Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
There are many people who like to go into their living room a few times a week, and get a workout in. They might dig out a step up box along with some hand weights, and begin to exercise to some of their favorite music. I remember one time about thirty years ago when I did a heavy workout for the very first time, and I could hardly walk for the next few days. My body was weak, because it wasn’t used to that strenuous exercise. But eventually, people can develop a regular routine, and as they progress their muscles will become stronger each day, gaining strength that they never knew they had before.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
When we start a workout routine our bodies are weak. They simply are not strong enough to lift certain things. People can bench press heavy weight, but newcomers are going to have to train to be able to do that. In order for a Christian to endure the things of this world, our faith must become strong. Just like taking a protein supplement to strengthen our muscles, God’s Word strengthens us, so that we can become mature in our faith, bear heavy burdens, and overcome all of the things of this world.
Luke 22 ³¹ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Like a Spiritual trainer, the Apostle Peter was commanded to strengthen the brethren. To strengthen something means to make it stronger, and more difficult to break. Sometimes on a farm, there will be an old barn that will not support the weight of a heavy snowfall. Before the snow flies, they will strengthen it by adding extra posts and lumber to the existing structure. This way whenever a heavy load is placed upon it, it will remain standing firmly in place. In order for us to overcome all of the things that will come to pass on the Earth, we must become strengthened in our faith through the teachings of God’s Word. Just like training your muscles, you will also need to watch your diet. In order to become stronger in our faith, we need to be on a regular diet of scripture. Just like a child needs milk to grow, we need the meat of God’s Word in order to become Spiritually strong and fully mature.
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14
When people join the military, they usually go through basic training. A drill instructor will train the new soldiers and put them on a daily regimen of physical exercise so that the new recruits are strengthened and prepared for future battles. In the church, we are being trained Spiritually so we can become strong and prepared for whatever Spiritual battles that we may face.
Ephesians 6 ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² 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. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Like a drill instructor, the Apostle Paul commanded the men of the church to be strong!
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13
Strength training is also known as resistance training, whereby you are training your muscles to resist the heavy weight that is placed upon them. The stronger that you become, the more that you can resist. Like lifting weights, we are training our hearts and our minds to become strong through the study and application of the teachings of scripture. It is a regular Spiritual workout, exercising our hearts and our minds to grow strong in the one true faith.
“For 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.” 1 Timothy 4:8
This is the type of exercise the Apostle Paul was completely focused on.
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16
Instead of reaching for a kettlebell, we must reach out for the Bible. Instead of lifting weights, we are lifting up our hearts unto God. Men of God train the hearts and the minds of the church so that they can become strong in their faith, and resist all of the works of the devil.
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” Ephesians 3:16
1 Peter 5 ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:⁹ Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
Men of God have been placed in the church to warn, rebuke and correct people with the teachings of scripture. Sometimes chastening doesn’t feel very good, but just like in a workout routine, to become stronger, sometimes we have to grow through pain.
Hebrews 12 ⁵ And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷ If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? ⁸ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
To grow stronger physically, it’s going to require suffering with a few aches and pains, but afterward it will result in power and strength. The same is true of the Christian Life.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
A small child will become stronger each day until they can eventually stand up and support the weight of their own body. As they grow into maturity, they will be able to lift things that they never knew they could lift before. Heaven awaits the elect of God, but in order to obtain that place we must move on to maturity. We must grow stronger in our faith in order to overcome all things, which will require a willing and submissive heart, a regular diet of scripture, and a daily routine of…..
…….Strength Training
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 