Run After Jesus
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Building Spiritual Strength: The Journey of Faith Recovery
When we experience a physical injury that requires medical intervention or extended care, our bodies enter a healing process. We start in a weakened state, and slowly, methodically, we rebuild ourselves. Anyone who has recovered from a significant injury knows this journey intimately—the frustration of limitations, the slow progress, the mental toll of being unable to do what once came naturally.
What many believers fail to recognize is that our spiritual lives follow a remarkably similar pattern.
The Weakness of New Beginnings
When someone becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, they're at their weakest spiritual point. This isn't a condemnation—it's simply reality. Making the decision for Christ is like undergoing spiritual surgery. God has dealt with the sin and brokenness in your life, and now you need recovery time.
Many people mistakenly believe that salvation is the finish line, when in reality, it's the starting point. They expect to immediately possess unshakeable faith, complete biblical knowledge, and the ability to resist any temptation. But that's not how spiritual growth works any more than physical recovery happens instantaneously.
Your sin led to pain. Your sin led to brokenness. Your sin left scars. And just as physical scars require time and care to heal, your spiritual wellness requires intentional rehabilitation.
The Training Regimen of Faith
First Corinthians 9:24-27 uses the powerful metaphor of athletic training to describe spiritual development: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run? But only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training."
Consider what it takes to run a marathon. You don't simply decide one day to run 26.2 miles and expect to succeed. You start small—perhaps running to the corner and back. Then around the block. Then a mile, then five miles, gradually building endurance and strength. The same principle applies to weightlifting. You don't walk into a gym and immediately bench press hundreds of pounds. You start with manageable weight and progressively increase as your muscles strengthen.
Why, then, do we forget this fundamental principle when it comes to spiritual health?
First Timothy 4:7-8 makes this explicit: "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 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."
Training yourself to be godly requires the same dedication, consistency, and progressive challenge as any physical training regimen.
The Danger of False Teachers
The journey becomes even more challenging when we recognize that not everyone claiming to speak for God actually does. Galatians 1:6-8 warns sternly about those who preach "a different gospel," even pronouncing a curse on anyone—human or angel—who preaches something contrary to the true gospel of Christ.
Here's a sobering truth: if something is 99% true and 1% false, it's still a lie.
False teachers are skilled at mixing enough truth to gain credibility before introducing deception. They claim relationship with Christ, profess knowledge of Scripture, and position themselves as authorities. The only defense against such deception is intimate knowledge of God's Word.
The Bereans were praised in Scripture for an important practice: they listened to the Apostle Paul's teaching, then went home and studied their Scriptures to verify that what he said was true. They didn't blindly accept teaching based on the speaker's authority or reputation. Instead, they tested everything against the Word of God.
This should be our standard as well. Don't accept teaching simply because someone has a platform, a title, or charisma. Open your Bible. Study. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment.
The Disciplines of Spiritual Growth
Maintaining and strengthening your faith requires several key practices:
Study God's Word Consistently. You cannot recognize false teaching if you don't know what true teaching looks like. The Bible is complex, written to a culture 2,000 years removed from our own, containing literal statements, metaphors, parables, and cultural context that requires careful interpretation. This complexity isn't a barrier—it's an invitation to deeper relationship with God through His Word.
Pray for Understanding. Who better to interpret Scripture than the One who inspired it? The Holy Spirit serves as our guide and teacher, bringing clarity to confusing passages and applying ancient truth to modern circumstances.
Test Everything by the Spirit. First Timothy 4:1 warns that "in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." Spiritual discernment isn't optional—it's essential. But discernment requires relationship. If you have no concern for God throughout your week, don't expect supernatural insight on Sunday morning.
Become a Lifetime Learner. The more you study, the more you realize how much you don't know. This isn't discouraging—it's humbling and exciting. Familiarity with a Bible story shouldn't prevent you from discovering new insights. Even passages you've read dozens of times can reveal fresh truth when approached with an open, learning posture.
