Biblical Approach to Health and Discipline

Chris Grainger 1:34

Welcome to the Lion Within Us , a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be . I'm your host , chris Granger . Let's jump in . All right guys , spiritual kickoff time , so let's get right into it this week . I know you need a boost getting your week started , so we are here to help . So we're in the book of 1 Corinthians , 10 , verse 31 .

Chris Grainger 1:54

This one this week can be super simple . All right , it says so . Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do , do it all for the glory of God . All right , guys . So if you can tell this week , when we talk about health , digging into our health , how we can honor him , how we can glorify him with our bodies , this is a pillar , such a big part of the line within us Mind and body , we have to take care of those . We have to build those up each and every day , right ? So we need to know , not just because we want to look good in the bathing suit , come on now , but we need to do it because we want to honor and glorify God . So let's get right into the scriptures .

Chris Grainger 2:32

The first thing we need to know is where is the book of 1 Corinthians ? Okay , that's a very important question . We need to know that this is New Testament written by Paul . If you go past Acts , you go past Romans , you'll get to 1 Corinthians . If you get to 2 Corinthians , guess what ? You went too far back up a little bit , okay . So now this is all about taking care of're going to see with Apostle Paul . He tells us right here we have to do this with whatever we drink , whatever we eat , whatever we do . So this speaks right here , directly to the heart of how we , as Christian men , should approach every aspect of our life and think about . This is such a big , important part of how we take care of our bodies , because their bodies are the temples of the holy spirit . You're gonna hear me talk about this this week because that was in first corinthians 6 19 , but it's our responsibility to honor god with him . So now we need to start thinking about how can we embrace that biblical perspective on health , because I know it ain't always fun . Let let's just be real . It's not always fun having to take care of bodies . Particularly with more birthday candles you have on your birthday cakes , it gets harder and harder and harder .

Chris Grainger 3:45

From a biblical worldview , taking care of our bodies . It's not just about physical fitness . No , it's about surrendering everything , all the lusts , all the desires , surrendering that stuff down and making choices that honor and please God . Okay , because it should not be vanity or socially driven right . No , it should not be driven by that . If you're trying to lose weight or to trim up so that you can look good on social media , you're chasing the wrong things .

Chris Grainger 4:17

Our duty is to steward what he has given us well . Matthew 6 , 25, . Jesus tells us don't worry about our lives . We're going to eat or drink about our bodies . He's teaching us right here and encouraging us to trust God's provision and focus on seeking his kingdom first .

Chris Grainger 4:35

That's so important to remember as we go into this topic this week , because it's reminding us that our worth is not determined by the things of this world , by these external appearances . No , no , no , no , no . You got a couple of things working against you , boys . You got time and gravity . Let's just be real . Old Pastor Jobi talks about . You know , if you got a little chain , you can nip it and tuck it and do all these different types of things to make it look better for a little while , but you still have gravity . I don't care what's going on . You know Dolly Parton , she's still got gravity working against her . That's just part of life , right , and that's OK . So we need to understand that having that biblical perspective is so important .

Chris Grainger 5:15

And then , once you understand that , the second part getting into this verse that we need to think about is discipline . Discipline Because that maintains such a big role in how you're going to take care of your body , because the Bible frequently talks about self-control right and discipline . I mean Proverbs 25 , 28 talks about like a city whose walls are broken down through a person who lacks self-control . We got to have discipline because without discipline , our lives can become chaotic and disordered , just like that wall , like Jericho . When the wall I just talked to this last night with our kids at church . When the walls fell down , guess what it was on ? Right , it was complete chaos , except for rehab , but anyway , it's complete chaos when it comes to our health .

Chris Grainger 6:00

This one right here , I mean he's making conscious choices . Conscious choices about what we eat , how we work out , the types of fitness we do and also how we care for our bodies , what we put our bodies through . Are we resting the bodies ? Are we resting the bodies ? Are we letting the bodies get some sleep that it deserves . Are we just jacking our bodies up with so much caffeine just to keep us going ? And when they crash , they crash , and we're constantly spiking our heart rates .

