Galatians 2:20
20I 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.
Back in Africa, when the sun comes up all the animals are running! It does not matter whether you are the Mightiest of Lions or Weakest of Gazelles, when the sun comes up all the animals are running. For the mightiest of Lions understands that if he does not run faster than the weakest of Gazelles, he may starve and die today. The weakest of Gazelles understands that is he does not run faster that the mightiest of Lions, he will become the Lion’s meal and die today.
You see my Brothers and Sisters, when the sun comes up in Africa ALL the animals are running the marathon of life! It is the same way for us as Christians. When the sun comes up we all better be running for Jesus! Doesn’t matter whether you are the Bishop, Pastor, Deacon or Member when the sun comes up this day we should be rejoicing and praising God that his love and mercy has allowed us to make it just one more day! Run your race for Jesus! Stop making excuses and be like Nike and just do it!
Nike, the athletic shoe manufacturer has made a fortune off the simple slogan, “Just do it!” I guess they mean this, “Whatever it is you enjoy doing in the arena of recreation, Just Do It, because we have everything you need to get it done!” The strange thing is, people hear that slogan and they say, “Hey, maybe I can do it!” They buy the shoes, the sweats, the headbands all with the Nike swoosh and a few actually do it! A few run those marathons, engage in those triathlons, ride those bike, swim those rivers, climb those mountains, hike those trails, jump from those airplanes, or whatever. But, most folks just don’t do it! All that gear and all those fancy slogans did not inspire them to do anything but spend their money and now their expensive exercise equipment grows moss in the garage.
I realized the other day that preaching is a lot like writing slogans for athletic shoe companies. We preachers stand up in front of people and say to them “Just do it! Just live for Jesus! Just be all you can be for Him! Just get, up, get in, get out and go for God!” A few people who hear the slogans and pay attention to the sermons actually buy the message and go do it. But, the majority buy the message and say, “That’s wonderful! I really want to do just that!” They hear the Word, believe the message and take the equipment home, but they never do anything with it! Like that tennis racket, those golf clubs, your jogging shoes, which collect dust in the basement, the sermons you heard and were moved by now collect dust in your memory banks.
While running the marathon of life each of us should be energized by the Holy Spirit wherefore whether it is you or someone else in your life experiencing one of life’s many challenges you can continually affirm the wholeness and hold to the truth that what you are facing is temporary! Yes, as true believers we died with Jesus, but faith in Him has raised us from the death of sin and has made each of us eternally alive, (John 5:25). On the surface this seems like a paradox. It seems impossible that one may be dead and alive at the same time, yet that is how life is for believers. We are dead to sin, but alive in Jesus. Not just alive until our bodies cease to live, but alive forever! Just as we share His death, we also share His life! This is why the believer never need fear death! We have already experienced it with Jesus and it retains no power over us, (1 Cor. 15:55; 2 Cor. 5:1-9.)
There is an ongoing vitality that is refreshing our bodies and relishing our spirit. The Holy Spirit is constantly flowing through us, healing and renewing the very fabric of our beings. Can you visualize the wholeness that has already come into expression and the greater well-being that is yet to come into full expression. I give thanks for the energizing, revitalizing power of Holy Spirit that is blessing each one of us with life and renewal. Eternal life does not begin when you get to heaven. Eternal life began the instant you received Jesus as your Savior, (John 10:10; John 10:28)
Wherever you may be today, the Lord will help you get where you need to be. If you will come to Him, He will meet you where you are and He will take you where He wants you to be. You Can Do it and He will see to it. Won’t you come if He is calling? Be like Nike and just do it and come! And if you cannot run then walk, If you cannot walk then crawl, and if you cannot crawl then roll, and if you cannot roll, just keep moving for Jesus because as I look out my window this morning, I see the Sun coming up and it is time to run to or run for Jesus! AMEN
Have a spirit filled week!
20I 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.
Back in Africa, when the sun comes up all the animals are running! It does not matter whether you are the Mightiest of Lions or Weakest of Gazelles, when the sun comes up all the animals are running. For the mightiest of Lions understands that if he does not run faster than the weakest of Gazelles, he may starve and die today. The weakest of Gazelles understands that is he does not run faster that the mightiest of Lions, he will become the Lion’s meal and die today.
