Jesus black belts

I was listening to a guy in his 50s talking about mixed martial arts. He had studied fighting for 40 years. He was a martial arts enthusiast and held a black belt. Everyday he put himself through a grueling routine of stretching and punching bag work. His body was conditioned to be as hard as a rock and his mind contained untold numbers of strikes and submission holds. Wherever he went he wore stretch jeans so he could kick someone in the head. Another fighter was with him, and they both started laughing that, outside the ring, they had never been in a fight. They had trained their entire lives for something they never used.

Many Christians are like this. They attend Church and pray to God daily. They study His Word and read devotionals. They are Jesus black belts. Yet they never use it. There comes a point when you stop studying to go to the mission field and you actually go. Many should be teachers yet they act like students. They are feeding themselves instead of feeding others.

When you join the army you go through basic training. You are trained to be a soldier and how to shoot a gun. When your training is complete you are sent to combat. Many people join a Church and are given a sword (the Bible). They are trained on sword play and are formidable. Yet that’s all they do: train with their sword and polish it inside the Church. The enemies of God are devouring people outside their Church walls, yet they are inside, training and training but never engaging the enemy. Such soldiers are useless to their General.

There is a bloody battle raging the streets all around us. And given the direction society is going, it appears we are giving up sacred ground. Given this fact, allow me to ask you 2 questions:

1. Do you read your Bible everyday?

You better! Your bible is your weapon. Can you defend yourself and defend those weaker than you? When Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, He refuted Satan with Scripture. A Christian without a sword is useless. Step towards maturity. If you've done this, you're the one I wrote this for, proceed to question number 2.

2 How many people did you bring to the Lord this year?

Doesn’t that question make you feel naked? Many of us spend more time doing our hair and makeup than spreading the gospel.


Allow me to tell you something. Every year, the Lord has entrusted someone to you, to bring to Him. For many of you, this resounds true. You are bothered by someone’s lack of faith, by someone’s back sliding, by someone. The Holy Spirit is bothering you. Listen to Him. Accept this responsibility that the Lord has entrusted to you. If you have tried and failed, try harder, pray longer, shine brighter. The Lord’s children are not defeatists. This mantel has been given to you. Figure it out in prayer and do not suppress the work the Spirit wishes to do through you.

For others, you missed it. The Lord gave you someone and you didn’t hear Him. Perhaps you were too busy doing your hair to notice? Other Christians are being forced to pick up your slack. Pray to the Lord to reveal to you, whom He has entrusted to you.

Mature Christians are to find and train disciples. You are a rabbi. It is time to restructure your life to be more effective for the Kingdom. Unsheathe your sword. The battle is nigh.