Lead by Example. First Timothy 4:12 instructs believers to "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Being a Christian means being Christ-like, and that requires more than church attendance. It demands alignment between your words and actions. When unbelievers observe your life, they're looking for authenticity. When your behavior contradicts your profession of faith, they notice immediately.
The Power of Willingness
God values willingness over talent, obedience over knowledge. You don't need advanced degrees to be used by God. You don't need exceptional ability. What you need is a heart that says, "Use me."
Education has value—tremendous value—but an educated, talented person who is unwilling accomplishes nothing for the Kingdom. Meanwhile, God can take someone with limited knowledge but complete willingness and accomplish extraordinary things.
Don't neglect the gifts God has placed within you. Don't let feelings of inadequacy silence your obedience. Set the example in how you speak, how you act, how you love, how you demonstrate faith, and how you pursue purity.
Protecting Your Faith
Ephesians 6 instructs believers to put on the full armor of God. Why? Because spiritual attacks target vital areas. Just as a soldier protects their head and torso to preserve life, believers must protect their minds and hearts to maintain spiritual vitality.
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Preserve what you believe. The moment you decide to obey God, expect the enemy to whisper, "Did God really say that? Are you sure you understood correctly?"
This is spiritual warfare, and the battlefield is your mind.
The Journey Continues
Whether you were saved yesterday or fifty years ago, understand that you're on a journey. God is continually working on you—addressing doubts, healing fears, strengthening weaknesses, and transforming you into the masterpiece He envisions.
He works with you as you're capable, as you're ready, and as you're willing. Your spiritual growth will increase at the pace you allow, and as you grow, your influence for the gospel expands.
You've been placed in your specific circle of influence for a reason. For someone in that circle, you might be the only example of Jesus they ever encounter. That's both an awesome responsibility and an incredible privilege.
Keep studying. Keep praying. Keep growing. And trust that God's Word never returns void.
When we experience a physical injury that requires medical intervention or extended care, our bodies enter a healing process. We start in a weakened state, and slowly, methodically, we rebuild ourselves. Anyone who has recovered from a significant injury knows this journey intimately—the frustration of limitations, the slow progress, the mental toll of being unable to do what once came naturally.
What many believers fail to recognize is that our spiritual lives follow a remarkably similar pattern.
The Weakness of New Beginnings
When someone becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, they're at their weakest spiritual point. This isn't a condemnation—it's simply reality. Making the decision for Christ is like undergoing spiritual surgery. God has dealt with the sin and brokenness in your life, and now you need recovery time.
Many people mistakenly believe that salvation is the finish line, when in reality, it's the starting point. They expect to immediately possess unshakeable faith, complete biblical knowledge, and the ability to resist any temptation. But that's not how spiritual growth works any more than physical recovery happens instantaneously.
Your sin led to pain. Your sin led to brokenness. Your sin left scars. And just as physical scars require time and care to heal, your spiritual wellness requires intentional rehabilitation.
The Training Regimen of Faith
First Corinthians 9:24-27 uses the powerful metaphor of athletic training to describe spiritual development: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run? But only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training."
Consider what it takes to run a marathon. You don't simply decide one day to run 26.2 miles and expect to succeed. You start small—perhaps running to the corner and back. Then around the block. Then a mile, then five miles, gradually building endurance and strength. The same principle applies to weightlifting. You don't walk into a gym and immediately bench press hundreds of pounds. You start with manageable weight and progressively increase as your muscles strengthen.
Why, then, do we forget this fundamental principle when it comes to spiritual health?
First Timothy 4:7-8 makes this explicit: "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 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."
Training yourself to be godly requires the same dedication, consistency, and progressive challenge as any physical training regimen.
The Danger of False Teachers
The journey becomes even more challenging when we recognize that not everyone claiming to speak for God actually does. Galatians 1:6-8 warns sternly about those who preach "a different gospel," even pronouncing a curse on anyone—human or angel—who preaches something contrary to the true gospel of Christ.
