I Corinthians 9:24-27I Corinthians 9:24-27

24Do 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.

24Do 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.

25Everyone 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.

25Everyone 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.

I Corinthians 9:24-27I Corinthians 9:24-27

26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, 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.

26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, 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 9:24-27I Corinthians 9:24-27

Running the Running the RaceRace

Preparing to RunPreparing to Run

Learn the rules of the gameLearn the rules of the game Exercise (whole body)Exercise (whole body) Get the right amount of sleepGet the right amount of sleep Eat the right foodEat the right food Practice running Practice running Push endurance beyond comfort into painPush endurance beyond comfort into pain Practice running fasterPractice running faster Practice running fartherPractice running farther Practice running longerPractice running longer

Preparing to Run God’s RacePreparing to Run God’s Race

Learn the rules of the gameLearn the rules of the game Know what God expects by reading His Word - Know what God expects by reading His Word -

the Biblethe Bible Not following the rules can lead to Not following the rules can lead to

disqualificationdisqualification Exercise (whole body)Exercise (whole body)

Become disciplined in a daily routine of having Become disciplined in a daily routine of having God talk to you and speaking to Him in return God talk to you and speaking to Him in return (Bible reading and prayer)(Bible reading and prayer)

Practice different qualities that God expects Practice different qualities that God expects (love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, (love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)

Get right amount of sleepGet right amount of sleep Take time away from the hurry of work and Take time away from the hurry of work and

family obligations to rest and reflect on God’s family obligations to rest and reflect on God’s activity in the world and in your life.activity in the world and in your life.

Eat the right foodEat the right food Fill your mind with words and images that will Fill your mind with words and images that will

cause you to focus on being the best person cause you to focus on being the best person you can be and to become stronger in you can be and to become stronger in Christian character. Christian character.

Practice runningPractice running Practice helping other peoplePractice helping other people Practice showing compassionPractice showing compassion Practice telling the truthPractice telling the truth Practice showing courage and honorPractice showing courage and honor Practice with someone to share the loadPractice with someone to share the load

Push Endurance beyond comfort into painPush Endurance beyond comfort into pain Do the right things even if it means personal pain, Do the right things even if it means personal pain,

grief and lossgrief and loss

Practice Running Faster, Farther, Practice Running Faster, Farther, LongerLonger Practice thinking about and doing things that Practice thinking about and doing things that

are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy often so they excellent and praiseworthy often so they become the natural pattern and first become the natural pattern and first inclination of thought and actioninclination of thought and action

Finally brothers, whatever is true, Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8Philippians 4:8

But the Obstacles are so HardBut the Obstacles are so Hard Every runner knows that keeping a practice Every runner knows that keeping a practice

regimen is difficult at best and impossible if it is not regimen is difficult at best and impossible if it is not part of a daily routine.part of a daily routine.

If the body and mind are not in shape, are not If the body and mind are not in shape, are not toned by daily practice, when you “hit the wall” you toned by daily practice, when you “hit the wall” you will not have the perseverance to continue, or the will not have the perseverance to continue, or the strength and will to finish.strength and will to finish.

There is a conflict between body and mind where There is a conflict between body and mind where we must make out bodies perform the way we we must make out bodies perform the way we want them to perform. But no one succeeds want them to perform. But no one succeeds entirely.entirely.

Olympic Runners Olympic Runners Were FocusedWere Focused

Olympic runners in Greek and Roman times Olympic runners in Greek and Roman times would wear weights on their arms and legs would wear weights on their arms and legs when they practiced, so that when the race when they practiced, so that when the race came, they could remove the weights and came, they could remove the weights and run faster.run faster.

Olympic runners would remove every Olympic runners would remove every garment that would impede their movement.garment that would impede their movement.

They were focused toward one goal. No They were focused toward one goal. No distractions or encumbrances were allowed distractions or encumbrances were allowed to interfere.to interfere.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3Hebrews 12:1-3

The Christian Race is about living by the The Christian Race is about living by the Spirit and competing against the sinful Spirit and competing against the sinful desires we all have.desires we all have.

““So I say live by the Spirit, and you will So I say live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so They are in conflict with each other so you do not do what you want. But if you you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” law.” Galatians 5:16-18Galatians 5:16-18

These are the kinds of things against These are the kinds of things against which our race is trying to win.which our race is trying to win.

““The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21Galatians 5:19-21

When we persevere at running the race, When we persevere at running the race, these are the things God’s Spirit will these are the things God’s Spirit will grow in our lives.grow in our lives.

““But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have Those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:22-26Galatians 5:22-26

Finish the RaceFinish the Race

In the Olympics as in all races, only the In the Olympics as in all races, only the winner gets the gold. In the first Olympics, winner gets the gold. In the first Olympics, the winner won a laurel wreath crown.the winner won a laurel wreath crown.

In the race of life, the stakes are nothing In the race of life, the stakes are nothing less than eternal life.less than eternal life.

So live life as if only one will get the prizeSo live life as if only one will get the prize No one is immune from being disqualified, No one is immune from being disqualified,

even those who appear on the outside to even those who appear on the outside to be champions. God does not look at our be champions. God does not look at our success in academics, business, fame or success in academics, business, fame or physical appearance. physical appearance.

God looks at the heart.God looks at the heart.

The LThe LORD ORD Judges the HeartJudges the Heart

When Samuel was looking at David’s When Samuel was looking at David’s brother as a potential candidate for king:brother as a potential candidate for king: ““But the LBut the LORD ORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not said to Samuel, ‘Do not

consider his appearance or his height, for I consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lhave rejected him. The LORD ORD does not look does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Loutward appearance, but the LORD ORD looks at looks at the heart.’”the heart.’”

I Samuel 16:7I Samuel 16:7

The Apostle Paul said:The Apostle Paul said: “ “Do you not know that in a race all the Do you not know that in a race all the

runners compete, but only one receives runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified.”I myself should be disqualified.”

I Corinthians 9:24-27I Corinthians 9:24-27

Winners Persevere in Running Winners Persevere in Running the Race and Believing the Race and Believing

God’s Promise God’s Promise ““You need to persevere so that when you You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a little what he has promised. For in just a little while, “He who is coming will come and will while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.” “But my righteous one will live by not delay.” “But my righteous one will live by faith.” “And if he shrinks back, I will not be faith.” “And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” those who believe and are saved.” Hebrews Hebrews 10:35-3910:35-39

Receiving the PrizeReceiving the Prize

Jesus said:Jesus said: ““Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will

give you the crown of life.” give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10Revelation 2:10

““He who overcomes will be dressed in white.He who overcomes will be dressed in white.I will never blot out his name from the book of I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” Father and his angels.” Revelation 3:5Revelation 3:5

““To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation Revelation 3:213:21

In SummaryIn Summary

Prepare for the race of life by emulating the Prepare for the race of life by emulating the character traits of Jesus character traits of Jesus

Run the race with determination and Run the race with determination and perseverance so that you do not give upperseverance so that you do not give up

Win the race through faith in Jesus Win the race through faith in Jesus and following in the way of life He has and following in the way of life He has shown usshown us

Receive the promised prize, a crown of life Receive the promised prize, a crown of life eternal and a home with God in heaveneternal and a home with God in heaven