In It to Win It - Part 2

Introduction

So, this morning, we are back to 1 Corinthians 9. I didn’t quite finish the message last week, so by way of introduction, I will give it now.

First, let’s read our text.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 KJV 1900

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

For those who were here last week, you might recall that titled the message “In It to Win It.” I want to continue with that theme. You may also recall that our text is a transition point. Look at verse 23.

1 Corinthians 9:23 KJV 1900

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

For the majority of this chapter, the Holy Spirit highlighted the pastor’s call and purpose in ministry. At the end of this verse, we noted that a part of the pastor’s process is to partner (the word “partaker) with fellow believers. Unity is a focal point of a local church. As believers, we are united by Holy Spirit indwelling us. We are also united in our purpose to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Thus, a local church is a called assembly with the purpose of glorifying Christ by accomplishing the great commission of preaching the gospel both at home and abroad. It is the passion of every true preacher as well as every true local body of Christ.

From verse 23 to the remaining verses of this chapter, the Holy Spirit urges us to “run” the spiritual race set before us. His encouragement was the topic of last week’s message and continues today. He encourages both pastors and fellow believers to run. We learned last week that:

We Run DRIVEN to Win!

We are in this race to win it. Look again at verse 24.

1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV 1900

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

You will note that we are to run, so that we may “obtain.” In other words, we are to run so that we might win. Here is where I want to pick up from last week’s message.

We are in it to win it. However, winning the race requires a great amount of discipline. We run DETERMINED to Win.

We Run with DISCIPLINE!

Look again at our text. Note verse 25.

1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV 1900

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Here the Holy Spirit uses the word “temperate.” This word literally means to restrain one’s self. Note the reason for temperance or, as we would say today, “self-control.” We do so that we might “obtain…an incorruptible (crown).” I will come back to the crown in just a moment. For now, I want to emphasize that we must be temperate in all things.

As you know, professional athletes do an incredible amount of training. They watch what they eat, how much they eat, and then the workout their bodies turning what they eat into the necessary muscles for their sport. Every single day they discipline their bodies so they may perform at a high level.

A cyclist or swimmer may need 6,000 to 8,000 calories per day (due to the high volume of training), while team sport athletes like basketball and soccer will land between 3,500 and 5,000 calories (which will vary depending on the demands of the day). Jake Archibald. (2022) What Pro Athletes Eat For Breakfast vs. What YOU Should Eat. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://news.yahoo.com/pro-athletes-eat-breakfast-vs-104500325.html

Many of these same athletes work out and train every day throughout the day. They have learned self-discipline. They “striveth for the mastery.” The word “strive” literally means agony. These professional athletes force themselves through pain so they may master their sport.

Note also the words “all things.” Thus, they discipline themselves in all things. They discipline their body and their mind so they might compete. What does that mean?

Here is the point for us this morning!

Just professional athletes (even more so since the stakes are much higher), we, as believers, must be “temperate in all things.” In other words, we must learn to discipline ourselves as well. However, here is the thing! We cannot do it on our own. The spiritual grace of the gospel is a race that we cannot run without God’s help. It is the reason that God gave us the Holy Spirit. We must humble ourselves before Him and seek His help.

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

The words “be filled with the Spirit” mean to be controlled by the Spirit. We must learn to yield to Him allowing Him to bring discipline into our lives. As we do, we run to win others for Christ as our marathon takes us closer to the finish line of Heaven.

What then should we yield to the Holy Spirit?

We should yield our bodies to His control.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We should yield our minds (our thoughts) to His control.

Romans 8:5–7 KJV 1900

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

We should yield our spirit to His control.

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

We should yield our service to others to His control.

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV 1900

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:7 KJV 1900

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

As believes we are to run to win and we are to run with discipline. Here is the last point for today.

We Run for a DEFINITIVE Prize!

Look again at verse 25.

