Watch this message HERE
Spiritual Muscle Memory
2 Samuel 23:10
He arose, and smote the Philistines
until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the
LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only
to spoil.
Introduction:
What is Muscle Memory? Muscle memory
has been used synonymously with motor learning, which is a form of procedural
memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through
repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is
created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without
conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates
maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle
memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve
with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, typing in a PIN,
playing a musical instrument, or martial arts.
·
Golfers – driving
range
·
Baseball players
– batting cages
·
Basketball players
– free throws
·
Bow hunters –
practice
·
Law enforcement
and military – firing range
·
Piano players –
practice their scales
I. HOLDING ON TO THE WORD OF GOD IN A BATTLE. (our text)
When the battle is raging,
get a death grip on that book and DON’T LET GO!
You and I are no match for
the devil without God’s Word.
Jesus used it three times in
Matthew 4.
Our only offensive weapon is
the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God – Eph. 6
If you put that sword down,
you will fall under the attack.
II. GOING TO CHURCH
·
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath
day, and stood up for to read.
Attending the house of God
ought to be second nature!
·
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.
You should be so accustomed
to going to church that if you’re not there during church time, you are
miserable!
Thomas laid out of church
after the resurrection and missed a face to face encounter with the Lord!
If you’re not here, I promise
you – YOU WILL MISS OUT ON A BLESSING!
ILLUSTRATION:
I was listening to a mountain preacher from Tennessee yesterday, and he said if
your church is hosting a cock fight, get there early and help sharpen their
spurs!
III. TRUSTING IN GOD
·
Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
When trouble comes, you will
do one of two things – you will panic, or you will trust God.
The problem is, most people
form a habit of panicking.
They ALWAYS allow a heart
full of fear and doubt to take over.
Why not develop your
spiritual muscle memory and let FAITH kick in when trouble comes?
·
Psalms 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto
thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Job had such SPIRITUAL MUSCLE
MEMORY that in spite of all that happened to him, HE SINNED NOT!!
IV. PRAYING
·
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber
toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and
gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
·
Psalms 55:17
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I
pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
·
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Praying should be such a part
of your day that if you fail to pray, it bothers you!
V. GUARDING YOUR THOUGHT LIFE
·
II Cor. 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The only way you can bring
EVERY THOUGHT to obedience is by developing spiritual muscle memory!
