INTRODUCTION
This is week 4 of our series Becoming Contagious. Today we look at ‘RUNNING A CONTAGIOUS RACE’ taken from 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.
Paul in our passage today is talking about our example, our method, our witness and the way in which we live. They way others look at us and the way we look at them.
READ 1 Cor. 8:9
HOW DO WE RUN A CONTAGIOUS RACE? HOW DO WE LOOK AT OTHERS THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS?
TEXT 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-27
I. BE CONTAGIOUS BY HAVING A SERVANT’S EYES
So many Christians are not able to be used by God to reach another because they are not prepared and/or willing to look at another’s work through the Eyes of Love that God has enabled them with!
READ VERSES 19
Rom 8:1 ‘there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because Christ Jesus set me free.’
Notice in vs. 19 that while it was not necessary for Paul to please anyone (‘I am free’), he counted himself a ‘slave’ –(word is enslaved and means under bondage)
A. Under Bondage to 3 Types of People: READ VERSES 20-22
1. B/Cause FREE from All, Strive to Be SERVANT to All
20- Whether it be to the Jews (who spent their lives following the Jewish Covenant)
21- Or to the Gentiles (who did not have the law)
22- Or even to the Weak (the Oppressed)
Paul’s Passion for Jesus allowed him to see others through a Servant’s Eyes!
Rom 9.3 ‘for I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.’
1 Cor. 8.9 ‘be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.’
B. BE A SERVANT – FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL!
READ VS. 22b-23
APPLICATION
1. Paul never compromised the gospel BUT the method of presenting the gospel. He adapted his approach to different groups.
What did Jesus Do?
- To Nicodemus (the Jewish Pharisee), he talked about being born again (John 3) using scripture.
- To the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4), Jesus talked about the living water. He was flexible in his method so as to reach as many as possible.
This is what Paul is saying.
2. A Christian striving to Become Contagious, works to build bridges and not walls by HAVING A CONTAGIOUS SPIRIT. One willing to look at another’s world through the Eyes of Love and Compassion – one desiring to build a relationship.
II. BE CONTAGIOUS BY BEING PREPARED!
Many writings in the NT were regarding a Christian’s Race and the Prize surrounding that Race. Paul’s example may be not what you expect! The Corinthians would have been very familiar with the Greek Olympic Games.
THE FOOT RACE
The race was held in an Olympic Stadium that had 3 Solid Stone Pillars (one at beginning, middle and at end). The race would begin at the first pillar and go through the field and to the last pillar and then the runner would turn around and return back to the first pillar.
The pillars were important to the runner because he would fix his eyes upon each pillar as a point of encouragement to push to continue along the race.
READ VS. 24
3 LESSONS FROM THE FOOTRACE
1. The RACE ITSELF (READ Vs. 24)
The word ‘race’ in the GRK is actually ‘race-course’ and represents a specific distance – in this case 606.75 ft. This was the length of the stadium. Paul is not talking here only about the finish line but the race itself and what is involved in the race.
‘all the runners run but only one gets the prize’ Did the runners drop out of the race once they saw they could not win? No Paul is saying don’t live your life with a low expectation of yourself. ‘Run in such a way as to get the prize’
APPLICATION
A. Don’t confuse the race with SALVATION. The original word Paul chose in vs. 24 is not ‘race’ but ‘racecourse’. Racecourse means the measuring of a specific distance.
B. Paul is describing the race of winning others to Christ!
The previous section:
a. Vs. 20 ‘I became like a Jew to win the Jews’.
b. Vs. 21 ‘I became like one not having the law so as to win those’
c. Vs. 22 ‘I became weak, to win the weak’.
2. Read Verse 25a – The ATHLETE and his PREPARATION
The words ‘strict training’ illustrate one who ‘exercised self control’. Training for ten months was required under the direction of trained judges. Abstinence from wine was required and a rigid diet and a standard of habits for an athlete was maintained by requiring the athlete to live in the arena itself.
a. How Do You Prepare to Run the Race?
