Date of Sermon Delivery: 29. 09 . 2024
Place of sermon Delivery: Delhi, India
Sunday Worship Service
Speaker: Brother Jatin
Title : Run the race with discipline
Bible : 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Key verse : 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.
Good morning.
I hope you all are well this morning and enjoying being in the presence of God.
And it may also happen that you may have some disappointments, but put them before the Lord.
Don't pick them up but give them to God, and don't live this life with complexity but live in simplicity and the joy of God.
Today I am 34 years old, and whenever I look back, I do not know when I turned from teenage to adult.
But I am not disappointed in my life for anything because the Lord Jesus remained with me through so many years and is with me even today.
She taught me to live this life with simplicity.
Because whenever I see my relatives and my parents, even after having so much, they are not happy in their lives, but after coming to the Lord, He taught me to be joyful, told me how precious my life is in Him, and how important it is for me to be with Him.
All this is the joy of my life, which is flooding my life as the days progress.
I hope you have the joy of God in your life, too.
Today I want to take your attention in 1 Corinthian 9:24-27.
Let’s read together, and then let’s go in prayer.
In today's text, apostle Paul urges us to adopt a mindset of spiritual discipline in our pursuit of a deeper relationship with God. And when we are united with God through faith, then we need to be on that journey with intentional efforts, dedication, and perseverance.
Here Paul begins by drawing a similarity between Christian life and athletic competition.
Paul wrote this letter to Corinthian believers; the church of Corinth was in the country of Greece.
They had a relationship with the Lord; they were living their lives, but many of them, had one foot in Christ and the other in the world.
They would show up to the church services, but during the week they were living their lives much like the other Corinthians, who were not following the Lord at all.
In this letter, Paul addressed many of the issues that were going on with them.
Many of them had pride issues, so Paul had to address their pride.
There was a lot of quarrelling going on among some of these believers, so Paul had to address it.
There were sexual sins being committed by some of these followers, so Paul had to address those things, too.
Many of them said that though they had a relationship with Christ, they really were not growing in their relationship with the Lord.
They were not moving forward, they considered themselves followers of Christ, but they were not following him in a lot of areas of their lives.
Therefore, in this passage, 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, Paul is challenging them to get serious about their spiritual training.
He says in verse 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.
There were two athletic events that took place back in those days in the land of Greece. One we are very familiar with and that was the Olympic Games, which happened every two years.
It was about 700 B.C. that the Olympic Games began in the land of Greece.
It was competitive events where athletes would enter and race against each other, horse races, jumping, wrestling, boxing, and throwing the javelin.
As Paul used to do tent work, it is possible that when Paul lived in Corinth, he might have done tent work here and he might have lived on the same ground.
So, he must have seen how people are training as sportsmen and what kind of life they are living.
But every runner that came to these Greek games understood that there was competition, they understood that they were not the only ones in the race.
And Paul uses it, and we believers need to understand that we are not competitors with each other.
But there is a competition against us.
1 peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
As believers in Christ, we cannot take our walk with Christ for granted; there is adversary.
Paul was encouraging the church, run in such a way as the victor runs, run in such a way as this alethic run, they run to win.
They do not join as they are in some festival, or just to tell everyone, Hey, look, I am part of the race.
Oftentimes in our walk with the Lord, we too can be tempted, to just be all right with being a Christian, to be comfortable, to have a weak mind, not really want any challenges, just to be okay and comfortable.
And sometimes, as believers, we are not even willing to fight to overcome temptation that comes our way because we are just in the race.
But God has not called us to live in such a way, he has not called us to this type of living, but he called us to be more than conquerors and to live victoriously in Jesus Christ.
Around us, people are living without hope, living in fear, anxiety, despair, and discouragement. For them, God has called us to speak the truth in love.
In our generation we have to be the hand and feet of Jesus., In our workplace we have to be the hand and feet of Jesus Christ, In our college, in our home, wherever it is that God is calling us, we have to be ambassadors of Christ.
Romans 1:16 says I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believers, first to the jews, then to the Gentile.
Paul says, I will not be ashamed of the gospel because it saved my life.
How about you and me?
We shall not keep this good news to ourselves. ‘
God is not concerned with our comfort, he wants our full obedience.
So, Paul gives the illustration of Athletes, to challenge Corinthians believers.
And even challenge us today, that whatever we have got into our faith, got into our walk with Christ, we got to our service with Christ, our life with Christ, and our service to others, With it, we may not go half way, but we may finish our race.
Do not just live this life with Christ with just a little effort, with little compromise, or with just enough things.
See this, athletes were very disciplined, they would abstain from the bad things, like criminal behaviour, sexual behaviour, and uncommon behaviour, because they wanted to compete their race.
They would not only stay away from bad things but also stay away from legitimate things, even though those things were not wrong, not sinful, but it may cause them a hindrance in their preparation.
