The Messiah's Secret - Law and Grace

A Christian is not under law, but is under grace. Romans 6: 14

   

Jewish people today keep the laws of Moses and a lot of effort goes into keeping the laws relating to food.

A term we use in connection with something being correct: ‘it's Kosher.’

Kosher – Hebrew – Yashar meaning to be right, pure, and clean according to Jewish ordinances.

On a table I placed a number of vegetables and fruit.

Fruit and Vegetables are Kosher

Any vegetables:  cauliflower, onion, peppers, carrot and potato.

Lettuce and water cress. Leafy vegetables must be cleaned carefully inspecting the leaves where insects may hide.

Any vegetables found having worms, grub or insects in them are not kosher

Fruit   Apples, pear, plums, raspberries and grapes.
All fruits are Kosher foods, however, if they are not cleaned thoroughly removing any insects or worms they are not Kosher.                                                                                           

Grape products are kosher as long as they have been prepared by a Jewish person.  However, whole grapes are kosher.                                                                                                                                           Fish The Jewish person can eat sea food as long as it has scales and fins.
Clams, oysters, crabs, shrimp, prawns and lobster are not kosher.                                                                                             

Poultry

All poultry are kosher.

Meat

Meat is considered kosher as long as it from an animal that chews its cud and the hooves are cloven. Pig and hare or rabbit are not kosher.  The blood of any creature must not be eaten.

For the Jewish person all meat to be eaten must have its blood drained from it, because life is in the blood. The blood removed from the meat makes the food spiritually sinless and clean. Leviticus 17: 10-16 

                                                          

The problems Jewish people encounter arise when they dine at a restaurant or in the home of someone who does not share their beliefs.

Bowl and several packets of crisps.  Opening each packet of crisps and identifying those that are kosher and those that are not kosher like: smoky bacon flavour, flame grilled steak, prawn cocktail and those that are kosher; potato, cheese and onion, salt and vinegar.
By mixing the crisps all together we cannot easily identify the kosher from the non kosher which would be a problem for a Jewish person keeping kosher law.

Under law if a Jewish person eats by accident any of the non kosher foods they must cleanse themselves (purification ritual) by washing with water. In the evening they are pronounced clean. Leviticus 11. & 17: 15, 16

The Day of Atonement, a sacrifice for the people of Israel covering all sins. Leviticus 16: 15,16

Finishing statement. Jesus ended the kosher food laws when he died on the cross. 

                                                         

A White Cloth is placed over the table to signify that the food laws came to an end.

Following the Lectionary – John 6: 51-58   Ephesians 5: 15-20.

Jesus said, "I AM the Bread of Life."
Prince Charles has a number of titles: His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothsey, Knight of the Thistle, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and about six more titles that belong to him. 

‘I AM’ is one of the titles belonging to God which God revealed to Moses “Say I AM has sent you.” Exodus 3:14.

“I AM” one of Jesus’ titles.  Jesus gave his name as ‘I AM’ whilst in conversation with the Jews. “The Jews challenged Jesus by saying are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? “Jesus in his reply said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad. The Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8: 56, 57.
Apostle John records were Jesus in his prayer tells us that he was with his Father in heaven before he came to the earth.   “And now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” John 17: 5.                                                                                                        
Jesus has always had a continuous life.

God intervened in human affairs when Jesus was born of a woman and became one of us. At the age of thirty three he died on a cross. Death was unable to hold him;  God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Scripture tells that his body did not decay and become dust, fulfilling the King David’s prophecy. Psalm 16: 8-11   Acts 2: 27.
Forty days after his resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. He has an indestructible eternal life, after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7: 3, 15-17.                                                                                                            

At Capernaum in the synagogue Jesus discussed with the Jews this question concerning his claim to be the bread from heaven.
The Jews took Jesus’ words literally and were appalled.

