Getting fit!
“Time to get fit, to run the race, and live life abundantly! We’ve got our part in getting to shape!”
Points:
- God brought us into His family for the work of Christ, repentance from sin, and miracle of the new birth as we called on the name of Jesus and confessed Him as our Lord. (Rom. 10:9, Acts 3:19 & Eph 2:18-19)
- Now we’ve got a heavenly Father, who desires to see us express who He is through us. (commandment: to love)
- Some believers choose to live their own way, their rules, whatever is convenient to their “world-view”.
- To become active members in the Body – with brothers and sisters – contributing to the advancement of God’s Kingdom:
- by serving, staying in fellowship, giving, sharing the gospel, kingdom business, and being a blessing by doing good works.
- The development of fruit takes time.
- It’s not automatic, we must be willing to step up, hungry for change and move as the Word instructs us.
- First and foundational step is to develop your relationship with God – you’ll become more like Him as you spend time with Him.,
“Through our relationship with our Heavenly Father, being willing to pay the price we will also develop His character.”
“WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [I John 3:15.][Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love? [Jer. 3:14; Hos. 2:19ff.]” James 4:1-5 AMPC
That’s what happens if we choose to go with the flesh.
First things first: Love God
“And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.] This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]” Matthew 22:37-39 AMPC
Everything ultimately springs from our love-relationship we have with God and the “not so good” stuff from the lack of it.
For example: Mary sat at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:39), the woman with the alabaster box poured the precious perfume over His head (Mark 14:3), and John leaned back on Jesus (John 21:20).
Proclaim: “I’M FULL OF LOVE. I’M LOVING 24/7!”
Intimacy with God produces love, with love there can be no fear. This love removes all traces of fear.
Joy
“Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! [Ps. 37:4.]” Philippians 4:4 AMPC
No matter what the situation always have joy, for our joy comes from the Lord and not our circumstances. God will always turn it around as we rejoice in Him.
Proclaim; “I’M A JOY PERSON. I STAY FULL OF JOY. Getting fit!”
Peace
“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 AMPC
Walk in God’s peace that passes all understanding, keep your heart and mind in Christ. In Him you have peace, it is your security. With God you will always be in peace.
“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go. Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:17-18 AMPC
As you follow the leading of God you will have peace like a river!
Proclaim: “I ALWAYS HAVE PEACE. I WALK IN PEACE. I’m getting fit!”
Patience
“THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 AMPC
KEYS: Endurance, persistence & consistency.
We need to learn to hold fast to the Word of God. God will not quit on us, so we are not quitters!
Proclaim: “I’M RUNNING THE RACE! I’M PATIENT! Getting fit!”
Kindness and goodness
We are the light, and the salt of the earth!
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 AMPC
Proclaim: “My heart is KIND, and showing GOODNESS towards others daily. I’m GETTING FIT!”
Faithfulness
God is faithful (Deut. 7:9, 1Thes. 5:24), Moses was faithful over God’s house (Numbers 12:7), Abraham was faithful (Gal. 3:9), Saints are called faithful in Christ (Eph. 1:1).
We are called to be faithful with what god has place in our hands.
Proclaim: “I am full of faith! I’m faithful with all God’s entrusted to me.”
Meekness
Meek.. slow to anger, humble at heart and teachable.
“For one is regarded favourably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering.” 1 Peter 2:19 AMPC
Proclaim: “I’M MEEK AT HEART, SLOW TO GET ANGRY. I’M TEACHABLE AND HUMBLE. I’M GETTING FIT!”
Self control
“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.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV
Putting our flesh under is a daily thing. We can’t think that when we’ve did it once it’s done, it needs to be exercised daily.
Proclaim: “I’M getting FIT in my spirit-man! I’m getting disciplined and strong! I’m GETTING FIT!”