How to Run, How to Fight

Yeah a little bit about my wife and I we live in downtown Portland, which we'll get to that in a minute. But we pastor at a church called Imago Dei Community has been there in the city for about 20 years now and it's really just a joy for us to escape the city to be here in eastern, Oregon. Wild you guys here in Redmond? So thank you for for having us to be here. Well, that was that was the authority of God in the house. Apparently, let me pray for us and then we can we can jump into the texted is it sound good father? We thank you that you are good God that you are present with us here this morning. Holy Spirit, we do ask that is we look at the scriptures as we open up your word God that you would shine a light into our hearts God. I pray that you would just as we staying in that song Bring conviction God that you would help us to reorient in to realign ourselves to be the people that you called us to be here and Redmond here around this area. We pray this in the name of Jesus and the church said amen. Amen. Like I was saying my wife and I we live in Portland, Oregon and we Pastor I pastored a church called and Mater Dei Community or a service to worship and arts pastor and we are smack dab in the middle of the city in the middle of the chaos in the tension. And as I'm sure all of us have been watching the news is the past few months. It's been one bad thing after another and it started back in March when we experience, you know, the pandemic we realized okay. This thing is sweeping the world This is bad news and all the sudden it even though it hadn't affected it up at any of us and up in a personal way yet, either through illness or death. We experience throughout the country a massive recession. We've experienced this moment were I forget what the statistic is like how many people have been laid off or fired for unemployment and it's just been it's been bad news one after the other and then we've also experienced the past few months, even though it may not be present here in Redmond or in the bend area. Just the mounting death toll like not just across the world in our own nation and you look at this and you're thinking all men. This is this is this is terrible. This is this Grieves Us in the capital off. Most of us, especially in Portland have been stuck at home not allowed to go anywhere not allowed to go out being forced to wear masks. It's just one bit of bad news after another and we concert Are on our phones addicted to just updates weekly daily almost hourly update just like has something changed something no more bad news, and it feels I think for us for my wife and I felt just like this real heaviness and almost at times just like this depressive state or just like, oh my gosh can it can it get any worse and then a couple weeks ago with the deaths of several black men across our country. We saw our nation come come once again to a place of civil unrest looking at the nature of racial Injustice in our country and it's and it's Park protest. It's it's been chaotic and where we live in the middle of downtown Portland. We have heard almost every single night of the week helicopters. Flying overhead and it's it's been crazy to the point where even just I think two or three days ago. We were woken at 5 in the morning 5 in the morning Friday to police alerts asking all the residents in our neighborhood you live in the Pearl and downtown Portland all the residents in our neighborhood to stay in lockdown because of civil unrest in our community come to find out a bunch of people try to barricade the mare into his apartment building who happened to live like 5 blocks away from us and just you just absolute craziness right now, and I think And even if you look at all the snooze and then we think just like oh my gosh, like I don't even know if like the NFL season is going to be on or off this year. Is it is there any hope for us that was one of my lame jokes about but here's the thing. We looked at the media. We look at the news. I mean, it's no question whether or not the news is biased towards certain either political Sweeney's either to the left or to the right with the ones that we can be sure about is that bad news actually sells men. How often do you open up your newsfeed and all the sudden? You see good news. How often do you open up your your news app on your phone or you turn on the television all the sudden? You see something say this is great. And the reason that we never see that is because the good news doesn't get the kind of ratings, which means that news outlets. Don't get money Monica watts and I were just talking about this last night. She's like this this system this cycle. Chili feed this negativity so much so that I don't know if any of you know, who John Krasinski is he plays Jim in the office. You got some money for that show The Office, it's great. John Krasinski a couple months ago started his own little News Network called some good news and it blew up overnight and in all the sudden he starts sharing all these stories is the all the good things that are happening across our nation across decided right now in the midst of all the chaos and some bad news with with it. Was that after he got bored with it a little while he decided to sell it for a couple billion dollars. And so we just thought I'll grade you know, the one good thing that we had. so what we have constantly in our world is just the thought the threat the fear is being given to us is being pushed at us in the first century. When Paul's riding a little church in the city of Corinth. It wasn't that much different. The ancient world they experienced famine. They experienced Wars experience threats of War experience uprisings. They experienced economic instability. When we think about what's happening in our world today. We think this feels like the end of the world at the moment. I am I the only one who feels that way. This is the end of the world as we know it but even in the first century When the kingdom of God when the good news of Jesus was being proclaimed amidst the chaos. Do we still all sorts of chaos going on? Jesus comes on the scene and Israel proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God that God's Rule and Reign is at hand that there is a hope that there is a trust that we can put in him that he's going to set the world to rights that he is restoring all things the kingdom is now and it is beginning to take root and transform the world as we know it by the power of the spirit. In Mark chapter 16 before he ascended into heaven he gave this come into his disciples after spending years with them on Earth. He said that him and Mark 16 chapter start Mark chapter 16 verse 15. He said to them go into all the world and preach proclaim the gospel the good news to all of creation. That was the man that was the directive was given to the disciples and everything about that. We're thinking. Okay. So the gospel preachers like you're doing you're sitting on a stage you're teaching your open up. Yes, but also the fact that each and every single one of us as followers of Jesus are good news people that we may not just preach it with our voices, but we actually preach it with the totality of Our Lives each and every single one of us has a part to play in God's Mission and restoring the cosmos and restoring the world back to himself. Does We read the scripture today? I want us to keep this in mind. So as we open up the 1st Corinthians chapter 9 and plus your bibles are going to read this together. 1st Corinthians chapter 9. This is Father's Day. This is this is like a pretty manly chunk of versus right here and you'll see why here in a second. So 1st Corinthians chapter 9 verse 24.

