“Capturing the Crown”

1Co 9:24-26 and Selected

“Going for the Gold” series Part 1

·        NBC Universal will televise 3,600 hours Olympic coverage

·        Estimated 3 billion people will watch the games worldwide

·        China believed to have invested $43 billion dollars in preparations

·        Over 200 countries are expected to compete for the “Gold”

GO FOR THE GOLD!

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 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 a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

Have you ever heard the expression, the “rat race” of life?  I picture an ugly, dirty rat squeaking out an existence by scurrying around in some garbage dump, living day to day with seemingly no purpose to life.  In our society today and within many churches there are discouraged, depressed people with no reason for living.  They go through life existing but not really living.  They get up in the morning, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed and repeat this routine throughout their lifetime.  They are existing in a rat-race lifestyle having no purpose or direction but they aren’t really living.  The Bible teaches us that life is a race.  Unfortunately most people finish poorly getting sidetracked or distracted.  Dying with unfulfilled dreams with unrealized potential without ever becoming aware what God intended their life to become…

Going for the gold, finishing the race strong…

Capturing the Crown… That will last forever!

I.  Know God’s Purpose for your Life…

·        You are not an accident –

Psalms 139:13-16 ¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb… ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

o   God Handcrafted YOU into Existence!  He has a perfect plan for your life…

o   Some of you may need to LET GO of your past to GET ON with your future...

                        Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past”.

·        You are uniquely created –

Isaiah 44:2 This is what the LORD says-- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you…

·        You were made to last forever –

Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

·        You are infinitely loved by God –

1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

You are special to God and He has plans for your life…

Architectural plans, blueprints… plans for building – follow them closely & things go good/ stay out of trouble/ pass inspections/ ultimate success! 

God too has plans for you…

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

II.  Possess an Authentic Faith in Christ

Hebrews 11:1,6 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see… 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

·        Sin is Propitiated

1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

·        Lasting eternal fruit is Produced

John 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

·        Future rewards are Promised

1 Corinthians 3:8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

·        God is Pleased

Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Picture of rainbow from our backyard…

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

“Faith is living in a hope that is so real it gives absolute assurance”

III.  Discover the “Secret” of Spiritual Winners

·        Nurture a winning can-do attitude

o   Swindoll says, “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% your response.”

o   87% of American’s own running shoes but they don’t run…

·        “By faith, by faith, by faith…” Heb 11

o   An Olympic runner spends years of preparation in obscure settings.  Requiring training, exercise, hard work, commitment, discipline, correct nutrition, planning, coaching, equipment, time, rules to race by, etc. Is it any different for a believer? 

o   Faith in action… effort, discipline There are no magic spiritual pills

o   Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

IV.  Run the Race and Win the Crown

Hebrews 12:1-2a ¹ 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. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” 

Practical Application…

·        We must Let go of baggage 

o   God tells us to throw off everything that hinders (A bulk or mass of something). 

o   Things that weigh you down, diverts your attention, saps your energy and enthusiasm for God.

o   Your use of time?  Your television viewing habits?  Your emphasis on possessions? Money?

o   These “things” may not necessarily be bad or sinful but hindrances to your Christian growth.

·        We must Untangle from sin

o   The Greek seems to indicate a specific sin “the sin”… an area where you are weak.

o   The enemy knows your weakness, your vulnerability and that is where he will attack.

o   When we determine to be a winner for Christ we will take the necessary steps to run the race.

o   Choking out your assurance, confidence and testimony... producing despair & defeat.

o   Feeling of being a loser, with no hope, outlook for life, all alone, a miserable failure.

·        We must Never quit

o   Race is “agon” from where we get our word agony.  A race is grueling, demanding, tiring.

o   A race requires self-discipline, determination and not quitting half way through.

o   Notice it’s a race marked out for us… my unique race God designed for me.

·        We must Focus on Christ

o   Not on your feet… Sidelines… spectators… supper… but on Christ… vital to win spiritually

o   Don’t compare yourself with others or you’ll be disappointed and crash... look to Jesus!

o   Why on Jesus?  He’s the originator, the pioneer, the author, the perfect example of our faith.

Bow our hearts… Let me ask you a question…

·        Are you in the race God talks about… have you ever personally trusted Jesus Christ as Savior? 

Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner.  Thank you for dying for my sins.  I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord.  Forgive my sins and take control of my life and help me become the kind of person you want me to be.

If you are saved, how’s your race?  Lord Jesus, forgive me for being distracted from you, forgive me for becoming entangled in sin (name it)… thank you Jesus for shedding your precious blood… cleanse me, help me to get back in the race and finish strong, winning the eternal crown because of Christ!

Over the next few weeks we will take a fascinating look at individuals who finished strong in the Lord and were placed in Hebrews 11, “God’s Hall of Faith”

David, Joseph and others who stood the test of life finishing strong, gaining the prize!