FIT TOGETHER Devotionals

Day 8: Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:22 Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

(NKJV) Ephesians 4:16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Have you ever got your toe stepped on by heavy furniture? A toe may be one of the smallest part of your body but when it is hurt, the whole body feels the pain. It seemed like such a minor thing, really but a broken toe could mean something significant especially if you are a sport athlete like basketball or soccer player. How could such a small thing cause such pain, and be so debilitating? At certain degrees of pain; you may be unable to wear shoes, and may be needing to take pain killers just to get through the day. You don't think about your toes often. They just exist, and seem of very little value. Until you’re not able to use them, that is.

The same thing is true of various gifts in the body of Christ. All of them are necessary, even the ones that receive little attention. Or maybe I should say especially the ones that receive little attention. Many of our meaningful times of worship wouldn't happen without humble servants working without recognition. Take, for example, communion. Do you know what it's like to fill up all of those little cups with grape juice? The work and care that goes into communion is enormous, and most of the time, no one thinks about who has done all the preparation, and who will clean up the mess afterwards.

• - Can you name the people in the church who prepare communion? We may not give much thought to it, but without it, our times of worship would be lacking.
• - Have you ever felt little used and or unimportant in the church? What can you apply from these words?
• - During this fast, pray for those who seems to do little or unnoticed and learn to appreciate them. How about little blessings in your life, do you notice them and can name them?

Day 9: Spiritual Gifts

Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

Are you aware that God has given you certain passions and abilities to use for His glory? God has given every believer at least one spiritual gift for doing His will in this world. And then His Holy Spirit nudges you to use it through a strong desire to serve Him in a way that seems to make sense for you. Paul gives examples like serving, teaching, giving and leadership. With the same vision, every part of the body can serve God in many ways when we all see a need. When the church has a mission project; one can give to prayers, another gives financially, another took the time to go, and some helps with travel arrangement, and some can also help the family that may be left behind. Each person reacted to the same vision through the way God motivated them, using the gifts he blessed them with. Two main purposes of spiritual gifts: to equip and to build up the body of Christ until we all come to unity in faith and to full measure of the standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). Today, ask God to reveal to you the different ways you could serve Him. He has given you spiritual gifts and will show you when and where to use them.

• - Today, ask God to reveal to you the different ways you could serve Him. He has given you spiritual gifts and will show you when and where to use them.
• - See the local church’s vision and how your God-given gift can fit in building up the body.

Day 10: Work to fit

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NLT) “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

Have you ever had your spouse ask you to put something in the refrigerator and then you replied, it’s full, no more room. Is it really full or actually is there any more room? The question is have you given it a try to re-arrange some items to make space. “Everyone wants peace but so few are willing to work on it.” To fit together, we must work on somethings. It often requires change on both sides. Paul writes out a formula for peace that if practiced, would revolutionize the church. First, he asks us to be humble and gentle. It is amazing how much hurt can be dished out under the guise of humility. So Paul adds to be gentle. He continues by writing that we should be patient making allowances for each other’s faults. But how can we do this? He says we do it out of love. Remember, love covers a multitude of sins. Finally, if peace is our real goal, we need to make every effort to keep ourselves united in the Spirit. To Paul, peace was not an option, but a reality to be insisted on. Unless, we work to fit; we will never fit together to work and produce results.

• - How hard do you work for peace at home, church or work?
• - Imagine if everyone work on something to fit together...What possibly be the things you must let go to make unity a reality?

Day 11: Maturity in Christ

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Luke 8:14 (NLT) The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

God has a vested interest in our maturity. He has saved us from the penalty of our sins and has set us apart for His service. He is involved in our life, protecting, encouraging, teaching and guiding us. He has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to prepare us for His service with the ultimate goal of becoming “mature, attaining the fullness of Christ”. But will we follow? Will we listen? Will we do what it takes to mature in Christ? We have a role to play in our maturity in Christ. The job of maturity is quite another matter; while God is certainly instrumental in guiding and blessing our maturation, it is our job, bestowed upon us way back in the garden, to mature. Maturity is not a spiritual gift nor is it a by-product of salvation. It is something we as Christians must work on our entire lives.”

