TEXT:I Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. CONTEXT:Philippians 3:8-14 (turn to) INTRO: TRANSITIONAL STATEMENT:
I. DISIPLINE: Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, It takes a great deal of discipline to run this race called Christianity. The very word means "disciplined one." The word discipline is a foreign word to our lifestyle of instant gratification and push-button pleasures. It is easier to give your all, when you’ve actually done so! When there is no option for you but to follow Christ! What side plans or trails do you have to use when or if this christianity thing doesnt pan out? A true follower, like Peter, Paul, leaves all! They simply say “SIR, YES SIR!!” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 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. If we are to be winners then we must discipline our selves to study God’s word, To pray, and to attend church. It takes no effort or energy at all to FAIL. All you Have to do is sit there. How obedient is your discipline? What have you left to follow Jesus? What haven’t you left? Are you a disciplined soldier? Or have you gone far enough? II. DEVOTION: 9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; . 1. Paul was devoted to one thing--serving Christ and growing in Christ. Jesus said to the self-righteous, rich, young ruler-- Mark 10:21 ". . . one thing thou lackest.... Jesus said to busy Martha-- Luke 10:42 "One thing is needful. . David said in the Psalms-- Psalm 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after...." 2. Most Christians are rendered ineffective because they are involved in too many things. NOTE: Satan’s deadliest trick for keeping you from doing what God wants you to do is to distract you by getting you busy, with mixed up priorities. Notice the balance of Devotion: I’m righteous but its His. I live right in fear of God yet I do not lean on my ability. I will not stop knowing him, To know Him I must know Him in joy & glory and in the pain & shame! We must not allow ourselves to be Ashamed and lose this balanced devotion!! Is your devotion full? Where is shame of His name seen? Are you willing to know Him, even in the pain? III. DETERMINATION: 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. A person does not become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books or cheering at the games. He becomes a winner only when he gets into the race with a determination to win. 1. The Apostle Paul had a steadfast determination - He would not quit He would not turn back. He would not give in. He would not throw in the towel. He would not slow down. He pressed toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.The word retreat was not in his vocabulary. 2. If you want to be a winner in this race of Christianity you must have a spirit of determination. Sometimes you have got to put some energy and effort in what you are doing for The Lord Jesus Christ. “but those that endure to the end shall be saved” Victory doesn’t come easy. It takes a lot of sweat, blood and tears - In order to have a winning attitude. Have you given up? Have you slowed down? Have you become cold in love or half hearted in work? Get up and be determined not to let the devil win! Perhaps your feeling like doing so,like giving up? Like you’ve had enough? You’ve gone too far? Good! Wait & watch God do His work through you. You can never go too far in Christ! IV. NEW : 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but[this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Paul had a past life just like us. But he said I forget those things that are behind me. What was Paul really saying? He was saying I refuse to be influenced and controlled by my past. You can’t move forward if you are always looking backwards. “No one grabbing the plow and looking back is worthy of God’s Kingdom” 1. Let me tell you the devil would like to get you to live in the past. a. He would like to remind you of all your past failures, sin and mistakes. b. The devil would like to accuse you over and over of sins of which Christ has forgiven. c. Don’t let the devil discourage you by accusing you of sin which Christ has forgiven ! If you have unconfessed sin in your life confess it, put it under the blood and move on. Don’t waste valuable time fretting over it confess it, repent of it and forsake it and go on with Lord Jesus. Far too many Christians are shackled by events in the past I’ve talked to scores of people who refuse to attend church and serve God because they’ve been hurt by someone, somehow in the past. Do you ever think that maybe Paul was hurt? hurt by the world? devil? and Church? How about Moses? Or Elijah? David?, Peter? How about Jesus? 2. Listen--if you want to win this race you can’t live in the past. Forget those things that are behind you. Either you past owns you, like a slave or you give to Jesus to redeem, buy back to glorify Him in the future! 3. If you want to be a winner in this spiritual race you have to keep gazing in the right direction. The right direction is forward! To the future! What of the past is still beside you? What has not yet been forgotten? Will you let God redeem it? or will you let it continue to own you? V. DISSATISFACTION: 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. NOTE: The verb "I press" comes from a Greek word which means literally "to follow after." The Greeks used it to describe a hunter who eagerly and relentlessly pursued after his prey. Not satisfied until there is something to show for it! Many in our churches today have become satisfied in their walk with God. They are no longer moving forward with God. They Just SIT, SOAK, and SOUR. Not Paul, he had a winning attitude, he knew that their was more to be gained by drawing closer to the Lord Jesus. Paul was expressing his dissatisfaction. Satisfied with salvation yes, satisfied with the progress in my walk and growth, no. He said I made some progress, but I’m not there yet. Paul was aware of his need to go deeper in his walk with the lord. 1. Paul never permitted himself to become content or satisfied with his spiritual attainments. 2. The apostle was satisfied with Jesus. _v".. . I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus myLord...." But he was dissatisfied with his own spiritual progress. 3. The first essential to progress in the Christian life is a sanctified dissatisfaction. A salesman came out of his sales manager’s office with a discouraged look on his face. The secretary said, "What is wrong, Harry? Have you been fired?" He said, "No, it’s not that bad. But I sure got chewed out about my sales record. I can’t figure it out. For the last month my sales have been high. I thought he’d compliment me--instead he ran me out!" Later the secretary questioned her boss about the situation. He laughed and said, "Harry is one of our best salesmen, and I’d hate to lose him. But he has a tendency to rest on his laurels. He becomes content with what he has done and satisfied with his past performance. If I didn’t get mad at him once a month or so he’d never produce." 4. As Christians, we often have the same tendency. We tend to become too easily satisfied and content with past accomplishments. 5. Many Christians become self-satisfied because they are comparing themselves to other Christians. 6. We must learn that our standard as a Christian is not other Christians; our standard is the Lord Jesus Christ. 7. We must never be satisfied until we are "conformed to his glorious image." Will you CHOOSE discomfort? Will you CHOOSE the Cross? Will you trust God alone for satisfaction and focus steadfastly on going too far!!? CONCLUSION: Let me ask you--Do you have a winning attitude as a Christian?Do you have dissatisfaction, devotion, direction, determination and discipline? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is trying to get you back into the race for God? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is trying to get you to excel in the things of God? Could God want you to over do it for Him?!! Do you feel your already radical? How about more? On this side of Heaven, you can never go too far! Need a break? He gives the best! We come to Christ for our pleasure and Gods Kingdom grows! We enter the race of sanctification for God’s pleasure and we grow! Do you want to grow? do you want to give your Heavenly Father pleasure? Come to Christ to be saved, Enter the race for Christ - determined to win. |
