Prologue: 7 Stages of Spiritual Growth (Finding Your FITness Level in the Body of Christ)

Prologue:  My Quest for Reality Living

 

Again, I awake in the middle of the night in a pool of sweat, shaking uncontrollably as I have just witnessed another individual being sucked into the void of the spiritual matrix, what I call Satan’s false reality of life.  I can’t tell you how many times I have seen this, both in my dreams and in reality.  The spiritual matrix is real, and seemingly no amount of effort is making a difference in thwarting the attempts of the enemy (the architect of the false reality - Satan) to slow down, much less reverse the onslaught.

 

My life altering choice

I have been on the front lines of this war since 1980, when I was honored to lead my first soul to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as a counselor at a Jr. High Youth Camp.  I was freed from the powers of the matrix on March 7, 1977.  A battle-tested warrior by the name of Steve Herbster sat me down and explained to me how the matrix had been blinding me to the reality of my purpose.  He began sharing with me how that I was created for a purpose, and that I could know where I came from, what my purpose entailed, and what happens to me when I die.  Agent Smith (in the Matrix Trilogy – I’ll explain my usage of the Matrix Trilogy in a few pages) was right; even though our purpose is to live and die, it is our choices in between that make the difference.  The choice you make as you are presented with the truth of the false reality will make all the difference as to the function of your “program” in the reality that is yet to come.  I am going to use the Matrix Trilogy as my vehicle to communicate the truths of the unseen realm.  I encourage you to buy and watch the Matrix series.  I promise that you will begin to understand what is going on beyond the veil of the physical, and catch a glimpse of the invisible spiritual warfare that does not want you to grow in grace.

 

Steve Herbster gave me an opportunity to choose.  As in the Matrix Trilogy series, I could choose the blue pill and reject the truth, or I could take the red pill and be ushered into the reality of why the Creator placed me on this earth.  That was the beginning of a process that has never ceased to challenge and motivate me.  Steve gave me an opportunity to stay in the confines of the false reality (and yes, it’s sweet for a season, but payday is someday), or choose reality living.  I chose life, and that was just the beginning.

 

Like Neo, as soon as I ingested the red pill I quickly became aware that I could not move my “body parts,” and could not “see.”  My spiritual mentors (like Morpheus) told me that this was normal.  They explained to me that it’s because I’ve never used those spiritual faculties before

 

Spiritual Nutrient:  They said my spiritual muscles had no strength; up until now, I had been blind to the truth of reality living.  That was when I first understood that to overcome the powers of the false reality I must be able to tap into a higher spiritual power. 

 

My physical strength in the spiritual conflict counted for zippo (I Tim. 4:8).  I was lost!  I didn’t know where to turn!  This new world was wonderful and terrible at the same time.  I was afraid!  I was afraid because there were so many unanswered questions rushing through the concourses of my mind; questions that would be answered in time, but only as I was ready and willing to forget about myself, and commit to the purpose for which I was created (Psalm 102:18).

 

Choices Are Vital

My first major choice, after being freed from the confines of the false reality, was who would be my companions.  This may seem a little trivial; it is not. 

 

Spiritual Nutrient: When you take the “red pill” of truth, it will be your choice of friends that can ultimately dictate success or failure in your quest.  Your adversary knows this; he has diabolically inserted people, known as “rogue programs,” into your life to keep you from growing in knowledge about the spiritual matrix. 

 

Many times these “rogue programs” are our spiritual leaders.  The architect of the false reality knows that if you become knowledgeable about how the matrix works and began, that you will be a danger to him.  So, while you are not “of the matrix,” it is his goal to keep you bound to the delicacies “in the matrix.”  As you will see – one of the dragon’s greatest tools of propaganda is the church and institutions of higher religious education.  Stay with me; I promise that I’ll back that statement up with sufficient evidence.

 

Demons and Fallen Angels

As in the Matrix Trilogy, those pesky sentinels (again … I will explain the usage of the Matrix Trilogy in a moment) are everywhere.  These are the physical things in your life that the enemy uses to sidetrack you and keep your focus somewhere other than on your purpose.  They don’t have to be inherently evil either.  They just keep you from dealing with the main objective.  They are distractions. Good things if not controlled, but distractions for the enemy to use against you.

 

There Is A Way of Escape

It will be my quest, throughout the pages of this book, to give you the tools necessary to unleash the power that resides within you.  If you are not in possession of the truth, then it is my sincere hope that this book will lead you to ultimate truth.

 

My Journey to the Center of the Truth

Before getting too deep into the beginnings of the false reality, I must confess that I had previously looked upon this concept with more than a little skepticism.  I thought it was wrong for me to even consider it, but there came a point during my tenure as a pastor that I wanted to have some questions answered. 

 

I remember it well.  It was July of 1995.  My family was on its way to Sarasota, Florida to visit my wife’s sister when I “decided” to call Ken (my youth pastor during my high school years), and ask him if we could possibly have lunch together. 

