Fight Life Through: Life is a Marathon;

Greeting: “Good evening!

Please turn in your bibles to:

1 Timothy 1:18 “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;”

It‘s great to see everyone here. You know it is a blessing to be able come together and have church in the middle of the week. After spending time in the world all week it’s great to come and fellowship with other believers and study the word together. It is my honor to deliver the Word to you tonight”

1 Timothy 6:12 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

Pray

Give Title: Fight Life Through: Life is a Marathon

Ask: “What is a marathon?"

I always heard people say life is not a sprint it’s a marathon and I thought that meant a long race

It is not just a long race. 26.2 miles (about 42 km)

Pheidippides - A message runner

Victorious Greecian battle at Marathon so he ran to deliver the news to the king in Athens a distance of about 25 miles (40 km)

Legend says he delivered the message and then died.

Supposedly he ran from Sparta to Persia and back in two days 150 miles to request aid for the battle in marathon just before the first marathon

First actual Marathon wasn’t until 1894 or so to commemorate the race still at 25 miles

The distance was changed to 26.2 miles at the London Olympics 1908, because the royals wanted the start and finish to go by their castle.

I was a sprinter and hurdler in Jr. High, High school, about 5 months in college

As a sprinter/hurdler your goal is to give it your all for a short distance and the goal is to get first place.

About 12 years ago I decided I wanted to run a marathon

I never did a 5 km (3.1 miles) or 10 km (6.2 miles) or even a half marathon (13.1 miles)

So I started training

People ask me how do you run a marathon. It’s a lot like walking with God.

Excercise, Train, Build Yourself Up

You have to build up to it. Mile upon mile

Don’t Read Isaiah 28:13 “But the word of the Lord was unto them Precept upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little; That they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, And snared, and taken.”

I had to learn how to pace myself

Hebrews 12:12-13 “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

straight paths to house of God

straight paths to prayer

straight paths to the Word of God

I had to learn how to refuel

Get into God’s presence

Spend time with Him

I had to learn how to perservere through the pain and soreness

Ephesians 6:10, 13-14 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

I had to listen to my body, it will guide me to what I needed kind

Listening to the Holy Spirit

Continue to train

Getting up early in the morning to run. In the dark, rain, cold, and snow

Pray in the Holy Spirt

Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

Your Diet

body needs fuel, vitamins, minerals

so does your spirit

two natures in my chest. Dr Roy Hicks

REST !!

I had to learn how to rest. You have to give your body time to heal up. Worship / Church / Refreshing / Stay in the word

Rest in the Lord

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

Making Mistakes, You are not a Failure!

You are going to make mistakes but that does not make you a failure

Rolled my ankle

Ate the wrong things, caused cramping

Micah 7:8 “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: When I fall, I shall arise; When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”

Hit the Wall

At some point you will hit the wall. Deplete all of the glycogen energy stored in your muscles.

There are mini walls along the way

Activation energy early on

The wall is when life really knocks you down.

It’s at this point where all of your training kicks in

The Word that was deposited in you kicks in. This is where you really have to standfast

Check your confession, attitude

Check your giving

Your goal in a marathon is not to win, but to finish

If we don’t quit we will win

dont quit attending church

dont quit praying

don't quit reading your Bible

don't quit God

thats always satans plan

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Wrap Up “ I want to close with this”

You may be in place where you feel overwhelmed with life. Especially, in this day with all of the shut downs, economy, government, and the season Christmas holidy can be very stressful

Many times this is because we are trying to do it in our own strength. Cast your cares upon him. Take up his yoke, it is light and easy

Ask: “I would like to ask everyone to please bow your heads and close your eyes”

If there is anyone here that does not know Jesus or perhaps you’d like to rededicate your life to him, please raise your hand as an act of faith and I’ll pray with you.