FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT LIKE MEN: Genesis 1:28

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FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT LIKE MEN: Genesis 1:28

Genesis 1:28

July 25, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Genesis 1:28

DOCTRINE: The Lord commands men to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and take dominion over it.

TEXT: Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

I. THE CREATION MANDATE IS THE VERY FIRST COMMAND GIVEN BY GOD TO MAN, AND IT SHOULD SHAPE EVERYTHING WE SEE AND DO

In this Creation Mandate, sometimes called The Cultural Mandate or The Dominion Mandate, LORD commands you and I to:

I) Be fruitful like men (Genesis 1:28b). “Be fruitful.”

II) Multiply like men (Genesis 1:28c). “and multiply.”

III) Fill the earth like men (Genesis 1:28d). “and fill the earth.”

IV) Subdue the earth like men (Genesis 1:28e). “and subdue it.”

V) Take dominion over lower creation like men (Genesis 1:28f). “and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

II. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR EXHORTATION

EXHORTATION I) You and I must labor to be fruitful with whatever the LORD entrusts to us (Genesis 1:28:b).
(I) Labor to be fruitful with the vocational seed the Lord has entrusted to you. Use the gifts and talents God has given your mind, body, and soul, to love him and neighbor in and through your job.
(II) Labor to be fruitful with the gospel seed the Lord has entrusted to you. Preach the gospel to the whole creation. Plant and water, trusting God to cause the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7).
(III) Labor to be fruitful with the spiritual seed the Lord has entrusted to you. Labor to “walk by the Spirit and…not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Pray and strive to produce the fruit of the Spirit in all spheres of life. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
(IV) Labor to be fruitful with the physical seed the Lord has given you. Get married. Have lots of children, because they are a blessing (Psalm 127:3-5). “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” The Lord gives the reward, but men are said to fill their quivers. Which is it? Both. We act, trusting in the Lord’s provision. Therefore, make it your aim to fill your quiver with as many arrows as possible so that you may be as blessed as possible. “Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.” What would your life look like if you believed and acted like Psalm 127:5 were true?

II) You and I must labor to multiply whatever the LORD entrusts to us (Genesis 1:28c).
(I) Train your children to get married and have children, whether they be spiritual children or children in your home. This mandate is not about addition, this mandate is about multiplication. Therefore, do not just think about today and tomorrow. Think about 1,000 years from now. Train your children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, equipping them to do the same for their children and on and on it goes.
Let me tell you a story: A man named Max Jukes was born about the year 1720. Jukes was an atheist, who apparently married an ungodly woman. In the year 1900, an American pastor and educator named Albert Edward Winship wrote a book entitled Jukes-Edwards: A Study in Education and Heredity. In this book he traced the descendants of the two men. What he found is sobering. Of Max Jukes’ 540 studied descendants, 310 died in poverty, 150 were convicted criminals, there were 7 murderers, over 100 drunkards, and 190 female prostitutes.
By contrast, there was a man named Jonathan Edwards who was born in 1703. From Edwards’ 1,394 studied descendants came an American vice-president, 3 senators, 3 governors, 3 mayors, 30 judges, 13 college presidents, 65 college professors, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 military officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 prominent authors, and 80 other public officials. (Robert Alan Ward - https://www.wmicentral.com/community_beat/religion/the-descendants-of-jonathan-edwards/article_9e54e16d-59c5-5cf2-a99f-dea187da978a.html) What you do or do not do matters, men. It matters for more than just your lifetime and for more than you individual soul. If you are content with being a lazy Christian, what will the future look like? If you neglect family worship, what will your wife and children look like? If you do not train up your children in the way they should go, what will your descendants look like? Now imagine what God may do if you steadfastly sow seeds of faithfulness, seeking to multiply whatever God has entrusted to you? Who knows, your descendants may put Jonathan Edwards’ to shame. What we know for sure is that Christ will definitely be praised. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever, amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
(II) Train those whom you disciple to disciple others also (2 Timothy 2:2). “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Again, this is multiplication, not addition.

