Just Beat It!

I Corinthians 9:26-27
I do not run aimlessly nor do I box as though beating the air, but I beat my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It
No One Wants To Be Defeated
Showin' How Funky Strong Is Your Fight
It Doesn't Matter Who's Wrong Or Right
Just Beat It, Beat It
Just Beat It, Beat It
Just Beat It, Beat It
Just Beat It, Beat It

Everyday I woke up fighting with myself, “It’s time to workout.” "I don’t want to workout!" "We are going to workout whether you feel like it or not.” I have to take control of the conversation with myself or else my body will get out of shape. What is true in the natural is also true in the supernatural. Everyday is a struggle to keep control over your body. There is a tug of war between your flesh and your spirit. Your body wants to do what is contrary to the sprit but you have to take control before your life gets out of whack.

We are in a race called life, but in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way that you may win it. Whenever people compete in a race they have to get in shape. If you are going to have any chance of winning you have got to train your body or as Michael said, “Just Beat it, no one wants to be defeated!”

1. Beat my body is not some self-affliction or masochistic abuse of your body, but it is a discipline of the body to bring it under submission to God’s Holy Will. Even in weight training you have to break the muscle to build new muscle. “Beating your body” is breaking your body’s desire for what is contrary to the Will of God.

2. Enslaving your body, you have to put restrictions on your body. You have to put boundaries up for your body to keep you from going too far. Like Paul said, “all things are lawful for me but not all tings are beneficial.” Just because it’s legal for you to do it doesn’t mean that it’s good for you. When boxers are training it’s legal for them to go to Krispy Kreme but its not beneficial because it can ruin their efforts for training and get them knocked out!

3. Avoid disqualification. One of the saddest things is to see great athletes disqualified for steroid use or for academic violations. The University of Memphis’ basketball team lost its record breaking title last year because of academic violations. We have to study to show ourselves approved.
There is no wrong way to do the right thing.
Just Beat it; no one wants to be defeated!

Dear God, give me the strength, the will, and the discipline to beat my body into submission. I want to finish strong so I can hear you say well done. Nothing else matters. What does it profit a man to win the race but be disqualified for cheating? Help me to just beat it, no one wants to be defeated, especially me. Don’t let me be disqualified after having preached to other people. Let me walk the walk and not just talk the talk. I’m ready to Beat it so I can finish this race and Win!

In Jesus Name,
Amen

How Are You Affecting the People Around You?

Job 35:8 Your wickedness affects others like you, and your righteousness, other human beings.

I Corinthians 8:12 But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ

How we live our lives impacts other people. Some would argue that it makes no difference to God how we live. One young preacher asked the question, “Why would a big ole God even worry about what a little ole man like me does?” When we “sin” does God even care when in the grand scope of things man only appears as a microscopic dust particle under the divine microscope of the God of the universe? Elihu, Job’s friend, was arguing with him because he thought Job was being self-righteous and he asked, in Job 35:6 “If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied what do you do to him?”

His answer is that it really is about the people around you more than it is about God making a “naughty or nice” list for Judgment Day. In the New Testament, Paul admonishes the Corinthians on how to live their lives so they will be a blessing and not a hindrance to those “weaker in the faith.” Paul’s argument is that, yes, we have freedom as believers in Jesus. We have been freed from being slaves to the Law but it does not give us the liberty to live reckless lives that hurt the people around us. He talked about three different categories:

1. Married couples. He talked to them about not hurting one another by not denying each other of sex. I Cor. 7:3

2. Single people practicing self-control and using that passion to serve the Lord. If they could not control themselves his advice was for them to get married. I Cor 7:8,9

3. Christians participating in secular events (eating food sacrificed to idols) not offending weaker Christians. I Cor 7:7-12.

Paul was lifting up the practice of Christians purchasing meat that may have been used in the sacrifice to idols. They would bring the meat in the butcher shop on sale after an idol worship service. If a new Christian saw you walking out of the butcher shop with a stamp on your bag saying “idol meat” they might think you worshipped idols even though you didn’t, you just wanted to catch a good sale. Mature Christians know that just because I purchase food from a store that is owned by an atheist doesn’t make me atheist, but if it offends a new believer to see me then I’ll shop at the store down the street even though it inconveniences me. It’s not a “Convenient store” if it offends those weaker in the faith. It’s not about our convenience it’s about their conscience.