Chris Grainger 6:29

Because this discipline involves resisting the temptation to indulge right , and those unhealthy sometimes even healthy habits , like if all you do all day long is work out . That's unhealthy too . You have to take the time to slow down . You need to make the intentional choice to nourish your body with wholesome items , you know . Get rid of the processed food for one and start getting some regular physical activity in , because this is a disciplined approach right here .

Chris Grainger 7:01

And if we were disciplined in our health , we're going to see it differently , versus just a bunch of rules . No one likes a bunch of rules , and if we try to set a bunch of rules out there , guess what ? We're going to look for any excuse we can to break them . That's just part of it . Now , if we start making these , if we start putting this discipline in our place and setting these boundaries and these guidelines up , we're going to figure out how to make these decisions . Well , make them using the Bible as your guideline .

Chris Grainger 7:27

Okay , use the Bible , because right here in the beginning of James it talks about . He encourages us to seek God for wisdom . He's going to give it generously . So if we turn to Scripture and prayer , we can find direction for making those healthy choices that align with His will , for instance , in a world that really is all about glorifying extreme diets and all these unrealistic body standards . Let's just face it , it's absolutely ridiculous what's out there right now so far as what's healthy Absolutely ridiculous .

Chris Grainger 7:58

But Scripture says physical training is of some value . But godliness has value for all things , holding promise for both the present life and the life to come . So what's this telling us ? You better prioritize that spiritual health . You know . It's just not saying throw the physical well-being to the side , don't think about it . No , that's not what it says . But you're supposed to prioritize that spiritual health and then , at the same time , you'd be doing what he's called you to do to take care of that physical body . It's so important , it's something we can't just gloss over .

Chris Grainger 8:31

And then you got to start thinking about your motivators and social pressures that are out there , because this stuff can be overwhelming , particularly for you guys out there who have daughters . I'm telling you , I got three of them . Sometimes I have to start paying attention to , because body image and dieting that can be overwhelming , especially to young women , and dieting that could be overwhelming , especially to young women Okay , but as Christians we know we're supposed to define our bodies by what Our identity rather , our identity is only found in Christ , in Him alone , than any standards . I mean , it tells us in Psalm 139 that we're fearfully and wonderfully made . I tell my daughters this often and my son I have to tell them this often .

Chris Grainger 9:20

But we've got to have these truths to combat that negative junk that gets thrown at us all the time . And we need to appreciate . You know what . God created us this way ? For a reason . So , whatever you think , you know God didn't give me this . Why can't God make me look better in a swimsuit ? Why can't God make me have bigger biceps ? Whatever , it is right . Look , you need to recognize . God created you the way that he wanted . Now you have to do the work . You've got to do the work , to put in and take care of it . But those social pressures , I'm telling you it can ruin so many of us . So if we focus on God's truth and we surrender our desires for things that do not honor him . So get all that stuff out of your life .

Chris Grainger 9:59

Ok , you can start finding a healthy , balanced approach to take care of this temple . This is this is not just what you eat , fellas , ok , how you exercise , but also how you rest and recover , and this is such a big area that I think so many guys they fly by Maybe you guys out there listening to this . You're pounding it in the gym , you're crushing it there . You're even eating good right , you're taking care of your , you're eating the chicken breast , you're eating the broccoli low on the carbs , the high quality protein , all that stuff , and you're running on about four hours of sleep because you don't need that much sleep . Did you know that the average person back before the light bulb was invented , this is about 11 hours of sleep is what we averaged .

Chris Grainger 10:46

That's working off God's rhythm . What we've done . We've replaced God's rhythm with man's rhythm . We have lights . We can get up whenever we want . We can work whenever we want . We don't have to go to bed because we have entertainment we created ourselves . We sit and we watch these little rectangles of other people doing stuff and we feel entertained by it .

