Go for the Gold

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…”

    I read a great story on this subject from Pastor David Allen that gives perspective to the Christian journey of life;

“It’s a grueling 543.7-mile endurance race from Sydney to Melbourne, Australia – the world’s longest and toughest ultra-marathon. In 1983, 150 world-class runners converged on Sydney for the event. On the day of the race, a toothless 61-year-old potato farmer and sheepherder named Cliff Young approached the registration table wearing overalls and galoshes over his work boots. At first, people thought he was there to watch the race, but to their surprise, Cliff Young declared his intention to run and requested a number.

    Cliff Young had grown up on a farm without the benefit of luxuries like horses and four wheel drives. When the storms rolled in, Cliff headed out to round up 2000 sheep over a 2000-acre farm. Sometimes he had to run them two or three days to complete the round up.

    The incredulous staff issued Cliff #64. As he mingled with the other runners at the starting line, spectators couldn’t believe their eyes. “This must be a joke!” some mused. When the gun went off, bystanders snickered at Cliff, left behind in his galoshes and overalls as the other runners with their sculpted bodies and running gear briskly began the race. Snickers gave way to laughter when Cliff began to run, not like the other runners, but with what could only be described as a leisurely, odd, shuffle.

    All of Australia was riveted to the live telecast as they watched the scene unfold. “Someone should stop that crazy old man before he kills himself!” Five days, 15 hours, and 4 minutes later, Cliff Young came shuffling across the finish line in Melbourne, winning the ultra-marathon! He didn’t win by a few seconds, or even a few minutes. The nearest runner was 9 hours and 56 minutes behind. Australians were stunned at this remarkable yet seemingly impossible victory. How did it happen?

    Everyone knew that to run the ultra-marathon, runners would run for 18 hours, then stop and sleep for six hours. This routine was repeated for five punishing days. But no one told Cliff Young. He just shuffled along, day and night, night and day, without stopping to sleep. Cliff broke the previous race record by nine hours and became overnight a national hero.

    Interestingly, professional runners began to study and experiment with the odd shuffle that Cliff used in his running. Many long-distance runners have since adopted what has come to be called the “Young shuffle” due to its aerodynamic and energy efficiency.

    Victory in the Christian life comes through endurance. The Christian life is not a 100-yard dash. It is a marathon. In the short distance race, speed is important. In the long-distance race, endurance is what leads to success. In the race of the Christian life, some things are standard for all believers. As Hebrews 12:1 says, the race is “set before us.” But each of us must run the race in our own special way with the gifts and talents God has endowed us. Against all odds, we run the race; our race.

    Hebrews 12:1says: “Therefore, since we have so great a crowd of witness surrounding us…” It is speaking of all the people who have run the race of faith before us. In the previous chapter. Hebrews 11, the writer tells of the faith of Abel, and Enoch, and Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and others, and how they endured sufferings, and overcome obstacles, and ran the race of faith which was before them. We each have many obstacles in our personal lives, and in our churches. But you and I are not the first to run the Christian race; others have “gone before us.”

    “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Would you take a moment right now and ask yourself: what is “weighing you down” and keeping you from being the follower of Jesus that God wants you to be? — It may be a sinful habit that is like a cancer that is draining your spiritual strength. Maybe it is bitterness over how you have been treated, or your unwillingness to forgive someone. Unforgiveness is a heavy weight; you can’t successfully run the Christian race with that weight on your back! Perhaps it is some friends who are dragging your down spiritually. There may be a person, or some people in your life, with whom you will never be able to run a strong Christian life. You need to sever those ties so that you can run the race unhindered. It may be a love for the things of this world that is keeping you from really being totally committed to follow Christ with all your heart. You can’t run the Christian race and run to the things of the world at the same time. You need to put those goals aside; they are slowing you down, so that you can run after the Lord.

    Or it could even be something “good” that you are giving too much attention to, and it is taking your attention away from the race that God wants you to run. It could be a hobby, or watching too much television, or spending too much time on the internet; any number of things that are just slowing you down spiritually.

