Finishing the Race Well

FINISH THE RACE WELL

Hi Everyone

My name is Teena and I am one of the Pastors at Blue Oaks.

WHAT IS THE MAIN Goal OF YOUR LIFE?

If Apostle Paul was asked this question. He would answer “to finish the race”. That’s the title of my message – FINISH THE RACE WELL

We are going to read from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The Olympics are starting this week and all the athletes have trained for years and are waiting for this. They are careful of their diet and they are working out. Many of us are excited to watch these athletes compete as we have pizza and fries. It’s great being a spectator and not easy being in the game. Not having a lifestyle rigorous training.

Paul tells the church that we are in a race and to compete we have to go into strict training. Like olympics In Corith, Isthmian games was popular and took place every 2 yrs. We are not spectators but actually athletes. To qualify to be part of

What is the race and why is it important?
Acts 20:22-24
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

There was nothing more important to Paul’s life than completing the task that Jesus had given him. The task Pual was given was to preach the good news.

Finishing the race was most important to Apostle paul.

EACH ONE OF US HAS A MINISTRY THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. WHEREVER GOD HAS PLACED US WE ARE CALLED TO ADVANCE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

The task that each one of us are given is different.

The race is about advancing the kingdom of God by completing the task Jesus has given us.

To win the race and Finish well, we have to overcome hindrances.

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Weightless Gear

Clothing is light
Even in winter- have you seen those who run wearing shorts.

they don’t carry heavy backpack

Nothing that would slow them down and eventually stop them from finishing the race.

Weight would slow them down.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
King Solomon in the Old Testament
1 kings 11:9-11
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.

Let us pause and think of what is hindering us from finishing the race.

When we read the context of 1 Corinthians chapter 9 where Paul talks about the race.
1 Corinthians 9:12
12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:19,22-23
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 10
Israel led out of slavery by Moses as their leader, God did mighty miracles for them. And the nations were amazed. But soon they committed idolatry, sexual immorality, tested God and grumbled and were disqualified from the race.
Paul says that the events in the Old testament are examples for us.
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2. Focused

Athletes are focused to get the prize. If they don’t really care getting the prize they will not put the effort.

1 corinthians 9:24
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

In this rhetorical question, Paul is not advocating that only one christian will win. His repsonse has the focus.

Those who are participating in olympics have the goal to win the prize.

Let us Focus on finishing the race that God has given us and let nothing distract us.

King Saul was running his race well, and one day he heard some women singing
1 Samuel 18
7 As they danced, they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
This moment changed his focus and now his only focus was to kill David. He didn’t finish his race well.

I wake up in the morning, scrolling through social media comparing our race to others. Your race is not the same as theors. Don’t lose focus. My race is not your race. Your race is not the same as the person next to you. Each one us have a different task that Lord Jesus has given us to expand the kingdom of God, however small or big it looks in worldly scale.

Homemaker – that was the task God gave in the season. Be faithful in the little and God will keep using you to expand His kingdom.

Some of you probably watched the 2019 Miss World pageant when MIss Jamaica won, Miss Nigeria was so excited for her.

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3. Community

Athles who are in a competitive game need people around them encourage them.

I remember in high school when there was a marathon. I was close to the finish line, I felt that I was so tired and exhausted that I could run no more. So I stopped and wanted to quit. My friends who were standing close by, “Teena you can do it”, don’t quit you can do it. They started clapping their hands. I found a new energy and finished the race.

To be part of a small group of believers, family and friends who encourage you in this spiritual race is so important.

Simone Biles, who has won 7 Olympic medals said “I wanted to quit like 500,000 times and I would have if it weren’t for my people”.

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4. Discipline

Athletes are disciplined in their diet and workout.

Even if we say we have talented, consistent practice and training is important. It has to be a lifestyle for an athlete.

For our spiritual race to complete the task that God has given us so that the kingdom of God will expand, we have to be disciplined.

Consistent Praying and reading the word in our spiritual journey.

For those of you who are super saved spiritual giants, consistent prayer life may be a piece of cake. Personally for me there are seasons that I feel spiritually dry. A bible reading plan with a group or time to pray with someone helps to reignite the fire in us. GODLY PARTNERSHIP
Strengthens our spiritual walk.

We need to workout inner man by

PRAYING

READING WORD

Man does not food alone but by every word comes from the mouth of God. Open our eyes to see the hindrances in our life, to understand the tactics of the enemy, learn about God.

Prayer

Word lets us learn about God, prayer connects us to God.

Just like diet and workout hand in hand, Word and prayer important for spiritual race to finish well.

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So in the end we can say like Paul

2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

If you feel you have Fallen in the tracks, its okay, rise up and I encourage you to continue the race and finish well.

If the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 had fallen but they repented and rose up and finished their race with faith.

Let me ask you the question again – WHAT IS THE MAIN AIM OF YOUR LIFE?

Let’s finish our race well

Let’s pray

Blue Oaks Church
Pleasanton, CA