Run the Race!

Text: Matthew 5:21–48

Intro:

Paul wrote in Galatians 5:7, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” When you get down to it, Christianity is largely a matter of getting our priorities right and removing some stumbling blocks:

I. Reconcile:

• (Matthew 5:23-24) We must make sure our fellowship is right with our brother before we try to worship God: first your fellowship with your brother, and then your worship. Jesus said if you come to church and you’re ready to put your tithes and offering in the plate, or lift your voice in praise, and you remember there is a breech in fellowship between you and another believer, that you ought not to make that offering. Before you sing, pray, teach, give, or worship, Jesus says, FIRST be reconciled to your brother, and then present your gift. Because there is no offering or sacrifice that can substitute for getting right with your brother. Jesus says, “Leave it there, and go and get right.” Afterwards, go offer your gift.

II. Seek:

• (Matthew 6:33) This is God’s cure for fear and His key for prosperity. Do you want to live free from anxiety and have a prosperous life? This verse is God’s cure for worry and key to prosperity. All worry is is putting “things” first and God second. The Holy Spirit will not operate in second place. Jesus must come first (Colossians 1:18). Why worry when: Worry is pointless (Matthew 6:25); Worry is ridiculous (Matthew 6:26); Worry is worthless (Matthew 6:27); Worry is unfaithful (Matthew 6:30); and Worry is sinful (Matthew 6:31-32). How will you cross the finish line? Will you say, “My priority is to be in fellowship with my brother before I worship; secondly, and my priority is to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?”

III. See:

• (Matthew 7:1-5) Jesus is showing is the ridiculousness of a man trying to help somebody get a piece of sawdust out of their eye when he has a log in his. (Galatians 6:1) We’re to help one another, correct one another, lovingly guide one another. Jesus is talking about the folly of being a hypocrite and judging somebody else before we first take care of our own lives. The key is verse 5: “Thou hypocrite.”

IV. Bind:

• (Matthew 12:22-29) What’s the priority? First the binding of Satan, and then the loosing of the saint. This man was blind and dumb because of the power of the devil. He was demon possessed. Jesus said we must first bind the strong man; then we can rob his house. Too often when we are praying for unsaved friends and neighbors we are going about it the wrong way. (Matthew 18:18-20) is how to do it right.

V. Clean:

• (Matthew 23:25-26) Jesus said to the Pharisees, you don’t need new bath; you need a new birth. We ought to have compassion and help people, but man needs more than soap and soup; he needs salvation. Don’t try to be good without being born again. Get the inside clean first. Get saved. First the inside, then the outside. This is God’s way to run the race and finish strong! Let prioritize and run to win the prize, which is Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour (Hebrews 12:1-2)!