Gold Medal Living
“Discipline of a Champion”
August 15, 2004
Intro: We have been looking at some characteristics of live a Gold Medal spiritual life. We looked at the need for determination and passion to help us reach the goal for our lives.
Today we are looking at the discipline needed in life to have an impact on those around us. Discipline and strict training are required for us to live our lives at a championship level.
The most decorated American female Olympian is swimmer Jenny Thompson. She has won 10 medals- 8 gold. In order to achieve that, she had to have incredible discipline. Jenny is not only a great athlete, but she is also a student at the Columbia University School of Medicine. Jenny has this to say about her daily schedule:
“I’d wake up in the morning with my adrenaline going. Everything I had to do was running through my head. I’d go work out, two hours, then go get a triple espresso Red Eye and head to the library and study the entire day. I’d go swim in the evening and then go back to studying all night. My day started at 7 a.m. and ended after 1 a.m. I didn’t have any social life. I barely had time to eat and go to the bathroom.”
In I Corinthians 9:24-27, the apostle Paul tells us a little about the need for discipline in our own lives. Paul was in the city of Corinth in A.D. 57 when a regional Olympic event was held. Paul uses this backdrop as the feature in this passage.
In the beginning of Chapter 9, Paul is instructing believers in the subject of how to live their lives. He has been sharing with them that how we live our life will influence how others see Jesus.
Paul states his goal in living his life in I Corinthians 9:19
“I am not bound to obey just because they pay me, yet I have become a servant to everyone so that I can bring them to Christ”
I Corinthians 9:19 (NLT)
Paul is saying that it is not necessary to live a good, disciplined life simply to impress others, but rather to lead them to Jesus. That was the goal for Paul and it is the goal for us.
Paul continues the passage and concludes with a comparison between our lives and a race.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
I Corinthians 9:24-27(NIV)
The Runner
Paul uses a race as an analogy for life.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
I Corinthians 9:24
Every person is running the race of life.
Seven times in scripture the idea of life as a race is used to convey a spiritual lesson.
Paul used the picture of a race to describe his life in the book of Acts.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I finish the race and complete the task to Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24 (NIV)
The goal of the race of our life is the declaration of God’s grace.
We must live our lives in such a way that those around us see the love and grace of Jesus. Our actions will show the message of God. Paul is calling us to live our lives so that we reach the goal.
The race of our spiritual lives will bring us closer to God if we run according to his design.
God’s design for us is to be free from the worldly distractions.
“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.”
Hebrews 12:1(NIV)
Is sin keeping you from being the runner God has called you to be?
The Training
Paul uses physical training to help paint a spiritual picture.
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training… Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” I Corinthians 9:25A,26-27(NIV)
There are two aspects to training:
1) Determined Effort
“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.” I Corinthians 9:26(NIV)
We must be focused in order to run to win.
Paul doesn’t run aimlessly or punch the air. He has a destination and target in mind: to win people to Jesus. Paul is focused on the outcome, not just the journey.
**Karoly Tackacs
Hungarian pistol champion. Lost hand in grenade accident. Learned to shoot left handed. Won gold in 1948 and 1952.
Are you determined to reach the goal?
2) Self- Control
“No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
I Corinthians 9:27(NIV)
We must control our lives under God’s direction so that we can be an example of his life to others.
When Paul speaks of being “disqualified” he is talking about missing the reward for those who follow Christ.
Scripture teaches that everyone will stand before God and be judged on the actions of their lives.
Those who chose not to follow Jesus will be judged for rejecting Christ.
“I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And anyone whose name was not found in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:12 & 15 (NLT)
Those who chose to follow Christ will be judged on the actions of their life.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
II Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)
We must live our lives so that we are not stripped of the reward God has for us.
**Ben Johnson
At the Seoul Olympics in 1988, Ben Johnson ran the 100 metres in 9.79 seconds making him the fastest human ever. It was a proud moment in Canadian athletic history that quickly turned into a nightmare. Only 62 hours later Olympic officials entered Johnson’s room and walked out with his gold medal. Ben Johnson had tested positive for steroid use. The Canadian sports establishment was scandalized. Johnson lost millions in endorsements and sponsorship fees and he was suspended from competition for two years.
The Prize
Paul says we are running to win a prize.
“They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” I Corinthians 9:25b(NIV)
Physical races give prizes that never last.
The winners of the ancient games were given wreaths made out of celery plants. Even today’s Olympians have fame that is fleeting and medals that will eventually perish.
The spiritual race of life produces an eternal reward.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those that love him.” James 1:12 (NIV)
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
I Peter 5:4(NIV)