    Jesus mentions this very thing in The Parable of the Soils in Matthew 13. He said that when the Gospel is “sown” into the world like seed, that some of it hits the road, and the birds devour it. But some of it finds thin soil, and it seems to sprout up quickly, but it withers quickly away. Jesus said that seed is like the person who hears the word and seems to receive it with joy, but just as quickly falls away when persecution or difficulty comes. That’s just another way of saying that the Christian life is not a “sprint”; it is a marathon. It is not how fast you go, but that you keep on going.

More about the race next week. Thanks for following.

Like the Bristlecone Pine
    So, we have drawn a line in the sand so to speak, over which we will not cross. But, the very next verses remind us that “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world…AND, against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” It’s two against one!  We are fighting a natural battle and a spiritual battle at the same time. Is it any wonder Paul says we need the “whole armor of God” in order to stand our ground after we have “taken a stand?”  Listen, it is always easier to take a stand than it is to stand our ground; it is always easier to make a decision than it is to stick to that decision. That’s why Paul says we are to “stand in the Lord and His mighty power!”

    Standing our ground means that we are never “wishy-washy” in our faith. We don’t waver in our convictions. We don’t waffle and compromise our principles. There may come a day when this will really hit home; in fact it already has. What choices do we make when our own government tells us to go in one direction, and God’s Word tells us to go another?  How long will it be before God is taken out of everything! 

    In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin - now the Sanhedrin was the “religious ruling party” you could say of their day; and, they were commanded “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” Peter and John replied; “Judge for yourself whether it is right IN GOD”S SIGHT to obey Him or you?” They took a stand and they stood their ground! A second time they were brought before the Sanhedrin, and the High Priest said; “You were given strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching!” Again, Peter and John stood and said; “We must obey God rather than men.” Perhaps they remembered the words of Jesus when He said “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul.” Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednigo said “Throw us in the furnace…we believe God is able to save us! And even if He doesn’t, we have taken a stand!” What a perfect example of what Jesus was saying.

    Being able to stand in our faith requires that we grow in our faith “so we will not be tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching.” (Ephesians 4:14)

   I can’t help but think of the Bristlecone Pine tree that grows high up in the mountains of the southwest. It is constantly buffeted by the wind and rain and storms, as well as the constant heat of the hot sun. Most of the Bristlecone Pines have stood so much for so long that their bark is literally gone. ..yet, it still stands. Well, at least the ones that have their roots imbedded in the rock still stand. Many of the others whose roots were in the soft, rich, loamy soil, have long since fallen…There seems to be some spiritual significance there…

    Our faith is most often the very thing that brings us into conflict with the powers and problems of this world. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 “All men will hate you because of me”…And in John 15:18 - “If the world hates  you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. This is why the world hates you. They will treat you this way because of my name.” I believe that the world just tolerates the church, as long as it is a worldly church. This is exactly what Jesus was talking about “if you belonged to the world, it would love you” Why? Because nobody cares about a church that will fall for anything, a church that tolerates the world and never takes a stand! 

    As Christians, we define faith as “Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”…Yet, the world sees a church that doesn’t really know what it believes, and a church that doesn’t really like to make waves, and a church that can’t really define who, or what, or why they meet on Sundays, other than it’s the right thing to do; it makes you look good; it‘s a tradition; it makes you feel good; all of which may be true. If you think I am becoming a little radical, I am!

    There are times when we cry out to God, and He responds and delivers and blesses; but, there are also times when we have done everything we can do in our power, and in seeking God as well, but nothing seems to change. There seems to be no answer from God…only silence. No divine intervention, no miracles, and we wonder what in the world is happening.  It is at those times when our faith; rather than being the power to move mountains; is to become the platform upon which we stand! 

    A Jew, held captive in a dark basement by Germans, scratched these words on the wall of his cramped quarters; “I believe in the sun, even when I cannot see it; I believe in love, even when I cannot feel it; and I believe in God, even when He is silent.” That’s a true faith.

    That’s what we are doing now; we are turning our face to the wind of the world, and with the mighty power of God in whom we believe, as backup; and our roots being firmly planted in the Rock of Jesus Christ our Lord, we are going to prepare for battle; because, there will be a battle!