• “Lord Jesus Christ, I come before you this day and I acknowledge you in all of my ways and ask you to make straight my path. Walk before me this day in all that I do and say and live your life in me and through me. Guide my every word, thought, judgment, counsel, and action. I acknowledge you in all of my ways and ask you to make straight is my path. Help me to grow and put away all childish reactions, may I decrease and You increase in me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Day 12: Healthy and Growing

Matthew 16:24-26 offers a piercing question that cuts to the heart of the matter. "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

Healthy and growth can have different meanings for the world and Christians. For those who knew not salvation; they are willing to pay for health and for success but what does healthy and growing means in Christ? It is far harder to apply this truth than to acknowledge this truth. The subtle creeping of the world’s influence presses in with increasing determination. Promotions, achievements, body image, sports, grades, social prowess, etc. can all be alluring and in and of themselves may not be inherently evil. In fact they may even be good things. But when we pursue them to gain identity, as a functional salvation, as a mediator between us and God, and so on, they become idols that we give ourselves to instead of worshipping only God. The signs of a healthy and growing body of Christ is not on the numbers, the charisma and the size of the church. The only way we can ever become a church that glorifies God is if we deny ourselves and die to self so that we can boldly take the gospel into the world with no fear of losing anything. When the church dies to its own aspirations and begins to live for the mission of making disciples, we will see God do great things through us! Others will see Christ in us when we are healthy and growing, are they seeing Christ in us?

• - What is one way we can show the world the difference between the life that matters and life that is wasted?
• - Is there a discernible difference in your church? Are we bearing fruit for the kingdom of God? Making disciples and not converts?

Day 13: Shielded

Ephesians 6:11, 16a (NIV) "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes...In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith."

Psalms 91:1-2 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

In the movie "Troy," the champion Achilles leads the Greek forces against the city of Troy. The warriors charge up the sandy beach to the city walls. When the arrows rain down on them, the warriors form a barricade by bringing their shields above their heads in a turtle formation. The arrows bounce off as they move forward as a unit - protected under the shell of their shield. The bigger the shield and the stronger the shield, that's all the better when attacked by negative thoughts and forces. What made a bigger and a stronger shield is a corporate faith when God’s people fit together in one cohesive unit. Not a gathering of believers but a marching of an army of God. And only through faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:12,17), for without faith it is impossible... (Hebrews 11:6). Through faith you have boldness and full access to the Presence of God, where you can dwell safely (Ps 91:1). We need faith to shield us when we are tackling God-sized dreams and world-sized tribulations. We need faith to shield us from the fears that can threaten to pull us down, discourage us, or even cause us to give up and quit. A shield of faith will help us to bounce back from discouraging news. It will help us to respond with optimism. It will help us to keep believing that with God all things are possible: That when we go through the waters, they will not overwhelm us. That when we go through the fires, they will not consume us. The shield of faith will protect each one of us in the midst of fires. It will be a life raft in the storms, and it will be a place of refuge when we are besieged and pressured and oppressed. Take cover. God is our champion. He will not let us down. Declare God’s word daily for faith comes by hearing of God’s Word. Stand firm with brothers and sister in Christ, together makes bigger shield.

• “Lord Jesus Christ, in Your Holy Name I put on the full armor of Father God, this day, upon my spouse, each of my children or immediate family members, relatives, friends, acquaintances, all true Christian believers who may be forgetting, and lastly myself, covering each and everyone of us, and all that we are, have, and possess, with Your Precious Blood of protection” “I put on helmet of salvation because You are our salvation, Lord Jesus Christ; the breastplate of righteousness, because you are our righteousness, Lord; the belt of truth and the shoes of the gospel of peace in which we stand, Lord Jesus Christ, because You are our truth and peace. In my left hand I pick up the shield of faith, with which to quench EVERY fiery dart of the enemy, and place it in theirs, and decree by trusting faith that all of Satan’s plans are bound, we’re loosed, and he is defeated in our lives this day and every day to come.” In my right hand I pick up the sword of the Spirit which is Your Word, Lord Jesus Christ and place it in theirs for Your Word says that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. I decree all these things accomplished in Your Name, Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Day 14: Inner Healing

Ephesians 3:16-19

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...

