RUNNING THE RACE OF FAITH II. - 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 - 8/4/12
"24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way
that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it
to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I
box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have
preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."
"RUN IN SUCH A WAY AS TO BUFFET YOUR BODY." I was told several weeks ago by Melinda that if I ran from Portland to Tigard that I would get my own church building, so I took it as a challenge and decided one morning (8/11/12) to run or jog to Tigard. It was a 10 mile run and then I took the bus back. I was exhausted, the longest that I have ever ran is 6 miles and that was at a YMCA in Washington state years ago when I was a member. I was glad to have accomplished the task, but now I say where is my building? where is my reward? I kept my part of the bargain no give me what is mine. Anyway, that's not I wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about the church running the race of our faith. Below is an outline of what I believe we should discuss in regards to the faith. I've written out ten questions in regards to the Christian faith. If you look to the left those are the shoes that I used to run the ten miles, those shoes carried me through along road, and kept me moving speedily. To run a long course one needs good shoes, and those shoes proved to be the best. Anyway, let's now look at those ten question regarding running the Christian faith.
1. What does it mean to run the race of the Christian faith?
2. Who is calling us to run?
3. What is the prize at the end?
4. What will it take out of us to run this race, or course of our lives which depends on our faith, that is what we believe?
5. When the course is complete to we have to run back to the beginning or do we remain at the finish line to receive our reward?
6. Who is rewarding us our prize?
7. Are we receiving a prize for winning or completing the course?
8. Are we running alone in this course, or do we have others running against us like in a marathon?
9. Are we permitted to stop and rest along the way, perhaps to drink or relieve our bodies?
10. What do we do next when we have finished the course and kept the faith?
1. What does it mean to run the race of the Christian faith? "Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;" (1 Cor. 9:26)
I believe that it means to carry out our individual given tasks as Christians who are in a relationship with God by faith. Paul ran with the "aim" the focus, the goal of accomplishing one task which was given to him in Acts 9 by Christ and in Acts 13 by the Holy Spirit which was to bear the name of Jesus and his Gospel to the nations of the world so that man could be reconciled to God and suffer while doing it. He did it until he was brought to Rome for judgment before Caesar. He ran the course which Christ outlined for him, which was to be an Apostle, a missionary, an evangelist, a preacher and teacher of the gospel of God, which Christ himself gave to Paul (Gal.1:11-12). So when Paul did the ministry or run his given course it was with the instructions of the Holy Spirit and Christ internally leading him to accomplish his aim, which was to deliver the message to the gentiles and the churches for the salvation of their souls and encouragement in the faith.
2. Who is calling us to run? "after I have preached to others" (1 Cor. 9:27; Acts 9:15-16)
In Acts 9:15-16 After Paul was confronted by Christ on the road to Damascus for persecuting Christians, the Lord communicated to Ananias that "he was a chosen instrument of mine," meaning that Paul had been called into the ministry, he was called by God himself to help him build his church like Peter (Matt. 16:18; John 21:15-18), he was called to run the race of faith not only as a Christian, but also as a teacher of his word (Col.1:28-29). Thus, in the case of others who have been called by God into ministry after Paul it is still Jesus and his Holy Spirit that calls men into service, to help him build his church not for the purpose of obtaining glory, but to correct what Satan did in the garden to steal away the glory of God from him. Thus, the church gives back to God the glory that was removed from him by Satan, Paul explained to the church at Corinth that the church is to do all things to the glory of God not for the purpose of obtaining a prize. The prize is that God is glorified once again by his creation. So men are called to run, to enter into the ministry and call humanity back to being reconciled back to God.
3. What is the prize at the end? "Run in such a way that you may win. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an
imperishable." (1 Cor. 9:24, 25; 2 Tim. 4:8)
As explained in question number 2 it is the glory of God that is the ultimate prize. However, as Paul puts it "the worker is worthy of his wage." So, after running a long course or short distance there is usually a gold, silver or bronze medal to be received. In the case of the faith, to win is the second prize and the third prize or the bronze is the crown of righteousness in the faith, but in a real race it is a wreath, to be warn on the head as a symbol of victory. Paul makes the distinction between the two races, the Romans race in the game for a perishable wreath that decays, but he on the other hands get a crown of righteousness which is sort of a wreath, but for the christian that lasts for all eternity and it not perishable by earthly standards.
