With the Lord, only a personal relationship can develop increased fitness for service. He knows the inner character of every person. He doesn’t just know about you, He knows you. You can’t pull anything over His eyes! You’ve got to apply His Word to make it work. In other words, you’ve got to do more than just get on Jesus’ winning team. You’ve got to get in there and play if you want to experience all the good stuff in God’s Word! 

Christianity Is About More Than Just Being On The Team 
Everybody knows that it takes exercise to become physically fit. The body requires training to perform well physically. If you want to run a marathon, you’ll have to spend some time training so that when the race comes, you’ll be able to run it – to finish it without passing out! Wouldn’t you agree that it is easier to run a marathon after years of training than it is to get up one day and try to make it through 26.2 miles? 

Healing can be compared to this as well. A lot of people neglect to think about their health when they are healthy. It isn’t until they get sick that they start trying to get fit, spiritually and physically, in that area of their lives. This isn’t the easiest way to do it. It can be like climbing uphill, but many people have done it. It can be done! 

Sometimes when the devil comes to steal, kill or destroy our lives with sickness, people get caught with their pants down. They don’t have confidence because they haven’t been exercising, spiritually speaking. They haven’t been doing their aerobics! They haven’t been flexing their muscles when it comes to the Word. 

They’re saved. They belong to the Heavenly Club. They’ve got their membership and the manual that comes with it. But, they’re flabby, not fit. They can’t perform what they are designed to perform. They can’t do what others in the club are doing. They couldn’t walk in a race, much less run in one. Why? No training. Lots of reading and talking, but little application. They are in union with Jesus, but not with His works. 

You can be full of the Holy Ghost and never exercise your full abilities. You can be saved and hear healing preached all your life and never exercise the power of God for yourself. If you don’t exercise yourself by becoming united with Jesus and His works, when Satan strikes at you, you’ll stand paralyzed by the blow. Or you’ll try and muster up the guts to run him out of town, but you won’t make it three steps into the sprint. Do you understand what I’m getting at here? 

Be A Doer 
James 1:23-26 puts it this way: “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” 

Religion won’t do you any good unless you apply what it is teaching. You can read books and hear a lot of soul-stirring sermons, but if you don’t apply it, it can’t work for you. That sounds like common sense, and it is, but a lot of people don’t seem to understand how true it really is. Spending time with your Father in prayer and reading His Word is crucial to being spiritually fit. But the “doing” can’t be left out. Following the commands in His Word day after day will help you to become spiritually fit so that you can overcome any problem that comes your way. 

I know what it means to work hard at being physically fit. I’ve been a jogger since 1979. Have I enjoyed it? Not really. My body is used to it. It doesn’t like it, but it needs it – and it knows it. If I go for a couple of days without jogging, my body actually tells me, “Hey, fool, we’re getting weak here.” 

Exercise keeps me from blowing up to 300 pounds and it helps me to release stress. It’s also a great time to talk with the Lord. 

The first mile is not bad. The second mile is not too bad. But the third mile is tough. My body decides it’s had enough and says, “Hey, Jesse. Look at your hair. It’s white. You’re getting old. You’re gonna kill us out here on this road. What’s the matter with you? Go home. Sit down. Eat. Who cares?” 

I have to push myself to finish my course because if it were up to my flesh, I’d be home in front of the TV eating pecans by the truckload and knocking the fire out of a bag of hog cracklin. 

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I joke a lot but I do try and take care of my body. When I don’t, I just fall on the mercy of God, but I really do try and take care of what I can in the natural. Is it always fun? No, not really. Does my body like it? No. 

Back when I was a strict vegetarian, my body fought me tooth and nail. But, my body got used to the change. It got to the point that my body was so clean that if I ate just a bite or two of something fried, I’d get an awful feeling in my stomach. I could taste the grease for hours and it just wouldn’t set right in my body. 

Lean, Mean, Faith Machine 
Getting in spiritual shape is a lot like getting in physical shape, in that you feel wonderful when you’re finally doing it! With physical fitness, your body moans and complains in the beginning. It doesn’t want to do anything. But once you get into it, you feel good knowing that you’re accomplishing something. You’re gaining a healthier body, losing pounds and building strength and endurance so that you can enjoy your life more. You’re being active. If you stick with it, it can transform your body into a lean, mean, faith machine! 

That’s how it is with getting fit spiritually. At first your flesh moans and complains about making a change. It doesn’t want to change. But, once you get into the habit of crucifying that flesh, you feel wonderful because you are fellowshipping with the Creator! Suddenly He lifts you up into heavenly places and it is no work at all! The difference between physical fitness and spiritual fitness is that getting fit with God is much, much more rewarding and fun. 

Fight the Good Fight of Faith 
Of course, being spiritually fit doesn’t mean that it is a complete safeguard against the devil’s attacks. But, when you’re fit, it’s a whole lot easier to whip him! 

Satan is a stinking dirtbag. He’s like a criminal who comes into your house to steal. He has no authority, but he’ll try and get away with anything he can. It is our job to enforce the law of “by His stripes ye were healed” and kick the stinking sickness out. When we catch Satan trying to pull a shenanigan with our health, it’s our job to grab the Sword of the Spirit (the Word) with confidence, resist the temptation to give in. Sometimes it’s a fight, but it is a good fight. 