How we live our lives is more about the people around us than it is in how right we think we are. When we live right before God, God gets he glory and the people around us are benefited. When we abuse our freedom and wound the conscience of weaker people we sin against Christ. Jesus warns us not to abuse the “little ones” and cause them to stumble. He said it would be better for us had we not been born if we cause some of these little ones to stumble. We need to live in such a way that we are stepping stones and not stumbling blocks. As a parent there are certain activities that are okay for me to do but because my children are around me, I don’t do it in front of them because they are too immature to be exposed to it. As Christians, we must be careful that we don’t flaunt our freedom and hurt those who are not where we are. We should live our lives in a way that helps people grow and not stunt them. We shouldn’t be “Self-Righteous” because it only benefits the Self, but instead, our right-ness ought to lead others to a deeper relationship with God. If it doesn’t, our rightness can still be wicked in God’s sight.

Your question today: How am I affecting other people around me with the way I live my life?

Dear God, help me to live a life that pleases You and does not offend those closest to me. Let me live with confidence knowing I’m not causing others to stumble but instead use me as a stepping stone so others may mature and get closer to You.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

That's Who I Used To Be

I Corinthians 6:11
And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

People are quick to remind you of your past. They become fixated with your past moral failings and try to tie them with your current status. It can almost feel unshakeable when it is that you have some past grievances you are trying to get out of your system, but the good news is that is who you used to be.

The reality is that God has a standard of holiness. We cannot do what everybody else is doing and expect to enter the Kingdom of God. In verses 9 & 10, Paul tells the Corinthians the kinds of people who cannot get into heaven. In a large part, it has to do with the fact that the Corinthian church was rocked by a sex scandal where a man had married his father’s wife and everybody in church was cool with it. Paul challenges the young church that there are some sexual sins that we ought not to be cool with. When you read verses 9 & 10, I’m sure you will find some sins that you have practiced in the past or are participating in presently. It’s a disturbing truth that those who hold onto these lifestyles will not enter the Kingdom of God. It’s sad but true. That is if you stop reading at verse 10, but when you read verse 11, you are reminded that is who you used to be when you were slaves to your flesh but since you’ve been changed through the death & resurrection of Jesus you can proclaim, that’s who I used to be! Even in the midst of still struggling with the desire to capitulate to these vices. The good news is “That’s who I used to be.” This verse should become a faith statement for those of us who still feel the cultural pull to come back and revisit where we used to live. Today, you should speak this verse out loud. You should put it on your status. You should text it to your friends, “That is who I used to be!”

How can we proclaim this? Because of three things:

1. We were washed by the blood of Jesus. There are some stains that bleach can’t get out but there is no sin that Jesus' blood cannot cleanse. When we are faithful to confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us of our sins. When we repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us, he will cleanse us of our sins and send us in a new direction.

2. We were sanctified. To be sanctified means that we were set apart for God’s higher and holier purposes. We cannot be used for common purposes like we have in the past, we have been set apart for God’s purposes. I can’t do what I used to do because it no longer fits my purpose.

3. We were justified. Justified means “Just as if I didn’t do it.” Our record is wiped clean. We are not who we used to be. When Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery he asked her, “is there no one here to condemn you?” She said, “No Sir, no one is here.” Jesus told her, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

Dear God, I can’t go back to what almost killed me. Thank you for cleansing me and allowing me to remain in your favor. I may not be all that I should be but I thank god I ain’t what I use to be!”

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Don't Waste Your Time

Galatians 4:11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

There was a story of a young man that was drowning in a raging sea. A man was passing by and saw the young man struggling for life. Without thought for his own life the man jumped in the sea and swam against the current to save the young man. Somehow, they both made it to shore where the young man gasping for air said, “Thank you.” The man, exhausted, looked at the young man and said, “I just hope you were worth it.”

When you have poured yourself out trying to help people, put yourself “out there”, your only hope is that it is not a waste of time.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia “I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.” Paul was concerned that, “Judiazers”, religious zealots had gotten to his new Christians with some corrupt teachings that if they wanted to be “authentic” they had to be circumcised. Paul spent all this time preaching, ministering, and risking his life only to have people turn away to the tradition of believing they had to be like the religious folks in order to be saved. Paul said, “You are saved by faith not by works.” In essence Paul was saying, “I didn’t mind laboring for you or teaching you but I just hope that all that I poured out for you was not a waste.