4. What will it take out of us to run this race, or course of our lives which depends on our faith, that is what we believe? "Everyone who
competes in the games exercises self-control in all things." (1 Cor. 9:25)
To run this race of faith, to do what God has called us to do will take everything we've got. It will take out our strength, our faith, our will, our fears, our personal wants, our weaknesses, our goals, our vision, everything that we ever wanted to do and become has to be extinguished out of us to accomplish this divine given task when God gives it to us. The race that we run is a reflection of our faith, that which we believe. Remember Paul wrote to the church in Rome and explained to them that "the faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God..." (Roman 14:22). We each run our own individual race based on what our own convictions are in what we have believed concerning the faith. We cannot run our race of faith, or enter into Christian service or live out the christian life based on someone else's personal convictions, devotions, prayers, goals, and desires to serve God. That is why Paul says, everyone who competes in the Roman games, and run a course do so with personal "self control in all things." The strength and stamina that it will take the winner, may not be the same strength and stamina that the other participants puts in to their running the race, that is why they do not end up as the winner. One must discipline himself physically to run a good course and come out on top. So Paul also ordered Timothy to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:8) as he instructed him and charged him to run his course in entering into the ministry as the pastor of the church at Ephesus, to correct the false teachings, doctrines and misunderstandings of the scriptures and the Christian Faith (1 Tim.1:3-4). Thus, we in this generation must likewise do the same, and exercise self control in our character (Titus 1:8) to reach the finish line as a winner. Count in advance what you are willing to sacrifice to exercise godly self control in all things. If you cannot see your race in advanced and how you will choose to run, you may reconsider your call to run and take time to prepare yourself for the long race ahead.
5. When the course is complete do we have to run back to the beginning or do we remain at the finish line to receive our reward? "I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
I think with every race we run whether it is a sprint, one mile run, or a marathon we must stop, wait at the finish line to receive our reward, if we have acquired a trophy, if we came in in first, second or third place. To receive the gold, silver or bronze medal. We do not know when our course will end when we run the Christian faith. The finish line is heaven, where we meet the Lord in the end. It is there we will receive our reward. Paul states in his second letter to Timothy, preparing him for his departure, the end of his course, saying, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul's course consisted of fighting or contending for the faith, finishing the earthly course in death and having kept the faith through his missionary journeys, trials, imprisonment, oppositions, and difficulties. What Jesus and the Holy Spirit had set him apart to do, he did. Although it cost him his entire life, he was at least able to redeem his actions as an apostle for the cruelty he displayed as a Pharisee. So to plainly answer the question, no. We do not go back to the starting line when we finish any race, unless we want to start the race all over again. The goal of Christ in running the race is to endure and persevere through the difficult times, not to give up and start all over again. But to keep going, rest, pick up where we leave off and continue to run our given course. Some run with their families (i.e. Peter, Aquila and Presila) while others run alone (i.e.Paul and then Timothy). Paul at the end of his race could not go back, he was too old, he was too exhausted, tired, run down by life and trials. So he looked forward to the great reward to come as he began to close his own eyes. We too like Paul must strive to finish, and then wait for the hour of our departure when we will enter into his presence (the finish line) to receive our great crown of glory.
6. Who is rewarding us our prize? "in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)
The Lord. The one who set us on a course to run our course is the rewarder at the end. The employer who hires you is the one that gives you your paycheck at the end of the week or two weeks. Jesus hired Peter (John 21:15-18), he hired Paul (Acts 9;15-16), he hired the apostles (Acts 1:8), and he hired the church (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:1-4) to run this course, to receive a great reward in the end. Jesus is the judge who determines who finished the course and what his reward shall be. When you read the book of Revelations there are 24 elders, scholars believe that those elders once ran their
course on the earth as the sons of Jacob and the 12 disciples of Jesus. But when their course was over, they ascended up to heaven and Jesus received
them and gave them all a throne to sit on, a crown to wear, a white robe, a harp, and a heavenly voice to praise him and sing worship to him with the
angels of heaven. Finally, a position of authority to judge the nations from the books of life which contained the name of all men and women who have
and who is running the course of this life in Christ Jesus. (Genesis 35:16-19; Acts 1:13, and Acts 1:24-26).
