Training in an instant!
Ever wanted to get physically fit or lose weight?
You buy workout video and that doesn’t make you fit at all!
You buy barbells and that doesn’t make you fit at all!
You buy nasty tasting protein drinks and that doesn’t make you fit at all!
Finally you realize, you are what you eat so you figure you need to eat a skinny physically fit person?
You pick up one of those weight bars with like 100lbs on it and quickly realize you can’t just pick that up. Hmm. Even with the weights off, the bar itself weighs about 45 lbs!
It’s pretty embarrassing to go to a gym and struggle with just picking up the bar!
1,2,3,4,5,6,7… hundred!
My favorite workout is somewhere between a lunge and a crunch - I call it lunch.
Just buy this workout video and you can have great looking abs like me! Some big abs looking guy is selling it too! So you send them your money and why don’t you have great abs like him? They left out part of the formula
Send money - check
Get video - check
Great abs - no check
They forgot to tell you that you had to put the time in. And not just a little time, a lot of time and effort! Right?
Ever wanted to play a musical instrument?
You buy a trumpet and you still can’t play it.
You buy lesson books and you still can’t play it.
I guess a triangle, if you buy a triangle, you could pick it up and instantly play it!
You ever wanted to learn to speak another language?
You buy language CDs and you still can’t speak another language
You buy books and you still can’t speak another language.
So you go to church and you want to know things.
I know I’ve heard that Jesus loves me because the Bible tells me so but where in the Bible does it say that? (John 3:16)
Why is it that we don’t just live in a just add water kind of world. LIke you want hot cocoa, you just add water? Yum! You want a whole lasagna meal, just put it in the microwave! You want to know God?
Ya know, some things are not super easy like that? Some things, you have to put some time and effort into them if you want to be successful at them.
Want to lose weight? There’s a whole industry built around it because it’s so really hard to do!
You want to learn to plan an instrument, again there’s a music industry with videos on how to learn to play the guitar or piano or other instruments.
There are whole industries, with CDs and videos built around how to learn a language.
For some things there just are not any short cuts, you have to devote time and training to be successful with them.
1 Timothy 4
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
Shortcuts? My prayer bracelet?
They try to act like oh yeah the Bible says that but you don’t need to follow that stuff it’s hard, hey this is the easy way!
Just open your wallets and write a check to THE EASY WAY ministries and you’ll have everything you ever wanted!
4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
Don’t fall for those shortcuts. What God has given is good and those shortcuts are deceitful! It may not be the easy way or just throw money at it, but it is the right way!
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
But I won’t have to work for salvation! That is true - Salvation is by grace through faith and that not of yourselves! But there’s more to the Christian life than just Salvation. After you are saved there’s this whole Christian life thing! You want to have a relationship with God, you want to know more about the Bible, you have to “train”.
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
What about Gifts? Yes, Jesus does give people “spiritual” gifts. The great ones like Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, meekness, gentleness, against such things there is no law. There’s the gift of prophecy and teaching, etc. But if you could just have anything be a spritual gift - like the super fast bible study spiritual gift or the spiritual gift of the fastest person at bible drill - I think some of them actually have that!!! JK - and other such shortcuts wouldn’t that be great! Then you still have to study the bible. Is there such a gift? So yeah, there’s no shortcut for that - that I know of.
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES: reading the bible, praying
Physical, musical instrument, artist paint on a canvas - bad example,
Hebrews 12:1,2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about* with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Ephesians 6
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against* flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always** with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto** with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open* my mouth boldly*, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Marathon runners? crazy!
So be diligent and work at being the kind of Christian you should be.
When you become a Christian you’re not just instantly everything you should be.
It takes devotion and patients and Bible study and learning to love and learning to trust Jesus.
Those things don’t just appear but come with patients and effort.
Not everything is instant just add water.
For those things that are not, they are usually the best parts.
Like a prepared dinner usually always takes better than a TV dinner!
Take the time to do things God’s way and you’ll find they are the best ways!
