To Endure Until the Race is Finished

Hebrews 6:10 (Rewards for our work)

Matthew 10:22; 1 Cor. 9:24-25

Paul was speaking about the triennial Isthmus games which were the chief glory of the city of Corinth and at that time had even thrown the Olympic games into shade.

Greek word for the words “in a race,” are “in the stadium” and traces of the stadium are still visible today.

The lesson being taught by Paul is that of self-denial. He speaks of those who train diligently for the particular races; even though all train, only one will win the prize.

The prize was merely garland or wreath placed upon the head along with fame. However it was fleeting and faded about as soon as the leaves on the wreath.

Today athletes are getting large sums of money which only last a period of time, which is nothing in comparison to eternity.

The truth is, nothing in this world can ever remotely compare with eternal consequences of the human soul.

Sadly, almost all preparations are made for the here and now, while very little made has little value.

Matthew 16:26 NASB95

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

1 Cor. 9:25—Greek word for strive is “agonizomoi” and means “to fight, to struggle, to contend with the adversary, to labor fervently. Actually is the Greek word for agony, agonizing.

“Mastery” refers to “excelling to the place of victory.”

Greek word for “Temperate” is agkrateromai and means to exercise self-restraint.

Temperance can be described as “self-control.” (Prov. 25:28)

This can be described as self-mastery, self-restraint. (Example—Joseph in Gen. 43:31)

In effect, it is the “mastery” of self.

It can be described, therefore, as “self mastery,” or “self-restraint.” (Gen. 43:31)

“But not an incorruptible,” speaks to the fact that all who follow Christ will win eternal life—the privilege of being in the presence of God forever.

1 Cor. 9:26--”Therefore so run not as uncertainly,” speaks of the Christian race, with the eyes fixed on a definite goal! 2 Tim. 1:12

2 Timothy 1:12 NASB95

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Paul speaks of himself as knowing and understanding the tremendous significance of this race, not withstanding the difficulties, but yet knowing for certain what is ahead respecting the finish course.

“Beating the air,” in the case of the believer, pertains to those not knowing and understanding the Word of God, concerning the race.

We must continue to abide in the Word and not get lazy. If we have our eyes on the prize we will make it through every trial and tribulation until the race is complete.

Know the opponent like being in the same division. You get to know the weaknesses of the opponent and have a strategy to win.

We must fully understand and know the opponent.

Paul is speaking literally of the physical body which must be brought in subjection—its passions and lust.

We must learn how to prep up for the championship. Self-denial in all things, setting our minds on things above not this earth.

We need to learn to protect our innerman so we can obtain being soberly minded and hearing the voice of the Lord.

Rom. 12:1-2—We must always be in total surrender.

This worship requires a conscious, rational, thoughtful, and intelligent offering of the self in daily sanctification, that is in God’s sight pleasing (2 Cor. 2:14; 5:9).

We must do what pleases Him.

We must learn to work together in the unity of the body—being one unit in Christ, so that in Christ we form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

God has given us equality in unity and the gifts are for serving others.

A servantlike attitude of disposition is what Paul is urging, the opposite of a prideful flaunting of one’s spiritual gifts.

We must remain accountable to the Word of God. The Word of God should always set the criteria. What the Word says we must do.

Most preachers are not teaching accountability, contrary to the Word. (They say, “You be accountable to me, and do whatever I tell you to do.) That is if it isn’t Scripture.

I love all brothers and sisters in the Lord and do whatever I can to get along with them, and to be Christlike toward them, however when any man says to me or acts toward me in a manner that says, “I am your superior, and do what I tell you to do,” automatically I know that man is unscriptural and out of order.

There is only one Superior respecting minister, and that is a senior pastor (1 Pet. 5:5).

Every believer in the world is going to follow some preacher, and to be sure, this isn’t unscriptural. However they must make certain that the one they follow is truly called of God, and is functioning in the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit strictly according to the Word. Otherwise they will suffer great deception.

Millions are being led astray by self-appointed, false teachers and preachers.

The exhortation is a holy life in conformity to the exalted position of the saint in Christ. Jesus is to be obeyed in view of His mercies.

If we are justified righteous in our standing before God, we are under obligation of living a righteous life.

The first evidence of real Christian life is a consecration to God and transformation from the Word.

Everything that pertains to Christ must begin at the heart, and flows outward, which makes Christianity, at least Bible Christianity.

We must live our lives as God demands, in purity and freedom from sin (1 Cor. 6:11).

Rom. 12:1—Acceptable unto God means that holy physical body is all that He will accept.

Acceptable in the Greek is “euarestom” and means pleasing, approved, extraordinary.