You see my Brothers and Sisters, when the sun comes up in Africa ALL the animals are running the marathon of life! It is the same way for us as Christians. When the sun comes up we all better be running for Jesus! Doesn’t matter whether you are the Bishop, Pastor, Deacon or Member when the sun comes up this day we should be rejoicing and praising God that his love and mercy has allowed us to make it just one more day! Run your race for Jesus! Stop making excuses and be like Nike and just do it!
Nike, the athletic shoe manufacturer has made a fortune off the simple slogan, “Just do it!” I guess they mean this, “Whatever it is you enjoy doing in the arena of recreation, Just Do It, because we have everything you need to get it done!” The strange thing is, people hear that slogan and they say, “Hey, maybe I can do it!” They buy the shoes, the sweats, the headbands all with the Nike swoosh and a few actually do it! A few run those marathons, engage in those triathlons, ride those bike, swim those rivers, climb those mountains, hike those trails, jump from those airplanes, or whatever. But, most folks just don’t do it! All that gear and all those fancy slogans did not inspire them to do anything but spend their money and now their expensive exercise equipment grows moss in the garage.
I realized the other day that preaching is a lot like writing slogans for athletic shoe companies. We preachers stand up in front of people and say to them “Just do it! Just live for Jesus! Just be all you can be for Him! Just get, up, get in, get out and go for God!” A few people who hear the slogans and pay attention to the sermons actually buy the message and go do it. But, the majority buy the message and say, “That’s wonderful! I really want to do just that!” They hear the Word, believe the message and take the equipment home, but they never do anything with it! Like that tennis racket, those golf clubs, your jogging shoes, which collect dust in the basement, the sermons you heard and were moved by now collect dust in your memory banks.
While running the marathon of life each of us should be energized by the Holy Spirit wherefore whether it is you or someone else in your life experiencing one of life’s many challenges you can continually affirm the wholeness and hold to the truth that what you are facing is temporary! Yes, as true believers we died with Jesus, but faith in Him has raised us from the death of sin and has made each of us eternally alive, (John 5:25). On the surface this seems like a paradox. It seems impossible that one may be dead and alive at the same time, yet that is how life is for believers. We are dead to sin, but alive in Jesus. Not just alive until our bodies cease to live, but alive forever! Just as we share His death, we also share His life! This is why the believer never need fear death! We have already experienced it with Jesus and it retains no power over us, (1 Cor. 15:55; 2 Cor. 5:1-9.)
There is an ongoing vitality that is refreshing our bodies and relishing our spirit. The Holy Spirit is constantly flowing through us, healing and renewing the very fabric of our beings. Can you visualize the wholeness that has already come into expression and the greater well-being that is yet to come into full expression. I give thanks for the energizing, revitalizing power of Holy Spirit that is blessing each one of us with life and renewal. Eternal life does not begin when you get to heaven. Eternal life began the instant you received Jesus as your Savior, (John 10:10; John 10:28)
Wherever you may be today, the Lord will help you get where you need to be. If you will come to Him, He will meet you where you are and He will take you where He wants you to be. You Can Do it and He will see to it. Won’t you come if He is calling? Be like Nike and just do it and come! And if you cannot run then walk, If you cannot walk then crawl, and if you cannot crawl then roll, and if you cannot roll, just keep moving for Jesus because as I look out my window this morning, I see the Sun coming up and it is time to run to or run for Jesus! AMEN
Have a spirit filled week!
Adapted By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
Copyright 2008 © MinTech, Inc.
You can also listen to Peace of God Outreach Ministries live radio broadcast Sunday School featuring Senior Pastors Gary and Patricia Stern every Sunday Morning streaming live on the web at http://www.wkrs.com/ from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM (CST) that is 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM (EST). Lake County, Illinois local station WKRS 1220 AM
Peace of God Outreach Ministries
Founders & Overseers
Pastors Gary and Patricia Stern
230 North West Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Toll Free 1-877-732-2356
Elder Hargett’s 24 Hour Cell Phone
1-757-536-2962
Peace of God Outreach Ministries
Founders & Overseers
Pastors Gary and Patricia Stern
230 North West Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Toll Free 1-877-732-2356
Elder Hargett’s 24 Hour Cell Phone
1-757-536-2962
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