Revival Speaker: Rick Amato

          In I Timothy 4:6-9, Paul writes these words.

  ⁶If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. ⁷But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto  godliness. ⁸For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is   profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. ⁹This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.                  I have been very burdened lately over the spiritual health and condition of First Baptist Bonneau. It seems that we have lost our spiritual appetite for the word of God, the house of God, and the day of God.  It seems that we are far more concerned about our physical health and recreations than we are about living holy lives that are pleasing to the Lord.  We seem to have more time and energy for the things of the world than we have for the things of God and His word.  We are in need of an Old Timey, Heaven sent, Holy Spirit anointed, Satan defeating, sin killing, Christ exalting, soul saving revival and we need it now. As we begin a new church year may we seek to renew our commitment to God’s word and to living godly lives for His glory. May we seek to be spiritually healthy so that we might not only experience the blessings of God now in this life but that we might also enjoy the  rewards and blessings in Heaven. 

Two essential elements to our physical health in life are our diet and exercise.  We must eat right and exercise if we want to have a healthy body. Paul reveals here that our spiritual diet and exercise are key elements to our spiritual health as well.  Paul tells Timothy to nourish himself with the word of God and to exercise godliness. He exhorts Timothy to proclaim good doctrine as a minister of the gospel and to exhort those under his watch care to exercise godliness as well.  While we should discipline ourselves to eat right and exercise physically for our physical health, Paul points out that we should not let our physical health take  priority over our spiritual health.  It is good to be physically fit but far more important to be spiritually fit.  If we want to be spiritually healthy as Christians and if we want First Baptist Bonneau to be a healthy church then we are going to have to eat right and exercise.  We need a steady diet of God’s word in our lives each day and we need to live our lives in obedience to the word daily as our spiritual exercise. 

A Baptist Children’s Catechism

By Wil Owens

*adapted from Catechism for Young Children: An Introduction to the Shorter Catechism

1. Who made you? God

2. What else did God make? All things

3. Why did God make you and all things? To glorify Him

4. How can you glorify God? By loving Him and doing what He commands

5. Why should you glorify God? Because He made me and takes care of me