RUN THE R-A-C-E

Pastor Ken May

So how do you spell race? R-A-C-E.


R - RUN TO WIN THE RACE

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win."

1 Corinthians 9:24     


     We don't just exist. Some people are like, "Oh, I just wanna exist till I go to heaven." No. Run the race NOW

What are some things about running the race?

     1. Run the right direction. If I want to get to Fort Worth over there [East] and I start running this way [West], I can guarantee you, if I keep going west, I'm never gonna get to Fort Worth because by the time I get past California, I'm gonna drown. You can't run the wrong way. What is the right way? Jesus is the right way. What is the right way? Well, He's told us here [the Bible].

     2. Run to win. Sometimes it's not the best athlete that wins. It's the person that's got passion. They're running to win the prize and they're not gonna let anything stop them. So, run to win the prize. 


A - ACTIVELY EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL

"Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now, they do it to receive an imperishable wreath, but we, an imperishable crown.

1 Corinthians 9:25


     If you really want to win the race, A is for actively. Every single day, all the time. Not just on Sunday. Actively exercise self-control. He says whoever wants to win–Look at this: He says it very clearly, they exercise self-control in everything. An athlete who really wants to win, they gotta have some discipline. 

     And what are we supposed to be? Go make disciples. What is the word disciple? It is discipline. So there are things you shouldn't look at. There are certain things you shouldn't focus on. There are certain things you shouldn't do and certain things you must do. Disciplining yourself to read the Bible every day. Discipline yourself to spend time in prayer every day. If you want to win and run the race with passion, you have to actively exercise discipline, self-control. 


C - CONSISTENTLY RUN WITH VISION

"Therefore I run in such a way, not without aim. I box in such a way as not beating the air. 

1 Corinthians 9:26


     Run with vision. This means I know what the race is all about. Why did God create me?S o that I could become like Jesus. Where am I going? I'm headed to Heaven. This world is not my home, so don't fall so in love with it that you are so in love with everything in this world that you forget without aim. Figure out what you're good at and what God's called you to, and then fulfill that vision. And for what purpose? In order that we can be used of God to bring glory to God and to bring other people into the Kingdom. 

     And then he says, "I don't box like I'm just swinging at the air." Wouldn't that be crazy?I get in a boxing match and the guy's over in one corner and I'm swinging at a different corner just like, "I'm gonna get him, I'm gonna get him." Go over there and hit him! You've gotta hit something in order to win. Sometimes we don't know what it's about. 

     Men especially, if you're gonna lead your family, you need to have a vision of what it's all about. Loving your wife, leading your children in the right direction. Why did God choose you to be the leader of that family?

     And moms, why did God choose you to be the one that's gonna help dad, and together you're gonna grow up mighty children to be a blessing to this world? Living with vision, competing consistently every single day. Parents are supposed to be leading with vision. 


E - ENDURE SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE DISQUALIFIED

"But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

1 Corinthians 9:27


     But I discipline my body," and that word is hupópiazó. And it means literally, "I poke myself in the eye or I give myself a black eye." Now think about that. If I don't have the right vision, 'cause I'm all going the wrong way, Paul says, "Man, I punch myself in the face so that I won't be paying attention to the wrong thing." So it's like something comes on the TV or the computer or the internet or the phone that is ungodly, instead of looking at it I'm like, "Get off of that." Poke yourself in the eye. Change direction. Don't let that get you off, because the goal is to endure.

     "I discipline my body and I make it a slave under my control so that after I preach to others, I myself will not be disqualified." God has called you to finish the race. God wants you to finish the race. That means you NEVER GIVE UP. God is big enough to handle every problem we face, so never give up. 

     But He's also big enough to help you to run the race and finish. One of the worst things about church people can be when we are hypocrites or when we are quitters. A hypocrite's a person who keeps showing up and saying one thing and doing something else. That is not a good thing to be a hypocrite, that you say you're a Christian but you really don't spend any time in the Word, you don't spend time with God, you don't grow in the Lord. Don't be that kind of person. 

     So Paul says, "Man, I'm slapping myself in the face, I'm beating my body so that I will endure and not become disqualified. God wants you to run the race!


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