Introduction

Hey folks, how are we doing today? I'm so glad to see you all here, ready to dive into the Word of God together. Today, we're going to be talking about something that's near and dear to my heart, and I hope it's going to resonate with yours as well.

You know, T. B. Joshua said something that really struck me. He said, "If we make mistakes, as we all do - don't run from God, run to Him." Now, isn't that something to chew on?

It got me thinking about our walk with God. We're not compelled to follow Him, are we? No, we're free to go where we will. But we choose to follow Him. We choose to run the race He's set before us. And that's what we're going to be talking about today.

Let's look at our passage for today, shall we? It's from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

"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 someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Isn't that powerful? We're all in this race, folks. And we're not just running aimlessly. We're running for a prize that will last forever.

Let's pray together, shall we?

Dear God, thank you for bringing us here today. Thank you for your Word, which guides us and shapes us. As we look at this passage today, open our hearts to what you want to teach us. Help us to run the race you've set before us, not aimlessly, but with purpose and determination. We love you, Lord. Amen.

Alright, let's get into it.

The Pursuit of the Prize

In the race of life, we're all runners. Each of us is on a path, a course, a track. And on this track, we're not just wandering aimlessly. We're not just strolling along without a care. No, we're running. We're running with a purpose, with a goal, with a prize in mind.

Not small or insignificant: It's not a ribbon or a medal or a trophy that will collect dust on a shelf. It's not a fleeting moment of glory that will fade as quickly as it came. No, this prize is something far greater, far more valuable. It's a crown that will last forever.

But how do we pursue this prize? How do we run this race in such a way as to obtain it? That's what we're going to look at today.

This race requires effort: It's not a leisurely jog or a casual stroll. It's a race, and races require exertion, energy, determination. We can't just coast along and expect to win. We need to put in the work, put in the effort, put in the sweat and the tears. This means we need to train. Just as athletes train for their races, we need to train for ours. We need to discipline our bodies, our minds, our spirits. We need to make them our slaves, not the other way around. We need to take control, take charge, take command.

Have a strategy: We can't just run willy-nilly and hope for the best. We need to have a plan, a strategy, a course of action. We need to know where we're going, how we're going to get there, and what we're going to do along the way. This means we need to study the course. We need to know its twists and turns, its ups and downs, its challenges and obstacles. We need to prepare for them, plan for them, strategize for them. We need to be ready for anything and everything that might come our way.

Stay focused: It's easy to get distracted in a race. It's easy to lose sight of the finish line, to lose sight of the prize. But we can't afford to do that. We need to keep our eyes on the prize, keep our minds on the goal, keep our hearts on the finish line. This means we need to eliminate distractions. We need to clear our minds, clear our hearts, clear our paths. We need to remove anything and everything that might hinder us, slow us down, trip us up. We need to stay focused, stay determined, stay on track.

Persevere: The race isn't always easy. It's not always smooth sailing. There are bumps along the way, obstacles in our path, challenges to overcome. But we can't let these deter us. We can't let these discourage us. We can't let these defeat us. This means we need to keep going, no matter what. We need to press on, push through, persevere. We need to keep running, keep striving, keep pursuing. We need to keep our eyes on the prize, our minds on the goal, our hearts on the finish line.

In the end, the race is worth it. The prize is worth it. The crown that lasts forever is worth it. So let's run with purpose. Let's run with determination. Let's run in such a way as to obtain the prize.

The Discipline in the Race

As we continue to unpack the rich layers of this passage, we find ourselves faced with the undeniable reality of discipline in the race ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO