10. Check Up
• Movement
• Respiration
• Sensitivity
• Growth
• Reproduction
• Excretion
• Nutrition
Editor's Notes
As living beings we move, sometimes due to internal stimuli and at other times because of outward stimulus, but living things move.Do you have the ability to move spiritually in appropriate ways. Can you be moved by internal and by external stimulus? Can God move you by speaking to you and are you moved by the plight of others?Think of people in scripture that had to move. Israel was moved by the voice of God to leave Egypt and to go to the promised land. Along they way they got stuck due to a lack of faith and their movement became wandering in other lots of movement little progress. Think of Jonah that was moved by the voice of God to go to Nineveh (internal stimulus) but in trying to flee from God he ended up in a big fish’s stomach and was moved (external stimulus) back to Nineveh.Movement is key in our spiritual live, how’s your movement?
Breathing – Living beings have respiratory system, they have the ability to take in oxygen and to convert that oxygen to energy that drives their bodies. Oxygen is taken in through breathing. In the scripture the words “ruach” and “pneuma” are used to describe God breathing over and into His people, thus giving them life. He breathed into Adam, the Spirit breathed over the 120 in Acts. Our ability to take in God’s energy depends on being able to breath. Breathing is the one of the most natural things we do, we don’t even think about it most of the time. Do you ever like a petulant child refuse to breath, thinking that you will get your way, only to pass out and then breathing again? Prayer is our spiritual breath, we can’t live without it, it should be part of every moment of our day. Good breathing has a rhythm to it, normal life requires steady in and out breathing. Under exertion our breathing shortens and deepens, we can even during anxiety breath too much and become airsick.
Sensitivity – Our bodies consists of many integrated systems that function independently and connected to each other. Through my senses I become aware of the world around me and can respond accordingly. To respond to God we need to be sensitive to His moving, not oversensitive or under sensitive but appropriately sensitive. In 1Ti 4:2 NLT we read of people with a seared conscience, it states “These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead,” when we have said no to God’s nudging enough times we loose the ability to hear Him.Over sensitive people on the other hand take certain things too far and can become legalistic or they take people too seriously and become offended.
Growth – “Oh how you have grown,” is a phrase we sometimes got irritated with as children. Even spiritually we can get a bit sensitive when people remark how we’ve grown but in reality we all must grow. We don’t try and grow but if we are healthy and living the way we should we will grow. Hanging weights on your legs will not make your grow but eating and exercising will
Reproduction – Growth is about me growing reproduction is about me multiplying. For life to continue I cannot just be concerned with my growth I must also reproduce a next generation of believers.
Excretion – Living beings build up toxins in their bodies and need to excrete it otherwise they will become sick and can even die. Spiritually we also need to have the ability to excrete the poisons that build up in our lives. Remember in John 13 Jesus washed the disciples feet and said to them in verse 10 (NLT) "A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.“ Forgiveness is one way we keep excreting toxins. In Matt 18 we learn how to excrete the poison of sin that has entered a community. We shouldn’t let it fester and grow through gossip but deal with it head on by going to the brother and following a good process.
Nutrition – Living things need to take in nutrients, they need a healthy diet. Jesus said in Joh 6:48 NLT “Yes, I am the bread of life!”, our nutrients come from the word of God. We need to eat daily and then to use the energy we have taken in. We can have an unhealthy fatty oily diet if we just focus on the nice part of scripture and don’t become doers of the word we will be obese believers.
Movement – Are you sluggish and slow, do you have pain or can you move when God speaks.Respiration – How’s your breathing are you letting God breath on you and taking in enough oxygen, or are you starved for air, even anxiously hyperventilating.Sensitivity – Can we do a reaction test with you do you respond to God and people. What is your five fold ministry gifting, are you responding as you should or have you become dull and insensitive?Growth – When last have you stood against the door and measured your progress? Are you taller than a year ago?Reproduction – Do you have children in the Spirit, are you leaving behind a next generation or is your name under threat?Excretion – How quick can you forgive. Do you deal with the build up of sin in your own life and with those you are in relationship with or do you gossip?Nutrition – Are you getting healthy meals on a regular basis? Do you eat bread daily or only every so often come and stuff yourself with a cooked meal. Remember healthy food takes longer to prepare, costs more and is harder to find. Is your semi circle in place so you have time to eat or do you just grab a pie on the run? God needs time with you!