 

Spiritual Nutrient:  Little did I know that the Holy Spirit directed this appointment?  It was the providence of God leading me to an understanding of the false reality. Always pay attention to the books you read, the people you meet and the places you go.  God is seeking to direct our paths and these are His primary methods.

 

On our way back to Charlotte, North Carolina, we stopped by Ocala, stayed the night and part of the next day to talk with Ken and his wife Karin.  He started the evening by asking me what I thought was a simple question.  He said, “Mark, what is the theme of the Bible?”  I blurted out confidently (an easy one – right?): “Jesus Christ is the theme of the Bible.”  “No it isn’t,” was Ken’s reply.  Well, that floored me; I picked my ego off the floor and Ken proceeded to show me from the Bible how Jesus was the central person of the Bible, but He was not the central theme of the Bible.  He explained to me that the theme of the Bible is about a kingdom and that in the beginning, God had established a perfect kingdom for all its inhabitants to enjoy.  He continued by saying that after a long period of time, His anointed cherub started wanting what was not his to possess.  Lucifer attempted a hostile takeover of the mountain of God by convincing one third of the angelic beings to rebel with him, and usurp the kingdom from God.  Lucifer failed; although the war he began in the ancient past has continued to this day. 

 

That was the beginning of the false reality.  And that was the beginning of why Satan does not want you do grow through the 7 stages of spiritual growth.  Satan does not want you to gain an understanding of the spiritual battle raging around us at all times.  Satan wants the number of people impacted by your salvation to stop at one …. YOU!  Don’t let him have the victory!  Decide today to run the race of life as effectively and powerfully as possible.  Begin the journey to grow in grace on purpose and with purpose!

Live OUT LOUD!

Mark Harrell - Habakkuk 2:2

Get Real about Getting FIT!

 Get Real About Getting FIT!

 

I Corinthians 6 teaches us that to truly be FIT with a F-aith that I-nfluences T-oday where you live, work, and play, that it requires attention to our physical and spiritual selves.  It is important that we quit lying to ourselves that we can let our bodies become UNFIT and still be a FIT believer.  Let me briefly explain by using a two verses below:

 

1Cor 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Cor 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

A word study is important to be honest with what God is expressing about His temple – our bodies.  In verse 19 the word “what” is emphatic.  It is used to express that what is to come should be a basic knowledge of believers.

The next word to consider is:  “body”:

Σώζω / sōzō / sode'-zo

From a primary word σῶς sōs̄ (contraction for the obsolete σάος saos, “safe”); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

Our “body”  is to be delivered, protected and preserved both physically and spiritually!  Our spiritual influence can be limited by not taking proper care of our bodies (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc)

 

The next word to consider is “temple”:

Ναός / naos / nah-os'

From a primary word ναίω naiō (to dwell); a fane, shrine, temple: - shrine, temple.

Our physical bodies are the shrine, sanctuary, and dwelling place of God Himself … the Holy Spirit.

It is important to internalize that the Spirit is “in you,” which means … whatever you do to your bodies you are doing to God.  He goes with you wherever you go.  You are his earthly representative: you speak for him with words or just how you live.  Therefore, should we not want to control what we can control and be as FIT as possible for our savior!

You are “bought” with a “price.”  The word bought means to redeem (buy back from Satan) and the word price means that you have value.  Because the price paid to redeem us was the very blood of Christ, the son of God.

The word “therefore” means that, now that you know how valuable you are … do the following:

 

1.  Glorify God in your body and in your spirit (physical and spiritual)

2.  Because they (physical and spiritual) are Gods!

Question:  R U Glorifying God with how you treat your physical and spiritual selves?

For help contact www.rufitministries.weebly.com. 

Live OUT LOUD!

Mark Harrell – Habakkuk 2:2

Epidemic in the Church - Spiritual Obesity

What is Spiritual Obesity?

I am turning 51 on March 9^th.  I am a product of the evangelical Fundamental movement that was responsible for thousands upon thousands of people making decisions for Christ in the 70’s through the 90’s.  I grew up in the throes of that movement, going to their Christian Schools, leading churches, and Bible colleges.  I know first hand and in an intimate way how the fundamental evangelical movement went about “equipping” their people for “full-time” Christian ministry.  The history I just shared with you is why I am so passionate about what it means to be spiritually obese, and why we are producing, in large part, unhealthy believers … if believers at all.

As I watch the local and national news each night I can’t help but think how and why our culture has become so Godless so quickly.  If we, evangelical believers, were doing such a fine and dandy job, how is it that a Muslim who doesn’t even love our country became president when there are 75,000,000 professing believers in America. 

Source: Christianity is the most popular religion in the United States, with around 73% of polled Americans identifying themselves as Christian in 2012.^[1] This is down from 86% in 1990, and slightly lower than 78.6% in 2001.^[2] About 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation.^[3] The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 247 million Christians, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations.

