Subjecting Yourself To Righteous Living

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The Need for Self-Discipline
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. 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. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 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. (1Cor 9:19-27).

Grace and peace to you in the. name of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God for you and the opportunity He has given me to share with you  His word concerning discipline. When we became of age our parents enrolled in school we began in kindergarten. It was a new environment for us. It was the beginning of preparing us to learn. Each step in the process was necessary, Each grade prepared you for the next grade giving you the tools you need to be successful. It akes a certain amount of discipline because in order to be successful you have to put in the work. The more successful you want to be, the more discipline you must be.

Back in historicity, people enjoy sports and engaged in them as we do today. Paul uses the analogy of a physical race to get across his teaching concerning Christain Discipline. When every you are in a race or competition for that matter there is only one winner (V 24). When you are in a race, you are competing for the prize. You know that you must prepare yourself for the race. In the Christian race, everyone can be a winner. You have to watch the way you run.

Those who compete physically goes into strict training. The person running the race disciplines themselves to strict training that will prepare them and strengthen them for the long run. Spiritual Training should be a Christian lifestyle. There are a lot of things in our lives that are not necessary and we need to put away. We need to set aside everything that may hinder us from living for Christ. (Hebrews 12:1-3). Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12:1-3).

The prize one wins in a physical race will not last (V 25, They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever). The crown in a physical race represents honor, a wreath, a crown. But it is not lasting. Our crowns or rewards, as Christians are eternal. Our crown is worth the preparation, our crown or reward should encourage us to exercise the discipline needed because the reward is everlasting.

We are not running aimlessly: Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. Every race has a starting point, this is where everyone lines up to begin the race. The course is marked out. there are perimeters in which the race is run, and there is a goal line. This is where we are trying to get, and we are trying to get there before everyone else for the purpose of winning the prize.

The Christain race has the same characteristics. The starting point is the new birth This is our acceptance of Christ as our savior Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3). We have a marked course of Christian living, The fruit of the spirit, in contrast to the acts of the sinful nature (So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other. Gal 5:16-25). Our finish line is Heaven.

The Fight

This is a real fight, it is a fight between good and evil, This fight is real it is against principalities, and powers in higher places/ It is against good and evil, It is not shadow boxing where you are hitting absolutely nothing, It is like you are saying you are a Christain, but you yourself has absolutely no substance, no discipline, You are the blind leading the blind, you tell others not to do something but you your self do it. You give Christians a bad name, You are being a hypocrite. The fight is between Heaven and Hell. Satan wants you, He will do everything He can to get you, God is giving you directions on how to win the race. Are you wiser than God? The fight is against Christ and Satan, Jesus Won. Every Christain is part of the fight, we are not to go through the motions of pretending to fight. We must bring our bodies under subjection and the disciplines necessary to qualified to run the race.

The way we live in our bodies is very important to God (Roman 12:1-2). We are qualified by Christ. have you received Christ as your savior, If you haven’t don’t fool yourself you can’t run this race. You are not equipped you don’t have the discipline nor do you have the stamina without Christ you can do nothing, you are not qualified.

Paul live out His teaching, He said I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I will receive my crown. In the Indianapolis 500,  it is the car that is qualified, not the driver. The driver qualifies the car. Christ qualifies us when we come to him as savior and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light(Col 1:12).

Are you prepared for the Race?

Amen!!!

God bless you

Rev. Reginald Stevens