Four Essentials to Run the Race of Faith

Illustration: Ran “Miracle mile” with Explorer in formation, 1 mile, holding flag, goal finish w/team,prize satisfaction, knew never be behind, because of 20 people i was running with Spiritual race: much greater race, prize

Intro: Paul uses illustration of athlete, “straining forward”literally means “Stretching as in for a race”

Learn encouragement, how can we do that in race?

Run with endurance, run together, like explorer, encourage one another by our own running

I. Dissatisfaction 12-13a

“Not that I've already attained” great statement of a Christian who never let himself be satisfied with his spiritual accomplishments. Paul was clearly satisfied w/Christ(3:10), but he was not satisfied w/ his christian life. One of first essentials to progress in spiritual life is a sanctified dissatisfaction. Are you dissatisfied with your current standing?.... Many Christians self-satisfied because their compare their “running” with other Christians, usually those who aren’t making much progress. If Paul did that, no doubt he would be quite puffed up and prideful… But Paul didn’t do that, he compared himself with JC. Paul has not yet become “perfect”, but he is mature(3:15). One mark of spiritual maturity is knowledge that you are not perfect, that you are weak. A mature Christian honestly evaluates himself. An unmature Christian lies to himself.

Often in the Bible we are warned of a false estimate of our spiritual condition. The Church at Sardis Rev. 3:1  ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” They had a reputation w/out reality. Church in Laodicea boasted rich Rev. 3:17 “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” In contrast the Church in Smyrna thought they were poor Rev. 2:9 ““ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)”

Self-evaluation can be a dangerous thing because we can err in Two directions 1) making ourselves better then we are or 2) making ourselves worse then we are. Paul had no illusions about himself. He still had to press on because Jesus has made him His own. A divine dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual progress. Are you dissatisfied w/ current standing w/ God? Do you strive to grow in your walk w/ Christ? Are you satisfied? Comparing? Look to Christ who has made you His own. He’s adopted you and given you an identity. No need to compare w/fellow heir in Christ. Teammates, brother/sister

II. Devotion 13b

“one thing” is something we see throughout Scripture. “One thing you lack” Jesus said to the self righteous ruler. “one thing is needful” Jesus said to busy Martha. “one thing I know” said the man who received sight by Jesus. Often times we become involved in “many things”, when the secret of progress is to concentrate on “one thing”. D.L. Moody was involved in Sunday school promotion, YMCA work, evangelistic meetings, and many other things, but after the fire in 1871 he determined to devote himself exclusively to evangelism. “But one thing I do” became a reality to him. As a result, millions of people heard the Gospel.

We must devote ourselves to running the Christian race. No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing. The winners are those who concentrate, keep their eyes on the goal and let nothing distract them. They are devoted entirely to their calling. Are you entirely devoted to yours?.... Nehemiah 6:3 “I am doing a great work so I cannot come down.” James 1:8 “a Double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

III. Direction 13c

unsaved people are controlled by the past, believers run looking toward the future. When pain or sorrow comes, death we look forward. Hannah Chase, hope because future. Imagine if a runner looked back, he would trip or slow down. “forgetting what lies behind” forget doesn’t mean not being able to remember, for that we cannot do. At times we even wish to forget bad memories, but we cant. By forget we are talking about no longer being influenced or affected by the past. In Hebrews 10:17 God says He will no longer remember our sins. He didn’t forget them, but He’s no holding them against us. Our sins no longer affect our standing with God. We are not trying to erase the sins and mistakes of the past, we are just trying the break the power of the past by living for the future. We cannot change the past, but we can change the meaning of the past. There were things in Paul’s past that could have held him back(blasphemer, persecutor), but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. The events did not change, but his understanding of them changed. My past, that could discourage me party, bully, You sins from past, heavy weight, discouragement, can’t run effectively with weight of past

OT example: Joseph, held no grudge against brothers, saw past from God’s perspective, as a result unable to hold grudge, Joseph knew God had plan, race to run, in fulfilling that plan and looking ahead, he broke the power of the past. Too many Christians shackled by regrets of past. Trying to run race by looking backward! No wonder they stumble, fall. Some runners are distracted by the success of the past, not the failures, and this is just as bad. “what lies behind” must be set aside and “what lies ahead” must take their place. Hope of tomorrow, the Day drawing near, being in presence of God. It is possible to have dissatisfaction, devotion, and direction and still lose the race and the reward. There is a fourth essential

IV. Determination 14

“I press” translated “I follow after” in 3:12 as well. It carries the idea of a intense endeavor. The Greeks used it to describe a hunter pursuing his prey. Eric pursuing a deer. A man doesn’t become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, cheering at games, or reading books. He becomes a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win. The same zeal Paul used when he persecuted the Church(3:6), he displayed in serving Christ. Imagine if we put as much work into our spiritual life as you do in fishing, sports, work, school, hobby, or hunting. How strong would you faith really be? How much effort are we really putting into our spiritual life?

Two extremes to avoid in pressing on 1) I must do it all 2) God must do it all. Both of these people are heading for failure. “Let go and let God” clever, but doesn’t describe reality of christian living. A quarterback wouldn’t say in huddle “let coach do it all”, on other hand QB wouldn’t say “listen to me and forget what the coach said” Both wrong.

We must realize God must work in us if we are going to win the race. “John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

God works in us that He might work through us. As we apply ourselves to our spiritual life, God is able to mature us and strengthen us for the race. 1 Tim 4:7-8 says “Rather train yourself for godliness;” Some people think they can make it on their own so they never read the Word, pray, or ask for the power of the Lord. Are you really reliant upon the Lord for His strength?

What is the goal we are running for? “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” When we reach that goal, we will receive the prize. Prize is not in this life. Paul's not suggesting we get to heaven by our own efforts. He’s simply saying just as the athlete is rewarded for his performance, so the faithful believer will be crowned when Christ returns. (1 Cor. 9:24-27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” )

While only one athlete may receive a prize, all Christians may receive the reward. The wreath of the Olympic Games will fade, but the crown Christ gives will never fade. No matter how successful we are in the yes of men, we cannot be rewarded unless we “press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

Application: How are you running the race? Maybe you are that exhausted, fatigued runner. Find rest in Christ, be refreshed by a brother or sister, encourage one another to run with endurance. Maybe runner looking back, look forward to the Day drawing near, to the prize. Maybe trying to run on own strength, your strength will run our, be reliant on Christ’s strength, encouragement of others.

Conclusion: Do you have dissatisfaction in current standing with Christ? Are you devoted to the run of faith? Are you running with direction or lost? Are you determined to run this race no matter what?

Let’s run together, not running race alone, others running too, be an encouragement, How can you encourage someone here to run? Maybe know somebody struggling to run? Spur them on! Keeping running the race of faith! No other race or thing you strive for is worth the prize of the upward call of Christ!