Keeping Fit
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Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
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Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Introduction
Let me ask you a question – What shape are you in?
What do you think about when I ask ‘what shape are you in?’
Did you think about your physical condition? Was your first thought about your physical fitness? Maybe you’re not as fit as you used to be, perhaps you are training for something. Did you think about protein drinks and health tablets- my brother Richard’s advice!
Did you think about your mental condition when I asked ‘what shape are you in? Are you doing things that stretch your mind, a crossword, a Sudoku, a pub quiz, church quiz, read books, or poems? As we get older we become more aware of our mental health and wellbeing.
It’s good to ask ourselves this type of question because it can lead us to take action to get fit. It is never to late not can you be too young to do something to improve the shape you are in.
Who wants to have a go at some of these weights?
When I was a vicar at St Swithin’s church in Wakefield, we held a, weekly aerobics class called: ‘Fit and Friendly.’ There is always something you can do to tone up your physique or tune up your mind. As we get older it is easy to think less about what shape we are in, but physically and mentally are two different ways of looking at it.
Have you noticed, I haven’t mentioned God yet!
Our personhood is a wonderful combination of body, mind and spirit. And yet when we ask ‘what shape am I in?’ We rarely apply it to the spirit.
1 Timothy 4:7-8: Paul tells Timothy to exercise for godliness, yes, physical exercise has some value, but spiritual training has benefits in this life and the next. ‘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.’
1 Timothy 4:8 says three things
1. physical exercise has some value.
2. Spiritual training for godliness is far more important because it benefits every part of life now and 3. promises eternal life in the future.
This was a message from Apostle Paul to a young pastor called Timothy.
Paul uses a fitness metaphor to compare physical fitness with spiritual wellbeing.
I think Paul knew a thing or two about training. He wrote to the church in Corinth, Greece [where the Olympics started in Olympia, BC776] saying ‘Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a wreath that will not last, but we do it [train] to get a crown that will last forever.’ 1 Corinthians 9:25
Let’s look at these three things…….
1 Physical Training Has Value: Paul says physical exercise has "some value". He is not putting down physical exercise. Paul means that physical health only makes a difference in this earthly life, which is short compared to eternal life.
2 Godliness is Profitable for All Things: Spiritual devotion, such as: praying, reading and learning God's word, and living out faith. It affects every part of daily life. It shapes your character, decisions, relationships.
3 Promises for Today and Forever: Physical training ends when earthly life ends, but godliness brings peace, purpose, and joy in the present and eternal fellowship with God in the future.
So, Paul encourages believers to keep fit physically, but make spiritual growth our priority.
But wait a minute, to answer the question what spiritual shape am I in? We need to ask firstly, if we do have the Holy Spirit within? To try and be spiritual without the Holy Spirit is like trying to run while holding your breath!
It is never to late to do something about the spiritual shape you are in. We begin to get in spiritual shape when we invite the Lord Jesus to live within us.
After that it’s a matter of keeping in shape.
What exercise can we do to keep in shape spiritually?
Here are a few exercises to keep you in shape spiritually.
PICK UP a Bible. Read through one of the Gospels. Matthew. Mark. Luke. John. ‘Gospel of Mark’ is the shortest!
GET UP 15 minutes earlier from bed to talk to God! To keep fit....pray.
WALK UP to your church; worship God with other Christians – it’s important!
SPEAK UP kind words. It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting.
MAKE UP if you dislike anyone! Learn the discipline of forgiving.
PACK UP moaning! Grumbling and complaining" are not Christian disciplines. Instead "In everything give thanks.“ 1Thes 5:18
GIVE UP your worries! Trust God with your cares. 1 Peter 5:7.
THINK UP! God created us to be spiritually alive but we are not spiritually alive until we have the Holy Spirit in us and with us. Let me ask you, are you spiritually alive? Here is a prayer to invite the Spirit within.
LOOK UP! Pray: Father in heaven, I am sorry I am not in good spiritual shape. Forgive me for all the wrongs I have done, thought or said. Thank you Jesus that you died on the cross to wipe out my wrongs. Holy Spirit come into my life today and make me spiritually alive.Amen.
