1 Cor 9:24-27 Running the Race
When I was a young CPT in the army
- I was sent to Fort Sill, Ok
- For Officers Advanced Course
- I was to be in the school for 6 months
- Now I had come from Fort Ord, CA and the 7th Division
- And we were a very physical division
- Our division commander loved physical training
- So we ran a lot
- I have always loved running and I still do
- And I have always been a fairly good runner-
- Not world-class of course, but decent
- At Ft Sill we were told we would have to run 2 miles in 15 minutes
- That is 7:30 per mile
- And that is a pretty good clip for the average person
- I knew I would not have much trouble meeting that standard
- If I practiced
- I decided, however, to go for 2 miles in 12 minutes
- To run a six minute mile for 2 miles
- Would require me to work hard and frequently
- So I set out to train
- Now it was summer in Ok
- I couldn’t run early in the morning because we had to get to class early
- But I could run after school
- Even though the temperatures were over 90 degrees
- So I ran
- Some days I ran five miles at the same pace
- Some I would run a mile as fast as I could
- Then run 4 miles slowly
- Some I ran medium fast for 4 miles
- Then a fast last mile
- So it went for 5 months, running 4-5 days a week
- Finally fhe day came for the 2 mile test
- I knew if I could set a good pace right out
- And hold it I would be able to meet the 12 minute mark I had set for myself
- The only fear I had was I would start off too fast
- And run out of steam in the 2nd mile
- We got set and the whistle blew
- Off we went
- My excitement, the anticipation was immense
- I ran and found myself running with a few guys up front
- My first mile flew by
- And I began to feel the run
- I pushed to keep the pace
- Pushed hard, pushed past my growing fatigue
- Reaching inside and looking for strength
- I finished the course
- In 11 minutes flat
- Wow! What a surprise
- I had never run that fast before
- I would never run that fast again
All that training paid off
- I was able not only to be able to meet my goal
- But to exceed it
Well, what does that story have to do with anything?
- Let’s look at the first of our texts for today
- The theme of all of them is running the race set before us
- Turn with me to 1 Cor 9:24-27
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
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.
NASU
Paul starts by saying, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run…”
- Maybe you were not aware
- That you had been entered in a race
- In my story the question was not if I would run the race
- Rather it was how I would run
- I know that I would be in a race
- Whether I prepared for it or not
The same situation exists for every believer and follower of Jesus Christ
- The question is not whether you will enter the race
- You entered it when you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior
- The writer of Hebrews tells that
Hebrews 12:1
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
NASU
- You were put on the starting line with that prayer inviting Christ to be your Savior
- The only question left is how will you run?
- That was the only question I had to answer when I was a CPT
- And it remains the question you and I must answer
- In response to the Christ’s call to follow
- How will you run?
- Will you jog along, and dilly-dally along the way?
- Or will you run hard and intently?
Paul tells us here in 1 Cor 9:24, “Run in such a way that you may win.”
- Run like you are after the prize
- Run like you want to win
- Run with everything you have
- Run like the race is important
- And how you run makes a difference
- Because many others depend on you in the body of Christ
- It makes a difference to everyone who is depending on you to do your part
- And it makes a difference in the quality of your life
- You see the race is our life in Christ
- When we run well
- We are seeking to let Him be our Lord
- He is the One in charge, directing our lives
- It is then we are being molded into His image
- It is then we are growing and maturing in our walk with Christ
- This race has a big theological name- sanctification
- It means to become holy
- We are supposed to allow God the freedom to work in our lives to transform us
- To mature us and make us just like Jesus
- That is what Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:15
1 Peter 1:15
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
NASU
- We are supposed to be moving closer and closer to the fullness of Christ
- Through the working of the Spirit
- We are not supposed to stay the same, but we are to be transformed day by day
You know you are in a race- either the rat race or the Lord’s race
- It is your choice
- You can run after the things of this world
- Money, position, comfort, the good life, possessions
- Or you can put your effort into serving Christ
- Put Him first and follow Him
- Wherever He leads you
More than half of all Christians in this country believe the most important thing in life is to have a comfortable, enjoyable life
- Christ never promised His followers comfort and ease
- But His did promise a full and satisfying life
- If we give Him control
I’m going to tell you something I heard at camp
- I hope I don’t offend anyone’s sensibilities
- But the statement pretty much sums up
- What I am trying to say
- “You can’t live like hell and gain heaven”
- You can’t live your life like you never knew Christ
- And expect that you will experience the blessings of Christ
- He is not in the business of rewarding sinners
- So they can live under His divine protection
- Christ is not in the business of selling fire insurance
- Against the fires of hell
- So you cannot live your life however you want
- If you belong to Christ
- It has never been part of His plan for you
Listen to 2 Tim 2:3-7
2 Timothy 2:3-7
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
NASU
- “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.”
- Jesus is Lord!
- That means He is the One who sets the rules
- He is the One who determines the nature of the race
- He plots its course
- He gives or takes as suits His purpose
- As runners we are obligated only to run the course set out for us
- And to follow His guidance, His leadership
- Jeremiah 10:23 says,
23 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself,
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
NASU
- We are in the race for Him, not ourselves
- We need to prepare ourselves for the race
- And actively seek to become more fit
- To run in such a way as to complete the race
Go back to 1 Cor 9:24-27
- Verse 25 says, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things”
- Verse 27 says, “But I discipline my body and make it my slave…”
- Athletes work out, train in order to become better competitors
- In my story I did months of training
- In order to prepare for my race
- What are you doing to prepare you for your race?
