LEADERSHIP - LESSON Five

                                                   Staying Spiritually Fit  

   You will need your Bible and a pen & notebook to complete these lessons. You should be able to copy and paste these outlines to your word processor and print them without difficulty if you so desire. We recommend you record in your note book deep thoughts or questions that may arise as you study, and certainly record all things God reveals to your heart. Look over these notes frequently and use them even as you pray. God will cause you to grow in wisdom and understanding. Keep your note book with you throughout the day as much

as possible to record all God reveals to you and to review the things you have learned.

   We also recommend you make a habit of memorizing a scripture each week. This not only helps get the Word deep in your heart, but is also an excellent mental exercise.

  Staying Spiritually Fit

​   In athletics fitness level determines the level of success. A marathon runner will diet and train countless hours in order to compete at the highest levels of competition. Everything they put into their body is on purpose. They eat nothing that will slow them down. This can, and often does, go on for years as they attempt to become the best they possibly can at their chosen sport.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the body of Christ treated their spiritual walk and relationship with the Lord as diligently?

   Leaders require consistency. As people of God we need stability in the fruit of the spirit evident in our lives. To be consistent requires more of us. We need to live our lives on purpose, not tossed about by life’s circumstances. We are going to look at things we can do to create a strong spirit within us. Before we do let’s consider the first phase of training. Let’s shave off the unnecessary stuff in order to run faster.

 Enemies of a strong spirit

1. Worry and fear. 1Peter 5:6-7

- To free ourselves from this weight we can “cast our cares” over to the

Lord. If we believe we receive when we pray, why do we still worry?

2. An overloaded life. Luke 10:41-42

- Often we allow to many activities to rob us of intimacy with God. This

is unacceptable for a leader. To lead without Gods direction is to lead

blindly, and we all know what Jesus said would result.

3. Distractions. Matthew 13:22

- It is possible to be distracted by the very blessings we’ve been asking

for. The secret? Seek FIRST the kingdom of God. Keep your priority’s

in order. Notice particularly these distracted ones didn’t leave the faith,

they simply didn’t bear fruit. They are hearer’s only, not doers of the

Word.

Conclusion: Weight loss and diet adjustment toward healthy eating are the first steps toward any major change in ones athletic abilities. What’s more, healthy eating is good for all people, not just those desiring to compete. Likewise it is true of the believer in spiritual matters. We can all improve, whether leaders or not, by adjusting what is being fed into our spirit. Only we can make this adjustment. No one else can make it for us. We can go to prayer lines from now to eternity for the laying on of hands, but without modifying what we feed our spirit, little good will come of it. We must be kingdom of God minded and remember everything we see and do effects our spirit man. Let’s adjust our diet. Let’s begin to train our spirit like a champion.

Next Lesson...

Your Spiritual Workout Routine

1Timothy 4:6-7