PROMISES FOR WINNING RUNNERS

Jack Davis

In Philippians four our Apostle Paul was inspired to make known to the “lovers of the race” a peace, power and full provision to make us successful runners. These each are available by and through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we are secured, sustained and abundantly supplied. The peace is offered to preserve us, the power energizes us to persevere, and the whole provision enables to prevail. We note that this peace is incomprehensible, and beloved, the provision is exhaustless. We do well to consider Philippians 4:7,13,19, and appropriate.

PRESERVING PEACE

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7.

Shall we obey God’s wonderful Word to our benefit? Has He make it possible for us to be “careful” (mental uneasiness arising from fear) for nothing, “prayerful” about all things, and “thankful” in everything? It seems to me that fretfulness is forgetfulness of God’s faithfulness. He cares for us, shall we not carry our care to Him in prayer? How else shall we realize such marvelous peace?

It is only by faith that we may come to understand, how something we can’t understand is able to keep our hearts and minds. We are not asked to count on our reasoning faculties, but to simply submit our request in prayer with thanksgiving, expecting from His exhaustless supply. Paraphrased, “entertain no worry.” We may either occupy our minds with our problems or rely on His person.

We are so blessed to have His invitation to tell Him every detail, under all circumstances, and then begin to enjoy His promised preservation. His peace, which transcends all powers of reason, is deeper than any depth of understanding, far surpasses any measure of human comprehension, shall mount guard as with a garrison our hearts and minds. Let us consider for a moment, our entering into His protection for our minds.

KEEP OUR MINDS

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isa. 26:3

Well, where else could we find such a perfect keeper? He has kept us, does keep us, and shall forever keep us by His power. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me to dwell in safety. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalms 4:8: 127:1-2; 121:2-3. Our adversary would always stir up the religious flesh to keep us in a state of turmoil. If He that keeps us doesn’t sleep, shouldn’t we take our needed rest? Self-righteous, self-neglect and self-abuse does not bring any honor to God, nor does it make us any more secure. Col. 2:21-23. In fact, getting our minds on ourselves greatly unsettles us.

“The LORD us thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Psalm 121:5,7,8. Oh, what grace for those stepping out on His promises, and entering into their blood-bought inheritance!

With such powerful promises we are encouraged to have our minds stayed on Him. By this word “stay,” He would reach us to lean upon, take hold of, be sustained and supported by Him It seems so easy for us to get uneasy, cumbered about and troubled about many things. But we are comforted greatly to count on His power. It wonderfully alleviates our fears to rely on His promises. We seem to settle down in spirit often as we rejoice in His Provision, but oh, to be stayed upon this glorious Person. The Prince of Peace.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “…to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” Rom. 8:6. Thank God, we may have the mind of Christ, the same attitude of heart.

We, who are begotten unto a lively or living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and are kept by the power of God, are admonished to gird up the loins of our mind, by sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought…at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Pet. 1:3,5,13. Putting up faith’s shield, we ward off the fiery darts of the wicked, shot at our minds. Knowing Him in whom we have believed, we also are “persuaded that he is able to keep that which we have committed unto him against that day.” Our minds are stayed on Him as we count only on His keeping power.

We have been given the helmet of salvation. We have the authority and privilege to bring our thoughts into captivity to the mind of Christ. II Cor. 10:5.

Oh,, let us put on this helmet and not allow our minds to run out of gear or rampant, but rather let our minds be geared to the Word of God, harnessed to His promises, being sober or in spiritual control.

What could we do to deserve such keeping? How can we earn our keep? Nothing, we cannot. Jesus made peace by the blood of His cross, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and because we have “trusted in him,” He is our peace. How else could we possibly realize or experience “His Peace.”

KEEP OUR HEARTS

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:1,27.

The only tranquility that the world has to offer would be dependant on the right circumstances, or ideal conditions, but that which Jesus give is His, the product of the New Life, and a fruit of the Spirit. With His peace protecting our hearts, we are enabled to walk without fear on the more troubled waters.

“…let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” Col. 3:15.

“Let” – This is where most of us fail in experiencing the sweet benefits of this grace in our lives. Submission and thankfulness certainly play an important part in our practical enjoyment of this precious tranquility that flows like a river from the throne of God. As we submit to this as a ruling principle in our hearts and lives, we allow His peace to act as umpire, decide all doubts, settle all questions.