III) You and I must labor to fill the earth with the glory of the LORD (Genesis 1:28d). How do we take part in this filling of the earth? Well, follow this line of thought for a minute as we trace the entire story of the world: (I) Adam, with his helpmate Eve, was to fill the earth with image God’s image bearers to reflect the glory of the Lord in all creation (1 Corinthians 11:7; Isaiah 43:6-7). 1 Corinthians 11:7 “[Man] is the image and glory of God,” Isaiah 43:6-7 “I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Adam was to fill the earth with image bearers of God who reflect his divine glory. (II) Because of the fall of man in Genesis 3, the image of God is marred (Genesis 6:11-13). Genesis 6:11-13: “The earth is filled with violence.” Adam’s failure is evident by the earth not being filled with God-glorifying image bearers, but rather being filled with violence. (III) Christ, the greater Son of David, even that greater Adam, is promised to truly make it so that the earth is filled with the Lord’s glory (Psalm 72:19; Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14). Psalm 72:19: “Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” Isaiah 11:9: “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

QUESTION. Who or what is Christ going to fill the earth with? ANSWER. With those who have the image of God restored in them (Ephesians 4:24-25). “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” QUESTION. How will the earth be filled with restored image bearers? ANSWER. By Christ fulfilling the first half of the Great Commission.

(IV) Christ, with his helpmate the Church, is filling the earth with restored image bearers to reflect the glory of the Lord in all creation (Matthew 28:18-20). “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Christ, with us at his side, is bringing to fruition the “fill the earth” mandate as the greater Adam through the first half of the great commission! Therefore, make it your aim to labor to fill the earth with the glory of the Lord by obeying the first half of the great commission.

IV) You and I must labor to subdue the earth for the glory of the LORD (Genesis 1:28e). QUESTION I. How do we subdue the earth and take dominion? ANSWER. By filling the earth with those who glorify and enjoy God. QUESTION II. How can I glorify God? ANSWER. By loving him and obeying his commands (The Baptist Catechism for Boys and Girls). QUESTION III. How will people love God and obey his commands? ANSWER. By you and I fulfilling the second half of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20). “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Christ, with us at his side, is bringing to fruition the “subdue the earth” mandate as the greater Adam through the second half of the great commission! Therefore, make it your aim to labor to subdue the earth for the glory of the Lord by obeying the second half of great commission, teaching the nations to do everything Christ the King commands.

V) You and I must labor to over lower creation for the glory of the LORD (Genesis 1:28d). We need to look at all things in lower creation, such as the earth and the animals, as assets to be used to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

III. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR INSTRUCTION

INSTRUCTION I) Christ will subdue the entire earth, either by converting or killing his enemies (Psalm 2:7-12). “I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.’ Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

II) The once-crucified now-resurrected Christ is filling the earth with his restored image bearers and subduing his enemies even right now (1 Corinthians 15:20-26). “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (emphasis mine).

III) On the new Earth, the earth will be as Adam was commanded to make it, filled with the glory of the Lord (Revelation 21:22-27; Revelation 22:1-2). "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. . . Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (emphasis mine).

IV. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR DIRECTION

Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed. Here are four basic directions:

DIRECTION I) Start with yourself. You personally need to be brought into subjection to Christ. You are responsible for yourself. You need to be disciplined and fruitful with what the Lord has given you. Ask yourself and others, How can I best use what God has given me to be a fruitful man in subjection to Christ? What would it look like if you submitted to Christ as King? Pray and labor for that.

II) Next is your home. Your home and all who are under your authority need to be brought into subjection to Christ. You are responsible for your home, men. As the men go, so goes the home. Ask yourself and others, How can I best be fruitful and multiply while bringing my household into subjection to Christ? What would it look like if our home submitted to Christ as King? Pray and labor for that.

III) Next is the Church. The church and all who are apart of her need to be brought into subjection to Christ. As the home goes, so goes the church. Ask yourself and others, How can we best be fruitful, multiply, and fill and the earth through our labors as the Bride of Christ? What would our Church look like if we submitted to Christ as King? Pray and labor for that.

IV) Next is society. The entire earth must be brought into subjection to Christ. Business, government, finance, agriculture, media, all of it. As the church goes, so goes society. Ask yourself and others, What can I do in society to take part in bringing the earth into subjection to Christ? What would the earth look like if all submitted to Christ as King? Pray and labor for that.

The Lord commands men to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and take dominion over it (Genesis 1:28). “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes” (Matthew 24:46).

