Message One: Seize the Moment
Thoughts on physical health…the need to eat a proper diet and get proper exercise…for most of us it requires will power to make a life change…to change our habits of eating and not exercising…etc. To be a healthy church there is a need for both physical health and spiritual health to be able to complete the purpose God has called us to. We need to recognize that as followers of Christ, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
In chapter 3…Paul speaks of the local church body as being collectively the temple of the Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
How many understand…if my body, individually, is the temple of the Holy Spirit…and the church, collectively, is the temple of the Holy Spirit…then it is imperative that we be a healthy church…so that individually and collectively we can “glorify God in…body and in…spirit” because both our body and our spirit belong to God? (Note: glorifying God in your body has more to do with living holy than “working out”.)
Seize the Moment:
1. Recognize the Need
Ø The first step to any area of improvement is to recognize the need.
Ø Whether it is to lose weight…overcome an addiction…improve your marriage…the first step is the same: recognize the need.
Ø The same holds true spiritually…we must recognize the need to prepare for war…to be “in shape” spiritually to overcome the enemy who is out to destroy our lives…
Ø Too many Christians do not even know a war is going on…
Ø If I am going to be a victorious Christian in every area of my life…I must first recognize the need to seek God with all my heart…to let go of those things that hold me back…to put God first in my life…
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
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.
2. Make the Commitment
Ø Recognizing the need won’t do any good if you don’t make the commitment to get started. (ex. losing weight…exercising…)
Ø “Oh, I know I need to …” won’t get it done.
Ø There must be a commitment made to do it…to do whatever it takes to become all He desires me to be.
Ø A great hindrance to being a healthy church is lack of commitment
Ø Secret to success: find someone or a group to be accountable to; a prayer partner…a confident…who will tell you the truth…but will not talk behind your back…
Ø Be faithful to church…we need one another…we need the corporate worship…we need the “body of believers”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3. Experience the Freedom
Ø Becoming physically “in shape” frees a person to enjoy life so much more…
Ø Becoming spiritually “in shape” will free you…will free the church…to experience so much more of the abundant life God gives…
Ø Casting aside those weights that hinder…sins that entangle… being transformed by the renewing of your mind will give you a freedom that you won’t believe
Ø Freedom from guilt…shame…hurts…bitterness…the past…doubt …worry…etc.
Isaiah 10:27 KJV
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Ø The anointing destroys the yoke…anointing comes only through obedience…
Ø Mike’s message last Sunday… “The Power of a Moment” … Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave:
John 11:38-44
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Closing Thoughts: One more step is required to becoming “In Shape”: once you have recognized the need and made a commitment…and even experienced new freedom…you must follow through on your commitment or it won’t be a lasting change.