In order to be a successful runner over the whole course, we must not allow unscriptural tensions to waste our energies and sap our strength.

GOD - PREPARING HIS JEWELS

Anita Clark – Pastor, Grace Chapel

Carbondale, Kansas

“Then, they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another; and the LORD hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them , as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”  Malachi 3:16-17.

These verses from the last book of the Old Testament were written of the Jews, concerning their actions and attitudes when they were allowed to come back to their land, after being taken captive by Babylon. Ezra and Nehemiah both wrote at this time and were leaders of these people. The verses above are speaking of the faithful ones who were not doubting God’s deliverance for them, and were obedient to rebuild the temple and the wall of Jerusalem, which was torn down by the Babylonians 70 years before. God blessed them so greatly, but so often they rejected His kindness to them. Therefore they were allowed to go into captivity to Babylon. This was just the beginning of their subservience to Gentile powers, which has continued for all these years until now, they are finally restored to their land and are a nation again.

I am going to use these verses to express the work that God is doing in the lives of faithful men and woman today, who are believers in Christ and make up His jewels in the Church Age in which we live.  We live in a society that has some of the same attitudes as ancient Israel had. In verse 14 it says Israel said, “It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance?” But in that day there were faithful ones “who feared the Lord and that thought upon His name.” (V. 16).

What does it mean to “fear the Lord?” Are we who live and follow God in this day supposed to fear the Lord?  This word, “fear” means in the Hebrew “to revere, respect, reverence.”  This word is mentioned twice in this one verse. If we truly revere and respect God and His things, we will be a person whose mind is occupied with Him, and one who spends time communing with Him in prayer, and thinking upon His name. Philippians 4:8-9 tells what to think about, “the things that are true, honest, just, pure, virtuous, and  lovely” all speaking of the wonderful things of our God.  Paul says, “Casting down imaginations. And every high thing ... and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5).

In Malachi 3:17 it says, “They shall be mine in the day when I make up my jewels.” The word, “make” in Hebrew means, “to accomplish, or appoint, bring forth, perform.”  “It is God which works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). God is the one Who is making the jewel. Our part is to let Him.

What does it take to make a beautiful diamond or other gemstone? We know that it takes heat and pressure.  Also, it takes a master to shape and cut the facets in the diamond to glisten in the light. What can we say to describe the work that God does in a yielded life of a believer, who wants the best God offers to him? It takes suffering, and trials to do God’s eternal work in our lives.  God does not make a priceless jewel of a believer unless that one gives his will over to Him.

Notice that vs. 17 says, “in that day when I make up my jewels.” God has jewels of Israel.  There were individuals who allowed Him to do His work in them. Now it is the day of Grace.  He is doing a work in whosoever will, who will let Him change them ‘from glory to glory.”  Some diamonds in the natural are not very beautiful, but they are hard enough to be used as cutting tools for industry.  The most valuable are the ones which are beautiful, and shining.

Notice that in our verse in Malachi, He is making up His jewels.  This is His work, not our work, not trying to be better, and an over comer in our own strength.  We will never become what He wants us to be by our own determination and power. All who try that, fail.  Notice he says, “My jewels.” God wants the honor and glory for His divine work in us. As Phil. 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” This divine work will go on until Jesus Christ comes back, and has finished His work preparing His bride, His jewels.  She will reign with Him, for the Bride of Christ is a company of believers who fully yield to Him and the will of God.

Right now is “the day when He is making up His jewels.”  The world is getting darker and darker. Many Christians are taken up with worldly things, rather than really dedicating their lives to God. God’s work to find His jewels is going on right now, and after He finds them, He perfects them through the heat of trials and the cutting of His peculiar tools, “working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  Paul says in II Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory; even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Are you willing to let Him work in your life and change you?  The results will be beautiful. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament (visible arch of the sky) and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” Praise the Lord!

ANGER

A quick look around will show that there is much anger today. It manifests itself in the rage and violent behavior we see everyday in the news. It is apparent in the way kids at school treat each other. It is displayed in the social media networks that allow people to speak angrily and hurtful. It is displayed in interactions between different religious groups.