1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV 1900

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

The prize already is determined for us. It is an incorruptible crown. NFL teams play to win the Lombardi Trophy. MLB teams play to win the World Series Crown. Olympians play to win gold medals. Therein lies the great tragedy. None of the athletes who win these awards will take them with them when they die. You see, they are corruptible crowns and trophies. On Paul’s day, athletes won crowns or wreaths of olive or pine leaves. Many won. And, perhaps, many were famous for their athletic feats. Who knows about them today? Can you name one Roman or Greek athlete right now? Where are their crowns of olive leaves? They are gone. All the fame and all the accolades cease with death. However, that is not true for believers.

If we run our race governed by the Holy Spirit’s control over our lives, we will obtain an incorruptible crown one day. Scripture speaks of several crowns that each believer may receive when standing before the Great Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is the Crown of Righteousness.

2 Timothy 4:8 KJV 1900

8 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.

There is the Crown of Life.

James 1:12 KJV 1900

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

There is the Crown of Glory.

1 Peter 5:4 KJV 1900

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Each of these crowns is obtainable for the believer. However, we do not obtain these crowns for our own pride and self-glory. No, we receive them so that we might not be empty-handed for a special event in Heaven.

Revelation 4:10–11 KJV 1900

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We, as believers, should also desire to have crowns that we might cast at His feet. However, to obtain these crowns, we must run the spiritual race before us right now.

Here is another way we must run our spiritual race.

We Run without DISTRACTION!

Note verse 26.

1 Corinthians 9:26 KJV 1900

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

The Holy Spirit alludes to two different sports in this verse. There is the runner who runs with great certainty and mentally blocks out everything around them. Those who run Olympic races know exactly where their lane is marked and where the finish line lies. His entire focus is running as fast as possible maintaining his line that so that might finish and win. Anything outside of that is put aside. The crowd, the noise, and the fanfare is mentally blocked. He runs with certainty. Just one slip of focus and all could end horribly.

As I was preparing for this message, I decided to Google the worst Olympic race ever. One of the first stories to pop up was a story about the 1904 Olympics. This was the first Olympic games ever held in America. The game were split between Chicago and St. Louis. The story goes on to tell about a Cuban Olympian names Felix Carbajal (Car ba hall). He came to the 1904 Olympic games to participate in the Olympic marathon. Things went sideways for Carbajal soon after his arrival in New Orleans. It was there that he immediately lost all his donated funds in a dice game. He was forced to walk and hitchhike his way all the way to St. Louis. When he arrived at the starting line the day of the marathon, he was dressed in a white, long-sleeved dress shirt, long, dark pants, a jaunty beret and a pair of stout leather boots. It was so bad that some of his fellow Olympians had pity on him, located a pair of scissors, and cut off his trousers at the knees offering him more mobility as well as respite from the heat and humidity. The marathon started. Carbajal soon out paced all the rest of the runners in spite of the fact that often stopped to chat with many of the spectators and even snatched some peaches from one of the spectator’s car. Later as he was running in this grueling event, he spied an apple tree, stopped, and ate some of its fruit. Unfortunately for him, the apples were rotten. The rotten apples greatly upset his stomach. So, he stopped to took a nap. Amazingly, he was able to finish fourth. However, as we know, fourth place is not first place.

I use his example for this reason. Here is a man who had all the talent to win. Yet, it would seem that he did prepare or run with certainty. Instead, his lackadaisical approach lost him the race. Stopping to chat, to eat peaches and apples, and to then to take a nap is NOT the way to win a marathon and that is the point.

So many Christians today run their spiritual race distracted by the things of this world. Our focus becomes what we can gain in this world. We often pause our spiritual race to enjoy power, prestige, and possessions. Some even stop just to take a nap. In the end, many believers wonder why they are not winning. Winning requires focus.

2 Timothy 2:4 KJV 1900

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

The other sports analogy found in verse 26 is a boxer. Look again.

1 Corinthians 9:26 KJV 1900

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

When a boxer enters the ring, his focus better be on his opponent. If he goes into the ring just wildly swinging in the air, hoping to hit his mark, he is not going to last long. There will be a knock out in the first round. Instead, he keeps his eye on his target. He moves back and forth watching his opponent waiting to land a punch. Each of his punches are planned, deliberate, controlled, and accurate.

Believers, we too must realize the power of our opponent.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV 1900

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We can afford for even one moment to let down our guard. If we do, we run the risk of our opponent landing a knock out blow. Instead, we must fight each day with the goal of conquering so we might win the incorruptible prize.

1 Timothy 6:12 KJV 1900

12 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.

2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV 1900

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Here is another way we are to run our spiritual race. We are to run DETERMINED to win, run with DISCIPLINE, run UNDISTRACTED, and:

We Run Guarding against DISQUALIFICATION

Look at verse 27 and we are done.

1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV 1900

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The Holy Spirit once again uses Paul as an example. He placed within Paul concern about his life measured up to his preaching. Paul’s fear was that he might fail in living what he preached. It is the same fear that drives so many pastors, preachers, and missionaries called of God. The sum of his fear is express in his concern that he would be “castaway.” The word “castaway” means not standing the test. It is the feeling of being rejected. Thus, Paul’s overwhelming fear was he would not meet God’s standard and be disqualified as a useful instrument for God.

You might recall that each pastor called into the ministry is given a particular passion.

1 Corinthians 9:16 KJV 1900

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

The necessity of preaching the gospel demands the necessity of living the gospel. God does not tolerate hypocrisy in the pulpit, in the ministry and in the people He chooses to minister to others. He expects God’s man to preach righteousness and to live righteously.

May I add that God’s expects all of His people to do the same. It is often easy to point to the pastor and say you need to live what you preach. However, many believers are quick to forget that God demands the same from them.

2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900

1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 4:24 KJV 1900

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Hebrews 12:14 KJV 1900

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Peter 1:16 KJV 1900

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Every believer should run their spiritual race with the same fear of disqualification. Paul was not concerned about losing his salvation. This verse has nothing do with salvation, but it has everything to do with living a holy and spiritual life before the Lord and others. I am convinced that many believers are either put on the shelf by God or God ends their life early because they are disqualified from running the race. In other words, they were like Carbajal. They did not take their new life in Christ seriously. Instead, they gave into their lusts going after those things that please them instead of running the race set before them. We will see a very practical example of this in the Corinthian church when we get to chapter 11. In that chapter, the Holy Spirit mentions those who mocked the Lord’s table. In doing so, they were disqualified. They experienced sickness and, for some, physical death. God judged them. He disqualified them. They were cast away. Why? They refuse to run the race as God intended.

Conclusion

Here is the question for all of us this morning me included. As a believer, how am I running the race God has set before me? Am I running like Carbajal? He was a good runner. His talent was never in question. There are many sitting here this morning that have great talent. It is talent that God desires to use. However, like Carbajal, you are running distracted by the things of this world. May I say that you are running towards disqualification. If you stay on that path, God will deal with you if you truly belong to Him.

Hebrews 12:5–6 KJV 1900

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

I would encourage you to reconsider how you are running. Instead of running towards disqualification, repent and start running to win. Run your race DRIVEN to win. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you DISCIPLINE yourself to be great spiritual athlete. Keep running as you strive for the DEFINITIVE prize which are crowns handed to us personally by the Lord Himself. Do not allow this world DISTRACT you from your race. And, above all, run guarding against DISQUALIFICATION.

Before I end, let me say one last thing. There may be some here this morning who have not accepted Christ as Savior. This race we have learned about this morning is not your race. You see to run the spiritual race you must be spiritually alive. Dead men run no races. Every person born into this world is born physically alive, but spiritually dead. It is the reason God said:

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The good news for you is this. Christ did everything necessary for you to be spiritually born again. In other words, He can resurrect the dead spirit within you. He prove this by His own resurrection. More than anything, God desires that you be made alive so that you might enter this great spiritual race. For that happen, you must:

Acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a Savior

Acknowledge Christ as your Savior accepting His death, burial, and resurrection as real.

Repent of your sin confessing with your mouth to Him that you believe these things from your heart.

If you will do that, the promise is:

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

At that moment, you will be spiritually born again ready to run with us the spiritual race set before us.