    The problem as I see it is that the Church’s salt is losing its savoriness, and her light is being hidden. It’s because there are too many Christians with “preferences” rather than  “convictions!”  I want you to know that neither America, nor the Devil will take notice until we are ready to draw the line and stand on our convictions, and reach out; speak out; and live out the love of Christ! We need God back in this nation!   I usually don’t give political speeches, and I am not trying to sway votes, I’m simply saying that we need to stop sitting back on our “laurels” and start standing up for Biblical morals! (end of rant)

Take a Stand!

    “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”! … These are great, strong, powerful, and encouraging words from the Apostle Paul. Words that give us a picture of the courageous Christian, standing his ground for the things he truly believes. Standing firm! Taking a stand! We need those words to characterize the way we should live…believing, standing, uncompromising, immovable, faith. The truth is that the Christian community has, in many ways, staggered and wavered under social pressures and wimpy political pressures and even Pharisitical legalistic interpretations that are the ruthless attempt of Satan to get us to fight lifes battles in our own power and dim the light of the church.

    I for one am tired of a handful of atheistic, anti-everything, unbelieving, ignorant people holding our nation in bondage in their attempts to take God out of everything! It’s time that we take a stand! 

    Given the nature of the many battles we face in life, if we are to be strong it must be in His mighty power, not ours. We are engaged in a constant spiritual battle over values, morals, ethics, and beliefs; and this is on top of all the physical battles, trials, and temptations we face every day.

    The Book of Ephesians begins with all the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ, and it ends with this passage about the spiritual battle-field we find ourselves in also because we are in Christ. The message we must understand is that God’s grace is adequate in both times of battle and times of blessing! In fact, it’s the time of blessing that prepares us for the time of battle. It is the times of God’s blessing that He works in us to change our thinking, our hearts - the way we feel about life - and to change our character, which equips us to “stand” as it says in our scripture, during times of spiritual and physical attack, because we will know what it means to “put on the whole armor of God.”

    In this scripture the word “stand” is used four times. Sometimes in a crisis situation we shout; “Don’t just stand there, do something!” But, in this particular scripture, Paul is saying that if we know and have the whole armor of God, we don’t have to fight; we need to “stand” in God’s mighty power!

   The message is “Be strong in the Lord”, “take a stand, stand your ground, stand firm, and after you have done everything, stand!” One of Satan’s schemes is to make a wrong seem right. For our generation, one of those would be “situational ethics”; There are no absolutes, and values are determined by the situation. Our society has somehow come to believe that our time is different from any other time, therefore the rules must be different and somehow changed to fit today’s world. And, that includes that somehow God’s expectations are also different for us than they were way back when. Listen, have you ever heard the words “I am the Lord Thy God, who changeth not”?  Paul encourages us in Romans 12:9 to “hate what is evil and cling to that which is good.” More now than ever, we need to take a stand, and establish convictions based on God’s Word and not the world!  It may be trite but it’s true, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”  What do you stand for today?    

    In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said; “No one can serve two masters” - Take a stand! When Moses brought down the Ten Commandments only to find the Israelites worshipping an idol; he called for those who were for the Lord to come to his side and take a stand! Again, Joshua said to the Israelites, “You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done. But, if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose this day whom you will serve” - Take a stand!  And finally, the words of Elijah as he spoke to the people before challenging the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel; “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, then follow Him!” - Take a stand!

    If I may, let me paraphrase of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:24 - where Jesus speaks of the wise and foolish builders; “Therefore, if anyone hears my words, and puts them into practice in his or her life, that man takes a stand upon a rock! And when Satan tries to dissuade him by all sorts of cunning schemes and trials and temptations and doubt, HE WILL BE ABLE TO STAND and be strong in God’s mighty power.  However, anyone who hears these words and does not put them into practice, is like the foolish man who takes a stand upon the sand; and when these same things come upon him, he will slip and slide and stagger and fall.” I think it’s time. It’s time to “Believe God.” He has said “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself.” And perhaps, as in the days of the prophet Joel, “a fountain will flow out of God’s house and will water the valley of our world.