When we minister to people, we don’t do it for the applause. We don’t do it for people to see how great we are. We do it because we see somebody flailing in the sea of life and it’s worth the risk of ridicule, it’s worth the endangerment of public antagonism as long as the people we are saving don’t waste the grace they’ve been given.

How do you make sure your salvation is not wasted?

1. Don’t turn back. Jesus said, “He who turns back after having experienced the grace of God is not fit for the Kingdom.” When I accepted my call to preach one of the old mothers of the church came up to me and said, “Son, Don’t turn back.” That’s all she said then she sat down.

2. Make something of the life you’ve been given. I saw a young man in Sudan who was kidnapped by Soldiers to be murdered later. He lay on the floor praying that he might fulfill his purpose in life. The captain came in and saw him tied up and asked the soldiers who he was. They said, “Just some guy.” He shot the men and took the man back to his home, gave him food, and apologized. He’s now ministering to Women and orphans. What did you do with your second chance?

3. Save somebody else. Whatever God delivered you from, he did because you now have the empathy to save somebody else that went through the same thing you did. You have been saved now go and do likewise. Don’t waste it.

Dear God, thank you for saving me. I was sinking deep in sin far from the distant shore, but the master of the sea heard my despairing cry, his love lifted me now safe am I. Now help me to do the same, so that my life will not be a waste. Let me live out my purpose.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

This Is Not My Life

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

One of the saddest songs a person could sing at the end of their lives is the song Elvis & Frank sang, “I did it my way.” When we start our lives each one of us live our lives in a way we think is right. The bibles says that there is a way that seems right to a man and then there is the Lord’s way. When we reach understanding and wisdom we turn our lives over to God. Job 28:28 states, “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding.”

The life I live now is not my life; I have been crucified with Christ. The old me is dead and gone. Each of us at some point should have a new song that says, “This is not my Life.”

How do we change our tune or as Jay Z says, experience the “death of the Auto-Tune?” Because of our humanity we are automatically tuned toward sin, but to change the tune there must be divine intervention so that our lives line up with God’s will. That happens when:

1. We are crucified with Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, he took our sins upon himself and they were nailed to the cross. There was an exchange that took place on the cross, a universal exchange. Mankind’s sins were taken away and we were given the opportunity to live our lives as they were meant to be lived...Holy and acceptable to God.

2. Christ must live in you. Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Sprit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. When Jesus lives in us then we are able to live out God’s noblest intentions for our lives. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

3. Live by faith. We walk by faith and not by sight. Jesus said, if we have faith the size of a mustard seed nothing would be impossible for us. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith is believing that God will do what he said he would do. It is impossible to please God without faith.

Dear God, I surrender my way of doing things to your way of doing things. This is not my life anymore. You saved me from my recklessness now I owe you my life. I owe you me. All I do it is for you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Keep Awake!

Mark 14:38
Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.

My brother and I used to play a game when we were younger on New Year's Eve. My parents would be gone out and we were at Grandmama’s house. We would stay up and try to watch Dick Clark drop the ball in Time’s Square, but I had a hard time keeping him awake. I would kick him, put water on his face, put hot sauce in his mouth, LOL, trying to keep him awake. I didn’t want him to miss the New Year coming in.

There is something new coming your way but you are in danger of missing it because you chose to go to sleep. God is shifting us into a new direction but many of us are in danger of missing it if we don’t Keep Awake! The world we live in has a hypnotizing effect on us and we are slipping into sleepiness without knowing that time is winding up. We are slowly drifting into a cultural pull upon our God consciences. We are falling asleep not knowing that the enemy has slipped in at night and sown weeds amongst our harvest. It’s time to keep awake.

Jesus was getting ready to go through the hardest transition of his life. He was going to be arrested and crucified. All he wanted was for his friends to watch, pray, and keep awake. Instead, he came and found them sleeping. It’s natural for us to get sleepy but there are times when we have to fight against natural tendencies. This is the time to keep awake. It’s time for the body of Christ to wake up and strengthen those things that remain. Time ain’t long. This is the time to keep awake through:

1. Prayer. Pray that you may not enter into temptation. Temptation is the process by which we are drawn away from God. Like Ty Tribett said the other night, what draws us away is not a sin. The sin is the action on what has been drawing us and the action leads to death. When we fall asleep, we start sleep walking into what can kill us. Prayer keeps us sober. Prayer keeps our “spirit man” alert and watching out for the enemy. This is the season to wake up and start praying.

