Gold Medal Training Series

The thing about athletics is you have to turn up for training.

If you don’t train then you don’t win.

If we are not available how can the kingdom of God win on earth through us?

Joshua was called into the presence of God for commissioning.

DT 31:14 The LORD said to Moses, "Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, where I will commission him." So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.

RO 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

When you get a call up for the army you are instructed to present yourself at the barracks for army training.

Most men who have been through basic army training say two things. One it was tough and severe. And two it was the making of the person.

Watchman Nee says this:- it is a great thing whaen I discover I am no longer my own but His. If the dollar in my pocket belongs to me, then I have full authority over it. But if it belongs to another who has committed it to me in trust, then I cannot buy what I please with it, and I dare not lose it. How many of us know that, because Christ is risen, we are therefore alive “unto God” and not unto ourselves.

How many of us dare not use our time or money or talents as we would, because we realise that they are the Lord’s not ours?

Many years ago My Grandfather hired an accountant in his garage. That man seemingly embezzled a large amount of my Grandfather’s money. He was dismissed immediately.

I once had a business where a young lady helped herself to the money out of the cash register – I dismissed her immediately.

What happens in the army if a soldier wakes up and instead of reporting to His commanding officer goes for a walk instead?

He is court martialled.

Why?

Because the army cannot function like that.

Doesn’t that raise serious questions about how we spend our time everyday for God?

Don’t you think we should present ourselves to God everyday and check that we are spending His time the way He wants not the way that we want?

Watchman Nee tells on one occasion how a Christian brother was travelling by train and found himself in a carriage together with three non-Christians who widhed to play cards in order to while away the time. Lacking a fourth to complete the game they invited this brother to join them. ‘I am sorry to disappoint you,” he said, “But I cannot join your game for I have not bought my hands with me. “ “What ever do you mean?” they asked in blank astonishment.

“This pair of hands does not belong to me.”, he said, and then there followed the explanation of the transfer of ownership that had taken place in his life. That brother regarded the members of his body as belonging entirely to the Lord. That is true holiness.