What is your inner being? Many take this to mean the soul, with its faculties of reason and emotion and will. 2 Corinthians 4 gives us a clue about what is the inner being. There he says that our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (4:16 NKJV). There is something about us that gets old, decay and deteriorate; but there is also something about us that is getting more vital, increasing and becoming richer and deeper and stronger every day we live. And that is what he calls the inner being. Your soul grows old as well as your body. It is clear that the soul is part of our life linked with the outer person, which is perishing day by day. But that is not the inner being. The inner being is the human spirit. It is here that God begins the work of recovery. Not in the realm of our feelings, but in what psychologists would call the realm of the subconscious, the deep-seated part of our life, the fundamental element of our nature. When you are really discouraged, really brokenhearted and have given up, your condition is often described as dispirited. That is an accurate term. Your fundamental nature is dissatisfied. It is not merely a question of temporary boredom. That would be in the realm of the soul. But this is something that touches the spirit, right at the deepest level of human life, and you find yourself filled with despair and indifference. This is where the recovery must begin. In 1 Corinthians 12, speaking of believers, Paul says, For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, . . . and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (v. 13). That is what our human spirits are for—to drink of the Spirit of God so that we are refreshed and revitalized. That is not the realm of feeling. We get so hung up in this process of spiritual recovery by always wanting an instantly good feeling. Relief will come, but it doesn't start there. It starts down at the level of the spirit (Romans 8:28). This beginning step is not your responsibility; it is God's. All that is necessary is that you ask Him for it. When God restores His people, He made our spirit a new creation and transforms us by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2) so we can be healed in the inner man. Know your identity in Christ Jesus Surrender anything that entangle us (emotional, feeling, thoughts) to submission to Christ.

• “Father, in Christ Jesus’ Name, I lay down at Your feet all present and past unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, or resentment, directed at (name or names). I repent of it and renounce it all, and ask You to forgive me for it. I forgive and release them. I repent for anyone who was hurt by it, and ask for Your forgiveness for that also. I forgive and release myself of all unforgiveness, anger, resentment and bitterness also. I renounce this and all past sin, and ask You to forgive me, Lord Jesus Christ. I ask all these things in Your Holy Name, Amen.”

Day 15: More Grace

2 Timothy 2:1-2 1 So you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus. 2 And the [instructions] which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust [as a deposit] to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also.

Apostle Paul wrote many meaningful instructions for us as the followers of Christ that we must be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus. How then be strong in His grace? It is true that when we receive Christ as our Lord, we then receive also God’s grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8) But to grow in Spirit; God’s grace in us must also be stronger. How then we can grow in His grace? The Bible says that God gives more grace, greater grace. For God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 NKJV) Therefore, in doing the prayer and fasting for 21 days; we must resist the proud and be humble; then more grace will He gives in our gorwing relationship with Him. The more obedient we have become to God’s word, the greater God pours His grace upon. “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.” John 1:16

• - Ask God for more grace as we humble our-self in prayer and fast.
• - What proud we need to resist to make room for greater grace to be upon us?

Day 16: The Good Soldier

2 Timothy 2:3-4 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Matthew 8:9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When you are on active service you cannot get distracted by civilian life, by leisure and pleasure. If you want to please your commanding officer by following orders, you will focus on the mission in hand - the living and leading of a life dedicated to Christ. To gain this objective you must work with others in your unit, you must have good relationships with one another, you must be available to them when they need you, you have to cover for one another, you have to be there for one another, for you are a band of brothers. Unit cohesion is imperative. There can be no divisions between you, no divided command. You are given your orders. You cannot go AWOL, by leaving it for others to do in your place. You cannot excuse yourself because you have more congenial things to do. When you are at war you know that you do not have the luxury to amuse yourself at the expense of others who are counting on you for support. You only have a limited time to do what you are commissioned to do. You are given a lifetime and no more. You must make each moment, each day you have been given, count. You are not on leave. You cannot make excuses. None of us is exempt from this kind of service. We are all called to be witnesses to the truth, to be servants of the Gospel.

• - What entangles you from being a good soldier of Christ?
• - Paul said, becoming a good soldier of Christ pleases God, would you enlist yourself to be one? Are you willing to surrender all affairs of this life?

Day 17: An Athlete of Christ

2 Timothy 2:5 “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

1 Corinthians 9:24 AMP “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.”

From the same passage from yesterday comes the second analogy Paul used; An Athlete who has to compete according to the rules if he wants to receive the victor's crown. Practice makes perfect. It is only when you practice at your skill that you can perfect your execution of it. Training requires self-discipline and commitment. You have to respect the game if you want to excel in it and be recognized as a worthy professional. You cannot cut corners. You cannot flout the rules. You have to be willing to compete with others on a level playing field and not seek a false advantage through illegal equipment or drug enhancement. There are rules of life. Jesus made them quite clear.

"Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 5:19)

We need to pass on to the next generation the rules of life that we must follow if we are to win the victor's crown. They need to know about faithfulness, integrity, commitment, sacrifice, generosity, compassion, self-control, kindness, patience and truthfulness. If we don't pass them on our marriages, families, businesses, social and political life will deteriorate into chaos. We will all be losers for it. To be a winner we need to follow the rules whether we like them or not. We are not here to make up the rules to suit ourselves. Winning requires the humility to recognize our limitations and to respect the One who has set the rules for us to follow. After all, it was because of God’s crazy love for us that He lay down His characters as guidance so whoever follows Him, will know the Truth and live a Christ Victorious life.

Day 18: Hard Working Farmer

2 Timothy 2:6-10

The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

And the third, is the analogy of the hard-working farmer, who is entitled to the first share of the crops. The reward for all his hard work is the harvest. He is motivated by the results of his work. There is something very rewarding to see the fruits of your labor. It takes hard work to produce a crop. The farmer has to work from sunrise to sunset in order to make a good living. A dairy farmer has to milk the cows every morning and evening; if you pay a visit to a farm and try to do what the farmer does, it would be a memorable experience. But to do that every day of your life without fail would have been very hard. A man reaps what he sows. If we want to reap a harvest of influence, and leave a worthwhile inheritance, we must be prepared to sow. There is no gain without pain. We must be prepared to put in the hours of work required to produce results. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Ignatius of Loyola summed up his aspirations in this famous prayer: “ Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Paul calls on Timothy to reflect on what he is saying for the Lord will give him insight into all of it. Likewise we can reflect on these analogies to spur us to pass on to others what we have received, and to take seriously our task to transmit the Gospel to those who follow us. Imagine if God’s people don’t pass on this glorious message; they wouldn’t had survived the exile of Babylon nor the massacre of Israels in Central Europe.

• - Have you been sowing in His kingdom and into the lives of others? How consistent are you in passing on the message of Christ to the dying world?
• - Have you been laughter because of your faith; being the Truth in the midst of twisted truths society?

Day 19: True Disciple of Christ

2 Timothy 2:11 NIV

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;"

What does this saying mean? First, let us notice that everytime the Bible says “IF” that signifies our part to do as a believer. In other word, Paul says if you are a true disciple of Christ, you have to die with Him. How do we apply that in our daily life? or what must die in us so we can live with Him?

Colossians 3:5 NLT 5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

It is very imminent what we must put to death. By joining this Corporate Fasting, we must put to death all sinful nature in our life and in the body of Christ. Therefore, pray fervently, fast wholeheartedly not out of duty but out of Love.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

• - Confess your struggle to God and allow His strength to be evident in you.
• - Make a decision today to be true disciple of Christ so that we may live with Him.

Day 20: Endurance

2 Timothy 2:12

if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Endurance is a journey of total obedience. It means a decision to go forth no matter what. If we reject Him, He will also reject us. Endure in preaching the good news though your friends, family or others may persecute you. Paul gave himself as an example and that though he was chained in prison but God’s word is not chained. It was through his suffering in prison that books of the epistles were written, including this letter to Timothy. For the sake of the Christ; I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen (v.9-10). This prayer and fasting is surely a great opportunity for us to learn endurance. As we do this corporately, we have the benefit to encourage, to bond and to lift up one another in love. the more united, the stronger the breakthrough and the impact upon God’s Kingdom.

"Preach the good news, be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2)

• - Do you have a spiritual partner who can lift you up when you are down and to help someone up when he/she is down?
• - A good beginning is not enough, Progress in the past is not sufficient, endurance is to finish ‘till the end.

Day 21: Fit and Ready

2 Timothy 2:19, 21

19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.” 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

God has set for us a theme in 2012 “Fit Together” with a great purpose to serve and to glorify Him. To be fit and ready as a vessel of God; we must trun away from evil and keep purity in life. Even this verse was inscripted, which means it will never be changed nor altered; it will stand as truth forever. God never requires something is not beyond our ability; He gave us a helper, the Holy Spirit to help, to encourage, to comfort and to give strength to fulfill God’s word. by the power of Holy Spirit; we are able to overcome and resist the power of darkness and the pleasures of the world.

Through this Fasting; we are to be tuned to hear His voice more clearly, and to be sanctified by the power of Holy Spirit. God will make us to be special vessels and make us to be fit and ready for good works. This is the promise of God for all who believes.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV)

Now rejoices, there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Praise Him and live your life solely for Jesus like never before.

• - Continue a lifestyle of prayer, giving and fasting and testify what God has done through out.