In It To Win It

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1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NIV

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.

We are in a race, looking ahead to a prize

I appreciate this illustration a lot. There’s a lot of choices Paul could have picked to describe faith. A buffet. A free ticket. A set of rules. A status that makes us better than other people.

But he says - we’re in a race. And we need to run to get the prize.

Philippians 3:14 NIV

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The prize in ancient greek games (like the olympics) was usually a simple wreath woven with olive branches. It was a status, a recognition. It was a prize to say, ‘congratulations - you did it. You excelled’.

Nowadays, it can be a cup, or a belt. Sometimes it’s a cash award, or a record deal. Usually something shiny, or flashy, or worth a lot of money.

Our prize there is better than any prize here

STORY - There’s this really rich guy, he is dying, and he’s very proud of his wealth, his riches. He’s amassed TONS of straight up gold. He pleads with God to let him bring it with him into heaven. Finally, God says, alright, fine. Shows up to the pearly gates, two suitcases full of gold. St Peter greets him. Asks what’s in it. He shows him proudly. St Peter exclaims - ‘why did you bring pavement?’.

It’s a funny example, but in Revelation - The new jerusalem will have streets paved with gold.

Every prize we can earn here will fade away, and perish. Every single one. I like the way the NLT translates this next passage.

1 John 2:17 NLT

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Some athletes have strict training regimes. Controlled diets. They’re working tirelessly day and night. They do all this to win… what? Money? Fame? Recognition? To ‘be the best’ in their sport or their field? A ring, or a cup?

Whatever motivation these athletes - we have more. Whatever motivation anyone on earth has to try and win anything or gain anything - we have more!

Given we’re training for the greatest prize there is -

We can’t just run aimlessly - we have to run to win

Imagine a runner getting on the field, and just sprinting off in some random direction wherever they felt like. They run for 8 seconds, 10 seconds, doesn’t matter whenever they feel like stopping - then they start celebrating.

Or imagine a boxer stepping into the ring for a title fight…but he’s the only one. He makes a show of swinging at sweet nothing. Then he’s jumping up and down, like he won something.

It’s obvious in those circumstances. They aren’t actually real athletes. They’re just there for the flash, for the crowd, to say they won something. But they’re not taking it seriously.

And the truth is, you’ll find greater success in life approaching it as an athlete instead of as a spectator, or a customer. The people who are driven, who are hard workers, who are steering towards getting better and better - they go far in life.

And you can be driven in any sort of field imaginable. STORY - Happy guy serving hamburgers and singing at a harveys in toronto. You’ll never be lacking in ability to achieve greater things - you’ll only find yourself lacking in ambition.

Paul says, we can’t run like someone running aimlessly. We can’t fight like a boxer beating the air. A runner has a goal - the winning time. There’s a line a couple hundred yards that way. They’re trying to outpace the people beside them.

A boxer has an opponent. They’re trying to be the last man standing. They’re in a ring, they know the rules, and the expectations.

We need to ask ourselves. How do we approach our faith? Are we customers, looking for the best experience, waiting for the most profitable answer? Are we guests, ‘paying our dues’ to get the most comfortable bed in the biggest room? Do we show up, form an opinion about whatever things other people are doing or saying - and then just go home again?

Or are we athletes, focused on being victorious? Do we see our time here as training, or as entertainment? Are we trying to profit, to pleasure - or are we trying to win?

2 Timothy 4:8 NIV

Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.

BUT. there’s someone out there that’s aiming to stop us. There’s a winner and a loser in this verse. It’s a competition. So who are we aiming to beat?

Now, I’m gonna guess, most of you are thinking the same thing - it’s the enemy! The devil! And for sure, he’s interested in us losing. He is the one we’re working against in the grand scheme of things. But that’s…not what this verse is talking about.

The competition is ourselves

Just as there’s a winner in this race, there’s a loser. And here’s the thing - we’re both. And i don’t mean - we’re competing amongst ourselves. I mean, in this race, it’s you against yourself. Individually.

Paul talks about this battle between our spirit and our flesh.

Galatians 5:16–17 NIV

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9, making our bodies our slaves is what prevents us from being disqualified. Paul isn’t saying there’s going to be one person winning, and a bunch of people losing. He’s saying, we’re runners in a race - so we have to make sure we don’t disqualify ourselves.

Here’s another way to understand that - we have to make sure that the sinful parts of ourselves lose this race. Just as much as we train to win - we train to make sure THAT part of ourselves loses.

And paul talks about that. He says that

Victory means self-discipline

Athletes that are the top of their game - they know their sport inside and out. They are DISCIPLINED.

STORY - Stephen Curry, NBA Superstar, was dribbling a ball and it went a direction he didn’t think it would. So he automatically assumed - oh it must be a problem with the court. And he was right! Could you imagine how good you have to be to be able to say, ‘this didn’t work the way i expected, so the problem is obviously with the multimillion dollar stadium we’re in’.

Paul says, everybody who competes in a race goes into strict training. They are disciplined. They are at the top of their game.

And the same is expected of us. We need to train ourselves. We need to be disciplined. And self-discipline is going to be what gets us the prize.

Proverbs 25:28 NIV

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

CITY WALLS - Offered protection. A city with broken walls was open and vulnerable - and often ransacked.

And paul goes on to say, in chapter 10 - we can’t just assume our victory is a given. Many in Israel saw the cloud and the fire, they ate the manna - and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness because of unbelief.

They both saw the miraculous and participated in it - but their hearts were wrong. They craved more and more enjoyment, more safety and security, and eventually turned their gaze back to Egypt and the way things used to be.

We Invite you to train with us

We have a spot for you - whatever level of faith you’re at.

And the amazing part - is that God already fights all these battles for you.

Romans 8:31 NIV

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:37 NIV

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.