“The Jews disputed among themselves saying “How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood you shall not have life within you. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6: 52 – 58

Some of Jesus’ own followers were appalled
“Many of Jesus’ disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” John 6: 60
Even some of Jesus’ followers couldn’t accept these words and didn’t follow him anymore. John 6: 60, 66
For Jesus to suggest that they should eat his flesh and drink his blood were against all of the laws relating to food as food was spiritually part of them. Defiled by foods that were unclean under (kosher) law .

Especially they were defiled, made unclean by eating blood as life was in the blood and without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness for sin. Leviticus 17:11. Hebrews 9: 22.

The penalty for sin was made through an offering being purchased at the temple, a pigeon, a lamb, a goat, etc The person brought their sacrifice before the priest, the person placed their hand upon the head of the sacrifice saying a prayer that transferred their sin to the sacrifice becoming one with the sacrifice, it paid the price by laying down its’ life for their sin against God. 
Jesus saying “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him,” he was referring to the partaking of his sacrifice becoming one with him laying down his life for sin relating to the food laws and all laws and sin against God. No longer has food any spirituality. Jesus declared that all foods were clean. Mark in his gospel recorded Jesus saying; “Do you not see that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and passes on. (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And Jesus said, ”What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. These are what defile a person.’" Mark 7: 14-23.
Mark realised when he wrote in brackets, (‘Thus, he declared all foods clean.’) Jesus was saying that food was clean. 
Jesus bore these sins of the flesh that defile a person’s heart for us on the cross: evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. These are what defile a person not what we eat.

Signifying a change from being under law to grace.
Today, when we turn to Jesus in repentance saying sorry to him for our sins against God we are forgiven. Jesus becomes our substitute taking our sins of the flesh upon him on the cross, so releasing us into the freedom of God’s forgiveness through his resurrection.

At Holy Communion the bread and the wine are symbols of Jesus' sacrifice of his body and blood. They do not become the actual flesh of Jesus his body or blood. 

The Communion reminds us of Jesus sacrifice and also that we receive the benefits of it under grace.

Salvation – Saved from the results of sin which is eternal death, separation from God.

Healing –   Reconciliation with our Father God leading to restoration of our relationship with God.

-       that takes place in our body, soul and spirit

-       from our sicknesses and disease.

Eternal Life – we receive a continuous life in fellowship with God.                                                                                                                          

It was several years after Pentecost when Peter had a vision were the Lord confirmed that the laws relating to food were ended. How hard it is for a Jewish person to come to terms with the fact that kosher food laws are no longer required.

“After Pentecost the apostle Peter was staying at Simon the tanner’s house at Joppa. Whilst Simon and Peter were preparing the evening meal, Peter had a vision, he saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”Acts 10: 9 – 16.

Here the Lord our God was doing two things.
Through this vision not only have the food laws come to an end but the Gentiles have been brought into the New Covenant.
“While Peter was still pondering the vision, three men arrived at the house and asked for Peter. They informed him that the centurion Cornelius had been visited by an angel. The angel directed Cornelius to send for Peter who was lodging at Simon the tanner’s house at Joppa.                                                       

Peter quickly realised the meaning of the vision; it was God’s intention for him to go and associate with these people who were not Jews. This would also include eating food from their table. Peter accompanied the men to the home of Cornelius at Caesarea. Peter related to them all about Jesus, “God had anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest . . . To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Peter and his companions were amazed; God had shown no partiality between Jew and Gentile.” Acts 10: 38 – 45.  

Two other scriptures confirm that all foods are clean.
“The heart is strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited the adherents.”Hebrews 13: 9.
“Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink.” Colossians 2: 16.              
Jesus the Bread of Life
Jesus went on to say, "It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is no avail; (profits nothing) the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63.

Jesus pointed to his words as being living bread.

Scripture verses that confirm this view Jesus being the word of God clothed in the flesh. 1 John 1: 1. 
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and was God.” John 1:1.                                           

On the evening of the Day of Jesus’ resurrection Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto his disciples. Afterwards Jesus opened their minds to understand prophesies in the Hebrew Scriptures concerning his suffering and death, and his resurrection. Luke 24: 45, 46.

