From weak to strong series:
Overcoming Injuries
“How to spiritually recover from setbacks and sins, much like an athlete recovers from physical injury.”
Key Verse: James 1:2-4: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (many kinds) temptations; 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
- Why does an injured athlete suffer emotionally and spiritually?
When an athlete is physically injured, he or she is affected emotionally and spiritually. If they are hurt seriously, it could be an end to their career. That is why team owners spend so much time and money on physical training to prevent injuries. When an athlete gets injured, the owners send them to the best doctors available and set up ridged rehabilitation programs to get their athletes back on the playing field.
- How do professional athletes overcome physical injury and return strong?
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns running back returned to play for the Cleveland Browns after double knee surgery and total of 398 days of rehab. It takes tremendous effort to come back from surgery and compete at a professional level.
Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children. As a young child she was paralyzed by polio, and contracted both scarlet fever and double pneumonia. Many doctors thought she would never walk again, yet she had always believed otherwise. By the time she was 12, she had regained her ability to walk and took up athletics. Eight years later she was an Olympic champion. In the 1960 Olympic games in Rome, she broke three world records, the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay.
She was given the title as the “world’s fastest woman”.
Emotional and spiritual attitudes affect the athletes abilities in how well they preform in high stake games. When a player is in “slump” and not preforming at his best they are given counseling to regain their professional edge. Today we have many college and professional teams who are spiritually encourage for their playing abilities due to their faith in God. They have testified to large audiences and given praise to almighty God.
- Why do championship players give God honor and praise?
Nick Sirianni head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles who just won the NFL Super Bowl February 9, 2025, gave God the credit for helping them win. The MVP for the Eagles Jalen Hurts gave all the credit to God for them defeating the Chiefs 40 to 22. There is a trend in sports today in our youth to be rooted in faith with the almighty God. We all witnessed the revival on the Ohio State Campus athletes being saved and baptized. Ohio State became the National Champions after defeating Notre Dame (14-2). Will Howard quarterback for the Buckeyes praise God for helping them win.
Today in this Christian world everyone will face a certain amount of resistance to our faith. We will have struggles with people, but nothing happens by coincidence. God places people in our lives to challenge our faith, so that we can become better Christians. For the moment we are going through a trial or a spiritual misunderstanding with another Christian it is very difficult and very intense. We can solve the problem by going to someone that has offended us one-on-one and resolve our difference. It is the best to go the Biblical route one-on-one, do not involve a third party. If you both are humble and want a resolution it will happen.
We will revisit James 1:2-4 and how it applies to our Christian struggles and how to overcome spiritual injury:
- How can Christians be happy when they are overwhelmed with many temptations?
Key Verse: James 1:2-4: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (many kinds) temptations; 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Three Main temptation Christians Must overcome:
- What are the three common temptations that we must overcome?
Three main struggles that are common with all believers and how to overcome and live a victorious Christian life: The three most common struggles will be: 1. The Devil tempting you. 2. Struggles with other believers. 3. Struggles with unbelievers:
The Devil tempting you:
The Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness after he had fasted 40 days. Every temptation that the Devil brought to Jesus, He overcame with the quoting of scripture. Satan tempted Jesus on the three basic human needs Jesus was 100% man during these temptations. Satan told Jesus to turn stone to bread to satisfy His hunger. (Jesus answered; “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the out of the mouth of God.” Satan tempted Jesus to defy God. Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and told Him to jump off, the angels would catch him from being killed. Jesus said unto him, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy god.” Satan tempted Jesus to abandon God and worship him. Satan took Jesus to a very high mountain show Jesus all kingdoms of the world, said unto all these things I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me. Jesus told him, “Get thee hence, Satan: it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy god, and him only shall thou serve. Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Matthew 4:1-11
Hebrews 4:14-16: Listen to the word of God how we Christians can defeat the Satan when we are tempted to stray.
(14: Seeing that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15. For we have not and high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need.)
I Corinthians 10:13:There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. (When temptation comes run to Jesus the anchor of your soul!)
Struggles with other believers:
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou has gained thy brother. (If not take two or three witnesses, finally bring them before the church, always trying to resolve the issue.) Matthew 18:15-18
Struggles with unbelievers:
II Timothy 2:23-26: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strives. 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25. In meekness and instructing those that are oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth ; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Paul was basically saying avoid foolish argument that create problems. Teach unbelievers with love and patience maybe the Holy Spirit would convict their hearts. Christians must be careful and pick their battles with unbelievers wisely. Proverbs 26:4 “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.”
Invitation:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “Let us here the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14. For God shall bring every work into judgment, every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” To be a healthy Christian and fight back from temptation and sin let us fear God, and keep his commandments. Just like professional athletes when they are injured the team owners want them back on the playing field winning championships. The same goes true with us Christians, when we are injured in the struggle standing up for Christian beliefs, God wants us to be healed spiritually as soon as possible to return to the Christian battlefield. We as a church want to come behind you and pray for you. Jeremiah 30 :17 “For I will restore health unto thee, I will heal thee of thy wounds, sayeth the Lord; because they called thee an outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after” “Seek the Lord ye shall find Him!” If you need prayer the altar is open. Come let us pray together and start to repair your injuries. “Fight the good Fight!”
Questions:
- Why does an injured athlete suffer emotionally and spiritually?
- How do professional athletes overcome injury and return strong?
- Why do championship players give honor and praise to God?
- How can Christians be happy when they are overwhelmed with many temptations?
- What are the three common temptations that we must overcome?