Pastor Cheri
Praise God and welcome to Church today.
We will be looking at spiritual exercise. Hallelujah!
What is physical exercise?
This is when you try to keep fit. You put your body in shape by getting involved in exercises like jogging, jumping... and other kinds of exercises that help to keep the physical body fit.
For athletes, they get involved in training, so they can win their sport activity. They do exercises in form of training to get themselves fit and ready.
Models also get involved in exercise to achieve their desired stature, so they can look the way they are supposed to, in their outfits.
Some people, because they don't want to get fat, do exercises to keep their bodies in shape.
All these are good but much as you are trying to exercise your physical body, you should pay the most attention to exercising your spirit. The Spirit is the real man. This is the reason we are admonished in the Scriptures to exercise our spirits rather unto godliness.
Turn to 1 Timothy 4:7-8. It says,
"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
You want to have a super-built body and be flabby spiritually? God doesn't want that for you. He wants you super-built spiritually.
Spiritual exercise has a promise attached to it, but physical exercise has nothing attached to it, you only look fit physically and that's all. From our Scripture in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, the Bible tells us, ...but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." The promise is for this life and for that which is to come. Hallelujah!
We should therefore crave for spiritual exercise, it is more profitable for us than physical exercise. Praise God!
What are spiritual activities and how do you exercise spiritually?
Spiritual activities are activities such as, going to church regularly, praying in tongues consistently, studying God’s Word and sharing it with others and serving in any capacity in the Church of God.
Going to Church is a godly activity we must imbibe. There are Christians who don’t go to Church regularly which isn't right. The Bible says, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25.
The Church is where you are taught God’s Word that builds your spirit. It is the place where you can participate in godly activities that will help you grow spiritually. Your life should be centred around the temple. Don’t neglect Church gatherings, they are there to help you grow spiritually.
Praying in tongues is another spiritual activity you must get involved in. It is a great spiritual exercise. It is the fastest way to activate and energize your spirit. Train yourself in this direction, pray often like this, it will open your heart to receive and understand God's Word.
Studying God’s Word is another spiritual activity. Be a student of the Word. Be knowledgeable in the Word. Have a burning desire, an appetite of insatiable depth for the knowledge of God’s Word. Study the Bible voraciously and cultivate the habit of acquiring good Christian materials that would aid your spiritual growth. As you study, you share with others, as you do this you grow more and also help others grow.
When you serve in God's house, you are fulfilling your role as a member of the body of Christ. You should serve in God's house, find a place where you can and should function in and serve there. You can be an ursher, a chorister, an actor or a dancer. All these help you function correctly in the house of God and help you grow spiritually. As you have meetings in group(s) where you function, you grow spiritually. It is a godly exercise and shouldn't be neglected. You are exercising your spirit unto godliness this way.
Keep exercising yourself spiritually as you do these things, things that enhance your walk in the divine life, your faith grows stronger with this and you'll also deal wisely in the affairs of life.
Let your spirit be activated to receive God’s guidance, make tremendous progress and let the work of the ministry prosper with you as you energize and exercise your spirit unto godliness.
Lift up your hands and worship the Lord!