  

Purification by the water of the Word.
Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.” John 15: 3 Every word that Jesus received from his Father he gave to his disciples, the truth cleansing them and setting them and us free.  
We are all taught by God through the abiding presence of Jesus in our mind and hearts.Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he wrote that we are cleansed by the water of the word. Ephesians 5:26, 27. It is about ‘truth’ entering into the truth of God’s Word. 
The Blood  The continual flow of Christ’s blood from the throne of grace. For Paul through the visions that he had received his beliefs had been turned upside down.                                                                              The Messiah’s Secret page 126. Paul a Pharisee “Paul, a Pharisee, strictly adhered to the law. God had shown him that circumcision and the rituals and sacrifices of laws of Moses had come to an end, and the Holy Spirit would now write God’s laws into the heart of a person through faith in Jesus, the New Covenant.”                                                                                             

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace he has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.” Ephesians 2: 13 -16
Through Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension the ceremonial law and the law of commandments contained in ordinances (regulations) are ended. 

We are not under law, but under grace.
Under grace the law is fulfilled in love and written in the heart. John 15: 10.Romans 13: 10. Jeremiah 31: 33.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he reminds them to discern what the will of the Lord is;

He suggests that everything should be done in moderation; he did not say it was wrong to have a glass of wine, but he wrote it was not good to get drunk. On another occasion he wrote in his letter to the church at Rome saying that because they were not under law, they could NOT do whatever they liked so that grace may abound. Romans 6: 1, 2, 11, 15.

The modern term - Antimonaism – Sin no longer a force to be reckoned with so you can do whatever you like.

Peter confirms that the rules of Jewish law are no longer in force, he reminds the Christians of his day and us today in his second letter: to add to faith virtue, add to virtue knowledge, add to knowledge self-control, add to self-control steadfastness, add to steadfastness Godliness, add to Godliness brotherly and sisterly affection, add to brotherly and sisterly affection the love of God. 2 Peter 1: 3-8. 

Grace  Blessed are you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You made the world in your love. You redeemed the world by your love,

You sustain the world with your love. May we ever abide in your love,

And give ourselves to you in love. Amen                                                                                                                                                                       

The Messiah’s Secret – Fire of God 

Evening Lectionary Exodus 2: 23-3:10. Luke 12: 49-56

Our Lord God Jesus sends fire upon the earth in various ways: The appearance of fire:The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from out of the burning bush, from the bush God (Jesus) spoke to him,  “ Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here am I.” Then he said, “Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is Holy ground.” Fire identified with God, the fire that was in the bush, but did not burn the bush.                                                       

On the Israelites journey towards the Promised Land the cloud went before them during the day and a pillar of fire by night. The fire giving them light by night to see the way ahead. Exodus 13: 21 Again the pillar of fire did not burn the ground. 

Before the Holy Spirit came into the world at Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell on people as God directed them to fulfil his purposes.

Jesus sending a fire that is within a person. John the Baptist said that there was one mightier than himself who would baptise them in the Holy Spirit and with fire. Luke 3: 16.                                                                                                                                            

Tongues of fire were seen on each of the disciples and all those present in the room of the house at Jerusalem at Pentecost. Acts 2

The fire of the Holy Spirit within a person; Mrs Smith felt that her head was extremely hot when the Holy Spirit filled her at the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit. (Christ Church Walmersley Bury 1982)

Jesus opened the eyes of Cleopas and the other disciple, “Did our hearts not burn within us while he (Jesus) talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures.” Luke 24: 32.

John Wesley’s heart was strangely warmed as the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus through Paul’s letter to the Romans.

The Messiah's Secret
"I came to cast a fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!" Luke 12: 49, 50.
Jesus came to cast a fire, “I came to cast a fire upon the earth.” This fire is one of judgement.

