Thoughts on Faith Training, Running the Race

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

Lately, I have been walking for exercise. During these times Abba has spoken to me some spiritual truths which I would like to share with you.

Several passages in Scripture speak of training or running a race:

1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win. ” 25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. ” 26 I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air, ” 27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

Here, the Ruach has been speaking to me that if we ever allow ourselves to be deceived to believe that we have received the prize, then we are in serious trouble. We will stop running the race. We would no longer train our bodies to submit to the rigors to reach our prize.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ” 2 looking to Y’shua, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim. ” 3 For consider Him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. “

Whenever I read these verses, I have a vision of all these witnesses lining up on a road way encouraging me to continue the race. Weights of the devil that entangle us can frustrate our progress, but if we look to the Author and Perfecter of our faith, we will endure because Y’shua endured. For we died and our life is hid in Messiah our Elohim (see Coloss. 3:3).

Training involves exercise if you have been a “couch potato” in this walk, you may still be a baby on milk. Exercise brings about a need for “good protein”.

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Have you been training? Has the devil been blind-siding you? Are you blind to sin in your life? It is time to exercise and grow up to discern the wiles of our adversary.

Shavua tov,

Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!