Are we giving it everything that we have? Are we putting forth great effort?
Are we spending time in the word of God?
Are we spending time in prayer and fellowship with other believers?
Are we laying aside everything that may be a hindrance to us?
Not just the sinful things, not just the things that are bad, but maybe even the legitimate things, those things that aren't the best for you.
The Bible says that all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything (! Corinthians 6:12 ESV)
Are you disciplined enough in your life to ignore even things that may seem legitimate because they are hindering your walk with Christ?
Or maybe they are a hindrance to others around you, That may not be sin, but they are keeping others from coming to Christ.
Are you willing and disciplined to lay those things down?
If I like so much to eat chicken, it is not sin, but if it is a hindrance to my love for Jesus or for someone to come into Christ, I must lay those things down for some time.
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.
People who took part in this game, which took place once every two years, had to go through the process of training.
They used to prepare themselves before that game, (exercise daily, practice daily, sleep on time, get up on time, strict diet, attention on game, no wasting time on useless things, save mind from wandering thoughts). They followed in order to prepare themselves for the race, they could give 100 percent during the game, and for this they used to prepare themselves.
They would train all this time and get a wreath that was made of wood, a crown made of wood that they set on their heads that would soon wither away and die.
At that time, they did not get rewards like gold and silver medals are awarded in today's Olympic Games.
Maybe it would be a flower crown,
And although they used to work very patiently and hard to get rewards.
But we, as believers in Christ, do it to get an imperishable crown, therefore, we need to learn to control our desires.
There are many Christians who are defeated in these things.
That's why Paul encourages us here by saying, Don't worry about here anything, because if we learn to control our fleshly desires, then we will get the crown, which is not for a short time but is forever.
Paul wants
- Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
Paul says I do not fight with aimlessness.
when an athletic run with focus on winning line, and that is his aim. Well, a boxer does not punch the air, if he will punch on air, he will not get points, but he hits where he gets points.
So, Paul says we should also have a vision in God’s kingdom, living with a purpose and with a vision for God’s kingdom. Put your aim on the heavens; we are here on earth, but our aim should be to live in heaven with Jesus.
If a athlete does not have aim, or a boxer does not have a target point, and if we do not have a vision, we become the gods of our lives; we sit on the throne of our life.
- 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.
Paul says here, I discipline my body and keep it under control.
We have the ability to make our body, to discipline our body. Therefore, our body should not discipline us but we should discipline our body.
When we discipline our body and say no to flesh and yes to spirit, then we hear to God more clearly.
Therefore, Paul is highlighting the danger of becoming disqualified from the prize of eternal life due to a lack of discipline and self-control.
He is emphasising the importance of living a life of intentional spiritual discipline in order to avoid disqualification.
Paul says 1 Timothy 4:16. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Here pail explains the importance of self-discipline in the life of a Christian
To Save Yourself: Paul writes that if you watch your life and doctrine closely, you will "save yourself." This means that self-discipline is essential for personal spiritual growth and development. By living a life of intentional self-discipline, you will be able to avoid the pitfalls of sin and stay on the path of righteousness.
To Save Your Hearers: Paul also writes that if you persevere in watching your life and doctrine, you will "save your hearers." This means that self-discipline is not just important for personal spiritual growth, but also for the spiritual growth and development of those around you. As a leader, your example and teaching will have a profound impact on those who follow you.
So, there are many areas in our life that need self-discipline, Sometimes we discipline ourselves in some area and we come under pride. It is essential for us that we have to be disciplined in all areas.
1. Health (1 timothy 4:8)
2. Eating (Proverbs 23:1-2)
3. Expenses (Proverbs 27:23-24)
4. Ear/eyes (psalm 101:3)
5. Expressions (Matthew 15:18-19)
6. Ministry/serving God (col 3:23, 1 timothy 5:17)
7. Entertainment/amusement (1 Cor 8:9)
8. Extra “weights’ (Hebrews 12:1-2)
9. Essential things (1 peter 3:7, 1 timothy 3:1-7)
10. Example/ temtimoney (1timothy 4:12)
11. Etcetera/ all area/things(1 cor 10:31, 14:40.)
Dear brothers and sisters.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 challenges us to examine our approach to the Christian life and to consider the importance of spiritual discipline for our eternal life. Let us be willing to discipline ourselves, making sacrifices and denying ourselves in order to achieve the prize. And let us be aware of the danger of becoming disqualified from the prize of eternal life due to a lack of discipline and self-control. May we run the race of faith with intentionality and purpose, that we may win the prize of eternal life and glorify God in all that we do.
At the last Discipline does not destroy us but turns us completely toward the Lord and leads us to the Crown that is eternal.
Discipline does not destroy us but makes us grow in the Lord. Amen