The Day of Vengeance  The fire that destroys and purifies Luke 3: 17

The Messiah was expected to bring in ‘The Day of Vengeance’  the Messiah would deliver Israel from their enemies. The second part of the sentence, ‘And would it were already kindled’ The Day of Vengeance   these words indicate ‘ not yet’ it is future. 

On an earlier occasion at the start of Jesus’ ministry, in the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus read from the book of Isaiah Chapter 61 verse 1 and part of verse 2. “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” The second part of the verse “And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn in Zion,” he did not say. This indicates that this was to take place in the future which confirms the delay of the impending judgement in verse 49. “I came to cast a fire upon the earth, and would it were already kindled."

Jesus had to first fulfil the ministry of bringing the good tidings of the coming kingdom of God, especially to those who were outcasts; those like the lepers and the very poor.                             

The disciples expected that the Messiah would fulfil Isaiah's prophecy including the second part of verse two. Jesus’ disciples wanted to see Jesus carry out judgement on the Samaritan village that would not receive him. The disciples had gone before Jesus to the towns and villages where he was about to visit with the message about the coming of the kingdom of God. The residents of this village did not want Jesus to enter it, so the disciples thought that they should feel the wrath of God’s judgement. They said to Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them.” Luke 9: 54 Jesus rebuked his disciples, he moved on to another village. 

Jesus then proceeded to tell us in the next sentence the reason why the fire is not yet kindled, “I have a baptism to be baptised with.” The baptism referring to his death on the cross at Calvary. The Jews did not expect the Messiah to come and die, they expected a man like Moses who would redeem them from their enemies. The prophecy from God given to Caiaphas that one man should die so that the nation would not perish,” was taken to mean that death of Jesus would see off the threat of a popular uprising to make him the King of Israel. John 11: 49-51. 6: 15.                                                                                                            

“And how I am constrained until it is accomplished.” Jesus discerned the hardness of their hearts. Caiaphas’ prophecy had impacted the Jewish council they were willing to go along with it. Later when they headr from Peter that the Messiah had first to die and be resurrected by God before they could accept him as their Messiah as a nation. The nations leaders were unwilling to look beyond their own beliefs. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and ignored the prophesies of King David that the Messiah would be resurrected from the dead.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

The Judgement Seat of Christ. Christians will come before the Judgement Seat of Christ after Jesus calls out his body of believers, the church. Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians about the refining fire of Christ that will test the works of the believer. ”Each person’s work become manifest the Day will disclose it, it will be revealed with fire and the fire will test what sort of work." 1 Corinthians 3: 12, 13.  Paul informs us that it is the, “Disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every person will receive their commendation from God.” 1 Corinthians 4: 5.                                                                                                                                                   

How gracious the Lord is when he looks at motivation of our hearts and not at how successful we have been or the scale of a Christians work.

I mentioned the various ministries that Christians are involved in from our church, covering all the organisations belonging St. Mary’s.

Jessie Penn Lewis, “ War on the Saints.” Appendix “Fire from God: Is a purifying through suffering (Matthew 3: 11, 12.) or a consuming zeal in spirit, which deepens into white heat intensity to do the will and work of God, which no trial or opposition can quench. Fire from God is spiritual, not literal, and therefore falls upon the spirit not the body.”

The Sword of Division. Not all Christians find it easy to combine family life with the commitment to their calling and ministry. Especially when members of the family are not of the same beliefs.                                                                             

Signs of the Times 

Christians in their job situations are now finding it difficult to work without at some point clashing with the modern structures that discard Christian values. Increased world tensions over the Middle East countries, war could flare up at any time.  Jesus has yet to call out his body, the church before Daniel’s prophecy of the last week is fulfilled. We have yet to see the rise of the antichrist.                                                                                                                                 

The Messiah's Secret - Running the Race. Above Gold Medal

In London the Olympians have a great passion for their sport, their talents are fine tuned, trained to perfection. They listen to their beating heart and the pounding of their feet and labour for a gold medal that is their reward their crowning glory for all their hard work and effort.

