Ye Did Run Well

TEXT: Gal. 5:7

INTRODUCTION:

A. WERE PAUL'S EFFORTS WASTED ON THE GALATIONS?( 4:11 ).

B. THE PREACHER'S GREATEST JOY( 3 John 4 ). GREATEST GRIEF?

C. WHAT IS OUR RACE AND WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO RUN WELL?

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF RUNNING WELL.

A. PAUL OFTEN COMPARES OUR LIFE WITH THE OLYMPIC GAMES ( 1 Cor. 9:25f.; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Heb. 12:1-2 ).

1. Only qualified Greeks could run. We must be qualified( Gal. 3:26-27 ).

2. Training and persevering necessary( 1 Cor. 9:25-27 ).

B. THE PROPER BEGINNING IS VITAL, BUT SO IS RUNNING & FINISHING.

1. Galatians had a good start( Gal. 3:1; 5:7 ), poor finish( 1:6; 3:1; 5:7 ).

2. The difference is heaven or hell( 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 1 Cor. 9:27 ).

II. HINDRANCES TO RUNNING WELL.

A. SATAN DOES WHAT HE CAN TO HINDER( 2 Cor. 2:11 ).

B. SOME HINDRANCES:

1. False teaching, "not obey the truth"( Gal. 5:7; 1:6-9; Mark 13:22 ).

2. Improper attitude toward others( Gal. 5:13-15, 25-26 ).

3. Worldliness - Love of the temporal( Gal. 5:16-21; Rom. 13;11-14 ).

C OVERCOMING HINDRANCES.

1. It's possible and necessary( Rom. 12:21; Heb. 12:1 ).

2. How? By faith( Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4; Rom. 10:17 ).

III. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RUN WELL?

A. RUNNING WELL IS NOT ALWAYS RUNNING PERFECTLY.

1. We all stumble( 1 John 1:8, 10 ), but there is mercy( 1:7, 9; 2:1-2 ).

2. But we are to run the best we can( Rom. 6:1-2; Phil. 3:15-16 ).

B. RUNNING WELL INVOLVES OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH( Gal. 5:7 ).

1. Obedience to the truth begins our race( 1 Pet. 1:22 ).

2. But we must continue to the end( John 8:31; Rom. 11:22 ).

3. We must contend according to the law( 2 Tim. 2:5 ).

C. INVOLVES CONTINUAL TRAINING( 1 Cor 9:25-27 ).

D. A STRUGGLE FOR PERFECTION( Phil. 3:12-14 ).

E. SINGLENESS( Heb. 12:1-2; Luke 9:62 ).

CONCLUSION:

A. WE HAVE HELP IN THE RACE( Heb. 4:15-16 ).

B. ARE YOU RUNNING WELL?

C. ARE YOU EVEN IN THE RACE?

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