Living in Community on Team Jesus
by Rev Adam Fox
Bench pressing is good for you, and in my opinion - from the Devil.
Over the Summer, I needed a kick start to my Wedding Diet, so I signed up with a personal trainer at my gym. Mistake.
My trainer, was a typical Bro. Very strong, many tattoos and hates anything fun to eat.
But I did a month with him. We did all sorts of exercisers to get me in shape and higher metabolism. Some I liked, others I tolerated, but one I hated, bench pressing. I struggled with my form and keeping the weight even as it goes up and down. It was challenging for me. But I had my trainer there to spot me in case I screwed up.
I remember the week after my trainer time ended, I tried to do the bench press by myself. No spotter. Boy was that a mistake.
I struggled. I almost got pinned by the bar. Big mistake.
I should have had help.
Why do we do that? Why do we let ourselves think we do not need help, we can do things by ourselves? It is not smart. We think alone is the best, and help is for the weak. How silly is that.
Like the African Proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
So much truth in this statement. Working together is best, and produces better results usually.
So with all that said, why do we continue to do things Han Style, Solo.
Are we afraid to let others in, to make ourselves vulnerable? Is being alone and doing things by ourselves that much more difficult. Do we hide behind the term "I'm Fine"?
I have to admit, I am guilty of this at times too.
One night, God brought this point to my heart and convicted me. He reminded me of the Israelite battle against Amalek in Exodus 17
8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
So much of this battle is us in our lives. We are Moses! We try to do things on our own, in our own power, on our own time and fail more often then we care to admit.
Look at Moses. He promises that he will stand with his staff in his hand all while the battle occurs.
A challenge already, standing is not difficult just in a long period of time is about as much as he can take. But during the battle, he realizes that every time he lowers is staff, they lose. So obviously, keep that sucker up.
And now Moses is in over his head.
Thankfully for Moses, Aaron and Hur hold him up and brace him until the battle is over.
Here is what hit me.
As a Christian, I try to go and do by myself. I naturally do not let people in and keep that at a distance with a broad smile and a high five and nice pleasantry. But I need to let my fellow believers help me and enjoy living in community.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
We live in community known as the Church. We need to be willing to pray with other believers, to encourage them, to let them challenge us. That is what we as Christians need to do and do with others.
Moses needed Aaron and Hur to help him in a challenging spot. And most importantly Moses needed God to sustain him. JUST LIKE WE DO!
For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13
God promises to be with us and hold us when we need him. A promise from God. But most importantly, we need to be with other Christians, as well as growing our relationship with God.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:10-12
Friends, This has been hard for me to write. I am talking with you as much as I am yelling at myself. We as Christians need to be willing to make ourselves open and vulnerable to everyone. And let those close trusted allies encourage us and help us.
Go together, not just solo.
While this post is a challenge to yourself, but it is also a calling to look at other Christians. Not to settle with the phrase, "I'm okay" "I'm Fine".
Sometimes we are Moses, Sometimes we are Aaron. But no matter which role we are, we all need Jesus. And He is the only one who can truly help everyone.
Even when we bench press.
Cheers and Excelsior!
Pastor Adam.
My trainer, was a typical Bro. Very strong, many tattoos and hates anything fun to eat.
But I did a month with him. We did all sorts of exercisers to get me in shape and higher metabolism. Some I liked, others I tolerated, but one I hated, bench pressing. I struggled with my form and keeping the weight even as it goes up and down. It was challenging for me. But I had my trainer there to spot me in case I screwed up.
I remember the week after my trainer time ended, I tried to do the bench press by myself. No spotter. Boy was that a mistake.
I struggled. I almost got pinned by the bar. Big mistake.
I should have had help.
Why do we do that? Why do we let ourselves think we do not need help, we can do things by ourselves? It is not smart. We think alone is the best, and help is for the weak. How silly is that.
Like the African Proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
So much truth in this statement. Working together is best, and produces better results usually.
So with all that said, why do we continue to do things Han Style, Solo.
Are we afraid to let others in, to make ourselves vulnerable? Is being alone and doing things by ourselves that much more difficult. Do we hide behind the term "I'm Fine"?
I have to admit, I am guilty of this at times too.
One night, God brought this point to my heart and convicted me. He reminded me of the Israelite battle against Amalek in Exodus 17
8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
So much of this battle is us in our lives. We are Moses! We try to do things on our own, in our own power, on our own time and fail more often then we care to admit.
Look at Moses. He promises that he will stand with his staff in his hand all while the battle occurs.
A challenge already, standing is not difficult just in a long period of time is about as much as he can take. But during the battle, he realizes that every time he lowers is staff, they lose. So obviously, keep that sucker up.
And now Moses is in over his head.
Thankfully for Moses, Aaron and Hur hold him up and brace him until the battle is over.
Here is what hit me.
As a Christian, I try to go and do by myself. I naturally do not let people in and keep that at a distance with a broad smile and a high five and nice pleasantry. But I need to let my fellow believers help me and enjoy living in community.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
We live in community known as the Church. We need to be willing to pray with other believers, to encourage them, to let them challenge us. That is what we as Christians need to do and do with others.
Moses needed Aaron and Hur to help him in a challenging spot. And most importantly Moses needed God to sustain him. JUST LIKE WE DO!
For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13
God promises to be with us and hold us when we need him. A promise from God. But most importantly, we need to be with other Christians, as well as growing our relationship with God.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:10-12
Friends, This has been hard for me to write. I am talking with you as much as I am yelling at myself. We as Christians need to be willing to make ourselves open and vulnerable to everyone. And let those close trusted allies encourage us and help us.
Go together, not just solo.
While this post is a challenge to yourself, but it is also a calling to look at other Christians. Not to settle with the phrase, "I'm okay" "I'm Fine".
Sometimes we are Moses, Sometimes we are Aaron. But no matter which role we are, we all need Jesus. And He is the only one who can truly help everyone.
Even when we bench press.
Cheers and Excelsior!
Pastor Adam.
