we are spiritual athletes

In the old testament, the people who stood for God fought literal battles for Him (vivid illustrations of this can be found in Exodus, Joshua, Judges, First and Second Samuel, First and Second Kings, First and Second Chronicles, Nehemiah, etc.). For instance, the following is a word of praise that the Isrealites sang to God after being delivered form Pharaoh and his men:

Exo 15:1-3  Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

There are a lot of gruesome battles that were fought in the old testament because the competition for them had to be fought in the senses realm. In this day and time and administration, we are no longer limited to our 5 senses. We have ready access to our heavenly father's strength and resources. The competition in which we participate is not one of war but of athleticism.

Eph 6:10-12  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We no longer fight physical battles. We wrestle and compete in the arenas of our minds and hearts. The allegory of God's people being athletes is found in several places in the Church epistles.

1Co 9:24-27  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 

2Co 10:2-6  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

 This morning, as is our custom, my roommate and I went to the high school track near our apartment to exercise. We are working to complete a running plan to build cardiac endurance and health. The workout to be completed today involved pushing myself to alternate between walking and jogging for a total of 2 miles (only a half mile to be walked). Twice in this particular workout, the goal was to jog at an even pace without stopping for a half mile. This may be easy for some, but it was definitely a test of my endurance and proved to be far more strenuous than anything I have done in recent years.

The workout finished with the second half-mile jog, and I was feeling tired. As we finished lap number 1 in this last stretch, the muscles in the back of my leg began to cramp. Shortly after we started lap number 2, the cramping was so bad that it felt as though someone was pulling apart my leg at the knee. My roommate had been encouraging me with phrases like, "you're doing great," "keep it up," and "just a little more." As she saw the pain in my face, she said that if I needed to, I could stop. The pain increased to the point that I couldn't keep going, so I paused. In that moment, she asked me if I wanted to keep going. My mind and body were both screaming "no!" However, I began to move anyway. I made the decision to prove God. I began to think about promises in God's Word like, "God has given me all of the things that I need, including the energy to be my best for Him," and "my body is subject to my mind, and my mind is subject to the Word." Before I knew it, I was beginning to jog again. I was telling myself things like, "There is no way that I'm going to stop competing in this life. There's no way that I am ever going to stop running to serve. God has given me everything that I need to succeed in every situation. etc."

As we rounded the last curve and only had the last straight-a-way to finish, I heard God's still, small voice tell me, "I have not only given you the energy that you need to finish this; I have given you the energy to sprint to the end." I was tired, but I made the decision to believe what He said and claim it. We crossed the line that began the last stretch that would be about 100 meters. Determined, I picked up speed and began to sprint. Before I knew it, I had left her behind and was crossing the finish line. Out of breath but proud and excited because of what God had just done for me, I slowed down and walked to the place that we had set our sweatshirts and where we would stretch. As my heart rate returned to normal, and I caught my breath, my roommate told me how proud of me she was. As soon as I was able to speak, I told her about the victory that I had just had as I claimed God's promise to me. We rejoiced together, and it was a wonderful start to our day.

God taught me this morning about the spiritual competition and how He is able and willing to help us endure and claim victory in the face of adversity. It was wonderful to have this reminder and phenomenally illustrated example directly for me of how we don't have to succumb or stop or faint in our minds to pressure. God both willing and able to help us and to teach us as we claim His promises. How Great! Our bodies our subject to our minds. As we keep our thoughts aligned with The Word, there is literally nothing good in this life that we cannot do!

I Thessalonians 2:4

I Thessalonians 2:4

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel [good news] even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth [proves] our hearts.

I was sitting in session 2 of our ministry's foundational class last night, and we went to this verse. It really blesses me whenever I see the notes that I have made either in my personal study time or from teachings. One particular note that I had written from my in-depth study of faith/believing a few months ago (more on that study later) was that the phrase "to be put in trust with" in English is the one word pisteuo in the Greek. This is interesting because the definition of that word is (from Bullinger's Lexicon), "be persuaded, rely upon, to trust, to the new testament concept of faith is (i) a fully convinced acknowledgment, (ii) a self surrendering fellowship, (iii) a fully assured and unswerving confidence." The root word of pisteuo is the word pitho which means (from the same source), "to be persuaded by winning words." God loved us so much that we have the amazing privilege to have and speak the good news of the gospel.

What is this good news? When we read the context we see clearly that this gospel is the teachings of the mystery, the revelation that Paul received of God. We see detailed especially in Thessalonians the mystery in regarding our hope, Christ's return, and that as born again believers we have eternal life (along with a lot of other wonderful things).

From what we know about this now, the verse could read:

But as we have the tremendous privilege from God [to be put in trust with the gospel (good news of the mystery, especially the hope)/to be able to get fully persuaded of the good news of the mystery to the point that we are fully assured and reliant upon it because we have been won by its winning words] even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth [proves] our hearts (because He is the searcher of hearts).

God works in you. Let Him!

Philippians 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

John 5:17,19-20

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Col 1:26-29

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

1Thessalonians 2:13 

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

God clearly wants us to know that He both can and will work in us to accomplish His will. The only thing that can ever stop God from doing what He desires to do is our believing. God is such a gentleman that he limited himself. He gave us freedom of will. What God freely gives by grace He never takes away. We always have and always will have the freedom to choose what we want to do. This includes the ability to choose whether or not we are going to do His will.