    Again, thanks for reading my blog. Why not click the follow button and send me your email address? You will receive a notification each time I post, and you will receive a free “The Promised Gift” E-book as my gift to you.

Dressed for Battle - Part 2
    

    Today I want to look at the remaining pieces of our armor…The shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. And, a secret weapon we have in this battle. Well, it’s not so secret, but it is not used often enough, nor at the right times.

    Now a Roman soldier had two different types of shields that he would use. The 1st was a smaller shield, about 2 feet in diameter which was strapped to the arm and was used in close combat. The shield Paul is referring to, however, was a much larger shield, about 2-1/2 feet wide and 4-1/2 tall. It was made of wood and covered with leather. What happened during times of combat was that the enemy forces would launch a great barrage of arrows toward their enemy soldiers. Often these arrows were wrapped in pieces of cloth and soaked in pitch. The tips would then be set on fire and the arrows would then be shot at the enemy. These flaming missiles could inflict serious damage on unprotected troops. The Roman soldier would stand behind these large shields to protect themselves from these flaming arrows. The leather covering on the shield was also often soaked with water.

    The “shield of faith” is a shield of trust. We are told to walk by faith, putting our trust in the Lord; believing in God to take care of our every need. Having faith that no matter what happens to us, God will be there to help us through. By using the shield of faith we are able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of Satan. When we are attacked with doubts, worry, discouragement, temptations, guilt and shame; when Satan fires his flaming arrows at our church, our families, our jobs, and all the other arrows launched at us, we are able to stand behind our faith and trust in God believing in God and his ability to protect us and having confidence in his Word.

    Our 5th piece of armor is the helmet of salvation. The helmet of a soldier protected his head. Even today, the helmet is a vital part of a soldier’s armor. No soldier in his right mind would go into battle without his helmet. The helmet gives the soldier a certain amount of confidence. Much like the helmet of a football player! The helmet of salvation protects our minds from the attacks of our enemy. I would say it is the most important piece of armor. I could play football without kneepads and thigh pads and shoulder pads, but I would not play without a helmet. In fact, if you have ever seen teams in practice, they wear their helmets.

    But we also have an offensive weapon in our armor, what Paul calls the sword of the spirit or the Word of God. The sword that the Roman soldier used was a short 18 inch sword that was razor sharp on both sides. It was used both offensively and defensively and it was deadly. Our sword is the Word of God. The Greek translation that is used here for Word is “hray-may”, and it means to utter, to pronounce or speak. It means the actual saying or speaking of the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

    Jesus used this spiritual weapon when he was tempted by Satan in the desert. Each time Satan attempted to deliver a blow, Jesus blocked the attack with the word of God, quoting scripture. In every encounter, He went on the offensive speaking the word of God. When Satan comes at you again and again and again, follow Jesus’ example. In Matthew 4:10 and 11 Jesus said “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Then the devil left him. “

    Using a sword is something that takes time and practice. A soldier must practice using his sword. He must practice the defensive and offensive moves to defeat his enemy. In order to use our sword, we must also practice and use it. That means being in the word every day; memorizing God’s Word. Knowing and understanding the Bible. By becoming familiar with the Word of God, you are storing away spiritual weapons for the Spirit to use. He will bring to your mind those passages which apply to the situation you are facing. Your mind will be trained to think like God thinks when certain circumstances present themselves.

    The other weapon we have in our war, our secret weapon in our battle is “praying in the Spirit.” In the NIV translation Paul says: “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Paul tells us to pray, pray, and pray, and then pray some more. It is said that all of hell trembles when we pray. I could go into another whole message about prayer, but we’ll save that for another time. Prayer is our Life-line between the frontlines and the tactical room.

    Once again, there are some very important words we need to really grab hold of in order for this scripture to mean anything in our lives; “Put on” and the “full” armor. We need it all. Without any one piece, we are vulnerable. And, we are the ones who put it on; we are the ones who need to do it; God won’t just put it on us!  He provides it, He lays it all out before us, but we put it on.
    Next time we will hear and understand what it means to "Take a stand!"

Dressed for Battle

Ephesians 6:10-18

     “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the Lord’s people.”