Chris Grainger 11:06

It's like no , no , no , no . We need to recognize If we don't take care and rest these bodies , these temples , we will run into issues . This is probably one of the biggest struggle areas of my life , because I go , go , go . I'm always thinking about stuff , doing stuff and trying to do the next thing , and it's hard to sit still . But you have to sit still and be still and rest so that you can be ready to do what he's called you to do , because taking care of your body is a vital , vital part of living out your faith . You've got to make the decisions that honor and glorify God . You have to start practicing that discipline . You need to start thinking from a biblical worldview , not just your worldview on everything like health , and then , if you do all that , guess what ? You'll start stewarding that body of will . You just will . That stewardship will improve because everything you do , everything , is about honor and glorifying God . I want you to think about this is the question of the week .

Chris Grainger 12:09

This week , guys , is how do you find joy in fitness ? Now , it may be different for each and every one of you . Some of you guys may really like swimming , okay . Some of you guys may like biking . Some of you guys may like hiking or rucking or running or lifting weights or HIIT exercises or sports Maybe some basketball guys out there or soccer , whatever it may be . Okay , find joy in it , because if you're just doing the stuff , just to do it , I'm telling you , man , find something

Surrender to Jesus for Salvation

Chris Grainger 12:38

else .

Chris Grainger 12:39

There's so many other different ways that you can take care of these temples . Find something that works for you . For me , I love strength training , I love hiking with a ruck on and I love running and my exercise bike . Those are things that I just enjoy , right , pretty much every day I'm on that bike . I try to do 15 to 18 miles on that exercise bike and lifting weights If you get two or three of those in a week , it's a good week . Running If I get two or three runs in a week , it's a good week . You know what ? All that stuff is hard , it's easy , but find joy in it . Find joy in it and do all you can to honor and glorify God , and then that peace that passes all understanding fellas , if you're doing that with your body , I'm telling you you'll have that peace , because God's going to just , he's just going to smile on you because you're taking care of that temple Remember you're made in his image , take care of it .

Chris Grainger 13:33

And if you're listening to this , you're like man , what in the world are they talking about ? Listen to God , like how are you supposed to hear God ? Well , you hear God because you have the Holy Spirit , the Holy Spirit guiding and directing us as believers and we fully believe this . And you're like okay , tell me more . Okay , well , if you're listening to the Lion Within Us , you got this far in . I'm going to share it with you .

Chris Grainger 13:54

I want to share some good news you may not have ever heard before . Maybe you don't fully understand , and it starts with understanding . You are made in the image of God . You're made in the image of God . I know it's hard to put our heads around , but God formed when he made man . He formed Adam with His hands and then breathed the breath of life , called the Ruah of life , into Adam's nostrils . And all of a sudden , adam was face-to-face with his Creator and it was perfect . And we are made in the image of God because we're direct descendants of Adam . So we know that we're made in his image . Okay , so we have that .

Chris Grainger 14:32

Except there's this one problem this little thing called sin . And sin entered the world when they ate the forbidden fruit . Sin entered the world . They were kicked out of the garden and ever since then it's just been a downhill trajectory . That's okay .

Chris Grainger 14:47

We have redemption , we know what we need to do . We have this sin that entered the world and the sin is anything that separates us from God . So don't compare your sin to like the sin of somebody on death row Terrible , terrible way of mindset , because at the end of somebody on death row Terrible , terrible way of mindset , because at the end of the day , a sin's a sin and they all make us fall short of the glory of God and each and every one of us is a sinner , for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . It says that in Scripture . So you recognize that we're a sinner and also please hear me out there Even some of you Christians we're not .

Chris Grainger 15:17

Struggles . I got to struggle . You got a sin issue . You got a sin issue . Let's call it for what it is . You have a sin issue . Whatever that sin is , we need to address that directly . So we have this gap . It's called sin . It separates a holy and righteous God from us .

