On The Run

On The Run

2 Timothy 4:7

”I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;”

“PRAY”

1. Runners

"Achievers are not only persistent, they are also hard workers who believe in themselves." - Timothy L. Griffith

-Confident in the calling of God on their lives

Your senior pastor

Missionaries

Those in leadership in whom you place your confidence for spiritual guidance

Hebrews 12:1,2

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Why should we run

-God has called us to Him—do we respond slowly

-Dad “catch another gear”

-God will bless us more the harder we try to live for Him

Psalms 119:32

”I shall run the way of your commandments, for you will enlarge my heart.”

My two officers up for promotion

One lazy—didn’t get the promotion

-caught him sleeping

-always looking for an excuse to get out of the job at hand—2 ½ mile run every 2 hr

-actually got fired—fought me for it

One did everything possible—she got the promotion

2. Walkers

-no hurry

-Christian but making no extra move like we are supposed to

-Illustration of a fire

have to keep putting on fuel to make it grow

if not it will die

-Joke* If you start on North Carolina coast and go 10mph down I40 towards California

1 you would be an idiot

2 by the time you get there CA will probably have fallen from the country if you make it that far

3 you would never make it without stopping for gasoline

Wilma Rudolph was the twentieth of twenty-two children. She was born prematurely and doctors didn’t expect her to survive. She did, but at age four she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her left leg paralyzed. At age nine, she removed the metal leg brace she had depended on for the past five years and began walking without it. By thirteen, she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year, she decided she wanted to begin running. She entered her first race and came in last. For the next three years, she came in dead last in every race she entered. But she kept on running until the day came that she won a race. Eventually, the little girl who was not supposed to live and then who was not supposed to be able to walk would win three Olympic gold medals.

-never would have won if she had just been satisfied walking

-or given up

3. Crawlers

we have all been here

-can’t win for loosing

-probably just came through a troubled time in life

-as brother testified a few weeks ago this person is in the valley trying to reach the mountain top

There is hope for you

Famous Sermon on the mount

Matt 5:3-12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of (Christ)

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Message so simple yet so true—time in the valley will yield to you time on the mountain

-to enjoy highs you must take a few lows

*story about graduate who finally walked to his diploma

4. Those being carried

Isaiah 40:28-29,31

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. (29)He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power (31)Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary”