Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases including heart disease and cancer. Obesity is caused by excessive food intake and a corresponding lack of output or activity and genetic susceptibility.
Obesity has become a national health crisis in the U.S. with juvenile diabetes impacting the highest percentage of kids and youth in our nations history. Obesity is perhaps the most serious trend leading to poor health in U.S. citizens but most experts believe it is also the easiest to reverse by simple lifestyle and dietary changes.
Obesity is not just an emerging physical health issue; there is substantial evidence that the Body of Christ is suffering from the same health issue - "Spiritual Obesity." The spiritual version is also caused by excessive intake with little or no output or productive activity. Christians in the U.S. have never lived in an era where so much "spiritual nourishment" has been made available, such as, sermons, teachings, books, CDs, DVDs, television broadcast, internet live streaming, podcast, bible on iphone, "revival" meeting after revival meeting, prophetic conference after prophetic conference, prosperity conference after conference, etc........... shall I continue? Yet, the percentage of Christians in the U.S. has not increased in over a decade while most protestant denominations report negative growth.
In addition, many churches are providing a more "seeker" friendly approach in order to accomodate the lack of interest and time commitment from "believers." Sunday night services are a thing of the past. Consecutive-day prayer and revival meetings are a thing of the past, while tarrying in His presence has been reduced to the time allotment of a drive through car wash. It is no wonder the world does not want to join the passionlessness of our pursuit. These are all indicators that something is wrong with the health of the spiritual body.
Perhaps the only explanation is that we are living in an era of unprecedented self-indulgence which has led to a delusion of self-centeredness. When Christians become more introspective than extrospective the world suffers because the lost are not hearing and seeing the message of the Gospel. The gifts, callings and word of God was not meant for excessive consumption without equally excessive output. Jesus challenged the disciples when he said "LOOK at the fields (not at yourself) which are ripe and ready for harvest" (Jn.4:35). In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25) Jesus rebuked the servant who did not put his talent to USE calling the servant wicked and slothful. As physical obesity leads to increased health problems and reduced life expectancy; likewise, spiritual obesity leads to unhealthy and apathetic spiritual life. The Body of Christ was meant to live, move and have our being in HIS LIFE, HIS POWER and HIS PASSION. It is time to awaken and shake off the slumber!!!
God intends for every believer to use the gifts and the word that has been imparted and consumed; otherwise, contentment sets in, slumber sets in, health issues begin to emerge, and genetic issues (generational curses) that should be settled at the Cross begin to rise up and ravage the believers soul. I am amazed at how many personal "prophetic" words are needed for one to embrace and pursue their destiny in Christ. While the church locks itself inside the four walls indulging in the exercising of spiritual gifts, listening to yet another inspirational word on "how to have your best year ever" there is a world full of people who may never darken the doors of the church but are in desperate need of just ONE WORD from God. For this purpose Jesus prayed (Jn. 17:15-18) "Father my prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by your truth, you word is truth, and As you sent me into the world, so I send them."
Jesus said (Jn. 7:37) "Anyone who thirst let him come to me and drink (intake) AND out of his belly (spiritual output) will FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER." Jesus never meant for us to drink only but to release or share from the abundance that we have consumed with those that are hungry and thirsty. If we do not share then what we intake becomes excessive and leads to OBESITY which leads to health problems and lifelessness. The world is looking for a vibrant, healthy (not perfect) Church that is overflowing with resurrection life and power - a body of believers that gives as freely as it receives of God.
Let's break the cycle of OBESITY in the body. Lets be a generation that identifies the problem, embraces the solution and invokes action. If all truth is parallel and it is then certainly the trend of obesity in the Body of Christ can be reversed with healthy lifestyle changes and increased output or activity.
Let's use the gifts and ALL OF THE WORD that God has sown in us to shake our nation once again!!
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