The people of Jesus day were toiling, labouring, striving to please God through keeping the law of Moses in order to attain the prize of their names written in the book of life.
Daniel 12: 1. Revelations 3: 5

Christians for having taken part in the race and more importantly finishing it are looking to receive a crown from Jesus.

John 6: 24-35.
In this morning’s reading some of the people who had experienced the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 were searching for Jesus, they had experienced a great miracle, yet their hearts were hardened, they did not discern the connection between Moses and God’s provision of the manna and God’s provision of the bread and fishes.

In our sketch Jay found that he had not listened to God’s word to him, or discerned the movement of  the Holy Spirit. As a result the God's word was over-ruled by Jay's own desires quenching the Holy Spirit’s nudging. His eyes had been fixed on earthly glory. He was glorying in his achievements.
(In the sketch God’s direction, his will for Jay had not been heard by him, he was instead showing off his medals before God and his fellow Christian Eileen)
Eileen had heard God’s word to her and her actions were in response to her faith in Jesus.

Another example of a Christian listening to God and in faith acted upon Jesus’ words.
Eric Liddell became well known for being the fastest runner in Scotland. He had a nick name, the "Flying Scotsman" many newspapers who followed his progress, in their articles stated that he was a potential Olympic winner.
The 1924 Olympics were hosted by the city of Paris. The schedule of races had been published several months before the Games took place.(In the film 'Chariot's of Fire' he heard as he set sail for Paris)
Eric who was a devout Christian, had decided that he would not race on Sundays, the Lord’s day. As a result he withdrew from the 100-metres race, his best event. His decision did not please many people and he suffered as a result, his friends tried to persuade him to run, after all he had the potential to win three gold medals for Great Britain.
Eric spent the intervening months training for the 400 metres. When the day of the Olympic 400 metres race came, Eric went to the starting blocks, where an American Olympic Team masseur slipped a piece of paper into his hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honour me, I will honour.”
After leading the race from the start, he was challenged all the way down the home straight but held on to take the win. He broke the existing Olympic and world records with a time of 47.6 seconds.

On this video clip from the film ‘Chariots of Fire’ we hear Eric sharing his faith with the crowd.

Video

Eric spoke of the power within each Christian.
The power within is the bread of life. Jesus described himself as bread, he pointed to his words as being living bread,
Scripture verses that confirm this view
“It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh (his body) is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63
Jesus being the word of God clothed in the flesh. 1 John 1: 1.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1: 1

God had set his seal on Jesus.
Seal – to give one’s authority or assent to. (Chambers Dictionary)
We read that Jesus had the seal of approval from God his Father. The voice of God was recorded by Mark in his gospel as saying, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” Mark 9: 7
Jesus is recorded as saying in the previous chapter that they listened to Moses and so they should listen and believe in his words that he received from God his Father. God’s word to Moses, “ I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren and I will put my words in his mouth.” Deut 18: 18

Jesus’ words inwardly digested will nourish our inner self and his words empower our natural gifts giving us encouragement to step out in faith, confirmed with a words of scripture and the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit stepping out into the unknown out of our comfort zone as we are totally reliant on Jesus answering our prayer.

Eric Liddell acted upon the word by keeping the Lord’s Day.
Jesus established the New Covenant were the laws given to Moses are fulfilled in love and are now written into a believer’s heart through faith in Jesus. Jeremiah 31: 33, 34. Hebrews 8: 10-12  Ephesians 2: 13-22.
The early church put in place Sunday as ‘the Lord’s Day.' A day set aside for focusing on worship and fellowship.
Paul wrote that the love of God is the fulfilling the law and embraces far more of the nature of God.  Romans 13: 10
“Love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful or rude. Love doesn’t insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in the wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Eric listened to God.
After the Games Eric went back to China as a missionary, he continued to compete now and again. On one occasion he was asked if he ever regretted his decision to leave behind the fame and glory of athletics. Liddell responded, "It's natural for a chap, to think over, all that sometimes, but I'm glad, I'm at the work, I'm engaged in now. A fellow's life, counts for far more at this, than the other." His work as a missionary took priority over his achievements as an athlete.
In 1932 he was ordained and later married Florence Mackenzie. He died in a prison camp in China on 21 February 1945 he was 43 years of age. According to a fellow missionary, Eric Liddell's last words were, "its complete surrender" in reference to how he had given his life to God.

