"Start Training Today" Series

The Ultimate Decision

June 26, 2014

If I were to coach you in track for distance I would gather you together and find out your current level of fitness. We would find out how fast you could run a mile. If you could run a 5 minute mile that would be 75 second laps for 4 laps. To start training we would do ten laps with a one lap job in between at 70 – 72 seconds to start. That is because you can run one lap quicker than you can run four continuous. Then over time those one lap times would drop and in so doing so would your overall mile time.

Today what is your spiritual level of fitness? Well, first of all you have to be on the team (Believers). If you are unsure if you are saved you can e mail or call me or view http://theultimatedecision.com/bible-study-videos/ on how to get to heaven. But I am assuming you are already on the team and that is where we will start.

1. Do you read the Bible everyday and if so how long.

2. Do you pray everyday and if so how long

The reason I am not asking if you are serving or giving to a ministry is that if your answer to the first two questions are low then so will be your fellowship with other believers and you’re giving. Giving to ministry efforts is high when people are changed by God. They see that there is nothing left when we take our last breath and that means there is nothing that we can hold onto except our faith.

But a strong spiritual health has nothing to do with your Salvation. So can I just eat Cheetos, sit on the couch and go to heaven? Yes, but here is the dilemma. If we had to work to get to heaven, pray , read the Bible go to church etc then Jesus died for nothing. Ephesians 2:8,9 says that we are saved by the Grace of God and not by ANY works that we can do. We are only saved by faith in what Jesus did on the cross and our need to ask for our forgiveness of our sins.

Number 1 and number 2 above has nothing to do with going to heaven but it has everything to do with living an ABUNDANT life here on earth. When you get ready to take your last breath or have a terminal illness you will realize that this is true. Nothing you earned on earth apart from God will last. So you have to ask yourself today “Why am I doing the things I do”. Am I working unto God or me?

Colossians 3:23,24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

In what you are doing today are you working like you are working for the Lord or are your trying to build a little Kingdom on earth. Even if you are a billionaire that is a little kingdom compared to Gods. When I ask if you read the Bible and Pray everyday you CANNOT get spiritually strong and full of the Lord’s peace without doing this.

SO PLEASE DO NOT TAKE God’s PRECIOUS GIFT OF SALVATION AS A LICENSE TO RELAX TILL YOU GO HOME TO HEAVEN.

If you are on the team you need to train your mind day in and day out not of worldly things but the things of God. If you worry no wonder, If you are tried no wonder. God has al the answers through prayer and reading of His word.If you are not doing step 1 and 2 then your soul is covered in your flesh. The more you do 1 and 2 above then the more your soul will be FILLED with the Spirit and the more peace and hunger you will have to keep on keepin on. If you do not do number one and number two that is like the athlete with great talent who squanders it. Those were the ones I yelled at as I could see what they were missing. I am not going to yell at you but my goodness why would you take it easy when God has done everything for you. Why would you build you own Kingdom and not give God his 10%. Why would you build your little kingdom and think it is yours. Why, why, why?

The answers will not be in this devotional but in number one and number two above. I pray that what the Lord is prompting me to say will stir within you the desire to get a kick in the pants and get going for Him, The One who loved you enough to die in YOUR place. So stop sinning by living in the Spirit. If you want to be a Warrior YOU NEED to train like one. Stop being arrogant and self serving by living in the Spirit and not the flesh. Start seeing others better than yourself by living in the Spirit and finally experience freedom, peace, joy and a humble Spirit. Pray and read the word often, not out of duty, only out of love and excitement for what God has in store for you. His treasures await you. Pray much and pray often. Get going!!!!!!!

Brad