does this Do you not know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize? To run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training and 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 don't fight like a boxer beating the air know 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. What Paul is doing here is in if you've been following the past few weeks with what Brett has been teaching. He's he's basically talked to the Corinthians about what is their posture in Corinth. Are they going to use their freedom to serve themselves or are they going to self sacrifice for one another for the sake of the society that there in an in order to do that? Paul actually gives them an example. If you look at verses 1 through 23 of this chapter how he laid down all of his rights as an apostle all the things that you deserve to have. He laid them down for the sake of lifting others up and then he says this is how I accomplished it. This is how I accomplished it. I beat my body. I make it my slave. I don't just let my body control the condition of how I want to live my life, but actually go into strict training I think about my discipleship as a runner. I think about following Jesus as actually being in a fight. It's bloody it's hard. It's not fun. The Corinthian context Paul uses these metaphors used to describe the nature of Walking With Jesus the nature of being faithful to Jesus and he uses the isthmian games as an example. So the isthmian games if you're not familiar with that it was second only to the Olympics that started in Athens a couple centuries prior and every four years just outside of the city of Corinth in games would take place where thousands would gather from across the region and people would compete in competitions like running and fighting. An easy Victory think this is what it is like to follow Jesus. Did you think about going to strict training as a runner where you're not just running aimlessly, but you're actually having intentionality. We are actually having stripped Focus you actually training your physical life to reflect what you know to be true in the gospel. He describes running think it's like being in a stadium and seeing runners in these guys that would transfer this. They wouldn't just show up one day and say like I'm on the run has discipline run a marathon or half-marathon before you get that there is strict training your strict discipline that goes into play. Okay. I'm going to run five miles today 7 miles and next day and it's not like you can just show up on the race day and think okay. Here we go. This is this is going to be awesome know after after mile 9 if you would literally be dead on the ground. It doesn't work. That way. You actually have to teach your body do what it needs to do the same with fighting all describes. This is what following Jesus looks like. It's not fun. It's not dignified at times it if you can be bloody it hurts. And when you look at the rest of the New Testament, look at the writings of Paul, like these are common metaphors that you find throughout the scriptures. You look at Galatians chapter 5 verse 7 Paul's writing to the church in galatia, which is a church that has stopped reaching out to Gentiles. Non. Non Christians are non Jewish people in at the church. That's really started segregating themselves from those who are Jewish and they started creating their own little subculture and Paul's writing to them and he's calling them out starting for 7, since you were running a good race. Who cut in on you? Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? DePaul speaking to this church. She's like. It's it's really easy to run the race for short. Of time. It's really easy to jump into something for a season, but when push comes to shove and someone or something Cuts in on your life, you need to be reminded that this trick training this beating of our body this informing our whole nature to the will of Jesus. It takes discipline and it pulls us away this this away from the house and our life. And I think some of us that can be simple things as simple as our job or relationship. I think even for me at times I find one of the most tempting things that pulls me away from faithfulness to Jesus and running. The race is the constant tub towards the American dream, you know, the the nice house and the 2.5 kids and only thing that works but the end of dog, you know, beautiful wife and get that one down. So we're good. We're good. That we think about what are the things that can pull us out of the race pull us out of discipleship to Jesus running. pass if you called us to one of these Temptations

