughts and devotion, however feebly, to the throne of God.

2. Self-Control When Confronted With Temptation

Avoid this malady. Easy religion. I want it easy. Jesus said, that’s not what it means to follow me. Now this boils over into something else. Self-control, this attribute that we’re trying to cultivate. We’re going to challenge them.

It makes me more like the Lord. I learned self discipline and self control. And that principle is going to be important when we are confronted with temptation. When our passions are urging us to do something other than we were instructed to do by the righteousness of the New Testament. Young people, if we’re going to defeat temptation, we’ve got to learn the art of self-discipline and self-control. That’s why Paul says, I exercise self-control in all things, so at the end of the day, even after I preach these things to others, I myself will not be disqualified. I’ve got to learn to practice self-control and reign over my body and buffet my body. And Paul is saying that in Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 and verse 6, when he says, the mind set on the flesh is death.

But the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. All kinds of ramifications to that. There’s metonymy here. Flesh is everything material. Spirit has to do with the things that emanate from the Holy Spirit and our spirits. While we stay focused on the Spirit’s will for us and our own spirits and molding ourselves after this instruction, after the example of Christ, the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. And then notice what he goes on to say in verse 13. For if we are living according to the flesh, you must die.

But if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. You see, that’s not talking about something mystical. The Holy Spirit is fighting this battle for us, and we don’t have to do anything. Oh no. The Spirit is assisting us all right and helping us in many ways. But really, what he’s doing is instructing us how to defeat the flesh.

And one of the ways is by cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. As he talks in Galatians chapter 5, what is that fruit of the Spirit that is there described in Galatians 5 and verse 22? It’s love. You know, the Holy Spirit just doesn’t say, boom, I’m going to give Charles Berkner some love, and he throws it there in his mind. Whether you want it or not, Charles, you’re going to love. Or the fruit of the Spirit is joy. Martha, I’ve given you joy. Boom. All of a sudden she has a smile on her face. Or peace. Now, if he’s giving me one, it’s going to be patience. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness. Oh, there it is. Self-control. Those are the fruit or the product of the Spirit.

3. Be Strong

The Holy Spirit is not just slamming us with all of these qualities and making us express them whether we wanted to or not. He is guiding us, he’s instructing us. Certainly, he’s helping us. He intercedes for us in Romans chapter 8. We read about that. He is instructing us so that we will implement his work in our lives. His product, his fruit. Self control. It’s going to help us to be victorious over the temptation and the appeals that the devil is continually making to our flesh. Now, third point that I want to make from this. Paul is talking about self-control and all things, buffeting his body and this physical exercise thing. Something struck me in all of this. It occurs to me that I’ve overlooked this statement many times.

How could you do that? Do you realize how many times Paul says this? Look at this. 1 Corinthians 16. I want us to appreciate be strong. When you think about that, I mean, it’s an allusion to physical muscle. Be strong. We always jump to the spiritual application. Be spiritually strong. But be strong. It’s like the illusion, 1 Corinthians 9. Work it out. Work out. Pump up those muscles. He says, be strong. Look at this. Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Flip over a couple of pages to Ephesians 6 quickly. Ephesians 6 and verse 10. Finally be strong in the Lord. In the strength of his might. Are you a strong Christian?

Be strong. That has to do with you. He’s not, again, he’s not giving you strength without you doing something. He’s telling you be strong. Even a preacher, he would tell that too. 2 Timothy 2 and verse 1. You therefore, my son, Timothy, you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ. One other passage, Haggai 2 and verse 4. Had to throw my friend Haggai 2 in there. I’ve been preaching this sermon in meetings all over the place. I love this sermon that I developed as a result of our study of Haggai about God’s intentions for the temple. Here they are they’re given this large task that seems overwhelming. We can’t make this temple look like Solomon’s temple. The elders who had seen it are going, this is unbelievable.

This task is so enormous. We can’t do it. And what does he tell the leaders? Take courage, Zerubbabel. Take courage, Joshua. Take courage. He’s telling them to be strong. Be strong. Joshua is told us he is commissioned with leading God’s people in Joshua chapter 1. Be strong. Be strong. Is sometimes evidenced in doing things you don’t want to do. My mind and my body are saying, no. I’m too tired. I don’t feel like it. -And we say, no to that. And yes to the spirit. Because that’s what it means to be strong. See, I flex my spiritual muscle. I overcame that weak flesh, and I developed spiritual strength. And I do that because there are other people counting on me. And that’s what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians chapter 9.

There are people counting on me. And the Lord is counting on me. Too much weak today.

Too much weak among the Lord’s people. Look at these passages again. Be strong in the Lord. Well, other people may not appreciate me and my attempts to be strong. They may not notice or care. But see, that’s the thing. The Lord does notice. He is not unjust to forget our work and labor of love that we have shown in ministering and in having minister to the saints. Hebrew chapter 6 and verse 10. And he said just prior to that to some believers who are struggling, I am persuaded of better things concerning you and things that accompany salvation. So I would suggest to you that this sermon this morning is my better things sermon, and I could probably be preaching that every single week. We need that kind of admonishing.

We can reach for better things. We can be stronger. Do not be sluggish, he would go on to say in that text in verse 11. But like Abraham, be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. And I would just say this quickly in conclusion this morning.

Conclusion

We idolize the flesh. When you think about it, temporary, fading away, versus permanent and eternal. Which should more greatly be emphasized. Isn’t that the point in Ecclesiastes chapter 11 about the young person and the admonishment is given? Rejoice in your young manhood. Have a good time. Enjoy your youth and vitality and all that goes with that. But then he says, but remember, God will bring you into judgment for all these things. That you’ll have to account for the things that you chose to do in your youth and in your vitality. This lesson and 1 Corinthians 9 is telling us one very important thing. Learn to control your flesh and do not allow it to control you. That is a message for our times, folks.

Let your spirit, by the instruction of the Holy Spirit, get an upper hand on your flesh. And that begins with properly evaluating the importance of the Spirit versus the flesh. And I conclude with this thought this morning. Nothing exalts a life anymore than a heart directed to the throne of God in worship. In praise of the one who gives us life and breath, adoring him who cannot be seen. Because of a reasonable, confident faith and a living hope.

Are you living an exalted life? This may not appear to be too much to a lot of people. A small little room with sometimes as many as a hundred and fifty people.

These are people who are living an exalted life. And there is immortality at the end of the road. Have you embraced such a life? Have you made the decision, regardless of the cost, regardless of sometimes having to do things you really don’t want to do? Learning to exercise self-discipline and self-control. Have you made the decision? I am going to follow you wherever you go and whatever that means.

And if you’re willing to be one, would you submit to his will and let him be Lord and King of your life? And won’t you respond while we stand and say.

And with all who will trust and no way Trust and no way for no other way to be having us and no way not a birth we share not a sorrow we share but our weekly not a free loss not a process but is Christ if we trust and no way trust and no way for there’s no other way to be happy but to trust and no ships we will say I forgot his love What he says we will do where he says we will go never hear only trust and no way trust and no way for there’s no other way to be happy not to trust and no day.