{"id":6226,"date":"2007-01-01T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2007-01-01T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jimssermons.wordpress.com\/2007\/01\/01\/1-timothy-112-17-preparing-for-a-spiritual-birthday"},"modified":"2007-01-01T15:45:00","modified_gmt":"2007-01-01T15:45:00","slug":"1-timothy-112-17-preparing-for-a-spiritual-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/jimerwin\/2007\/01\/01\/1-timothy-112-17-preparing-for-a-spiritual-birthday\/","title":{"rendered":"1 Timothy 1:12-17 Preparing for a Spiritual Birthday"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><head><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><\/head><body><p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><b>1 Timothy 1:12-17 Preparing for a Spiritual Birthday<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"> <span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Does God place a special meaning in our <a class=\"zem_slink decorated-link\" title=\"Birthday\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Birthday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">birthdays<\/a>? I tried to look up the word \u201cbirthday\u201d in the Bible. Here are the two references to birthday:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>Now it came to pass on the third day, which was <a class=\"zem_slink decorated-link\" title=\"Pharaoh\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pharaoh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Pharaoh<\/a>\u2018s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh\u2019s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(Genesis 40:20-22 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Pharaoh was the first reference. The second is Herod. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>But when Herod\u2019s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, \u201cGive me <a class=\"zem_slink decorated-link\" title=\"John the Baptist\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_the_Baptist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">John the Baptist<\/a>\u2018s head here on a platter.\u201d And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(Matthew 14:6-10 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Job also talks about the day of his birth. He curses that day. So, we have three different examples in the Bible about birthdays and how they were celebrated. Based on these three examples, some groups don\u2019t celebrate birthdays at all. Jehovah Witnesses are one such group. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">But does that mean that we can\u2019t celebrate birthdays at all? We are made in the image of God. Our physical birthday reveals this. While many human leaders in history made the celebration of their birthdays a holy day \u2013 Pharaoh was one, the Bible never places such emphasis on this. This is one of the reasons why we are never commanded to celebrate Christmas. We may do that, but it is not because it comes from the Bible. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">The Bible talks about our physical death date. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>A good name is better than precious ointment,and the day of death than the day of one\u2019s birth;<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(Ecclesiastes 7:1 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><i><span lang=\"de-DE\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>(Hebrews 9:27 NKJV)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">So we are all born and we are all going to die physically. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">The Bible also talks about a spiritual birthday. Like the saying goes: born once, die twice, but born twice, die once. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Jesus said it this way:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>Jesus answered and said to him, \u201cMost assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(John 3:3 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(John 3:6 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">The Bible doesn\u2019t even say to celebrate our own spiritual birthday. But it does tell us to look forward and prepare for someone else\u2019s spiritual birthday. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Have you ever helped prepare for someone else\u2019s physical birthday? Have you ever helped prepare a birthday party?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Whether it is planned or it is a surprise, there are many things to do to prepare:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">You decorate<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>You bake a cake<\/p>\n<p>You invite friends and family<\/p>\n<p>You plan an eventual party, games, and celebration<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">The Bremer have a tradition. When they turn 30 and they are not yet married, the men have to sweep the floor in front of the \u201cDom\u201d \u2013 the cathedral, and the women have to clean door-handles. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">The Southern Germans, specifically the Swabians really make a big deal on birthday #40. They even say that a Swabian becomes intelligent when they turn 40. (Mit 40 wird d\u2019r Schwob g\u2019scheid). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">What we do for someone on their physical birthday, we should do for someone to prepare for their spiritual birthday. So how can you and I prepare for someone\u2019s spiritual birthday?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><b>HOW TO PREPARE FOR SOMEONE\u2019S SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">God teaches me to look for those around me who don\u2019t have a spiritual birthday.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">There are many people who don\u2019t know Jesus Christ. They have not been re-born. They don\u2019t have any idea about the importance of being reborn and growing spiritually. So, we should be on the look out for those who need a spiritual birthdate. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Here is why:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(Hebrews 9:27 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>And I saw the dead, small and great,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>standing before God,[3] and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.<\/p>\n<p>(Revelation 20:12 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">For everyone there is a time to die. Everyone in this room will die. For everyone, there will be a judgment. You and I will be judged by how we lived on this earth. The only difference between the Christian and someone who is not a Christian is the Book of Life. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">The Book of Life records your spiritual birthdate. Some will have one. Many will not have one. The Bible shows that at the judgment, we will want to come to God with all of our good works. But He shows us a \u201cSpiritual Birth Book\u201d and finds out if we are recorded in it. If not, we go to a place called Hell. Hell is a place that is as far away from God as you can get. It is the penalty for not following Jesus. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">But the fact of the matter is \u2013 every one of us deserve to be judged by our works. We are all sinners. Paul says this to Timothy. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 100%\">But Paul also recognizes that someone came to him and shared with him a way to escape judgment. Someone told him about Jesus and God used many circumstances to bring Paul into the Spiritual Birth Book. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(1 Timothy 1:16 NKJV)<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 100%\">Paul knows that he did not deserve this salvation. As a result, since he obtained mercy, he wants to live a life that helps others receive the same mercy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 100%\">Who around you do you know that needs to be written in the Book of Life? Who do you know around you that needs to have a spiritual birthday? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 100%\">God teaches me to plan for someone else\u2019s spiritual birthday<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i>But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>(1 Timothy 1:16 NIV)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i><b>The planning takes patience.<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">You will not be able to plan for somoene\u2019s spiritual birthday overnight. It takes time. It takes a relationship. For most of us, we will not be very effective in sharing the message of Jesus with people we don\u2019t know. Surprise birthday parties don\u2019t work for people who don\u2019t expect to have a birthday. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i><b>The patience will be fulfilled in prayer. <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">What do you do while you are patient? You pray for that person. This is the most important part of the preparation. You need to pray for the people around you who need Jesus. I know I have said it often, but you need to be praying. This is a spiritual birthday you are planning and it requires spiritual tools and methods. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i><b>The party requires an invitation. <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Paul lived his life as an example for others. In order to do that, you have to be inviting. That means you have to be inclusive. You have to want to let others get into the God\u2019s Children\u2019s Spiritual Birthday Book. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">At some point, while you are patient, while you are praying, you are going to have to invite. You keep inviting this person to opportunities that can become spiritual birthdays. You keep inviting them to the church, to the baptism services, to the Vacation Bible School, to the other opportunities. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Inviting others shows you want to include them. Now I have seen some exclusive Christians in this church. People from this church who don\u2019t really accept others. I know it is hard because we are international. But we have to be inviting. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\"><i><b>The person needs to feel accepted.<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Have you ever been at a birthday party, and felt that you were not accepted? Were you invited as just a token guest? I have been on some occassions. Happens quite often as a pastor. Coming to the birthday of a friend or family member is much different than coming as a pastor. The feeling of acceptance is very different. Sometimes, you don\u2019t feel like you belong. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">That is not what you want out of people who need Jesus Christ. They need to feel like they can belong. That also means that you have to accept the way they come to the party. Just like some people will dress differently when they come to a birthday party, people will come to Jesus Christ differently. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">What I mean by that is yes, they come to Jesus Christ \u2013 they realize that they are a sinner and that they need God and that Jesus is the only to God. But the birthing process is unique. Just as every physical birth is similar but unique, every spiritual birth process will be similar and yet unique. We should not look down at how a person comes to Jesus. We should be happy that they are coming to Jesus. Again, let\u2019s look at the example of Paul. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><i><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>(1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">Paul was not the type of guy you would want hanging out with your children. Yet, the grace of God was shown to him in faith and with love. It is not just the faith and love of Jesus that he experienced. Paul experienced the faith and love (and therefore the acceptance) of Jesus through the faith and love and acceptance of Christians. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%\">You and I need to set the same example. We need to show faith and share love with everyone who is coming our way. We need to be accepting of those who don\u2019t know Jesus. God loves everyone and He wants everyone to come to Him. He wants everyone in this world to experience a spiritual birthday. He wants you to help find them and prepare them for it. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 Timothy 1:12-17 Preparing for a Spiritual Birthday Does God place a special meaning in our birthdays? I tried to look up the word \u201cbirthday\u201d in the Bible. Here are the two references to birthday: Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh\u2018s birthday, that he made a feast for all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2886,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,104],"tags":[374,1512,12,1884],"class_list":["post-6226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1-timothy","category-sermons","tag-birthday","tag-personal-evangelism","tag-sermon","tag-spiritual-birthday"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>1 Timothy 1:12-17 Preparing for a Spiritual Birthday<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"1 Timothy 1:12-17 Preparing for a Spiritual Birthday is a sermon that shows how to help people who are preparing for their spiritual birthday.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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Welcome to my site patheos.com\/blogs\/jimerwin. You can look around this site and find out more about me. I am a country postmodern pastor in the digital world. I am a Christian, husband to a wonderful wife, father of four wonderful girls, mentor to new Christian leaders, and pastor of a local church. I pastor Washburn First Baptist Church in Washburn, Missouri in the beautiful area of the state called the Ozarks. I am also the Executive Secretary of International Baptist Church Ministries. I am a graduate of University of Houston, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 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