Pastor's Pulpit: Are you a ‘muscular Christian?’

As a physical science teacher, there were many concepts I taught to my students that I enjoyed teaching. We got to do different experiments that enlightened the concept we were learning about.
Momentum was one of those concepts. Momentum is simply the force or speed of movement that carries an object to its final destination.
There are many examples that come to mind when it comes to momentum. You can look at cars traveling from one place to another, rubber bands being shot across the room or a person running a race, to name a few. The key is what it takes to get from point A to point B. If you want to break through, you need to have a certain amount of momentum.  
In our spiritual lives, often our challenge is gaining the spiritual momentum to break through. It requires real power. It requires believers who are serious in their faith-walk who stand steadfastly against difficult obstacles, and who pray with great fervency and devotion for the causes of their Lord. This produces spiritual power for significant breakthroughs in the spirit realm.  
Olympic runner Eric Liddell once remarked that the Lord requires “muscular Christians.” Do you have that type of spiritual momentum, that spiritual power in your life? Are you a “muscular Christian?”
Sin and self-indulgence will compromise and slow the spiritual momentum required for breakthrough.
But if we nourish the vision and cultivate the habit of pressing on to the higher calling, we’ll be inspired to forsake our sins and focus on the glory and joy of the Lord’s victory.
Reading the Bible, going to church, getting involved in a Bible study, surrounding ourselves with like-minded people and becoming one with God are ways to overcome those things that slow our momentum down.
And one more thing: It is often true that the most ferocious battle, requiring the greatest momentum and perseverance, will occur just before the breakthrough to victory.
Just like a runner is ready to give up because sometimes the pain is overwhelming, then you notice the goal at the end, which propels you ever farther.
Regain momentum in your spiritual life through repentance toward God, and steadfast perseverance in that specific vision and call he has given you.
There is a great victory waiting for you from his heavenly realm and soon enough you’ll see it manifested right here on Earth.

Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church is at 238 Fort MillHighway (S.C. 160). Its phone number is (803) 548-4922.