Here's a sobering truth: if something is 99% true and 1% false, it's still a lie.
False teachers are skilled at mixing enough truth to gain credibility before introducing deception. They claim relationship with Christ, profess knowledge of Scripture, and position themselves as authorities. The only defense against such deception is intimate knowledge of God's Word.
The Bereans were praised in Scripture for an important practice: they listened to the Apostle Paul's teaching, then went home and studied their Scriptures to verify that what he said was true. They didn't blindly accept teaching based on the speaker's authority or reputation. Instead, they tested everything against the Word of God.
This should be our standard as well. Don't accept teaching simply because someone has a platform, a title, or charisma. Open your Bible. Study. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment.
The Disciplines of Spiritual Growth
Maintaining and strengthening your faith requires several key practices:
Study God's Word Consistently. You cannot recognize false teaching if you don't know what true teaching looks like. The Bible is complex, written to a culture 2,000 years removed from our own, containing literal statements, metaphors, parables, and cultural context that requires careful interpretation. This complexity isn't a barrier—it's an invitation to deeper relationship with God through His Word.
Pray for Understanding. Who better to interpret Scripture than the One who inspired it? The Holy Spirit serves as our guide and teacher, bringing clarity to confusing passages and applying ancient truth to modern circumstances.
Test Everything by the Spirit. First Timothy 4:1 warns that "in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." Spiritual discernment isn't optional—it's essential. But discernment requires relationship. If you have no concern for God throughout your week, don't expect supernatural insight on Sunday morning.
Become a Lifetime Learner. The more you study, the more you realize how much you don't know. This isn't discouraging—it's humbling and exciting. Familiarity with a Bible story shouldn't prevent you from discovering new insights. Even passages you've read dozens of times can reveal fresh truth when approached with an open, learning posture.
Lead by Example. First Timothy 4:12 instructs believers to "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Being a Christian means being Christ-like, and that requires more than church attendance. It demands alignment between your words and actions. When unbelievers observe your life, they're looking for authenticity. When your behavior contradicts your profession of faith, they notice immediately.
The Power of Willingness
God values willingness over talent, obedience over knowledge. You don't need advanced degrees to be used by God. You don't need exceptional ability. What you need is a heart that says, "Use me."
Education has value—tremendous value—but an educated, talented person who is unwilling accomplishes nothing for the Kingdom. Meanwhile, God can take someone with limited knowledge but complete willingness and accomplish extraordinary things.
Don't neglect the gifts God has placed within you. Don't let feelings of inadequacy silence your obedience. Set the example in how you speak, how you act, how you love, how you demonstrate faith, and how you pursue purity.
Protecting Your Faith
Ephesians 6 instructs believers to put on the full armor of God. Why? Because spiritual attacks target vital areas. Just as a soldier protects their head and torso to preserve life, believers must protect their minds and hearts to maintain spiritual vitality.
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Preserve what you believe. The moment you decide to obey God, expect the enemy to whisper, "Did God really say that? Are you sure you understood correctly?"
This is spiritual warfare, and the battlefield is your mind.
The Journey Continues
Whether you were saved yesterday or fifty years ago, understand that you're on a journey. God is continually working on you—addressing doubts, healing fears, strengthening weaknesses, and transforming you into the masterpiece He envisions.
He works with you as you're capable, as you're ready, and as you're willing. Your spiritual growth will increase at the pace you allow, and as you grow, your influence for the gospel expands.
You've been placed in your specific circle of influence for a reason. For someone in that circle, you might be the only example of Jesus they ever encounter. That's both an awesome responsibility and an incredible privilege.
Keep studying. Keep praying. Keep growing. And trust that God's Word never returns void.
Posted in healing, hope, Practical Faith
Posted in #faith, #encounterGod, #bibleteaching, #pastorstevenlarrabee, #lacrossecommunityCOTN
Posted in #faith, #encounterGod, #bibleteaching, #pastorstevenlarrabee, #lacrossecommunityCOTN
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