In 2nd, Timothy chapter 4 Paul writes a letter to his young Protege and this this passage this letter we believe is one of the very last letters that Paul wrote before he was put to death in Rome. And he writes it from prison and he's any spinning the final letter to Timothy to encourage him to the basically say I hate follow me as I follow Christ the life that you've seen me live. I'm calling you to live the same way. He writes this and Timothy for I am already being poured out like a drink-offering. And then the time for my departure is near I have fought the good fight and I have finished the race. I have kept the faith now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not only me but also go to all with long for his appearing. T'pol is no longer at the place where he was in 1st Corinthians we saying hey, I want to finish the race. I am going to beat my body make it my slave. I'm I'm going to fight like a fighter. I'm going to run like a runner now. It's the end of his life. He's actually sang. I have done this. I fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith and now is I am going to be inheriting a crown of righteousness. A reward and award a prize. I'm also calling you to live the same way. Do what you have seen me doing this whole time.

And the question for us to just are we fighting have we have we given up are we are we pacing ourselves in this race to finish are we actually reminding ourselves that there is a crown and store that doesn't pass away. It's it's not made of you know branches that just, you know will die one day, but it's actually in Eternal crown that will last forever. I think it's tempting as we look at this you look at Paul you look at him talking about, you know Manning up and putting on grit and doing all these things just like okay, but seems like a lot of work teams like a lot of effort and it's easy to forget that Paul didn't just make these ideas of himself just like okay now that you've received the gift of a face like now you need to like really earn it. Like I said what he was saying it she's already been given the gift of Salvation. You've already been given the gift of the good news. Now. I'm calling you to be a faithful Steward of it and to do that. It takes effort. It takes perseverance. It takes obedience. It can takes continuing on in the past and he gets this idea not from himself a really from the life of Jesus. You look at Jesus is life. Really because God coming as a man. It wasn't just as we know that you know, he was kind of in a Man suit, but really he was just God know it like Jesus himself took on flesh. He took on the same nature that we have becoming human but living a righteous sinless life discipline himself. Hebrews chapter 12 Speaks of this the author of Hebrews. He's riding to Christians throughout the region. And using encouraging them to continue on with the race don't give up. He's written 11 chapters of this and he writes this to encourage Christians to follow Jesus as lead. the Hebrews chapter 12 13 verse 1

since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us fixing our eyes on who Fixing our eyes on Jesus the Pioneer the Perfecter of our faith for the joy set before him. He endured the cross scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God consider him who endured such opposition from Sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart depression. I just have for us this morning is where Have we grown weary? Where have we been tempted to lose heart? Where have we been tempted to get drawn out of the race? As we think about the perseverance as we think about the faithfulness. As we examine our own lives, we think about our walk not just with Jesus personally, but our testimony in this city, we think about sharing the gospel. We think about sharing the good news and

Where have we been tripped up?

