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Long-suffering is a segment of the fruit of the Spirit, and a vital quality of God that we need to learn and imbibe. A true friend would not leave when his or her friend is going through a storm. They stick with the friend, encouraging and believing there would be a turn around. However, some have been known to abandon their friend at their hour of need, missing out on the benefits of long-suffering and proving a lack of this fruit of the Spirit. Are you a true friend? Let's go to the Gym Of The Spirit.

Matthew 24:10-11 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. - Matthew 24:10-11 At this time, many believers would be offended. Not that they would be angered but would not be able to stand persecution. Why would they fall, falter and buckle under persecution? Why don't they have deep roots, as this is the major reason they fall, according to Matthew 13? Let's dig into Matthew 24 10 & 11.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Matthew 24:9 Without mincing words, Jesus tells that the Church, the believers will be delivered up to be afflicted. Delivered to whom? For what offense? And why would the Lord allow it? Even the tone of His voice is as if He planned it, or didn't He? This is the story embedded in Matthew 24 verse 9.

This is of the Gym Of The Spirit series. “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27 This exercise in the gym of the Spirit looks to experiencing the peace of God no matter the storm. Some of you maybe experiencing earthquakes in your lives: a job moving normally, a business making waves, a Ministry touching lives, a marriage full of fun and promise, a normal healthy life. Then all of a sudden, unexpectedly and without warning, a violent change comes; a severe attack, an EARTHQUAKE that comes with such great force that leaves you despairing for life and possibly asking for death!

Matthew 24:8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows." I have often heard people say that as Christians, we shouldn't use negative words, or fear inspiring words. I have even heard a prominent Man of God, say "tribulation will tribulate those who preach it!" Verse 8 of Matthew 24, sounds negative but what God has ordained, will come to pass. It is not something to be negotiated, no. Jesus was not negative when He told us what to expect. Events of the last few verses would mark the beginning of something painful, emotionally and bodily: "horrors to come", as a translation puts it. This is Matthew 24:8

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." Galatians 5:22 Joy in the midst of storm is a sure sign of God's presence. Paul and Silas found themselves in prison and in stock after the beating of their lives. Yet they sang, not sorrowfully but in joy so much so that the other prisoners heard them (Acts 16:22-25). Joy swells up from inside, not minding and not based on the outward situations and circumstances, not like happiness that dwells on good happenings; which the world can take away. But the joy of the Lord is for ever!

The Called and the Sent 3 Are there really two grades or categories of Ministers? What differentiates them? As we look today into the "Called", we see certain features from the Word of God that tells the difference. The Lord has hierarchy set in His service and until we get to understand this, honour may not be given to whom it is due. Today we focus on The Sent.

Matthew 24:6-7 "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." The world has always known wars. What is so special about these wars that would tie or connect them to deception? Certainly, in times of war there would be famines and pestilences, but how do earthquakes fit into this? These and more we discuss in this episode of Matthew 24.

In the gym, there are different tools for building different parts of the body; some for fore-arms, some for the neck, the thighs have theirs, the biceps, every part has its own. In the gym of the Spirit, there are also different tools to train and exercise with to build ourselves spiritually. Love is the first of these tools. As we surrender to our Trainer Who can lead us even to people, places, and situations that we may not want to go, let's set our eyes on and learn from our Lord Jesus that we may not be weary and give up.

The Called and the Sent 2 Are there really two grades or categories of Ministers? What differentiates them? As we look today into the "Called", we see certain features from the Word of God that tells the difference. The Lord has hierarchy set in His service and until we get to understand this, honour may not be given to whom it is due.

"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." - Matthew 24:5 As we continue to look at this eschatological teaching of Jesus, we consider three key words or phrase: "come", "in my name", and "saying". What could these mean? These are our focus today in Matthew 24.

Experience, they say, is the best teacher. The bible would say "oh, taste and see that the Lord is good". Maturity, of the body and of the spirit is made of this: experience, taste, participate in, be a partaker, exercise. That is the only way to grow or bear the fruit of the Kingdom. Join us in the GYM OF THE SPIRIT 2 as we mature together. "The secret of growth is not one mighty jump, not an overnight blossoming. It is a step each day. It is holy routine." - Zacharias Tanee Fomum

In the Body of Christ, the Church, the Called and the Sent exist. We all are called, even the unbeliever, however we respond in various ways. Answering the Call, we have to be discipled, a process that doesn't come overnight. As we mature, greater responsibility is placed on our shoulders and we start serving in the local Assembly, maturing further, we become instruments of building others. As in every Army, this training and discipline helps us "discern the Body of Christ" and we give honour to whom it is due.

How would you feel when persistently asked to enter a locked room, to the point the person becomes angry with you for not entering, yet he did not give you the key to the room? Or better still, asked persistently to live or walk in the spirit, but you are not told how? The Father, Jesus said, is seeking those that will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Paul encourages us to walk in spirit. It takes exercise, not gimmicks, to walk in the spirit. What type of exercise? We explore this issue as we enter THE GYM OF THE SPIRIT.

How would you feel if you asked a person three distinctly unrelated questions and he answers by giving one general answer? The disciples in verse three asked Jesus three unrelated questions and He gave them a blanket answer. How could that be processed? What is the link? And why give such an answer? Again the Deity of Jesus comes to the fore as He further prepares the Saints of what is to come. This is Matthew 24:4

Matthew 24:3 The disciples came to Jesus privately, to ask: 1) when the event of tearing down the Temple would be? 2) what would be the sign of His coming? 3) what would be the sign signaling the end of the world? Why would they come to Him privately and what was their mindset pertaining the questions they asked?

The disciples came to Jesus privately to ask three questions. One question is about the Jewish people and does not necessarily concern us. Two of them concern us. What are these? And how do they concern us? We discuss this and more in this second episode of the serial Matthew 24.

After leaving the Temple in Matthew 23 where Jesus told the leaders of the Jews that He has left their house desolate, His disciples came privately to Him, to show Him the beauty and elegance of the Temple, and to ask three questions. He starts by telling them that the building would be brought down. God's house brought down? Why? And how unimaginable for God's house to be brought down! Is God not in the Holy Temple? Or is the building not born of God? Why would it not overcome the world as all things born of God? These and more would be discussed in this episode of the serial Matthew 24.

Many a home has been broken because of barrenness, even Christian homes; for lack of the knowledge of God. But, no one is barren in the land! What then could be responsible for the barrenness? That is what we explore in this podcast YOU CAN'T BE BARREN!

God sent Elijah to a widow of Zarephath. Why Zarephath, a town In Zidon? Jezebel was from Zidon, and her father was the king. Her father, Ethbaal, was also the priest of Baal, the major cause of the apostasy on Israel. Having started a walk with God, Elijah had to be trained and equipped for greater work and what was ahead, he had to be refined. Zarephath means refinement! every serious Christian must be refined and purged. The time is now!!!

God sent Elijah to a widow of Zarephath. Why Zarephath, a town In Zidon? Jezebel was from Zidon, and her father was the king. Her father, Ethbaal, was also the priest of Baal, the major cause of the apostasy on Israel. Having started a walk with God, Elijah had to be trained and equipped for greater work and what was ahead, he had to be refined. Zarephath means refinement! every serious Christian must be refined and purged.