Spiritual Athlete

The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak… There are some areas in our life that tend to control us and that we couldn’t image giving all control over to God. Some common areas for many people are sleep, food, and sexuality. As Christians, we need to serve Jesus, not the flesh. Sleep needs to be subservient to Jesus. All our rights need to be under the reign of Jesus. We must be fully awake when Jesus calls us to be. And we can receive full rest when it’s the time for sleep, when the Lord isn’t asking us to stand in the gap in prayer. At the time of the greatest battle, when Jesus was in Gethsemane crying out to the Father and sweating drops of blood, Peter, James, and John fell asleep on their watch. They did not do as they were commanded. They did not watch and pray. They gave in to the flesh. They did not rise up on the strength of God and resolve to conquer. If the Lord asks us to do something, He will equip us because me are more than conquerors in Christ. Peter was not sharp during the time when Jesus was taken away. His mind was clouded. When the betrayers came he was not in sink with Jesus, he cut off the ear of one of the betrayers against the will of God. He didn’t do what Jesus would do since He disconnected in the time of the greatest hour of needed prayer and time in battle. He was not strong and ended up denying Christ. Often times, at our weakest, when we are most tempted to lay down our sword and rest from the battle, that’s the time when it is vital that we rise up and go forth to battle and stand our ground. When we are at our weakest, when we are at our lowest, we must press through in God’s strength. The cure for burnout is getting in the presence of Jesus, receiving His strength, being in the place of prayer. He is our Living Water. He is our bread. He is our strength. I’m reading through the book of Luke. When Jesus was in the desert for 40 days of fasting, the devil was relentless to temp Him and get Him to stumble. But Jesus was connected to the Father. It says He was in the Spirit. He never laid down His sword but He used the truth of the Word to combat every temptation of the enemy. We too have power in the Spirit of the Almighty. We can overcome and walk in His righteousness if we are in Christ. But we need to stay watchful and alert. Jesus rules us. He rules our bodies. Our bodies need to come under His authority and alignment. We need to be plugged in 100%, always, all the time. We are not to grow weary, but we are to receive His strength and keep pressing until He gives it to us because He promises that we can run and not grow faint. We are to pray without ceasing. Never relent. Watch, lest you give in to temptation. Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. I learned this during my time in Cambodia. Ministry was hard and tiring at times, but I needed to keep pouring into the lives of the ones the Lord gave me to love. There was only one way I could keep going. By being continually in His presence, receive His love and Spirit, being in the place of prayer, being in the Word, and then I had strength to pour out on those who desperately needed it. I know God’s grace. He is faithful to fill us when we ask Him. He does give us strength. His energy is better than coffee or any energy drink. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

(content from message of www.ellerslie.com)