Faith Fitness: Overcoming Obstacles
From the age of 5 Jerry was the victim of a series of strange and agonizing accidents. While holding an axe overhead it slipped and cut a cleft into his chin. While a sophomore in high school he backed into an electric lathe. When he was 17 he had an accident with a double barreled shotgun. Both barrels went off and their load smashed into his right forearm. He chipped a vertebra in his neck and had to have an operation. He suffered a detached retina. He broke his ankle. A non malignant growth the size of a grapefruit was removed from near his stomach. Holes developed in his intestines caused by a four inch sliver of wood which had been in him for 12 years. His name is Jerry Kramer. He overcame all of these adversities to play offensive tackle on the Green Bay Packers football team. He was on the 1965 team that won the NFL title, and on the team that won the historic first super bowl game the next year!
The Christian with a Fit Faith anticipates the obstacles that will be in the way and work hard to overcome them.
Hebrews 11:1, 6 - The Bible is a great source stories about overcomers.
Joseph. At first glance Joseph doesn't have much hope. He is hated by his brothers. Separated from his family. Sexually harassed by his boss' wife. Falsely accused of a crime. Forgotten in prison. But Joseph's life was a series of temporary setbacks followed by greater gains.
What was Joseph's attitude in his trials? He trusted God. Genesis 50:20
Paul. He experienced adversities most of us will never see. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. His attitude? Philippians 1:12
Hebrews 11 - one overcomer after another! All by faith.
1. UNFIT FAITH LEAVES US VULNERABLE. We are sometimes overcome. Unfit Faith is…
MISPLACED FAITH. Some are overcome because their faith is not in Christ. It might be in their church, or in a comfortable life, or in
financial security, or in their own goodness. John 8:24 Jesus said, "... If you do not believe that I am the One I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
UNUSUED FAITH.- faith not accompanied by action. Spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and study are often neglected. Service to others is only performed when it is convenient. James 2:26 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
REPLACED FAITH. Replaced by fear, leaves us frozen in indecision.
VISUAL FAITH. Walking by sight and not by faith. This leaves us easily discouraged. Don't be discouraged. You know the sun has a sinking spell every night but rises again in the morning!
2. FIT FAITH HELPS US TO OVERCOME
FAITH OVERCOMES PESSIMISM. Psalm 23 - struggles in life, but for each struggle it points us to God's power to overcome. Romans 8:31 "If God be for us, who is against us?"
FAITH OVERCOMES UNBELIEF. Ephesians 3:20
FAITH OVERCOMES TEMPTATION. 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 4:4
FAITH EMBOLDENS US. 2 Timothy 1:7
FAITH STRENGTHENS US. Romans 5:1-3 James 1:2-3
Conclusion: 2 Chronicles 32:7,8
Sources: Building a Positive Life, Vol. One and Vol. Two, God's way to the Top, J. J. Turner
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