God's will is perfect, so why would anyone ever not want to do His will? Well, as much as God desires to work within us, the adversary wants us to not let Him. The adversary will do whatever he can to pleasure or pressure us off of God's word, away from God and away from God's household. What do we do to keep this isolation from happening? Study God's Word, assimilate it into our lives, and live life on the give.


What does it mean "live life on the give?" I'm so glad you asked! It means to serve and give whenever you have the opportunity and means. We love people, and as long as we continue to love people, it is easy to give to them. Think of the last time that you gave something to someone or did something for someone simply with the intention to bless him or her. What was it? Was it blessing someone with food or a beverage that you purchased or made? Was it sending someone a text or message on facebook with encouraging words? Was it praying or speaking in tongues for someone? Was it manifesting in fellowship? Was it spending time with someone? These (and other simple things) are all ways that we live life on the give. Believe it or not, these are also some of the common ways that God can work in us! Sometimes it's as simple as giving someone a hug or even a smile! There have been times that God has worked in me to simply smile at someone or make them smile, and it turns that person's whole day right-side up!

Most of us have heard the saying, "God is in the little things." Clearly God is in the big things (ex: raising people from the dead, healing, other miracles, etc.), but I (and others too probably) often forget to look for God in the little things. He's that still small voice (I Kings 19:11-12), remember? It's a tremendous journey and walk with the Father to learn how he Works within us.

The gift of holy spirit within each of us is individually crafted and created by God to fit our unique bodies and souls. We can't expect God to work in us exactly the same way that He works in others. We can learn and grow in an understanding of where we fit within the body of Christ and how God works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. The best (and only) way to do this is to serve and give within the household. As we do this, the household gets built up, our relationships get sweeter, and we rack up rewards in heaven. There is no downside!

God will work within you. You can choose to let Him!

We are righteous now!

Job 23:3-12, 15

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. --Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

This believing man of the old testament was unable to stand before God righteous. We, in this day and time, have that sonship right! We can practice the presence of God and stand before him confidently and boldly with no sense of sin, guilt, or condemnation. God's son, Jesus Christ, is our mediator and makes intercession for us in this administration of grace. In Job, the prophecies and emphasis about Jesus is of him being a daysman (a respected person to whom people would go to settle disputes or arguments who would usually place responsibility on both parties involved but would be fair and wise in his judgements). This is a tremendous point of interest for us because the believers in the old testament could only look toward the hope of the messiah and a daysman what would exact judgement based on whether they were or were not just. We have already been justified, so Christ is simply our mediator. We are judged only with rewards! We can stand tall before God, knowing that we are just and righteous! How much stronger than Job can we stand today!

We can be inspired by the stand that Job took and claim who we are now! We can take on the whole armor of God  that we can withstand and stand in this evil day (Ephesians 6:10-17)! We have a great hope and a standing with God that can never be lost! WE ARE SONS/DAUGHTERS WITH POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God's Word stands always!

I enjoy learning more about God's Word, and this morning at a local coffee shop, I was thinking about why that is. Is it because I believe it? Partially. Is it because I love God and desire to know His will for my life? Partially. Is it because I desire to have power in my life or abundance? Partially. The really reason that I love God's Word is because it works! Even when people don't know that the principles are in God's Word, they can see for a fact that the principles still work.

 A wonderfully vivid example of this is a "be careful what you wish for." For those of us who know the Word on this subject, we usually call it the "law of believing." Regardless of whether or not we back it up with scriptures like Mark 11:23-24 ("For verily I say unto you,, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his hear, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.") or Mark 9:23 ("Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.") the "law of believing" works! If I am fully persuaded of whatever I am saying, that thing will come to pass even if I'm not quoting scripture to myself. I'm sure that you can come up with more examples of this because the principles that God sets always work.

When we know this, how can we not act on God's Word? If I know that a nail will be driven into a board if I hit it with a hammer, I'm not going to simply stare at it expecting it to be driven into the board by the wind, and I'm not going to attempt to use a saw to drive in that nail. I am going to use the best tool for the job! The best tool to succeed in any situation in life is the applied Word of God coupled with believing. God's word is proven. God's Word stands. God never changes, and neither does his Word. It will never cease to work when we take a stand on it!

Psalm 119:89-91
For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

Psalm 119:111
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

 Psalm 119:138
Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

Psalm 119:160
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

God's word is always true! It can and should be proven!

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

We can have the same heart displayed in Psalm 119 about doing the Word of God because we know that it will stand forever! It will always work as we are faithful to apply what we know. God doesn't hold us responsible to do the things that we don't know, but once we learn things from the Word, it is our responsibility and privilege to apply those things that we learn. We can assimilate God's will into our lives and act on it every day. What a privilege! How amazing! What fun!

Why I'm starting this blog

I Love God's Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I generally write a few teachings on various topics from the word every week while I'm studying it, and I decided that it would be a good way for me to give to publish them instead of just saving them to my computer or leaving them in my notebook. The reason that I write teachings while studying is that I get more out of my time if I do the research with a heart to teach (even if I'm only teaching myself). Enjoy!