Taking Up The Challenge
Thrust: Go beyond just being healthy; keep fit.
I. Stay in Good Health
A. Take Essential Spiritual Supplements
1. Vitamin of God's Word
- Joy of eating
... he delights in the law of the Lord ... --- Ps 1:2
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! --- Ps 119:103
Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. --- Jer 15:16
2. Vitamin of Prayer
... men always ought to pray and not lose heart. --- Lk 18:1
Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. --- Heb 4:16
Pray without ceasing. --- 1 Th 5:17
3. Vitamin of Joy
... the joy of the Lord is our strength. --- Neh 8:10
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. --- Php 4:4
B. Go On Healthy Spiritual Diet
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. --- Mt 4:4
Be FAT Christians
- F aithful
- A vailable
- T eachable
1. Read Christian books
2. Listen to Christian media
3. Fellowship with Christians
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II. Serve With Great Strength
A. Serve with Renewed Energy
1. I want to Serve You More
2. I want to Serve Your Kingdom More
3. I want to Serve Others More
B. Serve with Greater Intensity
1. Extend the Borders of Our Tent
2. Scale Higher Level of Service
C. Serve with Better Skills
1. I won't be Complacent
2. I'm Determined to Press On
3. I'll use Higher Skills to Serve More
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Challenge
Let us go up at once, and possess the land for we are well able to overcome it. --- Caleb, Num 13:30
My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. --- God, Num 14:24
You know what the Lord said ... concerning you and me. --- Caleb, Jos 14:6
I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then ... now give me this hill country ... I'll drive them out just as the Lord said. --- Caleb, Jos 14:11-12
1. Run and Don't Grow Weary
... they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. --- Is 40:31
2. Fight without Losing Fervour
Full Armour of God
1. The belt of truth (v.14b)
2. The breastplate of righteousness (v.14c)
3. Shoes for our feet to go and share the gospel of peace (v.15)
4. The shield of faith to extinguish Satan's flaming darts (v.16)
5. The helmet of salvation (v.17a)
6. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (v.17b)
7. Praying in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (v.18)