STAY THE COURSE

#1) YOU ARE IN A BATTLE.

A) In 1968 John Stephen Akhwari represented Tanzania in the Mexico City Olympics. During the endurance marathon he fell and severely injured both knees and ankle. By 7PM all runners had finished the race and been cared for. Hours latter Akhwari crossed the finish line. A reporter asked “Why did you continue the race after you were so badly injured?” He replied: “My country did not send me 7000 miles to begin a race; they sent me to finish the race.”

- Every single one of us here today has a course, which will be finished.

- From the very moment you were born you’ve started a course; it will be finished the day you die.

- How you finish is completely up to you.

B) 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 Just as you were born and started a course, so the day you were saved you started a course.

- Paul gives us some very interesting instruction on how we are to run and fight through this course.

- And believe me it’s going to be a fight, it’s going to be tough but it’s possible to finish “well” if you desire to.

- I want to get right into the meat of this text, it’s seen in the way that Paul describes the life of a child of God.

- Paul likens it to a battle, to a fight in which you must do all to win.

C) Paul’s tells us He’s fighting for and with a purpose.

- He says all the contestants are running but only one receives the crown, SO HE SAYS RUN TO OBTAIN.

- In the race as a child of God however all who run can win.

- Paul’s painting a picture that people in every time could understand.

- We all know what it’s like to be in a competition, this is one reason Paul uses this example.

- It would help us all to know what kind of battle we are in.

#2) THE TYPE OF BATTLE YOU’RE IN.

A) In the city of Corinth they had what was known as the Isthmian games, similar to our Olympics yet much more brutal.

- Paul has this in mind when He writes; He begins with the easiest competition, the foot race.

- But Paul concludes with the most brutal of competitions.

- The competition, which requires the greatest determination, He concludes with the wrestling and boxing competitions.

- In boxing men would wear gloves imbedded with sharp metal and glass.

- These men had to be extremely determined in this competition; their very health depended on it.

B) The athletes in these Isthmian games had to play and train by strict rules.

- They had strict diets and had to train for a minimum of ten months straight.

- We're lucky if we can attend church for ten months straight, yet we all want that crown don’t we.

- The only crown we will get this way is a corruptible crown.

- We need to realize that our very health is on the line; we are in a battle.

- We need to fight as though there is a great prize in sight.

C) Paul had this crown in His sights and it’s of utmost importance to Him.

- This is one of four crowns God offers all believers.

- This is called the Incorruptible Crown; it’s given to those who overcome the world, the flesh and Satan.

- This life is a battle and we must fight if we want the Crown.

- These wrestling matches and fights that Paul uses as an example were never easy.

- God has never told us this life would be easy, it tough and it requires discipline and self-denial.

#3) HOW TO WIN THE BATTLE YOU’RE IN.

A) 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Paul say’s “I’m not running for no good reason, I’m not swinging like a blind boxer.”

- Paul’s eyes were on the prize he had a goal.

- “I beat my body and make it my slave”

- To win you must daily beat the old man into submission.

- When Paul says “keep under” it literally means to give a black eye.

- This is how serious Paul says He was in striving lawfully.

- In order to become what God desires in us you must TRAIN yourself through discipline.

- Discipline is not easy.

B) If you want to finish the race, this competition as a winner you must discipline yourself.

- If you're saved you're in the race, you're in the fight and there’s nothing you can do about that fact.

- You and only you will determine how you finish.

- The apostles never knew what was coming down the road but they did all to come out on top.

- No matter what comes your way you must stay the course.

C) Your entire life is a test; a test to see just how important God is to you.

- How far are you willing to go?

- Will you deny yourself?

- Will you beat your flesh into subjection?

- Will you fight the temptation to sin?

- Will you begin to live life as though it’s a fight for the prize?

D) God hasn’t saved us to do nothing He saved us to FIGHT AND WIN.

- We have an enemy that must be fought, it’s not always the Devil many times it’s a battle against yourself.

- If someone were attacking you would sit and do nothing? NO

- Today your flesh, the world and Satan may be attacking your spirit, get up and fight.

- Don’t allow yourself to be defeated any longer, bring those things into subjection.

- Don’t allow yourself to be a “castaway”; don’t become disqualified from winning this crown, FIGHT FOR IT.