The Bible goes so far as to call those that are often angry, fools. “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9 The word fool, actually means silly or stupid. It generally refers to those that are unbelievers, but can also refer to an attitude. This verse is referring to those that are continually or often angry.

Every one of us has been angry at some time. Anger is a part of our human nature. It is one of the works of the old nature. Because we have the life of Christ in us, we are able to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we yield to Him, He will give us a different attitude about whatever is making us angry.

The apostle Paul reminds of this in Ephesians 4:31  “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” He starts in verse 22 about putting off the old man. Then we are told, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” Ephesians 4:26 We are not to let anger control us and cause us to act against our brother/sister.

It is very wise to leave anger with God. “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” Proverbs 14:29 We need to remember that God is the one who takes care of the circumstance that would cause us to be angry. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19

It is certain that when we act in anger, we will eventually regret it. Anger causes us to do and say things that we would not otherwise do or say. Then, once the words leave our mouth, they can never be taken back. Today, we have to also consider how we respond on social media which is so prevalent, and because we are not face to face with a person, it becomes easier to say something that we might not say in person.

James reminds us to not be hasty in anger. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” James 1:19 When we become angry, if we first go to the Lord and tell Him what has made us angry, we will find peace, and He will enable us to let go of the anger.

The world would have us believe that getting angry is just natural and necessary and we should just let it out. Well, it is natural, but we do not need to be controlled by our anger. When we yield to the life of Christ in us, we will show the world that there is something better.

I do not wish to discuss politics here, but it is clear that even God’s people are being drawn in to the deep anger and resentment that is part of our politics today in this country. Let us be reminded that God is in control of those that are in power. God puts up and takes down as it pleases Him. We must never allow Satan to use politics to create divisions amongst God’s people.

The best way to overcome anger is to keep ourselves in God’s Word. There we will find that the things that make us angry are all under God’s control. We will learn that God knows the wrongs that are done to us, and only He can truly take care of them.

If we have said something in anger, then we should ask forgiveness. We need to ask forgiveness from God, and then from the person with whom we were angry. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Take care of it quickly. You will feel better, and you will be glad you did. Remember that only the Holy Spirit can control your anger.

Gordon Crook

MY WILL

Carson Richards

Part 5

Here is the final step on the subject of will, “My Will.” I Chron. 12:32 – Here we see David gathering the people around him for the kingdom of HIS DAY. And of the children of Issachar which were men of understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred and all their brethren were at their commandment. We bring this in to show that God has always had a people, not just a person, and there was a general communication to all of His will. We are all brought into conjunction with someone, for the church is a body, as Israel was a nation. Yet, our purpose is to show that the determination of all this has its final consideration in our own will. This is not to say that there is not a particular way God has for preparing each of us for that interrelated will.

The Old Testament unfolding of this matter is herein shown: Exodus 28:30 – “And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummin; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.” Let’s follow this up with Leviticus 8:8, “And he (Joshua) shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD, at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.” So the choosing the office of Joshua to succeed Moses, was ascertained by this mysterious Urim and Thummin; so there is a way He determines our course by His will, but our will makes it complete.

Acts 27 is indicative of the course of the church. Reading it, we see the Apostle Paul foresaw shipwreck, and their lives were affected. It was wrecked as the description of the church in its tortuous journey through this world and age. It was misled. They followed the wrong general guide. The previously discussed, “will of Satan,” enters in here. Then “my will” must find other course than that of the visible church. So it has to react to the course of others, too. That would be its seeking the will of God. Even then it was not just one person, there were faithful followers of Paul even on the ship and thereafter. So our wills must submit to the great, wise will.

John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” Here is Christ’s example of submitting His will to the Father. It has a meat, a sustenance, a strength of life to do the will of God. We are not just right if we are not in His will, everything is out of kilter. He was just one person; so are we, and we must react within the will of God for life. The Christian life comes within a total plan that is the great will of God for others and us, and each as related to each other. Let me say that we can rest secure that Satan cannot impose his will upon us. Just as surely, God will not impose His will on us. So you see the importance of our own will.

Acts 20:17, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.” Then, verse 28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The statements about the exemplary Ephesian church show that the will of God for us is to have some part in His church. In this case the Holy Ghost placed overseers over that good assembly.