All Protestant denominations accounted for 51.3%, while Roman Catholicism by itself, at 23.9%, was the largest individual denomination. A Pew study categorizes white evangelicals, 26.3% of the population, as the country's largest religious cohort;^[4] another study estimates evangelicals of all races at 30–35%.^[5] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is the fourth largest church in the United States, and the largest church originating in the U.S.^[6][7]

It is very clear that something has gone wrong with our “equipping” of the believer for the work of the ministry once a person has made a “decision for Christ.” 

 

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

In short, and I could expound for awhile on this subject, I believe it is because we TAKE IN MORE “SPIRITUAL NUTRIENTS” THAN WE EXPEND.  Why and how do I say this?  Listen to the heeding of the following passage:

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

 

1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

 

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

In verse 24 it says that “one,” which is those of the many, will receive the prize (which means many of the many will not receive a prize … the approval of our savior as to a life lived faithfully according to His purposes).  What is the prize?  It is being able to stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ ready and able to present Jesus with the proper “elements” of success … gold, silver, and precious stones.

 Verse 25 implores us to be “temperate” (which mean disciplined) in ALL THINGS.   This is important because the context is about RUNNING A RACE.  The “race” we are running is life … and it is compared, by God, to running a physical race.  This is important to understand if we are to get a handle of what has caused spiritual obesity to become epidemic in our churches.

Verse 26 says to run the race of life as a successful athlete runs a race … with purpose.  Not as one that beateth the air (swings wildly while hitting nothing).

Verse 27 tells us the necessity of “bringing our body into subjection” (to make our bodies become efficient and productive for the cause of Christ while on this earth in our physical forms).  In fact, it says “I keep under my body” … which means that we get under it and make it disciplined in EVERY WAY.  If we don’t discipline our bodies we are castaways … meaning … well … I’ll let the Greek explain it to you:

Castaway: 

ἀδόκιμος

adokimos

ad-ok'-ee-mos

(as a negative particle) and G1384; unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally): - castaway, rejected, reprobate.

While believing we are doing well for the cause of Christ, if we don’t bring our bodies into subjection, we become unapproved, rejected and worthless.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want people to look at me and not listen or take heed to what I say because I can’t control my appetite.

 

That, of course, is one type of obesity …. Physical obesity … and it is important to our discussion.  But I’d like to close with the aspect of the problem of spiritual obesity.  Spiritual obesity happens the same way as physical obesity happens.  It happens by taking in more “spiritual nutrients” than one give out in actual ministry.

 

It is important to understand that one can serve without ministering, but one can’t minister without serving.  Our goal is to take what is a service (what we do without impacting people with the Word of God) and make it a ministry (what we do with the Word of God).

 

 

So … If you were to look in a mirror and see a spiritual reflection of yourself, what would you look like?  Here is a guide to help you deal with that question honestly:

 

Question 1:  How many times do you intake spiritual nutrients weekly as it pertains to hearing the Word of God preached?  This includes Sunday School, Sunday AM worship, Sunday PM Worship, Wednesday PM Meeting, messages listened to on TV, Radio, Internet, Daily Devotions, etc. 

 

When you stop and think about it that is a lot of nutritional intake spiritually.  That is quite a bit of spiritual food to assimilate properly and efficiently.  That brings us to the 2^nd question … how are we assimilating all of that spiritual nutrition in actual ministry (sharing the Word and impacting lives weekly)?

 

Question 2:  In what ways are you purposefully sharing the Word with others on a weekly basis?

 

Hits to the core … does it not? 

 

That is what I mean by spiritual obesity.  I believe we are TAKING IN far more than is necessary to maintain a healthy spiritual balance.  Most of us, if honest, when looking into a spiritual mirror, would see a very obese person looking back at them.  To be healthy we must have a balance when running the race of life efficiently!

 

I believe we are losing our culture because we are an OBESE CHURCH.  We take in and take in and take in while giving out very little in purposeful ministry where we live, work, and play.  It behooves the church to realize this and begin purposefully equipping people to impact people with the Word of God where they live, work, and play.

 

 

Marks of Spiritual obesity:

 

1.  Withholding your giving and attendance to get rid of a pastor.

2.  Arguing about physical things pertaining to the facilities.

3.  Arguing about whether to have a choir or ensemble to lead worship.

4.  Complaining about how long or short the pastor speaks/preaches, teaches.

5.  Every Sunday’s dinner is Roast Preacher.

6.  Complaining about the style of music in the church.

 

I think you get my drift.  Those who are not spiritually obese focus on what is necessary and essential to doing the work of the ministry as efficiently and purposefully as possible, giving little attention to “side items” (those should be left to the church leadership to take care of as God leads them.  That’s what you voted them in to do anyway, did you not).

 

Let’s make the decision today to Get FIT with a Faith the Influences Today where you live, work, and play.

 

Live OUT LOUD!

Mark Harrell – Habakkuk 2:2