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR THEREFORE ACT LIKE MEN: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

May 27, 2022 • Brett Baggett • 1 Corinthians 16:13–14

DOCTRINE: The Christian life is war, therefore you and I must be watchful, stand firm, act like men, and, being strengthened by Christ, we must wage war out of love for God and love for neighbor. I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE BE WATCHFUL (v. 13a) J.C. Ryle, in his little book, “Thoughts for Young Men,” outlines 5 special dangers men need to be warned against: I) You and I must watch out for pride. II) You and I must watch out for the love of pleasure. III) You and I must watch out for thoughtlessness and inconsideration. IV) You and I must watch out for contempt of spiritual disciplines. V) You and I must watch out for fear of man’s opinion. II. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH (v. 13b) I) You must stand firm in the faith by devoting yourself to Private Worship. II) You must devote yourself to Family Worship if you would stand firm in the faith. III) You must devote yourself to Christian Fellowship if you would stand firm in the faith. IV) You must stand firm in the faith by devoting yourself to Public Worship in the assembly of the saints. III. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE ACT LIKE MEN (v. 13c) I) You and I must act like men by refusing to act like women (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NASB95). (I) Women are the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7); Men must be strong. (II) Women are softer (1 Peter 3:7), Men must be firm. (III) Women are designed and commanded to follow and submit; Men are designed and commanded to exercise authority and lead (Ephesians 5:22-25). II) You and I must act like men by refusing to act like children (1 Corinthians 13:11). III) You and I must act like men by fleeing from temptations to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13-14). IV) You and I must act like men by fleeing from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:8). V) You and I must act like men by providing for our families both physically and spiritually (1 Timothy 5:8). (I) Men physically provide (1 Timothy 5:8). (II) Men spiritually provide (Wives in Ephesians 5; Children in Ephesians 6 and Deuteronomy 6). VI) You and I must act like men by protecting our families, our church, and our neighbors (Genesis 2:15; Numbers 1:2-3; Ephesians 5:25). (I) It was Adam that was to protect Eve in the garden (Genesis 2:15). (II) It was men who were go to war in Israel (Numbers 1:2-3). (III) It is husbands who are to lay down their lives for their wives (Ephesians 5:25). VII) You and I must act like men together (1 Corinthians 16:13). IV. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE GET STRENGTH FROM CHRIST BY FAITH AND PRAYER (1 Corinthians 16:13d; Ephesians 6:10; 1 Samuel 30:6) V. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, AND ALL THE WARFARE WE WAGE MUST BE DONE IN LOVE (1 Corinthians 16:14) I) Question 1. What if you and I are faithful to “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men,” and “be strong” but we have not love? A. If we do not have love, everything else is useless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 II) Question 2. What does love look like in general? A. God defines what love looks like in general in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. III) Question 3. What does love look like in specific in regard to 1 Corinthians 16:13? A. God defines what love looks like in specific in 1 John 3:16. The good news is that though we fight in these battles, Christ has already won the war. We are engaged in conflicts that will one day be over! “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).

