Spiritual Workout

Sin

What is muscle atrophy?

Muscle atrophy, or muscle wasting, results from loss of muscle tissue. Little or no physical exercise and a sedentary lifestyle are common causes of muscle atrophy, in this case called disuse atrophy. Other common causes of disuse atrophy include medical conditions that decrease mobility, such as rheumatoid arthritis (chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation) or osteoarthritis (thinning and weakening of the bones), and injuries, such as broken bones and burns. The aging process often leads to slow but progressive muscle atrophy.

Muscle atrophy caused by a nerve problem is called neurogenic atrophy. Common causes include neuromuscular diseases, such as spinal cord atrophy, multiple sclerosis (disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing weakness, coordination, balance difficulties, and other problems), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease; a severe neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and disability), or Guillain-Barre syndrome (autoimmune nerve disorder). Diabetic neuropathy, nerve damage associated with diabetes, may also lead to atrophy of the muscles.

In some cases, muscle atrophy can be a symptom of serious malnutrition or alcohol-related muscle disease. Injuries or trauma to nerves due to spinal cord injury, burns, or stroke can also lead to muscle atrophy. Depending on the cause, atrophy may occur in one muscle, a group of muscles, or the entire body, and it may be accompanied by numbness, pain or swelling, as well as other types of neuromuscular or skin symptoms. https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/bones-joints-and-muscles/muscle-atrophy

As a former athlete, I have had the experience of atrophy. I picked up an injury as a result of hurdle training. it caused a groin musle to strained and ultimately torn. I had to be out of training for weeks. I had to have several visits to the physio therapist. It felt as if I had to learn to walk all over a gain. Many weeks after i was able to rejoin training but it was the worst experience of my teenage life. Those i could easily beat in training were way ahead of me all the time. looking back i think that had experience muscle atrophy. Why, Muscle injury, which led to lack exercise, and normal movement. This is similar to how sin works. Sin causes injury to the spiritual man that lead to a lack of spiritual activity and prevents spiritual formation.

The letter claims to have been written by Paul, and no serious doubt is raised against this claim.

D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 499.

Verses 5-11 proposed by scholars to be a hymn about the humility of Christ that was inserted. the hymn also portrayed that the highly exalted possition of Jesus as being equal with God the Father and the fact that Jesus chose not to hold on to this position but humbled Himself and was obedient even unto death on the cross. How great must be the humiliation of the Son of God, that He should live in the despised and wicked town of Nazareth. The most holy place upon earth would have been greatly honored by the presence of the world's Redeemer a single year. The palaces of kings would have been exalted to receive Christ as a guest. But the Redeemer of the world passed by the courts of royalty and made His home in a humble mountain village for 30 years, thus conferring distinction upon despised Nazareth. {LHU 32.2}

The Redeemer of the world passed up and down the hills and mountains, from the great plain to the mountain valley. Let it be abundantly clear it was our sin that caused Jesus to travel to golgutha’s hill; LeAnn Rimes put it this way;

Stillness filled the heavens, on crucifixion day Some say it rained, I don't know if it's true

Well, I can just imagine ten thousand angels cried That would seem like rain to me and you

The angels all stood ready to take Him from the tree They waited for the words from His voice

And when He asked the Father why has Thou forsaken me They watched the saviour die of His own choice

I've never seen ten thousand angels cry But I'm sure they did As they stood by And watched the saviour die God turned His head away He couldn't bear the sight It must have looked like rain When ten thousand angels cried

The church at Phillipi was a good church with loyal and faithful members.

We can discern a number of personal factors that may have prompted Paul to write this letter. First is the matter of Epaphroditus. This man had been sent to Paul by the Philippian church “to take care of [Paul’s] needs” (Phil. 2:25). He apparently had discharged his task but had fallen ill, so ill indeed that he nearly died. The Philippians had heard of the illness, and Epaphroditus was upset about this (2:26–27). The Philippians perhaps had not realized just how serious Epaphroditus’s illness had been, or perhaps some were critical of the time he had stayed with Paul. So Paul tells them to honor people like this man (2:29). It is also possible that there had been some criticism of Paul for keeping Epaphroditus with him instead of sending him back earlier. Whatever the exact circumstances, Paul writes to make clear to the Philippians that their messenger had done his task well and that he had undergone great danger in discharging it. Paul is sending him back with a warm commendation.