The kingdom within us ensures that Christians after running the race receive a crown.
Sketch: In our sketch, both Jay and Eileen received a crown, the victor’s crown, these crowns are given to us for having taken part in the race and more importantly finishing it.
There are not any losers in the Christian faith, no medals either only a crown. But we have this glorious treasure within, the eternal bread that will last for eternity.

We are all in training to witness our faith on life's journey.
Once a year at Whitsontide on either Friday or Sunday the members of the Churches in the town walked around their Parishes. At the head of the procession there was a brass band, followed by a large banner with the name of the church and a picture embroidered on it relating to the name. It was usually followed by the clergy and choir after them the Sunday School and following them the members of the congregation in the organisations that they belonged to within the church. We all came to together at the town square where we had a short service. In 1976 my two years old daughter, tired by the walk, when we arrived at the town square she said to me, “Mummy, my legs are out of breath.” I’ve never forgot her words, especially now thirty plus years later she takes part in Triathlon ‘Iron Man’ events around the world.

Paul used the opportunity of the Isthmian Games of his day to give encouragement to the churches at Corinth and Ephesus. “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable wreath.” 1 Corinthians 9: 25.

At the London Olympic Games the athlete’s years of preparation and dedication for the few is paying off.  Having kept strictly to a planned diet and exercise, measuring the amount of protein, vitamins and carprohydrates at every meal and having a good night’s sleep. Observance of these are essential to help the body realise its potential.
Along with the diet is the routine of daily training, spending two to three hours out running in all weathers and exercising at the gym.

St Paul wrote, “The Christian exercises self-control in all things,” I believe Paul was referring to us having a disciplined life that daily spends time in prayer and tasting the goodness of the spiritual food, in the study of the Bible, and as our mind and will working together with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to equip us for meeting the challenges of the day ahead.

On Track
My daughter uses a GPS Tracker when she is in a triathlon race. It is much bigger than a watch, and is worn on the wrist. Through the Tracker she is able to monitor her heart beat, pulse, steps, calories, speed, distance and a map of her route that she is about to take and she can stop on route and it will pin point the exact spot where she is. It is amazing technology.

‘Christ in us’ is like wearing a tracker, it shouldn’t be surprising to us when the Lord knows our every movement, our thoughts, and he knows the condition of our body and our planned route the schedule of events in our life.
In our relationship with the Lord, we are called to walk by faith. It means being reliant upon God to respond to our prayers. For us to listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit for guidance.

In the race all the training and bodily fitness comes into its own. I’m told that in a triathlon race that after completing three quarters of the race the body needs extra impulsion. The runner relies on their own strength this comes from the disciplined mind to overcome the strain on the body, as tiredness and cramps kick in. The athlete’s discipline is kept up because of the motivation of the challenge and the prize of being successful.

On our Christian marathon the daily discipline finds its fulfilment: when someone may ring or email to ask us to pray for a family member or a friend who is about to undergo an operation. We may bump into someone on the street who off loads their problems, we become a listener, a shoulder for them to lean on, as they unburden themselves.
In all kinds of ways the Lord will direct our paths to help someone and for us to receive from others. It may be that we need help from another Christian to fill in a form or help in writing a letter.
On occasions we may struggle, it is as we persevere in prayer to keep on the track of faith and with the Lord’s help as we stand on the word of God we are strengthened to win through whatever the circumstances.

For the Olympic prize winner they receive a medal, to commemorate their achievement. The Christian looks forward to receiving the prize of eternal life, and a crown of everlasting glory.