    We start with the words “Put on” in verse 11. We have to literally “Put On” Gods armor. Clothes or armor that is left hanging up in the closet or locker isn’t going to do anyone any good. When you get up in the morning, do your clothes jump out of your dresser or closet and onto your body? No! You have to put them on! “Well I waited and waited, but my clothes never got up and slipped themselves on me.” We have to PUT ON the armor of God for our spiritual bodies every day, just like we have to put on our clothes for our physical body every day. We put on God, put on Christ, and we put on the Holy Spirit.

    The second word that is very important is the word “full”. He says it twice; once in verse 11 and again in verse 13. It is useless to not have the “full” armor of God. What good is it to wear a helmet (salvation) if the rest of your body is vulnerable?

    Paul is of course, talking about a spiritual battle. But, it is a spiritual battle which affects the physical world. It is a battle for the heart, mind, and very soul of every human being on this earth; and, we need to have the full armor of God in order to “stand” (another word Paul uses four times.) “take your stand”; “stand your ground”; “stand firm”; “and after you have done everything, to STAND”!

    Let’s look at what this armor is and how we can use it;  I want to point out three pieces from our scripture; “Truth”, in verse 14, “righteousness” also in verse 14, and “gospel of peace” in verse 15. These are the first three pieces of armor. The belt of truth, the breast-plate of righteousness and the boots of the gospel of peace. (To help you remember, just think of the 3B’s, belt, breastplate and boots.) 

    Truth is the first piece of armor; Paul compares it to a soldier’s belt. Now many of us wear a belt just to keep our pants up, but in the days of the Roman soldier, the belt was a part of his armor. The belt, which was made of leather, was wrapped around the soldier’s waist and kept his toga or cloak from flying all around during battle. The soldier’s belt held everything in close, keeping him in fighting readiness. It was also where he would keep his sword and other weapons ready for battle. The belt tied everything together. In our spiritual battle gear, truth, our belt, wraps itself around the believer. It is truth which ties together the believer’s armor. In our warfare against Satan and his demons, our enemy uses deception and deceit as one of their weapons. From our previous lesson – “be careful that you are not deceived.” It is our belt of truth that illuminates our way and enables us to be ready to fight. Truth speaks of an authentic lifestyle. This lifestyle has three dimensions; it means telling the truth, living the truth and representing truth. Wearing the belt of truth means that we live honestly, with integrity, and without hypocrisy. It means applying truth to how we live our lives.                        

    We, as a society, have twisted our words so that they are no longer meaningful. I heard someone once describe taxes as a “revenue assessment enhancement.” Truth says that they’re taxes! Moral perversion is now called “gay” or “alternate lifestyle.” We don’t dare say homosexual we say “gay.” Destruction of unborn life, created by God is “freedom of choice.” If we are going to wear the belt of truth…then let’s stop trying to be politically correct, and call sin sin!

    The second piece of our armor is the breastplate of righteousness. On the Roman soldier, the breastplate covered his vital organs. The heart, lungs, stomach, and other organs were covered by this important piece of armor. To me this means our righteousness – which is only found in Christ – is what gives us true life; a right mind; a right heart; and a right spirit; the “breastplate of righteousness” is that which covers the vital life “within” us.

    The 3rd piece of armor are the shoes or boots of the gospel of peace. There are two qualities of peace that we experience as Christians. The first is the peace that we have “with” God. As Christians, we are no longer fighting against God, turning our will against His. Paul tells us in Romans 5:1 “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The 2nd quality is the peace “of” God. Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is a peace in knowing that no matter what we go through in life, we have the peace of God within us. The peace of God means that we can experience His peace even in the most difficult circumstances. It is the peace of God that is within us that causes us to have that calm, self assurance no matter what the situation.

    The first three pieces of armor are things that must be put on and worn all the time by the Roman soldier, as well as us, they are never taken off. The next three however, were taken up when the actual fighting was about to begin. Next week, we will look at the remaining pieces of our armor.

    Thank you for following my blog. I would encourage you to share it with your friends and invite them to follow my web site revfred.com as well as we continue to grow in our knowledge and faith in God and His Word.