Second, the Philippian church had sent a gift to Paul (4:14–18; cf. 2:25). Since he does not mention this until quite late in the letter, it is probable that this is not the first time Paul has expressed his thanks. But it is plain that he greatly appreciated the help that this church had given him; he writes warmly about their generosity. A genuine appreciation of all that the Philippians had done for him is certainly part of the reason Paul picked up his pen.26

Third, Paul gives the Philippians news about his own circumstances (1:12ff.). The Philippians had been praying for him (1:19), and Paul recognizes them as partners with him in the gospel (1:5). Accordingly, he acquaints them with enough of his circumstances for them to see the way the gospel had been advanced by what was happening to him.

A further reason for writing may have been to commend Timothy to them and possibly to prepare the way for a visit he himself would pay (2:19–24). His commendation of Timothy suggests that the Philippians did not know him well. Paul wants to ensure that his young colleague will receive a warm welcome when he comes to Philippi.27

Apart from these personal motives, however, inevitably there were broader pastoral concerns. Although the Philippian church appears to be, in general, a spiritually thriving Christian community, there were some problems. The believers there faced at least some challenges from outsiders (1:28–30), and Paul recognizes their need for unity (2:1–4) and specifically pleads with two women to be at peace with each other (4:2). His exhortation to wholehearted service (1:27–2:18) may be connected with a recognition that all is not well. Paul offers warnings against false teachers (3:2–4), people who are “enemies of the cross of Christ” (3:18).

D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 507–508.

Spirit Atrophy will occur when there is a lack of spiritual exercise. This may be as a result of not allowing God to do His work on us and in us. Now I Know on the surface many of you thought that this text was saying that we should be doing something to be saved, however it is far deeper than that. The greek word for work out is κατεργάζεσθε from the verb κατεργάζομαι: to cause a state to be—‘to cause to be, to make to be, to make, to result in, to bring upon, to bring about.’6

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 149.

Jesus paid the price long ago for our sins; because Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation. Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

We were bought back: 1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

The Bible also says in Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

It is the righteousness of Christ that makes the penitent sinner acceptable to God and works his justification. However sinful has been his life, if he believes in Jesus as his personal Saviour, he stands before God in the spotless robes of Christ's imputed righteousness. {FW 106.1}

The sinner so recently dead in trespasses and sins is quickened by faith in Christ. He sees by faith that Jesus is his Saviour, and alive forevermore, able to save unto "the uttermost [all] that come unto God by Him." In the atonement made for him the believer sees such breadth and length and height and depth of efficiency--sees such completeness of salvation, purchased at such infinite cost, that his soul is filled with praise and thanksgiving. He sees as in a glass the glory of the Lord and is changed into the same image as by the Spirit of the Lord. He sees the robe of Christ's righteousness, woven in the loom of heaven, wrought by His obedience, and imputed to the repenting soul through faith in His name

you see in physio-therapy there are some things that the athlete has to do for himself but there are some things that must be done on us like stretching and muscle stimulation and hot and cold treatment to stimulate blood flow. On another level only the body itself can heal within.

Notice what the Appostle Paul says in verse 13. for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work bfor His good pleasure. I love this text in Phillipians chapter one verse six, For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until athe day of Christ Jesus.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Php 1:6.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Php 2:13.

Sanctification

Each day we must humble ourselves before God, as the Apposle said 5 iLet this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, jbeing in the form of God, did not consider it 2robbery to be equal with God, 7 kbut 3made Himself of no reputation, taking the form lof a bondservant, and mcoming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and nbecame oobedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Php 2:5–8.14 Do all things without 4complaining and adisputing, 15 that you may become blameless and 6harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as blights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, This means to live by the Word of God.

Paul said we must press toward the goal for the prize of ythe upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We must never quit, we must not give up nor let, but must stand-up and stand-out. Why? Spiritual Atrophy can be overcome and must be overcome but we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Appeal:

Witness to others;

Study the word of God;

Accept God work on us and in us .

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Php 3:14.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Php 2:14–16.