The primitive church is looked down on, and the way of directly following the Holy Ghost is laughed at. Yet, the Holy Ghost is a real Person. He is the God that directs administering the will of God toward us. “My will” may prevent His acting in my direction. It is a powerful thing, actually. Paul spoke well of the Ephesians whose will was submitted to the Holy Ghost. The elders were appointed by Him, so each other member of the church should be put in proper place by Him. Preachers are effective in the function of God’s will in them and those with them. The church is a necessary part of the Divine will, with each member a part. None are more important then others. Some are more public.

Rom. 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” This shows that the will of God is progressive. We don’t understand all His will at first. Probably we each had our own ideas of what the course of our spiritual life should be; perhaps to be an evangelist, win many souls, a missionary, a prominent teacher. It might not go that way. We see here stages of His will. So we must all along submit our will and He leads us along and with others of similar will.

God does different phases of His will in different people at the same time. We are not always with everybody. God has His personal plan for each. Some stop short of the father-on will. Then He may separate us for our good. Ezekiel in the Old Testament, spoke of God’s judging between cattle and cattle. He may have to fatten in different corrals. Jesus wrote to the Ephesian church near the end of the first century of removing their candlestick to give His own will to being removed. Some might say, “No, this is my church; I have always been here; I will always be here!” So there is conflict of wills.

Ephesians 5:21, “Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God.” In this and related passages there is the idea of submission to other saints, unto the Lord of course. It seems the core of His will is submission. Men and Satan’s ideas are domination. These mature saints had to submit sometime to someone rather than themselves. If not, the will does not submit to God, either. That is the reason of the discussion here of husbands and wives, children and parents, and servants and masters. That is all exercise in learning to submit wills so that we do the greatest one of all, that of giving in to God.

Now we see there is leeway for our wills. I Corinthians 16:12, “As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you, with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time, but he will come when he shall have convenient time.” Here is shown that the great Apostle Paul was not domineering. He gave place to the will of Apollos. This may not have been fault in the matter of Apolllos. He too, sought God.

In Acts 21, we find a situation where a prophet warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem. It would mean great trouble for him. Yet, we see the outcome. Verse 14, “And when he would not be persuaded, we creased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.” So the will of God may not always be naturally advantageous. That is where the giving in of our will is difficult. We have all had something of that sort in our lives.

Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” This is the last call of the Bible to come to God’s full blessing. “My will” is the only limitation. God’s will is for the best, so our will determines the final blessing.

Let us end this thought about our will with a threefold summary of its great importance, to show what a powerful thing is planted in our spirit.
1. It decides our eternal destiny; heaven or hell.
2. Decides whether natural or spiritual principles are more important.
Decides how much of eternal blessing we partake of.

JONAH

Debra Isenbletter, pastor

Springfield, Missouri

Jonah begins his descent when he “went down to Joppa. The phrase “went down to” means “to descend, to go to a lower region” “to bring down; to send down; to take down; to go down.” It means “to fall down; to let down.” Jonah “went down” from a higher place to a lower place and did not see it. Jonah “let (God) down” when he rejected God’s Word. Jonah should have “fallen down” before the Lord is obedience. Jonah should have let the Lord “send (him) down” to Nineveh. Jonah should have “gone down” willingly, obediently. Instead, Jonah turned away from God’s enabling power and “went down” under his own power.

Jonah went down to Joppa, he would go down into the ship, he would go down below the decks, the would go down into the belly of the fish. Each step down takes us further down and that is the only place we can go when we are running away from the Lord. Disobedience leads us down and obedience leads us up. But sometimes we have to go down to the depths to be lifted up to the heights and appreciate it. Jonah will learn this lesson.

Jonah went down to “Joppa” which means “fair to him” (JB Jackson); “beauty, comeliness” (Hitchcock). Jonah saw Joppa as “fair to him,” a place to run to. Jonah saw “beauty” and “comeliness” instead of sin. When we are outside God’s Will the world and worldly choices will deceive us.

Jonah’s Determination: and found a ship going to Tarshish: and paid the fare thereof. The word “found” can mean “to happen upon” or “to find by seeking.” Jonah was determined so he found by seeking what he wanted to find. Jonah did not accidentally “happen upon” this ship. Jonah was deliberately “seeking” transportation. As he searched, he “happened upon” what he wanted. If we want something bad enough we will find a way to get it.