- How are you preparing yourselves for your walk in Christ?
- Are you taking time to allow Him to work in you?
- To spiritually exercise you?
- You see He wants to use every circumstance, every event in your day to teach you
- More and more about Himself
- He wants to use His Word, the Bible, to teach you everyday about Himself
- And to equip you spiritually for life
- To meet the things that come your way every day
- He wants to develop you gift
- And use you to build His kingdom
- He plans to lead you into the fullness of His purpose
- To glorify Himself through you and your work and life
- He wants you to urn wholeheartedly
- And single-mindedly to Him
- Follow His leadership!
- Obey Him!
- Submit to His lordship
- Run the race He has put you in
- It may not the one we want to run
- But the one He wants us to run
- Fix your eyes on His goal for you
- And let go of all other goals
- He knows what is best for you
- He has the best possible life, the most fulfilling and satisfying life laid out for you
- It is the race course you are called to run
- I tell you, run
- Learn from Him and follow Him
Listen to Hebrews 12:1-3
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.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
NASU
- Lay aside everything that would keep you from running well
- Runners don’t wear a lot of clothing
- They use the lightest possible shoes
- They don’t carrying extra socks or water bags
- They run with the lightest possible load
- They drop everything else but the absolute minimum
- So they can run well and far
- So they can run with endurance
- We must do the same thing
- We need to let Christ show us what is encumbering us
- What are we trying to drag with us as we live for Him
- Are we dragging our material possessions
- Trying to carry things into heaven with us?
- Are we entangled in unholy relationships?
- Are we clinging to old habits and thoughts that are distracting us and are best left behind?
- What is keeping us from running single-mindedly?
Peter said in 1 Pet 1:13, “Therefore, prepare you minds for action, keep sober…”
- Or as my translation says, “You must therefore be mentally stripped for action, perfectly self-controlled.”
- Like a runner preparing for the race
- Who takes off the warm up suit
- Who takes off the extra clothing and equipment
- We are to mentally strip for action
- Pull off all those things that occupy our minds
- And take our attention away from the reason Christ has put us here
- Which takes our eyes from Christ Himself
- We are to prepare mentally, spiritually
- Our focus must be on the race
- On serving Christ in everything we do
- To honor Christ in everything we do
We also must fix our minds on the goal
- Back to Heb 12:1-3
- Verse 2 says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus…”
- 1 Peter 1:13 says, “fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ Jesus.”
- Good runners do not look around
- They never look back
- But keep their eyes and minds focused on the goal, the finish line
- We must do the same thing
- And not allow ourselves to become side-tracked, distracted, discouraged
- Fix your eyes on Jesus and the hope we have in Him
- Everything else will fade in importance
- There is a chorus that says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
- That’s true!
- Look at Him, keep on looking at Him
- And the troubles, difficulties and temptations of this life will grow dimmer and lighter
- We will find strength to run
- Power to endure and persevere
- Run like the goal is the only thing worthwhile
- And everything else will fade in importance
- Live like you are preparing for heaven
- Like you see the king calling you to join Him
- Because He is!
- Like what He has given you to do is the only thing worth doing
- Because it is!
- The crown we will receive is imperishable
- The goal, the prize is worth the sacrifice
- Worth the work, the sweat, the fatigue
- Of the run
But it will require discipline and self-control
- When I prepared for my race
- I ran when I did not want to
- I trained when it was hot
- I focused on the goal and prepared myself
- No matter the weather or schedule or fatigue
- God calls us to discipline ourselves
- And to put Him first
- To do things His way in His time for His purpose
- Paul said in 1 Cor 9:27, “I discipline my body and make it my slave.”
- The writer of Hebrews said, “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb12:3
- Don’t give in to those desires of the flesh, of the old you
- But put on the Spirit and follow Him
- Do what God asks, even if it means
- Doing without something
- Or leaving old activities and interests behind
- Make your walk with God your priority in your life
- And do this even in the face of hostility, difficulties and troubles
- Satan is going to do everything he can
- To stop you or delay you
- Don’t listen to him!
- Keep your focus on Jesus
- And run, run hard and run with endurance toward Jesus
Well, let us review
- Where are we?
- What are we to do?
- I think the first thing you need to do
- Is to stop for a moment and listen
- Listen to that small still voice telling you what is next
- You need to recognize that lump in your chest, the touch of God’s hand on you
- And realize it is Him
- And say, “Here I am,. Use me here.”
- Make yourself available
- Determine to be God’s person to do whatever He gives you to do
- Then start looking for what needs to be done
- Your availability is all God needs in order to work through you
- Everything else can be provided in His grace
- Realize you are in a race
- Act like you are an athlete in competition
- Instead of a spectator with free admission to the games
- Next focus on Christ
- Make Him your priority
- Seek to know Him and to serve Him
- Get into the Bible and study it
- Fill your mind with His Word so He can use it to talk to you and teach you
- So He can transform you
- And get involved
- Prayer is the first thing to take up
- Serious, intentional prayer
- Seeking His face in prayer- giving praise, confessing sin, petitioning and listening
- Then get involved in service
- Find something that needs doing and do it
- Offer to serve others, in the church and out of it
- Allow God to change your priorities and reorder your life to conform it to His best
Run the race with endurance
- Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
- Let us run the race like we want to receive the prize
- Let us run so as to honor the one who calls us and equips us for the race
Prayer
Invitation
