- Are you running to Win or are you coasting by?
- Running to win means that there is a determination...
- There is extra effort...
- There is perseverance beyond the norm...
- There is something valuable at stake...
- The prize the apostle Paul is talking about is the victory of eternal salvation.
- verse 25 says, "All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize."
- This is the goal of the Christian life.
- This goal can only be accomplished by giving up our rights for the sake of gaining Christh
- Its dying to self and what we want.
- Its separating ourselves from the world and being set apart.
- It's choosing - instead of being accepted by everybody to be identified with One.
- We are called to be set apart from the world.
- Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
- verse 26 says, "So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. (27) I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
- Paul said that we can be disqualified if we do not exercise self control, self denial, do not live a holy life and don’t have love for others.
- To be disqualified conveys the idea of failing the test or being dejected.
- Here is what is important: It is not how fast you start the race that counts but how well you finish.
- Every one of you, no matter how old or how young, can finish strong.
- It just takes discipline, which you all have.
- Over the last week some of you have been determined to go beyond by fasting something.
- You have been running the race hard.
- I am so proud of all of you who have practiced self-denial in pursuit of a Godly goal - the pursuit of Christ.
- You will reap the benefits of this past week for the rest of the year and possibly the rest of your life.
- Now, I challenge you to continue running strong.
- keep going!
- If you committed to the 21 day challenge, then we have 2 more weeks to go.
- But the good thing is, you know if you can do 1 week or 1 day, you know you can do more.
- Don’t give up when trial, testing or persecution comes.
- Keep pressing on and believing God for more!
- Let’s truly believe that we have a God who can “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” EPH. 3:20
- Let’s run this race to the best of our ability for His glory.
- You can do it!
- God bless you, have a great weekend!