The Marathon Of Life

The Marathon of Life

Pastor Paddick Van Zyl

23-06-2020

Sermon Outline

Introduction

I came across the fowling written by J. Michael Shannon on the topic of running:

“According to news reports, a 100-year-old British man has become the world’s oldest marathon runner, completing a race in Canada. The man’s name is Fauja Singh, and he is now in the Guinness Book of World Records. He completed the marathon in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds. Singh was born in India and told reporters that his success can be attributed to ginger curry, tea and being happy. Singh said, “The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free. Be grateful for everything you have; stay away from people who are negative; stay smiling; and keep running.” 1

Scripture Reference

Hebrews 12 :1-2 The Passion Translation

1 As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. 2 We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

2 Timothy 4:7 The Amplified Translation

7 I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]. 8 In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.

Theme

Finishing the race of faith versus finishing the race of faith well.

Sermon message

Many believers finish their race of faith and graduate to heaven. Fewer believers finish their race of faith WELL, and graduate. What is the difference? What can we do to ensure that we finish well? Life is a marathon, and thus needs stamina and endurance to finish. It is not a sprint.

“It’s all grace”, I hear you say, and you are absolutely right. However, together with grace there are things we should do to run our race better.

Let’s look at 4 elements or actions needed to ensure we finish our race well:

*Spending quality time, communion, with God, daily

*Living a gospel centered life

*Presenting yourself, your body a living sacrifice before God

*A firm believe in the sovereignty and love of God the Father

Communion:

We will drift away from the things of God if we do not cultivate communion, fellowship with the

Father, asking God to speak to us, as we lay our hearts bear before Him and for us to respond to Him.

Gospel lifestyle:

The gospel is for the saved as well the unsaved. We are still plagued with sin. Wash yourself spiritually

with the gospel message daily. Check yourself against the gospel. “I need Your mercy and Your grace,”

should be our heart’s cry daily. The gospel in my life reminds me and keeps me from a performance

related relationship with God. 'I come daily to You Jesus as a sinner, wash me in Your blood today.' It

is all by grace through faith, not works, not merit.

Psalm 51:17 New International Version (NKJV)

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

Be a living sacrifice:

The burnt offering was the only offering wherein the whole animal was burned consumed. Our lives

are to be a continual, whole burnt offering to God. Daily. Consecration. We are to give ourselves not

loan ourselves to God for His purpose, His plan.

Romans 12:1-2 AMP

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating

all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational

(logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its

superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature

spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you

may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in