7. Are we receiving a prize for winning or completing the course? "but only one receives the prize?" (1 Cor. 9:24; 2 Tim. 4:8)
When a runner runs his race and wins, he is awarded for both completing the course and winning the race. Many along side him have also ran the same
race, the same course. However, they did not win the trophy for first place. Perhaps two others came in second and third place. While the rest of the
group shuffled in through the finished line. Paul says only one receives the grand prize. You must not only complete your course which will take strength,
but you must also win the entire event, which will take might, power and courage. When Moses died, and Joshua stepped up, on three occassions in spea-
king to Joshua who was just beginning his course God encouraged him to "be strong and courageous." (Josh 1:6,7, 9). This principle of strength and cou-
rage also applies to us today.
8. Are we running alone in this course, or do we have others running against us like in a marathon? "Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run," (1 Cor.9:24)
When an individual runs a marathon, he or she runs alone to win. They do not run with partners, they may know others in the marathon, but their
purpose is for themselves, not for others. So it is in the Christian faith. The twelve Apostles and Paul all ran the same course in the first century, but it
was Paul who indicated to Timothy in his second epistle to him that he "finished the course and kept the faith." We are both running against each other
as competitors and the course set out for us to complete. When we enter the ministry we do not do it with evil intent or with a divisive spirit. However, it
does not mean that others do not have evil intentions toward us or will not be divisive against us. Peter and the twelve sought to do the work, & establish
the church, when Paul came along he also served God and did his part in the ministry. He ran a straight course and did what Jesus commanded him to
do. When he ran into Peter who began to act hypocritically toward the faith he addressed him to his face (Gal. 2:11-14). It is these circumstances that p
uts us against each other as we run our course in the marathon of the Christian faith. Sometime the issue is doctrinal. Again in 1 Timothy 1:3-11 Paul left
Timothy in Ephesus to correct the doctrines of the saints who were at Ephesus. The difference in their teaching and having a wrong conclusion of the
scriptures put Paul in opposition against the men of the church at Ephesus. It was not personal, but a doctrinal division that put Paul and these men
against each other in the faith.
9. Are we permitted to stop and rest along the way, perhaps to drink or relieve our bodies? "I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my
body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)
In Acts 21:22-26, Paul was instructed by the brethren to purify himself for seven day. This he did with the Gentile brethren who were with him. Unfortu-
nately the entire purification time and process back fired on him because the Jews claimed that he preaches against them, against circumcision and have
defiled their temple with Greeks. aul suffered much as a result of these accusation which later led him to be imprisoned in Rome and then was executed
by having him beheaded. Though he stopped preaching and teaching and was resting and purifying his body and exercising his Christian liberty, others
who were observing him stood against him and opposed him to his face. So resting along the way is no problem we are permitted. Even God commands
that the seventh day was to be a day of rest (Gen. 2:2; Exo. 20:8-11). Six days the Jews were to work, but the seventh day was to be a day of rest. To the
church at Corinth after much trials and difficuly Paul explained to them that he had to take control over his body, he had to discipline his own body and
make his body his slave. So, that after preaching to others he himself would not be disqualified in the race. He had to preach to them to flee youthful
lust, abstain from sexual immorality and then do it himself. But as luck would have it he testified to the Church at Rome that he was doing the opposite
of what he ought to have been doing recognizing that he was a sinful man practicing sin (Romans 7:14-25). So resting is ok, but one must be cautious of
how long they rest, where and who they are resting with for one never knows who is watching and what the intention of the heart may be against them.
10. What do we do next when we have finished the course and kept the faith?
a. Wait on the Lord to bring us up to heaven (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
b. Use the time to encourage other saints in the ministry.
c. Deal with the issues of the faith that you know needs your attention.
d. Write letters and encourage other saints that are in need of your leadership, service and encouragement.
e. Train others who are willing to take on the course as their life to help Christ built his church.
f. Pass on the batton of the Christian faith to the next generation (2 Tim.2:2).
g. Pray for those running the course (1 Tim. 2:1-7).
h. Write a memoir, a book of your personal course, your struggles, difficulties, triumphs, blessings.
i. Write a book using your notes, literature, studies to teach others how to run the same course including the do's and dont's of running the race.
j. Write a book for men who are leaders, or seeking to become leaders drench them with your wisdom and counsel.