Jonah has a specific destination and he found the right ship going to the right place, He found “a ship going to Tarshish.” Tarshish was where he had planned to go when he first fled. He searched until the ship came along with the right destination. He wanted to go in the opposite direction as far as possible.

Jonah “paid the fare thereof.” He paid a price not knowing the real cost. There was a price man demanded. There would be another price the Lord would demand. There is a phrase often used today, “There are no free rides.” Jonah did not realize the cost of his disobedience. Everything has a price and everything has a cost. There are always consequences to our actions. There is always fruit from obedience or disobedience. Jonah will find out it will cost him to run from God’s Will.

Jonah descends even further: “and went down into it, to go unto Tarshish.” This is another step “down,” though he does not realize it. He went “down into” the heart of the ship joyfully. He went “down into” the belly of the ship willingly. He would not go “down into” the belly of the fish with the same carefree attitude. His goal was Tarshish, and he went down into the ship with his eyes on Tarshish and not the Lord. But we see the graciousness of God because one meaning of Tarshish is “contemplation” and “examination” and Jonah can do this in the belly of the ship and change his mind and direction. The Lord desires that he do it willingly but if not, Jonah can do contemplate and examine his decisions unwillingly in the belly of the fish. There are many times after we make decisions that the Lord gives us opportunities to think about what we are doing and where we are going, to examine our hearts in the light of His Word. Jonah has such an opportunity. If Jonah arrives at “Tarshish” he will go “down” then the other meanings of the name are seen and he would go “down” even farther spiritually. “Tarshish” also means (she will cause poverty) and shows that He will be impoverished. “Tarshish” also means (she will shatter) and shows that He will be broken. Sometimes we don’t realize the grace of God when he keeps us from reaching the destination we set our hearts upon.

The conclusion of this verse repeats from the presence of the Lord [as His prophet] and emphasizes Jonah’s denial of his calling and responsibility as a prophet. There is no doubt Who Jonah is fleeing. There is no doubt Why Jonah is fleeing. What Jonah must learn is that we cannot flee from the Lord, from His Will or His Word.