LEAD FAMILY WORSHIP LIKE MEN: Joshua 24:14-15

May 29, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Joshua 24:14–15

BIG IDEA: The duty, how to, motives, arguments, and blessings of family worship. Question: What is meant by family worship? Answer: Family worship is the daily use of prayer, Scripture, catechism, and song by a family, led by the head of the household, to worship the one true God for His glory and their good. I. THE DUTY OF FAMILY WORSHIP (Josh. 24:14-15) I) You are commanded to worship the LORD in sincerity and faithfulness, putting away all your former idols (Joshua 24:14). You and I must worship the LORD because He created us (Rev. 4:11), He deserves it (Psalm 29:2), that is the chief activity He has redeemed us for (Psalm 71:23), and because that is the reason Jesus died and was raised (Psalm 22:27). II) Do not be deceived, you will worship something or someone (Joshua 24:15a). III) Those who worship the LORD, should do so with their household (Joshua 24:15b). The duty of family worship is exemplified and expected of saints many places in Scripture: Abraham commanded His household to keep the way of the LORD and offered sacrifices to Him (Genesis 18:19). Jacob set up a family altar by God’s command and worshipped the LORD with his household (Genesis 35:1-3). Asaph, in Psalm 78, says fathers are to instruct their children in the glorious deeds of the LORD (Psalm 78:3-7). In Psalm 118, David says the LORD’s praises are in the houses of the righteous (Psalm 118:15). Paul exhorts us all not to be drunk, but to be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:18-19). Paul expects husbands to wash their wives in the water of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:25-27). Paul commands fathers to instruct their children (Ephesians 6:4). Peter expects husbands to pray with their wives (1 Peter 3:7). Will you join with the saints and worship the Lord with your families? God deserves it! II. THE HOW TO OF FAMILY WORSHIP (Deut 6; Job 1; Heb. 6; Rom. 6:17; Ps. 118:15-16) Plan. Be disciplined. It will not happen if you do not plan and stay disciplined. Set a time and make it happen. Richard Cecil said, “Let family worship be short, savory, simple, plain, tender, and heavenly.”‬ It does not need to be more than 10-20 minutes. Start somewhere and improve as you go. I) Pray, thanking God and interceding on behalf of your family (Job 1:5). II) Read the Scriptures, explaining and applying to the best of your ability (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). III) Catechize, memorizing the most important questions and answers you can ask (Hebrews 6:1; Romans 6:17; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15). IV) Sing, lifting your voices in praise with a Psalm, Hymn, or Spiritual Song (Ps. 118:15-16, Eph. 5:18). III. MOTIVES FOR FAMILY WORSHIP (Thomas Doolittle) Thomas Doolittle (1630-1707) in his sermon “How May the Duty of Daily Family Prayer be Best Managed for the Spiritual Benefit of Every one in the Family?” I) You should pray to God daily in your families because we receive every day family-mercies from the hand of God (Ps. 68:9). II) Because there are sins committed every day in your families (Ps. 51:3). III) Because you have many daily family-needs, which none can supply but God (Matt. 6:11). IV) Because of your families’ daily employments and labors (Ps. 127:1-2). V) Because you are all every day liable to temptations (1 Pet. 5:8). VI) Because all in your families are liable to daily hazards, casualties, and afflictions (Jn. 16:33). VII) You must pray to God in your families daily, or the very Heathen will rise up against you Christians and condemn you. I would simply add, VIII) You must worship God daily in your families because He is worthy of worship! IV) ARGUMENTS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP Oliver Heywood (1630-1702) in his book “The Family Altar”: I) Suppose a grave and pious minister, or Christian friend lodge with you, would you not reach him a bible, and desire him to go to prayer with you, lest he should suspect you to be prayerless at other times? And will not God's authority and presence have the like influence, and awe upon your spirits ? II) Suppose your friends and relations should quite disown, and disclaim you, unless you would pray in your family, would you not make a hard shift to do something that way, rather than be accounted unworthy of human society? And shall that prevail more than God's disclaiming you, or disowning converse with you? III) If your landlord should turn you out of your house, or your father should disinherit you, if you set not up this family altar, could you be content to suffer both, rather than do it? And shall a threatening of your Father in heaven, or great landlord, to reject or eject you out of heaven avail nothing? IV) If a law were imposed upon you to pay five shillings every time that you neglect prayer in your family, would you forfeit that sum as oft as you go prayerless to bed ; would you not fear that would beggar you? And shall not greater losses and heavier penalties deter you from this omission? V) If the king or a nobleman should promise you five pounds every time that you call your family together, read a chapter, sing a psalm, kneel down and pray to God, would you not strain hard to procure that money? And will not a greater profit from Almighty God prevail with you to perform this exercise to obtain a reward ? VI) Suppose a brand were set upon your foreheads, like Cain's, or a dreadful trembling should seize upon your bodies for such a neglect…would not this shame you out of your criminal omission? VII) Suppose the next time you go prayerless to bed, your loveliest child and darling should be snatched away by a sudden stroke of death, as it was in Egypt, when the first-born of Pharaoh and others died, and there was a great cry.* Would not this move you into a better course? Oh, but a greater evil befalls you, your own precious souls are endangered by neglect. VIII) Suppose a red cross, with a “Lord have mercy upon us," were set upon your doors, and the pestilence were within your house, seizing on you, one after another, and you had nothing else to do but to get ready to die would you not spend some time in prayer with yourselves and families? Behold a worse plague is upon you, the plague of sin, and will you not pray? IX) Suppose, upon every omission of family prayer you should lose a limb, or member of your body, first one finger, then a toe should be cut or torn off, till all be gone, and you dismembered; would not this force you to this duty? and yet your precious souls, which are ten thousand times more worth than a limb, yea,' than the whole body, are in hazard by willful neglect. X) Suppose a gallows were set at your door, and you must be hanged thereupon the next time you go out of your door, when you have not prayed in your family; would you venture to be hanged rather than omit this duty? do you love your lives no better? Oh! but eternal death is far more dreadful, and are eternal torments, that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, nothing to you?* Is the second death easy? V. THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY WORSHIP (Selected Scriptures) Daily family worship will glorify God, which is why you exist and therefore will bring you and your family great joy (Isaiah 43:7), soberly remind you and your family of both the sinfulness of sin and the sufficiency of Christ (Romans 6:23), constantly nourish you and your family with spiritual food (Matthew 4:4), help you and your family keep your eyes fixed on Christ and His kingdom (Colossians 3:2), instruct you and your family as to what is right and wrong, and therefore equip you to love God and neighbor in holiness (Psalm 119:105), and daily family worship will give you a clear conscience in life and death (Acts 20:26-27). CONCLUSION: If you have not made family worship (or private worship if you are single) a daily practice in your home, today is the day. Start today.

