Call in the Reinforcements
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I want to encourage us all to do our part to stay healthy & to position ourselves for God to be able to move big in our lives.
In this “Public Health Crisis” that we know NATURALLY affects those with underlying symptoms and comorbidities, I want to encourage you to get as healthy as you possibly can.
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit & He has given us a wonderful immune system to fight off things that try to attack us physically. As a result, do everything you can to give your immune system the best conditions to fight in!
This is not fear, this is wisdom! - If we each had taken the last 17 months to get into the most healthful condition possible what would that look like right now? Today is your day! I’m doing a 14-day detox right now & I exercise regularly. I’m setting an example that I hope you will choose to follow.
What do you think of when you think of the word Endurance?
Marathon’s - 26.2 miles
Ultra Marathon’s- any footrace longer than a marathon
The World Marathon Challenge is a logistical and physical challenge to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. Competitors must run the standard 42.195 km marathon distance in Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and North America within 168 hours, or 7 days.
We need to have spiritual and emotional endurance
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
endurance (G5281) = cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy
As these various situations and dynamically changing circumstances continue on & time goes by, how many of you are feeling a little worn down & a little less cheerful in your endurance?
Many people have even wanted to give up completely.
Life in the world is designed to choke your joy & hope
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
No matter how tempting it is: Don’t Tap, Don’t Nap, Don’t Snap & DON’T GIVE UP!
Take Option B!!!
Call in Reinforcements:
Call in Reinforcements:
Have everyone raise their hands through the telling of the story & hold something above their head.
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Even in a battle you are destined to win, you are going to need outside help!
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
This is part of the reason why we have been so aggressive about maintaining connections and relationships in the body of Christ!
This is a large part of why we have strongly fought and preached against isolation & separation from the body.
You are not meant to be able to do this life alone!
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
For you grammar fans out there, Who is the implied subject of this verse?
YOU are the implied subject of these verses!
You are meant to strengthen those around you!
You are meant to say bold words of faith to those around you!
Right now, look at someone straight in the eyes and mean it as you tell them,
“Be strong, Don’t be afraid!
God’s got this! You’ve Got This!
God’s with you & I’m with you!
It’s gonna be alright!”
When the Holy Spirit lays someone on your heart:
Pray for them
Send them a text message
Give them a call
Get together with them
If you’re struggling, don’t struggle alone - Call for reinforcements!
God is Going to Help You Too:
God is Going to Help You Too:
Remember that the God of the Universe is on your team - Bring Him into the action
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Don’t fight this battle alone, call God & people in as reinforcements - or be the reinforcement in someone else’s fight!
You are on the winning team!
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
What are some misconceptions about your hobby?
Share your experiences over the last 18 months & where you’ve been regarding your cheerful, hopeful endurance.
Please Read the account in Exodus 17:8-16 and share how this scripture impacts you & what your role might be in life’s battles.
Do you feel like you’ve been a good reinforcement to others, or that you have called in reinforcements when you’ve needed them? Share a little bit.