The Wall
Are we Teachable?
1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
In endurance sports such as running and cycling, hitting the wall is a condition of sudden fatgue.
To over come hitting the wall one must increase their endurance.
#1 Question is how to increase endurance?
As runners, we all want to increase our endurance, but we're often referring to two different things. The beginning runner wants to go farther--from 2 miles to 4 miles, then to 6. More experienced runners don't see much point in running farther. (Isn't 26.2 miles far enough?) These runners want to improve their speed-endurance--the pace at which they can cover substantial distances.
Fortunately, you can have it both ways. You can follow training plans that build the length of your long runs, and others that improve your speed-endurance
Using such workouts, thousands of runners have dramatically improved their endurance. Craig Beesley, a beginning runner, extended his longest run from 30 seconds to nearly 3 hours. Doug Underwood, a successful marathoner, wanted to lower his best from 3:50 to 3:30 to qualify for the Boston Marathon. And Deena Drossin, the American 10-K and cross-country star, wanted nothing less than to run the marathon faster than a legend, Joan Samuelson.
All three runners achieved their goals. Each used a different method. Which raises the point that exercise physiologist Kris Berg explains in his recent article, "Endurance Training and Performance in Runners," in the journal Sports Medicine. "After decades of studying ways to improve endurance," says Berg. "I'm leaning more than ever toward the great gestalt of mind-body wisdom, and encouraging runners to do what feels right."
In other words, different strokes for different folks. We're not all the same. Genetic researchers refer to "high responders" and "low responders." Sometimes we need to take different paths to reach our goals. It is the same thing for Christians how do we do better at finishing what we start.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
How did he do that?
Galatians 5:7 (NIV)
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?
Sometimes it is our selves. Some times it is some one else
#2 The next big question is are we teachable?
Answer is only if we are willing to learn and do. To finish the race, compleate a task.
To solve the problem.
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
We can't do it alone.
Acts 6:1-7 (NIV)
6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Today this seems an easy fix, just pick someone to do it. But not in this culture and this time in history.
(discuss this)
reaction was no way – hit a wall -
reaction change and grow. Get past the wall. Remember the church was new and ever changing, like a living growing organism as it is supposed to be. A never changing message to an ever changing world.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Do we hit a wall, you know come when we feel like it and do not if it is inconvenient?
Or are we going to get past that wall and be more faithful.
Do not do it along, bring someone.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do itully.
2 Peter 1:12-15 (NIV)
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Remember these things and learn to grow past the wall that is holding us back.
