When we read scripture in the New Testament, we see Jesus many times using physical life examples in order to teach us or to help us understand something about the Spiritual life that we now live in Him.
Well I say all that to say this, Jesus does exactly this when he says in - (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
So we find that our Lord Jesus is comparing this idea of Physical exercise or we could even say bodybuilding, in order to help us better understand this Spiritual principle of even more value, that is- Spiritually Exercising the faith now that we live in the Lord Jesus Christ, and even being built up in maturity. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV says But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
And so we begin to understand what the Lord is talking about When He speaks of this exercise. Because In the same way that an athlete would run with endurance or a body builder would build his body, these same principles apply in the spiritual realm and pertain both to exercising your faith and, being built up in the Lord .
In the bodybuilding world there’s a saying - “Your reps don’t count till your muscles start to hurt.”
In other words- your workout only counts when your body starts to hurt!
This means that there is something that is understood in the commited Athlete and bodybuilder and that is this- “ Extreme results only come through Extreme Intensity!”
Have you ever noticed that when a bodybuilder lifts weights or an athlete runs laps,or whatever it is that they are working on, they do it with a purpose and that is to build up and to strengthen.
It always starts off easy because the muscles are rested and really have not been challenged yet,,, they have not met resistance. They have not been stretched to the point of tension, hurt and pain!
But as they continue to run or lift, there will come a point during that workout when that person will start to feel the heat, the resistance, and the pain. It will seem like too much to bear and to keep going, the physical body and muscles have been pushed to its limits and it’s just too much to bear, but guess what, they always have one more lap or one last rep left in them!
In time, the body has an opportunity to heal and to grow back bigger and stronger than before, resulting in extreme Physical results!
Here’s where I’m going with all this dear friends: Physical exercise or Physical body building , would do us all some good but that’s not what this message is about. This message is about an even more important thing, that is the Spiritual Exercise Of faith that produces the kind of Spiritual growth that holds value not only in our lives today but even into eternity in heaven!!!
(1 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV) says-Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Se, none of us want to face trials in life, Believe me I don’t either! We don’t want to face difficulties, we don’t wanna be pressed, we don’t want to be challenged, we don’t want conflict, we don’t wanna be stretched, we don’t want to face resistance, we don’t want to face tenson, we don’t want to face the INTENSITY that life has to offer us!!!
But sometimes the only way that our faith will ever exercised and that our Spiritual lives will ever be built up the way that it was intended is through those things that hurt!
It is only persevering, pushing, enduring , through life’s toughest circumstances that we get the results Father God wants for us in our own Spiritual lives! Amen You may be going through something difficult and challenging today but if you are a child of God then you can endure because scripture says in Philippians:4:13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Amen!
Here’s my challenge for us all as of today - let us adopt the mindset of an athlete or bodybuilder, Who doesn’t look forward to the tension, But who knows that in order to get EXTREME results, one must endure EXTREME Intensity. Hallelujah! Let us run this race together with endurance because a heavenly prize awaits!.
With love, Your brother in Christ, Billy Montes