First Timothy 6:11-12 says, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 

If you want to receive, you’ve got to learn to develop tenacity. Quitters can’t win the fight of faith. They forfeit the prize when they do. It’s people who abide in God and have His Word abiding that are in good spiritual shape. They patiently fight the fight of faith and inherit their promise. Like Paul, they are the ones who end up calling it a good fight! Because, let’s just face it, when you’re in good spiritual shape, it’s a whole lot easier to fight good! 

Source: Breaking the Power of Natural Law by Jesse Duplantis 
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers

Question: “What does the Bible say about Purgatory?”

Answer: According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory is “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” To summarize, in Catholic theology, Purgatory is a place that a Christian’s soul goes to after death to be cleansed of the sins that had not been fully satisfied during life. Is this doctrine of Purgatory in agreement with the Bible? Absolutely not!

Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Romans 5:8). Isaiah 53:5declares, “but He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Jesus suffered for our sins so that we could be delivered from suffering. To say that we must also suffer for our sins is to say that Jesus’ suffering was insufficient. To say that we must atone for our sins by cleansing in Purgatory is to deny the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (1 John 2:2). The idea that we have to suffer for our sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about salvation.

The primary Scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:15, which says, “If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” The passage (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) is using an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believers’ works being judged. If our works are of good quality “gold, sliver, costly stones,” they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality “wood, hay, and straw,” they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire, but rather that a believer’s works pass through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer “escaping through the flames,” not “being cleansed by the flames.”

Purgatory, like many other Catholic dogmas, is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of Christ’s sacrifice. Catholics view the Mass / Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice because they fail to understand that Jesus’ once for all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly sufficient (Hebrews 7:27). Catholics view meritorious works as contributing to salvation due to a failure to recognize that Jesus’ sacrificial payment has no need of additional “contribution” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Similarly, Purgatory is understood by Catholics as a place of cleansing in preparation for Heaven because they do not recognize that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are already cleansed, declared righteous, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and sanctified.

The very idea of Purgatory, and the doctrines that are often attached to it (prayer for the dead, indulgences, meritorious works on behalf of the dead, etc.) all fail to recognize that Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay the penalty for ALL of our sins. Jesus, who was God incarnate (John 1:1,14), paid an infinite price for our sin. Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2). To limit Jesus’ sacrifice to atoning for original sin, or sins committed before salvation, is an attack on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. If we must in any sense pay for, atone for, or suffer because of our sins – that indicates Jesus’ death was not a perfect, complete, and sufficient sacrifice.

For believers, after death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). Notice that this does not say “away from the body, in Purgatory with the cleansing fire.” No, because of the perfection, completion, and sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are immediately in the Lord’s presence after death, fully cleansed, free from sin, glorified, perfected, and ultimately sanctified.

Quoted from here

by Joe McGee

As parents, we’ve all tried to do what is right. We all want our kids to grow up to be healthy, smart, and likable—not to mention, responsible. That’s why we’re always talking to them and encouraging them. 

“Clean your room. Take out the trash. Brush your teeth. Do your homework. You’re going to make it. Study for your test. Say, ‘Yes sir.’ Say, ‘No sir.’ Sit up straight. God is going to help you. You’re not wearing that. Did you say ‘thank you’?” 

You know the routine. While all of this has merit, we must not forget the most important trait that God is looking for in our children. 

What is that? 

Godliness! 

That’s right. Godliness. 

In Malachi 2:15 (NLT) we read,

Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

Godliness is more than being good. Godliness means being devoted to Him and to His commandments. Godliness is thinking like God and acting like Him. 

Don’t get me wrong. No one is perfect. The Bible says the righteous fall seven times a day but they get back up. We are not known as the perfect people but as the “getting-back-up people.” We are all growing in His grace and in His knowledge everyday. 

So, I may not have perfect kids, but I do want godly kids! 

Why? 

Because the Bible says in 1Timothy 4:8 (NLT), “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” The King James Version says, “Godliness is profitable unto all things!” 

So what does godliness look like? How do I make my kids godly kids? 

The Bible gives us a comparison of the godly versus the ungodly. In the book of Jude, in verses 14-21 (NLT), we read:

Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 

These people are grumblers and complainers living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. 

But you dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

The King James in verses 20-21 says, “But you beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.” 

So what do we get from this? 

The ungodly: 

• Grumble and complain. 
• Brag loudly about themselves. 
• Flatter others to get what they want.

The godly: 

• Build up their faith. Read and meditate the Word of God daily. (Rom. 12:2) 
• Pray Spirit-led prayers. (Eph. 6:18) 
• Walk in love. Faith works by love—and love is not a feeling. Love is serving. Jesus said, “If you want to be great in My kingdom, become the servant of all.” (Matt. 20:26)

So what does a godly kid look like? 

He has been trained to read his Bible on a daily basis, to pray Spirit-led prayers daily, and to serve others daily! 

That is what leads to success in life. That is what God wanted—a godly seed. 

God, give us the desire and the power to do what pleases You. (Phil. 2:13 NLT)

by Larry Ollison, Ph.D.

By Ron Luce