Paul is making a comparison between the physical race and spiritual race and gives this as his conclusion. If you want to win the spiritual race, you will have to train just as hard as those who try to win the first place ribbon.
TRAINING INCLUDES: prayer, studying God’s Word, fellowship with other believers, sharing of your faith. TRAINING REQUIRES a Contagious Heart, A Contagious Spirit and A Contagious Faith and WE NEED THE CHURCH for this training.
b. What about YOUR Race? Is Something Hindering Your RACE?
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
In order to win the prize, we must go into strict training!
But what about that prize? WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
III. RUN THE RACE TO RECEIVE THE PRICE!
READ VERSES 25b
A. The PRIZE – The CROWN
The prize of the Olympic Races was an impressive Olive Wreath Crown that had pine leaves or parsley that the winner would place on his head. It Would Not Last! Only good for the time!
1. ‘a crown that will last forever’ Vs. 25b
The key to understanding the PRIZE is the word “RACECOURSE”. The entire chapter has been talking about winning the lost, about changing the method but not the message, about not being a stumbling block to another’s witness.
The CROWN is our REWARD for being GOD’S WITNESS with a CONTAGIOUS SPIRIT so as to WIN the Prize!
AGAIN: Acts 1:8 ‘but YOU will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES’
2. This crown is given to those who PREPARE THEMSELVES for Becoming Contagious for Christ so that they can be used by God in winning the lost and helping to disciple the saved.
B. Do Your Part! (READ VS. 26-27)
You may have a specific calling in a career, or in your life BUT YOU ARE STILL IN THE RACE!
Think about Paul who used himself as an example. Paul Played 2 Parts in the Race of Faith:
1. Paul Was Called To Preach and Disciple the Church
Paul was prepared and knew His Purpose. He did his part and ran with confidence.
But, he also exercised caution realizing his part in this race. He didn’t want to ge so wrapped up in His calling that he forgot he was also in the race!
2. Paul Did not Wish to be Disqualified
Another role of the Herald was to announce one in the race had been ‘disqualified’ from the race and would receive nothing. In Vs. 27, he exercises caution remembering that he too is in the race.
Many people want to say, ‘it’s not my place’, ‘I’m not good enough, etc.’, ‘it’s the preacher’s job’, ‘don’t have time’, ‘don’t know enough’ etc. etc. etc.
SUMMARY
How are you Running the Race-Course?
1. Have you A Servant’s Eyes
Are you willing to give a little in order to help another see Jesus?
2. Are You Prepared For the Race?
What are you doing to make sure you are not disqualified for the prize – the crown?
3. Are you Running To Win?
Are you running like a man beating in the air (Vs. 26)? Or are you under control with a vision of what is needed?
ILLUSTRATION:
Michael and I are Golf Nuts: Michael is pursuing the possibility of using Golf as a possible means to help him through college and possibly even beyond (if that be in God’s plan).
To prepare for that choice, he lives golf and not just as a game. He has entered into Strict Training event to the point of blisters, in the rain, cold, and heat taking advantage of every possible means to prepare for the competition.
In doing so, his score has consistently come down because of his training. In learning how to work the ball, he has to spend a lot of time on the driving range to warm up and practice.
Many golfer just go straight to the 1st Tee to get in as much playing as they can. For someone just out to enjoy a good game, there is nothing wrong with going straight to the 1st Tee.
But to one in strict training, by not being warmed up and loose, it could cause your body to begin a bad golf plane which would interfere with the best score becoming a hindrance.
Allow my pride of my son’s golf ethics to illustrate what Paul is trying to teach the Corinthians.
To Be Contagious, we must do what it takes so that we can be the witness God has called us to be. We are His spokes person – His mouthpiece. REMEMBER you are running a race-course so that when you see Jesus face to face, you will receive His blessing AND HIS THANKS for REPRESENTING HIM WELL.