To be continued

SPIRITUAL OSTEOPOROSIS

Dr. Victoria Moots

Part 2

Next, I would like to address prevention of osteoporosis. What can be done to maintain good bone health? What are your risk factors, and what can be done to change some of them, both physically and spiritually?
Age and genetics are 2 risk factors over which we have no control, but if you have a family history you should be even more vigilant to correct the other risk factors which can be altered.
Smoking is a very strong risk factor, a habit which is harmful in many ways, but God is able to deliver you from this if you will let Him. There are also multiple medications available from your doctor that can assist you in stopping; however, you must first purpose in your heart that you want to quit, or you will not succeed. The bondage of smoking is like the bondage of sin. It has control of you, and until you recognize that you are enslaved, you will not seek to be set free.
Inadequate calcium intake is another risk factor. Your bones act as a storage bank for calcium, a mineral necessary for muscle relaxation as well as many other processes in the body. When your blood level gets too low, the body releases special hormones to draw calcium from your “bone bank” by activating the osteoclasts. If this continues you will become over drawn at the bank resulting in a deficit which we call osteoporosis. You must make a daily deposit of sufficient calcium (1,000 to 1,500 mg in 2 or 3 divided doses) to maintain your “bone bank” balance. Spiritually we need to “…desire the sincere milk of the word…” I Peter 2:2, and partake of it in sufficient quantities daily.
Some churches today no longer preach the “sincere milk of the word” and have concocted a religious beverage that peps you up, tastes sweet and makes you feel good rather than nourishing the soul. People are being fed a watered-down version of the true milk and never seem to develop a desire to drink of it between Sunday morning services. Likewise, in the American diet, milk is frequently being replaced by carbonated, sweetened, highly caffeinated beverages or excessively strong coffee. Soda pop is high in phosphorus and sodium. Excess phosphorus blocks the absorption of calcium, and high sodium and high caffeine intake cause loss of calcium in the urine. Such beverages should be avoided spiritually and physically to prevent “…rottenness of bones” as in Prov. 12:4.
I Timothy 4:7, admonishes us to exercise ourselves unto godliness. A sedentary lifestyle or inadequate exercise can lead to osteoporosis as well as several other health problems. Walking is one of the easiest and safest types for people of all ages and costs nothing. I John 1:7, tells us to “…walk in the light, as he is in the light…” This is important physically also as sunlight is a valuable source of Vitamin D, which is necessary for calcium absorption. Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause a chemical reaction in the skin which produces Vitamin D. This process requires unprotected sunlight for 15 minutes and should be done on a daily basis for maximum benefit.
Seventy percent of women age 50-70 lack vitamin D and 90% of those over 70 are lacking. This is largely due to spending too much time inside under artificial lighting, therefore you should make sure your calcium supplement contains vitamin D. Recent studies have also shown that many children are at risk for vitamin D deficiency due to inadequate time playing outside. Because of technological advancements the trend is to spend leisure time inside playing video games, using the computer or other electronics resulting in lack of physical activity and sunshine exposure.
Weight bearing exercise is essential to prevent osteoporosis. Bones require stress, such as the pull of gravity from walking in order to remain strong. Prolonged bedrest, more than 2 or 3 days, can quickly lead to bone loss. When the astronauts first journeyed to the moon and back, spending an extended period of time in weightlessness, it was discovered that they had lost significant bone mass. They were so weak upon their return that they required assistance to stand up against the force of gravity. Now astronauts are required to do resistance type exercises while in space daily to prevent this.
Even though bones are strengthened by stress, and inactivity or lack of gravity will weaken them, we must be careful not to over stress the body which could lead to stress fractures. Spiritually we must all endure a certain amount of trials in our Christian lives in order to gain strength. But God has promised that He would not put on us more than we are able to bear. However, sometimes we take upon ourselves too heavy a burden by failing to cast our cares upon Him and letting Him help carry our load. If you try to lift more than you are capable of carrying, physically or spiritually, it may result in a compression fracture of the spine. It is far better to seek assistance from someone who is stronger than you or to share the burden with another. Jesus promised that if we are yoked together with Him the burden would be light, (Matt. 4:28-30).
Another factor that can put you at risk for osteoporosis relates to the prolonged use of certain medications including steroids, anti-seizure and thyroid drugs which may speed up bone loss. Even certain types of birth control hormones can result in osteoporosis: If you are taking any of these you should have a Dexa Scan (Bone Density Test) and may need to start medications to counteract the bone loss. Ask your doctor regarding this.
But what if you already have osteoporosis? Be assured that both physical and spiritual osteoporosis can be treated. Isaiah 58:11 promises, “And the Lord shall… make fat thy bones…” This refers to thin osteoporotic bones that are made thicker (or fatter) by the Lord. Isaiah 66:14 also promises, “… your bones shall flourish like an herb...”, which describes bones that are actively growing, building up instead of breaking down.
There are currently several types of medications to treat osteoporosis including oral, injectable, intravenous and intra nasal. You should discuss with your doctor which one is best for you. In addition, the preventive measures that were discussed previously should be followed to maintain healthy bone structure.
If you have the misfortune to suffer an acute compression fracture of the spine there is a surgical procedure called Kyphoplasty which can help relieve pain and restore height of the vertebra and keep you from becoming bowed over. It consists of the use of a balloon device which is guided into proper position inside a collapsed vertebra with the aid of a fluoroscope. The surgeon then inflates the balloon to expand it and infuses a special bone cement into the area. Of course, all surgical procedures carry some risk, but it can be very effective. Jesus, by His word, performed the first Kyphoplasty 2,000 years ago on the woman in Luke 13, discussed previously. God’s word is still able to heal today and give strength to our spiritual bones and enable us to walk upright.
Physical osteoporosis, if untreated, can lead to total disability due to weakness, deformity, pain and even ability to walk or stand. Spiritual osteoporosis can be just as devastating but is equally treatable, for God has provided everything we need to be able to stand against Satan and not fall under times of stress.
We must first desire and partake of the sincere milk of the word and apply it personally in order to grow spiritually. Then we must walk in that light. Through faith we understand and believe the important concept that we can stand on God’s grace alone. Our strength does not lie in self-works but in the power of the blood of Jesus which atoned for our sins. If we are in Christ, and Christ is in us, then we have the same power to stand against Satan that Jesus did when he was tempted in the wilderness. We know in whom we stand and have no fear of falling as stated by Jude in Jude 24, 25: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”