THE NEED FOR MANLY CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINE: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

June 6, 2022 • Brett Baggett • 1 Corinthians 9:24–27

DOCTRINE: If you are going to be disciplined as God has commanded in Scripture, your life will look like a grueling race, intense athletic training, a focussed race, a boxing match, and slave-driving. I. If you are going to be disciplined, you must strive hard, exerting yourself (1 Corinthians 9:24) II. If you are going to be disciplined, you must be intentionally self-controlled (1 Corinthians 9:25) III. If you are going to disciplined, you must not run uncertainly or aimlessly (1 Corinthians 9:26a) IV. If you are going to be disciplined, you must really fight, not play at it (1 Corinthians 9:26b) V. If you are going to be disciplined, you must buffet your body and make it your slave (1 Corinthians 9:27a) QUESTION: How do I offer holy violence to myself? That is to ask how do I buffet my body and make it my slave? ANSWER I: If you are going to say with Paul “I buffet my body and make it my slave” you must mortify your sin. I. You must mortify. Colossians 3:5: “Put to death…what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” II. You must continually mortify. Galatians 5:24: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” III. You must viciously mortify. Matthew 5:29-30: “29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” IV. You must Spiritually mortify; that is, with the Sword of the Spirit and by the strength of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:13: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” V. You must mindfully mortify; that is, with the eyes of your heart fixed on Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:1-5: “1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” ANSWER II: If you are going to say with Paul “I buffet my body and make it my slave” you must devote yourself to spiritual duties. (I) You must “buffet you body” by reading the Word. Psalm 119:5: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” How can you have the light of the lamp if you never pick it up? (II) You must “make your body your slave” by hearing the Word. Luke 19:48: “All the people were hanging on [Christ’s] words.” Jesus commands ministers to “preach the word” in 2 Timothy 4:2, therefore, by implication, you are commanded to listen to it. (III) You must “buffet you body” by prayer. Psalm 88:1: “O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!” (IV) You must “make your body your slave” by meditating on the Word. Psalm 119:97: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Thomas Watson in Heaven Taken By Storm: “I) Meditate seriously upon the CORRUPTION of your nature. II) Meditate seriously upon THE DEATH AND PASSION OF CHRIST. III) Meditate on your EVIDENCES for heaven. IV) Meditate upon THE UNCERTAINTY OF ALL EARTHLY COMFORTS. V) Meditate on GOD’S SEVERITY AGAINST SIN. VI) Meditate on ETERNAL LIFE.” I would simply add, VIII) Meditate seriously on THE LAW OF GOD AND THE PROMISES OF GOD. IX) Meditate seriously on the ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. (V) You must “buffet your body” by self-examination. 1 Corinthians 11:28: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (VI). You must “make you body your slave” by sanctifying the LORD’s day. Hebrews 10:24-25: “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (VII) You must “buffet your body” by holy fellowship and conversation. Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers…” Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…” VI. You and I must preach this and we must practice what we preach (1 Corinthians 9:27b) CONCLUSION Proverbs 5:22-23 “22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.”