The series on tongues

Bodybuilders/Faith builders

By Elder Anthony Berry

Matthew 12:34  James 3:2-8

A contribution to the series “The Tongue” initiated by Evangelist Vincent Tillery

Did you ever see a bodybuilder and how they overdo it as far as exercise is concerned, all they thing about is “Just one more rep”, no matter how much it hurts they are going to get that rep in, even if they need someone to help them lift the weight one more time.  They watch their diet and eat only the things that will help them reach their goal of having the most beautiful body that THEY, think that they can have.  Physical exercise builds the body, but did you know that there is a way that your faith can be exercised.

We as Christians are always asking the Lord for more strength, and stronger/more faith.  Did you notice that right after you ask for this you start going through trials and tribulations? I want to let you know today that the same way that a bodybuilder has a trainer; we have a trainer.  Joe Weider trained champions in bodybuilding: Jesus is our faith builder trainer.  When a bodybuilder is working his body to failure they need a spotter to help them continue to lift the weights.  The spotter is also there to make sure that they have no accidents, and can lift the weight off of the lifter.

Body building is a life of physical suffering because of what they have to go through, to reign in the field of bodybuilding.  The only problem is that for all the work that they do the body reverts to dust after death.  If a faith builder suffers they shall reign with Jesus (II Tim. 2:9-12). The same way that a bodybuilders spotter helps them to lift the weights when their body fails; Jesus helps us.  The body builder relies on the strength of his spotter (this is why a strong person has to spot) to help him lift the weight.  Jesus does the same for the faith builder:  II Cor. 12:7-10,

 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9. And he said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, inn persecutions, in distresses  for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

As you can see from verse 9, Jesus is our spotter, and when our strength gives out his strength takes over, and is made perfect.

Tribulation is how our personal trainer, Jesus, exercises our faith. Every bodybuilder has an exercise manual.  Faith builders have an exercise manual also; it is called the Holy bible.

The way that we prove show our spiritual physique is through our conversation.  Controlling the tongue can be a task like pulling a tractor trailer truck with your teeth.  We sometimes have to fight and bite our tongue to keep our mouth shut when we feel compelled to say something.  Some people give others respect for telling it like it is.  Are they really telling it like it is though, or are they just saying something we wanted to say but were afraid to say it? Take alcohol for instance (all alcohol is considered to be wine in the bible).   Be drunk not with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Holy Spirit Eph. 5:18.  As you know bodybuilding is an excess.  The same way that a body builder uses their body excessively, their bodies give them courage since they are so big and strong looking, wine gives people a false sense of security.  What is meant by this passage of scripture is to not find courage in alcohol, but to find your courage in the Holy Spirit.  How many times have we gotten drunk to tell someone off; or to find courage to do anything?  Alcohol loosens not only your lips; but your common sense as well.  We as Christians are supposed to find our strength in the Lord; not in a bottle.  The reason why it falsely makes things so easy is because when things go wrong we can blame it on being drunk.

Our personal trainer Jesus has prepared us to not be fearful, because his training our faith makes us more than superheroes.  He has given us power to be more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and be faster than a bullet.  All of this is possible when we become strong enough to hold our tongue.

To be continued