Run To Win!
1Co 9:25 Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath that dies, but we to win one that never dies.
1Co 9:26 That is the way I run, with a clear goal in mind. That is the way I box, not like someone punching the air.
1Co 9:27 No, I keep on beating my body and making it my slave so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified.
I. Introduction
a. God is preparing us to accomplish His vision for the Church
b. His call is irreversible and full of promises
c. God must bring us through the process of maturity through perseverance because of the people who will need to rely on our stability.
d. Run To Win through Vision, Passion, Discipline, and Risk
II. Vision
a. A prophetic view of what God is working towards through us
b. Vision requires revelation.
c. Revelation requires relationship
d. Relationship requires a commitment
e. God is waiting to reveal His plan to us, through us, using us.
f. His vision will require more than is humanly possible, but it will stretch us so that we can see what we are made of and how faithful He is.
g. Vision is an intellectual manifestation of spiritual sight.
h. Are you ready for a Vision from God?!
III. Passion
a. The drive and hunger to see God’s will be done regardless of the cost
b. Passion requires desire
c. Desire requires value
d. Value is determined by what we treasure
e. What we treasure is determined by what we desire
f. Passion is required to start something
g. It is an emotional manifestation of spiritual inspiration
h. Are you ready to have passion?!
IV. Discipline
a. Discipline is the ability to stay on the course you set out to travel.
b. Passion hands the baton to discipline
c. Discipline helps us to be sure that something is always advancing, always moving, always growing
d. Discipline is an anchor, a pillar, and a foundation for a strong building
e. Discipline is like “home base” for the soul
f. Discipline helps us to nail down the constantly moving targets in our time, goals, finances, careers, and personal commitments
g. Discipline is an intellectual manifestation of spiritual determination
h. Are you ready to become sharp and disciplined?
V. Risk
a. An obedient and faithful response to a challenge given to you by God.
b. A God that is small enough to fit inside your head is too small to save you
c. An opportunity that is small enough to be safe is too small to require God’s involvement.
d. Risks must be considered with wisdom and guidance by the Holy Spirit
e. Your acceptable level of risk is directly influenced by your amount of faith
f. Risk can be small or great. It can require very small sacrifices or very large commitments.
g. When we trust in God to fulfill His promises, risk is eliminated. There is nothing out of God’s control.
h. Risk is a physical manifestation of a spiritual opportunity
i. Are you ready to take God-led risks?!
VI. Running to Win
a. God did not call us to lose our race – He called us to win!
b. It’s a distance race, not a sprint – so pace yourself
c. Every day is a new day to do a new thing
d. We must run past the influences of this world
e. We must run and captivate the weaknesses of the flesh
f. We must run from sin and lies from the devil
g. We must run towards the return that God promises to those who are faithful to the end.
h. We must run and keep running
i. We must pick each other up when we fall
j. We must run together at all times, desiring he heart of God and the love of our brothers and friends
k. It’s not by power, or by might, but by His Spirit