Chris Grainger 15:36

What are we going to do ? Can you pay for it with money and credit cards ? Nope , can you read your Bible to get there ? Nope . Can you pray to get there and spend time in small group and go to church to get there ? Nope . Can you help little old ladies cross the street Nope . Because all those things are works and works-based righteousness is not found in scripture . You can't work your way into a right standing with God .

Chris Grainger 15:58

Well , if I'm just good , I should be good to go . I'll get into heaven . Well , define good . What's good enough ? When have I checked that box ? Have I been good enough for the last couple of days ? Maybe ? What's the standard ? What do you mean ? What's the standard ? No , what's the standard you're comparing yourself to ? The answer is you're comparing yourself to a holy and righteous God .

Chris Grainger 16:23

We compare ourselves to God . We all fall short . I don't care who you are . You fall short . So we don't recognize we fall short . There's nothing we can do to pay for it . What do we do ? Well , we need a Savior . We don't need a coach . We need a Savior to come in and save us from this penalty of sin , which is death and separation from God forever . So how do we do that ? God did it .

Chris Grainger 16:51

Jesus came on a rescue mission for us , was born of a virgin , fulfilled all the prophecies did the teachings , did the miracles , loved us , showed us that a God be loved . Only he could , because he loves us so much . Then he willfully check this out , willfully , gave himself up to be crucified on a cross , pierced through the hands , pierced through the feet , pierced in the side , dead , died On the cross . His perfect blood ran for you , for me , for me , for the entire world . They took him down off that tomb Because right there he was the payment for sin . They took him down off that tomb , they laid him off the cross , they laid him in an empty tomb .

Chris Grainger 17:36

And the reason we're not wearing black and mourning the loss of Jesus every day and every year , particularly at Easter , is because death cannot hold him . He overcame death , he rose . So we don't worship some dead guy , we worship a living Savior . So he rose , he showed himself to the apostles . He showed himself to lots of different people as well , did some more teaching , had a little barbecue on the beach , guys . He did some incredible stuff and then he ascended to heaven .

Chris Grainger 18:09

It's right now at the right hand of the Father . No one gets to heaven except through him . He is the way , the truth and the life . Fellas . There is no other name under heaven that has been given to us by which we must be saved . Jesus is it . And it's so cool to know that and to know him as your Savior . So know all this stuff .

Chris Grainger 18:27

Okay , we're made in the image of God , although we've got the sin issue . But Jesus is the Savior . He died for me . He's the payment that satisfies . What do I have to do ? Well , you've got to confess your life to him . You've got to just give it to him .

Chris Grainger 18:40

Lord , I can't do this my way . My way is not working . I need something better . I need something more , because the things of this world that I think are going to fully and finally satisfy me have not done so , no matter how often I chase them . No-transcript , those things aren't inherently bad . When you start finding your identity in that and looking for contentment and joy out of those things , you're going to constantly be disappointed .

Chris Grainger 19:17

So we need to surrender our lives to Him and confess Him as Lord . This is Lord over everything , not just Lord over certain areas , every area of our life , including our finances . We have to confess to him and once we take that step of obedience , okay , at that point the holy spirit's gonna come , it's gonna dwell , you have a new heart , the scale's gonna be off , you'll be able to see the world for what's going on . You'll be out there in the battle with us , having on your your armor of god doing the battle , doing the work . He's your armor of God doing the battle , doing the work he's called you to do , with the Holy Spirit seeking , convicting , guiding and directing you all the way . But here's the thing you have to surrender to Him . You have to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ . You have to take the first step . You take the first step . He'll be there with you all the steps , but you have to take the first step . You take the first step . He'll be there with you all the steps , but you have to take the first step because you need to deny yourself and choose to follow him .

Chris Grainger 20:14

So for our listeners out there right now that are listening , that recognize I've never truly surrendered my life to the Lordship of Christ , maybe today's the day . This is why we do this . We share the gospel every week on SKL , because you never know when the days could be the day . I want to pray for you Now . I want to just invite you in to the family . So , father , thank you for how much you love us , thank you for how good you are to us , thank you for sending Jesus just to be that payment that satisfies , that fulfills the penalty for our sins .