Paul talks about his body. And one translation he says I beat my body and I make it my slave. He's talking about discipline and strict training and it's tempting to think just because Paul's using the metaphor of making his body is slave. It is tempting to think he sees that he owns it and he's got to tell to submit but it's important for us to understand that even though he's free to do whatever he wants. He doesn't because he's chosen to lay his freedom down. He's understood that his body is not his property. He doesn't own his own flash. It's not just he has an intellectual faith. And you know, he's using his body to do something for God, you know, it'll you know, just be done away with at the end of the day just like, you know, like our body is intricately connected to our Humanity not just the mind and the spirit and then the bodies over here and then one day, you know will be good with God in the clouds like you guys know that Uponor seems that his body is not his own if you remember back probably a couple weeks maybe months ago to 1st Corinthians chapter 6. Paul speaks to the Corinthians about their bodies. He says do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you whom you have received from God you are not your own you were bought with a price. therefore honor God with your bodies The question initially. Okay. I want to honor God with all of my life with my body I want to do. This running I want to fight this fight. I want to win the prize. What what then should I do with my body? How should I offer up what's been given to me as a gift? rights to the Romans Romans chapter 12 after spinning 11 chapters talking to them about their faith talking to them about the struggle against the flash. She says therefore Starting in verse 1 I urge you brothers and sisters. In view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a Living Sacrifice. Holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, then you'll be able to test and approve. What God's will is his good pleasing and perfect will just like when you look at this passage, you begin to understand it when Paul was talking about the body when pulse talking about worship here. He sang your body is actually an instrument of worship or tempted to think of instruments of worship like our voices or piano or guitar, but when you offer up the totality of your life and you lay it before God in service, This is true and proper worship. I love what Dallas Willard says about this passage in his book renovation of the heart. He says our reasonable service or a reasonable worship. The only thing that makes any sense for human being who trusts Christ is to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, very pleasing to God this total yielding of every part of your body to God until the very last tissues and muscles that make it up are inclined towards God and godliness and are vitalize and action by the powers of heaven and breaking all Conformity with the worldly life in the sage and transforms us into Conformity with the age to come by completing the renewal of our minds. Our powers of thought in the imagination and judgment deeply rooted in our bodies.

We discipline our physical life or mentalize. This is an active discipleship. This is an active service and worship to God and it's no, you know, it's when you look at the word discipline, we often think that you know, that's not a very funny word discipline comes from the same root word is the word disciple. It has the same etymology come from the same place. We were patterning our lives in a certain way after our Rabbi Jesus after. arcane

sadly respond this morning Ashley take a couple moments before we end. I just give a couple simple invitations. Are we saying before we go to the communion table for those of you?

Renew the face. Maybe you have only been following Jesus for a few months.

I want to ask you to consider right now. What does it look like for you to to start the race to get into the fight? Four others of you who been running for a long time who have put in the work for wanting to to hear those words from Jesus. Well done my good and faithful servant. I just want to encourage you. Once again to finish to persevere to keep going the prize awaits us. and for others which I find myself in this category, Austin. There's an invitation here this morning to get back in the race. It took Paul pointing to the Galatians and say hey guys. You got taken out and I need you to get back in who cut in on you. As we come to the communion table as we we invite the spirit of God to bring conviction and to realign us. Asking the question. What is come in between me in the mission in the purpose of God in my life?

And please think about that. I think it's really tempting to just jump to a me and Jesus kind of Mama. It's really tempting to to jump into a moment were thinking and getting caught up in our individual Devotion to God and thinking okay like or maybe our own personal piety and it's easy to forget this these words in 1st Corinthians. He says this. I make my body a slave so that after I have preached to others. I myself will not be disqualified for the prize the point he's making is I don't do this simply for my own relationship with Jesus, but actually do this for you church. I do this for the sake of the city. I do this for my brothers and my sisters not for my sake but for the sake of those for a waiting to hear this good news.

Did we end I'm invite Michael to come back up. when going to the time of singing and responding together I just want to read this passage over us. We're Christ himself is offering up his own life for the sake of others. This is out of Philippians chapter 2. Feel free to just take a moment to close your eyes let these words. Just watch over you penetrate your mind and your heart.

does therefore If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love. Is any common sharing in the spirit tenderness and compassion than make my joy complete by being like-minded having the same love and being one in spirit and one mind do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit rather. humility value others above yourselves not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others. And in your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Pooping the very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own Advantage rather. He made himself nothing. Taking on the very nature of a servant being made and human likeness and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled himself by becoming a video. even death on a cross there for therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The Jesus we come to you this morning. Captain Staffing The race is hard that the fight at times feels brutal got that were tempted to feel overwhelmed by the bad news that is in front of us. We got we know that by the power of your spirit. It by you God working in and through us.

Can you bring perseverance that you bring obedience? Got to pray this morning for those of us who feel as if in some ways we have given up that we have bowed out of the race.

I pray that you would meet us. Dross back remind us of our first love that you have not forgotten about us that you are reaching out with your hand right now inviting us to come back in to step back in a relationship with you to be on Mission with you. Not just a passively be a Christian but to actually understand our purpose is rooted in and through and for you. The Holy Spirit would you lead us? praising Christ name and then