Running to win.
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 viewsIn the spiritual race, we must run to win. How to win the race?
Notes
Transcript
1 cor 9:24-27
Every four years, thousands of fans of different countries, spending thousands of dollars, concur to the designated country to watch the Soccer World Cup.
After thirteen days of competition, the first phase of this year tournament ended on Friday. Half the competing teams (16 of 32) have been eliminated.
Many of the fans are returning home, disappointed that their teams could not win as they expected.
Soccer did not exist in the times of Paul, but the Games in Olympia, the Greek city-state, were longed for event. Such games, now known as the Olympic Games, started on 776 years BC.
They competed in running, long jump, javelin, discus, pankratium (boxing and wrestling), shot put, and equestrian competitions.
The games at Olympus, in honor to Zeus, were held every four years; and the Isthmian Games (of which Corinth was part) were in honor to Poseidon, every two years.
Paul, as an expert teacher and illustrator, talks to the Corinthians in terms they knew very well: Olympic or Isthmian terms. He tells them about the race of life as Christians.
Advice to Win the Race
You must run with a purpose.
You must run with a purpose.
Winners run to win.
Winners run to win.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
Two things stand out from this verse:
The first one is a word...
“Stadio”: a race; length measure 192 meters; a place where races were held.
The second one is an order:
“Run in such a way that you may win”.
Just running or competing is not enough! We must run with a purpose: to win. It’s not optional, it’s imperative (threxete).
The purpose is to be like Jesus.
The purpose is to be like Jesus.
“…only one receives the prize.”
Prize: the reward given to the winner. A winner received a monetary reward that would bring financial security for him and his family.
But Paul is speaking metaphorically of the heavenly reward for Christian character.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Application: coming to church, reading, serving
The verb “run” occurs in Greek writings denoting to incur extreme peril, which it requires the exertion of all one’s effort to overcome.
The race of the believer is a race with many traps. The enemy sets many traps before us to make us fall.
You must run according to the rules.
You must run according to the rules.
No cheating is allowed in this race.
No cheating is allowed in this race.
Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
Application: others may do it, but not us…
Willingness to pay the prize.
Willingness to pay the prize.
On v. 25, the runner is described as “agonizomenos” from the verb “agonizomai”: compete, strive, fight.
Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Self-control (abstinence) is important in this race. Every runner would go under rigorous training, during which they would live by the rules, do unpleasant things, eat undesirable food, constant exercise, no wine, and obey whatever the master ordered.
Remember that the prize exceeds the suffering.
Remember that the prize exceeds the suffering.
Our race is not for a World Cup, but a race for eternal rewards.
“stefanos”: the wreath or garland, made of olive or bay, ivy, or pine, which was given as a prize to victors in public games. Therefore, it was corruptible.
We run for an incorruptible crown. Metaphorically, the eternal blessedness which will be given as a prize to the genuine servants of God and Christ: the crown (wreath) which is the reward of the righteousness.
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Those who love Him, obey Him!
The crown of life is not salvation! Salvation is not earned. It’s the crown for dedication, obedience.
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
“that’s the way I run” with purpose. “That’s the way I fight” with aim.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Our goal or aim must be the stature of the perfect man: Jesus Christ. To be like Him is the aim!
Fighting was a brutal sport, sometimes leading to death. Our spiritual fight is brutal if we are trying to obey our Master.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
It will be easy if we are just spectators.
The games at the World Cup start with the initial whistle. When does our fight begin? Our fight begins as soon as we enter the ring of relationship with Christ.
You must have discipline.
You must have discipline.
Discipline your body.
Discipline your body.
but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Either running or fighting: I discipline my body, I put it under my control.
Shadow-boxing was good, but it was not enough training.
The body could be a good servant or a cruel master!
Some, instead of being masters of their body, are slaves of their bodies.
Discipline your mind.
Discipline your mind.
We must discipline our mind because the mind is the battleground. All fights are fought there.
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
How can we discipline the mind? Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Follow the instructions of the Master.
Follow the instructions of the Master.
Discipline and discipleship go hand on hand.
It’s been said that the runners would swear, in the name of Zeus or Poseidon, that they would follow ten months of strict training and obedience to all the instructions given by their trainer.
A disciple of Christ is someone who has swore to follow the discipline of the Master.
How can you expect to win if you do not obey your Master?