2. The Spirit is willing. There is not a Christian out there who doesn’t want to be caught sleeping when Jesus comes back. Our Spirit is willing. We want to stay up and pray but being willing is only half the battle. It’s not enough to be willing if you don’t follow it up with action.

3. The flesh is weak. All of Jesus' disciples had good intentions to stay awake and be with him, but when Jesus was arrested they all fled. When we read the scripture where it says that in the last days, many will fall away from believing in Jesus. We always say, “That ain’t going to be me!” But what we don’t know is that some of us have already fallen asleep and are drifting fast. Keep awake!
How do I stay awake?

A. Find a time when you are most alert to read your bible and pray everyday. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. How can they hear without a preacher? Quit sleeping in on Sunday, get up and come to church. Time ain’t long.

B. Don’t get caught sleeping. Use your discernment so you can distinguish what is from God and what is a distraction from the enemy. Keep awake!

C. Watch out for the enemy, and watch out for Jesus. Staying awake means you are looking for two things. You are making sure the enemy doesn’t come in to stop Jesus from accomplishing his purpose and you have to be watching for Jesus to come back to tell you it’s time. Keep awake!

Dear God, Keep me awake! I know that you are coming back soon. Don’t let me drift into a sleepy state and be oblivious to the shift. I want to be awake and helpful to you when the enemy tries to stop your movement and help you fulfill your purpose. Keep me awake so I can be ready when you come.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

It's Test Time!

Job 23:8-10 (Amplified Bible)
8 Behold, I go forward [and to the east], but He is not there; I go backward [and to the west], but I cannot perceive Him;
9 On the left hand [and to the north] where He works [I seek Him], but I cannot behold Him; He turns Himself to the right hand [and to the south], but I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous].(A)

One thing I don’t miss about school is tests. I can remember staying up all night studying for finals, cramming information in my head so I could remember what I needed to know to pass the test the next day. I was studying to show myself approved. I did my best when I was paying attention everyday in class to what my teacher was saying and the night before was just a review. When it came test time the teacher became quiet and left us to take the test.

During this time in our lives it would seem that we are all going through a test. For some of us we were prepared, for others we are trying to cram scriptures in because we weren’t ready for this crisis. What you have to do during a test is remember what was the last thing the teacher told me. Because sometimes the teacher leaves the room during the test.

For some of us this is the quietest God has ever been in our lives. It seems like God is not present. It’s not that God is no longer there it’s just that it is test time. The teacher doesn’t talk during the test.

Job was tested. God allowed the devil to test Job. Job was a righteous man who lost everything. His ten children died in a natural disaster. His livestock and property were destroyed. His body wracked with pain and disease. His marriage was in shambles. During this test Job didn’t feel God’s presence.

Job said, “If I go forward he’s not there. Many of us are trying to go forward but we don’t experience God in our forward momentum, and when we look back we don’t see him. When David felt his presence he saw grace and mercy on his life and right. Job said, “God was hiding and couldn’t be found on his left or his right."

What do you do when you can’t find God or feel God? You got to go through the test!
Job is confident about his test, he said, “When I am tested I shall come forth like pure gold.” He uses the image of gold going through the furnace to extract the negative impurities. When we are tested God is removing everything that’s not like him.

Here is what kept Job through his test:

1. V. 11 my foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. There was a little boy and his father caught in a snow storm. The father left his son in the car to go get help. By the time the father got to the Ranger’s headquarters, the storm had intensified and the ranger said they had to wait 'til morning to go back and get his son. The father was outraged and saddened to leave his son in the car. Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was the man’s son. The father said, “How did you get here?” He said, "I put my foot wherever I saw your foot steps."

2. V.12 I Have not departed from the commandments of his lips. Whatever God told you in his Word or through his messengers hold on those words. Remember the last thing he told you until he tells you something else.

3. V.12 I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth. David said, “I have hidden his words in my heart that I might not sin against him.

When you are tested remember the tings he told you and put them in your spirit.

Dear God, keep me during this test. Don’t let me fall off. I will come forth like pure gold. I’m going to be better after this! You are my strength and my redeemer and I know my redeemer lives. Don’t turn your face from us but be with us while we are taking our test. This too shall pass.

Thank you Jesus!