BELIEVERS RUN GOD’S RACE (Outline)
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 - January 23, 2005 - EPIPHANY 3
INTRO: We are all involved in racing. We race to work, school, and many other appointments. We may have even raced this morning to get ready for worship in God’s house. Mankind is often called the human race. The busy-ness of this life is sometimes even called the rat race. How often do we not feel just like that? We run around in circles without accomplishing the many things that we have planned for the day or week. Today our gracious God would have us concentrate on our spiritual life, described as God’s race. Paul explains this attitude in his letter to the Philippians: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus"(PHILIPPIANS 3:13b,14). As believers who run God’s race we are to forget what is behind and press on toward the heavenly goal. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we consider: BELIEVERS RUN GOD’S RACE. I. God provides purpose / prize. II. God supplies strength / success.
I. GOD PROVIDES PURPOSE / PRIZE
A. The apostle Paul uses the example of a race and training for these final verses of chapter 9.
1. There is a reason for this. Corinth was host to the Isthmian games.
2. These games were held every other year and were a very important part of Corinthian living.
B. These Isthmian games were second in importance to the Olympic games.
1. Paul asks in verse 24a about the runners. Only one gets the prize.
2. Because only one gets the prize training and preparation were very important. Verse 24b.
C. Many people trained for many hours. The athletes went into strict training.
1. Why did they train? Verse 25a. The winner of the games received a crown of olive leaves.
2. All that training for something so temporary. Verse 25b says the believer’s crown is eternal.
3. The natural conclusion is that the believer’s purpose / prize far better than any earthly prize.
D. Our world is not concerned with God’s race. Our modern society would have us remain as members of the very human rat race. The world holds out all sorts of prizes. Mankind offers money, fame, glory, and earthly praise as prizes and purpose in this human race. But all of these prizes are temporary. They are corruptible and do not last very long at all. In God’s race the prize is eternal. "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away"(1 PETER 5:4).
E. How are we to remain focused on training for running God’s race? We will need to look ahead in our planning and living. We look ahead into the future that is yet to be revealed. Believers running Gods’ race are to look beyond next year, the next decade and right into heaven (eternity). We can do this by tak-ing to heart the encouragement of Jesus. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"(MATTHEW 6:33). Jesus reminds us, as he reminded the disciples, the pagans run after the many things the world offers. They do it with worry. Believers live in the human race of mankind by running God’s race. As believers we know the Lord provides.
F. What is most amazing about God’s race is the fact that God has called us to run the race. God’s pur-pose is to have mankind saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. God provides purpose in our Christian living. Believers are to shine like lights in this sin-darkened world. We are privileged to do this, run God’s race by God’s grace. "God has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of any-thing we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time"(2 TIMOTHY 1:9). By grace we are saved to serve God in his kingdom.
TRANS: BELIEVERS RUN GOD’S RACE God provides purpose / prize. Also --
II. GOD SUPPLIES STRENGTH / SUCCESS
A. Paul understood that all of his strength and success had come from the Lord God Almighty.
1. The Lord called Paul when Paul sought him not.
2. The Lord gave strength to Paul to serve when he was beaten, stoned, and even left for dead.
B. Paul knew he could not rely on his own strength for any success.
1. Verse 26. Previously Paul ran aimlessly from town to town looking for believers to persecute.
2. Previously Paul shook his fist in the air at God. No more, now Paul was running God’s race.
C. With the strength, power and success that the Lord provided Paul was able to do all things in Christ.
1. Verse 27a. Though free, Paul became all things to all men so that some might be saved.
2. Paul was concerned about others and his own salvation. Verse 27b. Rely on God’s strength.
D. There are many things that try to distract the believer from concentrating on running God’s race. In-deed, left on our own, we would be lost. Thanks be to God who gives us his strength and his success! Our gracious God strengthens believers to overcome our own sinful nature and its desires. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry"(COLOSSIANS 3:5). This is quite a list of evil that lurks in the hearts of man. It is a very fitting description of today’s human race. God’s strength supplies success to overcome.
E. We are encouraged and motivated this morning to put into subjection our sinful desires. In other words, Paul writes that we are to go into strict training. Yes, Christian living takes work and training. The world has grown ever more foreign and at times even hostile to God’s race. We have been set free from the standards of this world. We no longer need to live as slaves to materialism and worldliness. "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin"(ROMANS 6:6). Again, God’s strength supplies success.
F. We always praise and worship God realizing that he does not leave us on our own. Rather, the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth with his powerful world is our ever-present help and strength! Many in the human race are without the hope and help that comes through God alone. Many run the hu-man race and are severely disappointed by the temporary earthly prizes. Rejoice today in the amazing fact that God has made you a participant in God’s race. "’Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.’ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation"(ISAIAH 12:2,3). With joy each one of does draw water from the wells of salvation – God’s holy word.
CONCL: God’s race is clearly set out before us. At times, we may, all too often, feel like we are simply running a rat race in the worldliness of the human race. Today we are reminded to focus on the future as God provides purpose for every believer. Today we are reminded to focus on the future as God supplies strength and success. We consider the example of Paul. Looking back he would have given up many times over rather than continue to preach the gospel and suffer abuse for God’s message. His motivation was to run God’s race with God’s purpose and prize firmly fixed in the future. Paul’s comfort was the strength of God supply success to the gospel message. May Paul’s motto constantly continue to be our motto. "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace"(ACTS 20:24). Boldly, confidently we run God’s race with purpose and strength from God himself. Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 3 readings (ILCW – A): ISAIAH 9:1-4; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17; MATTHEW 4:12-23