Chris Grainger 20:45

I pray for that one listener right now who's having a tough time . They don't know which way to turn . They don't want things . Their way just ain't working . I pray you put your head's protection around them . Give them just encouragement , give them hope . I pray that they know that you hear their prayer . I pray that they know now they are a son or a daughter of the king . I pray you just put people on their path . That's going to encourage them , speak life into them , that's going to be able to uplift and support them as they grow into their newfound journey of Christian believers . So we love you , lord , we praise you . We just give you all the honor and glory in Christ's name , amen .

Chris Grainger 21:26

So , fellas , ladies too , if you're listening and you're just running your life through the Lordship of Christ , I want to hear from you . Chris at thelionwithinus that's , chris at thelionwithinus , send me an email because I've got a bunch of free resources I want to send you . I want to give you a Bible study I want to send you some 10 scriptures to fight like a lion . I want to get you some other areas , some of our devotionals , get you prayed up on that type of things . Also want to find out how we can help you plug into a local church in your community . We have lots of resources all over the United States . We want to be able to help you any way we can there and just want to just give you a virtual fist bump and a hug and just pray over you and just encourage you and just try to help you get started on the right foot of your journey of now being a disciple A disciple because that's what you've been called to do . Getting saved is the first part . The rest is a lifelong journey of being a disciple of Christ .

Chris Grainger 22:22

All right , so have a great day , get after it . Look , on Wednesday . I'm telling you guys this is going to be a good one on Wednesday . I had a lot of fun with this guest High , high energy , lots of practical tips , particularly around taking some steps , around not being a diet but taking care of our bodies in a way to honor and glorify God . So hopefully you guys are going to enjoy that one Again .

Chris Grainger 22:44

Thelionwithinus , that's thelionwithinus . That's thelionwithinus , how you get all our resources , the devotions I just mentioned a few minutes ago , as well as join our community . Join our community , guys . I'm just going to be straight up with you . We need some guys to join our community , and I'd also just ask for you guys to consider supporting us on a monthly basis . Whatever amount you can kind of afford will help us tremendously . Just continue to build the things and do the things that we feel like God's calling us to do . If you're enjoying the Lion Within us show and you just want to be part of the show , just hey , every week I enjoy listening Monday , wednesday , friday I know these guys just give me some good content . Hey , be a monthly supporter . That'd be huge . I'm telling you . It takes a lot like this , particularly what we feel like God's calling us to do , and your support , no matter how small or how large , could help us tremendously . So go to thelionwithinus , check out the area of support right there . That would be tremendous . All right , guys , have a great , great day , get after it , come back on Wednesday , look forward to hanging out with you . You know what's coming . Keep unleashing the lion with that .

Becoming a Better Leader Through Community

Chris Grainger 23:49

If you're a man who's looking for greater spiritual guidance into how to become a better leader . Finding resources that you can trust and then implement can be daunting . For me personally , I thought it was a lost cause and I decided to take the action , knowing that I wasn't alone . It was because of this wide gap that we created our line within this community , and the areas that we were helping Christian men grow are incredible . For instance , we built ways for guys to lean in and grow through fun events like our daily spiritual kickoff , where you get that much needed boost directly from God's word , our Bible studies that always focus on how to discern and apply what we learn , and even our amazing form , where you can speak your mind without fear of getting shut down or judged by the extreme rules of modern day social media . On top of all that , we know that many men want help overcoming issues and becoming stronger in many different areas . That's why we created several mastermind groups where the iron truly sharpens the iron .

Chris Grainger 24:49

Our community is about having a growth mindset , accountability , intentionality and transparency . In other words , just leave fake you at home and come to community just as you are . I fully believe what we feel . I see the impact it's making on men right now , and I would love to have you check it out . So start your very own 30-day free trial today to see how we can help you be a better leader . So if you're ready to take that first step , head over to thelinewithinus and get started . Your journey begins here . Visit thelinewithinus and I'll see you inside the den .