The Magnificent Obsession: (3) Being Bold For God’s Kingdom: Staying Fit For the Battle! (21/09/08)

Key Verse: Matthew 11:12, 13:31-33

4 KEYS THAT GIVE US GOD-CENTERED BOLDNESS

1) A Revelation of God’s Heart and God’s Truth (14/09/08)
2) A Fear of Being Unfit and Losing the Battle (21/09/08)
3) A Love For God and Others (28/09/08)
4) Living Life in a Community (05/10/08)

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

3 Steps to Stay Fit

1) Guard Your Heart
The heart is the source of everything.
- Proverbs 4:23
- We have to take care of it because it needs to be guarded, it cannot be left alone.
- Only when we take care of it, keep it pure, will good things flow out of it.
- Ephesians 4:31-32

The single most hurtful thing that can clog up your heart: unforgiveness, bitterness, disappointment
- Matthew 24:10-14
- In the end times (now), it is very easy to become hardened and lose passion because the Church is often a source of pain but we must always come back to God to ask for a heart transplant: an unoffendable heart.

2) Develop Your Character
A Godly character of righteousness
- Proverbs 4:24-27 > out of your heart, your mouth speaks
- Romans 12:2
- There are many things that people can rob you of but your character is the ONE thing people cannot rob you of
- We choose to react in a way that is Christ-like
- Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:21
- Whereas the people of the world live by inferior principles of this kingdom of the evil one.
- Allow every situation in life to help you develop a Godly character, choose to always do so.
- Ephesians 5:3-5
- Allow God to change EVERY character flaw.

3) Train Your Strength and Stamina
In the next 7 years, we will go through many tests, battles. Only those who are strong spiritually and emotionally will pass the test. Be prepared to: WORK, WORK, WORK and WORK. We must find trouble. To help and to bless. We must hang in there, we must not give up. Satan must give up.
- Judges 3:1-2
- God had purposely put some Canaanites to train the new generation of Israelites who have not had battle experience before.
- In the same way, God puts difficult people/situations in our lives to test us, to train our character. He wants us to go through difficulties, pain, betrayal, to develop our strength.
- We need both strength and stamina.
- Isaiah 40:28-31
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I am uber thrilled because of two things:

My iPod which has been dead for 11 months now has REVIVED!!! After I purposely dropped it on the floor after I read this post: http://theappleblog.com/2007/04/23/ipod-death-and-rebirth/
It's now on its way to being fully charged and ready to be used.

And the second thing being Gkidz!! I know I haven't been praying much about this but it's been on my mind and heart to join Gkidz since last year. And I even wrote it down as one of my goals at the beginning of this year. It's like God has slowly opened up the door, first by giving me a chance to serve in Gkidz for one Sunday two weeks ago and now this! It's not even confirmed yet but I'm getting way too excited to calm down. And what's more is that they're looking for Gkidz worship leaders and musicians too! Been breakin' into joyful jumps in the living room after I found out in the afternoon. Hahahaha. God, if You do give me the chance, I will gladly jump at it with all my heart! (*silly grin)