| Phil 2:9 (KJS) Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven,
and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good
pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in
the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the
world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,
that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
I. DON’T LOOK AROUND WHEN YOU RUN.
The snow covered the ground, and three young boys were playing in it.
A man said to them, "Would you like to try to race, with the promise of
a prize for the winner?"
The boys agreed, and the man told them that his race was to be different.
"I will go to the other side of the field," he said, "and when I
give you the signal, you will start to run. The one whose footsteps are the
straightest in the snow will be the winner." As the race commenced, the
first boy began looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight. The
second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing; but the
third boy just ran on with his eyes fixed on the man on the other side of the
field.
The third boy was the winner, for his footsteps were straight in the snow. He
had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him.
A long time ago, another man using similar words taught the same principle.
It was Paul who said, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what
is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).
- Sometimes it is hard to run the race when it looks like others are
cheating to win the race.
- Sometimes it looks like the people who serve God are not doing as will as
the ones who don't.
- Don't be moved by others.
- Things are not always the way they look.
II. THE RACE IS NOT WON BY HOW WELL OTHERS DO.
Gala 6:7 (KJS) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever
a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if
we faint not.
- The race is won by how well you do, not others.
- Don't ever let the way others run effect the way you run.
Luke 8:11 (KJS) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of
God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and
taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock [are they], which, when they hear, receive the word with
joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of
temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go
forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and
bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart,
having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.
III. IF YOU RUN WITH GOD, YOU'RE ON THE WINNING TEAM.
- Those who seem to be successful in their occupation, but don't know God, are
not successful in LIFE, just business.
Luke 12:16 (KJS) And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The
ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no
room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many
years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
20 But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required
of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward
God.
2. Those who serve God, have unseen treasures.
IV. THE WAY YOU RUN TODAY WILL HAVE AN EFECT ON YOUR TOMAROW.
Phil 3:13 (KJS) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any
thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same
rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye
have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory
[is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all
things unto himself.
V. GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH YOU NEED TO FINISH THE RACE.
2Tim 4:16 (KJS) At my first answer no man stood with me, but all
[men] forsook me: [I pray God] that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that
by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might
hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me]
unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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