We must follow after Him and not our own efforts.

In order for us to do this truth is only the power and ability of the Holy Spirit to make real these great truths within our own lives. (Rom. 8:1-13).

Jesus Christ has given us the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and empower us as we operate in faith (Gal. 6:9).

Rom. 12:2—The purpose is to bring us into conformity to the “perfect will of God.”

Conformed in the Greek is “sunschematizo” and means the assuming of an expression that is patterned after some definite thing.

We must, “stop assuming our outward expression which is patterned after this world, an expression that doesn’t come, nor is it representative of what you are, in your inner being as a regenerated child of God.

“World” in the Greek is “aion,” and means all that floating mass of thoughts, opinions, maxims, speculations, hopes, impulses, aims, aspirations, at anytime current in the world, which may be impossible to seize and accurately define, but which constitutes a most real and affective power, being the moral, or immoral atmosphere which at every moment of our lives we inhale, again inevitable to exhale.

The Greek word “kosmos” means the ordered world.

The 2 dominant characteristics of this world are “pride,” born of man’s failure to accept his creaturely state, and his “covetousness” which causes him to desire and possess all that is attractive to his physical senses (1 John 2:16) and, as man tends in effect to worship what he covets, such covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5).

Transformed in the Greek is “metamorphoomai” which speaks “of the act of a person changing his outward expression from that which he has to a different one, an expression which comes from, and is, representative of his inner man.”

The same word is used in Matt. 17:2 where it’s translated “transfigured.”

“Renewing” is “anakainosis,” and means the gradual conforming of the man more and more to that new spiritual world into which he has been introduced, and which he now lives and moves; the restoration of the divine image; and in all this so far from being passive, he might be a fellow worker with God.”

The idea is, that this change of outward expression, which refers to a total change, is dependent upon the renovation, which is the complete change for the better of the believer’s mental process. This is accomplished through the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who when definitely, and intelligently, and habitually yielded to, puts sin out of the believer’s life and produces His own fruit.

He does this by controlling the mental processes of the believer, but it is control which the believer must willingly give to the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit will never take such control by force.

In effect, the believer can do little more than furnish a “willing mind and obedient heart” (1 Chron. 28:9). Even in the “obedient heart” about all that the believer can do, is to be willing that the heart may be made obedient to the Lord.

When the believing sinner is born again, the Holy Spirit automatically comes is, imparting to the believer the divine nature (Jn. 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17). As well, the Spirit of God sets about to bring the believer to conformity to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). In this the Holy Spirit also brings great power which is now available to the believer (Acts 1:8; 8:12).

However, the full quantity and quality of what the Holy Spirit can do within our lives, is dependent, as stated, upon our cooperation. This has to do with the believer’s sanctification, with the Holy Spirit unable to accomplish these tasks within our hearts and lives without the full consecration of our self-will into that of Christ. It speaks of the will being submitted to Christ to the extent, that His will becomes our will. It is somewhat like meekness. This attribute is not weakness but rather controlled strength. The will of God carried out in the believer’s life, is never passivity, but rather controlled direction, i.e., controlled by Christ, but only with our compliance.

Actually, this is the prescription of the Apostle: “Habitually be ordering your behavior within the sphere and by means of the Spirit, and you will positively not fulfill the desire of the flesh (sin nature)” (Gal. 5:16).

As well, the “renewed mind” will always be in the realm of the “mind of Christ,” which denotes humility (Phil. 2:5-8).

The phrase, “That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” presents that which the Holy Spirit is attempting to bring about within our lives. His purpose in our lives is not to do our will, but the will of God, and more perfectly, the “perfect will of God,” which alone God accepts.

“Prove” in the Greek is “dokimazo,” and means “to put to the test for the purpose of approving, and finding that the thing tested meets the specifications laid down,” in other words to put one approval upon it.

As a result of the Spirit’s control of the mental processes of the saint, the latter is enabled to put his life to the test for the purpose of approving it, the specifications being that it conform to the Word of God. Thus, experiencing what obedience is to the Word, and finding out what it feels like to have the Word saturate and control the life, the believer now sees the road of victory in all things, and lays his claim to that direction. The Lord was speaking of the same thing when He said, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself” (Jn. 7:17). In other words, and according to the old adage, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

Eccles 7:8—Solomon chose to ask God for wisdom rather than riches or honor—and God gave him all three! But it doesn’t take long for a runner to stray from his lane. And many men have turned cold toward God in their later years despite being hot-hearted for Him in their youth. But a humble, patient spirit is rewarded in the end.

Purpose to keep your eyes on the prize and to end your race of faith well.