Skip to main content
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Run the right Race

  • Jean Marais
  • Sunday Night Messages
  • October 06, 2024
  • Sermon Notes
  • Scripture

Run the Right Race
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
October 6, 2024 

Last time when we were in chapter 8, we talked about the fact that love trump’s our liberty. Our love for others becomes the driving force in our lives.

As we step into Chapter 9, Paul uses his own life as an example. As an apostle and somebody who shares the word, he has certain rights. He uses a few examples. Do I not also have the right to take along a believing wife? Do I not also have the right to refrain from working? He goes on to explain that those who share the word should live from the support of those they are ministering too.

But then he says that he doesn’t use any of these liberties. In his life he laid down his rights and his liberties for the gospel, because he saw a bigger prize.

He again addresses areas where he has let go of his liberties. To the Jew he became as a Jew to win the Jew, to those other than law as under the law although not himself under the law. To the weak became weak to win the weak.

His actions are summarized by this phrase in verse 22, “… I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some”. Apparently, his own rights became secondary to a higher purpose.

We get the idea from this section that there are bigger things to consider, more important things that should be the driving force in our lives.

Paul uses the analogy of a race. Everyone in life is running a race.

Illus – Some are just on a fun run… Others are running a race that is inconsequential.

The question is, what race are you running? What are you pursuing? What prize are you running for? What is important?

All of these questions have to do with a greater question that rises over all of them, “How are you going to live your life?” In chapter 8  Paul said,

Verse 6 – “For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

We exist for the glory of God; that’s what gives purpose and meaning and significance to our lives. And that’s what determines how we live.

There are many different ways people can live their lives on this earth. In Corinth, the temple of Aphrodite was right there in their city and many chose to live their lives pursuing the desires of the flesh.

In other words, you get to choose how you will live. You get to choose whom you will serve, you get to choose the race you will run. Many run after the wrong things thinking it will make them happy.

Wouldn’t it be sad to come to the end of your life and to realize you climbed the wrong ladder, or you ran the wrong race, or you pursued the wrong goal, you desired the wrong prize?

We will see this dual purpose in operation. The race you choose to run impacts yourself, and by implication others and the kingdom.

Whatever you see as your end-goal will influence every decision, your preparation, in short, every part of your race.

True happiness and contentment are found in  following God’s heart, His principles, His way of living. That will inevitably result in a blessed, beautiful life.

I. Run For the Right Prize

  • In all of the previous chapters Paul has been answering questions asked of him about, Christian liberty, idols, food, freedom, marriage, specifically sexuality within marriage as well as wisdom about being single.
  • “You have knowledge that gives you freedom,” Paul was saying in response, “but your knowledge is making you arrogant and insensitive to those around you. There is a more important goal.
  • Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize, Paul said. Everything must be seen in the light of a much bigger, important purpose.
  • Those who ran in the games did it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are running to obtain an imperishable wreath.
  • Today the perishable wreath people run for looks different. There is a common phrase in the world, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Frankly, that’s not much of a win.

Matthew 16:26, “For what would it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

  • God says it’s about the value of your soul and also about the value of the souls around you. An imperishable wreath is eternal in value.
  • When we are disciples of Jesus, it means we follow in His footsteps, in His purpose; what was His aim and goal should be ours. What was His goals?

Hebrews 12:1-3, … let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

  • Paul lived this perspective, aligning with the same goal as Christ.

A. Love is a great way to run

  • In both chapters 8 and 9 Paul makes the point that there is a principal that’s higher. “You have knowledge, that’s good, but knowledge puffs up and love builds up.”

1 Corinthians 9:22, I have become all things to all men that I may by all means save some.

  • In other words, there is a deeper perspective to life.
  • In verse 23 Paul said, “I do all things for the sake of the gospel.” Why such dedication? Answer; because God has done so much for him. His faith is foremost because his love for Christ is first.
  • Love is a great way to run. Have love in your heart. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength… and love your brother as yourself.

Illus – Do you remember the love you had for the Lord when you first came to faith? Do you remember the joy that was in your heart? Keep that love alive.

Revelation 2:2-4, ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, … and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

  • Run from that deep love. Stay in awe of Him. Worship in Spirit and Truth.

B. Don’t be a spectator

  • “Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize,” Paul said. In other words – run. Get in the race, Christianity is not a spectator sport.

Illus – There is a difference between sitting in the stand being entertained by the track and field athletes, and being part of a marathon. The spectators are those who are undecided for God watching us.

  • If you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then His blood has been applied to your life.
  • Think of all He’s done for you; your sins have been forgiven, you have eternal life, God is now your Father. Can you not run this race called life in thanks to Him?
  • You’re involved now. There is no ‘de-militarized zone”. There is a fight between light and darkness. Good and evil. You now ‘see’ life and the world different.
  • Some stand back and observe church and Christians, “That’s interesting,” they say to themselves, but it’s more than interesting, it’s a decision, it’s a choice.

Joshua 24: 15, “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served beyond the river, or the gods of the people in whose land you are now living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

  • Christianity is not something to be sampled, it is a step of faith that changes the entire course of your life. When the scripture says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” that doesn’t mean to nibble, it means to fully partake and you’ll see that the Lord is good. Be emersed.

Illus – What is the best way to get into a swimming pool? Jump in. It cannot revitalize you if you only put your big toe in.

  • Jump into the streams of life!

C. Run with endurance

  • This is a race that endures for a lifetime. Paul said that he ran “not without aim.” In other words, he had purpose, he had direction; his eyes were fixed.

Hebrews 12:1, Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles…

Illus – It’s like running a cross-country race and you come upon briars along the path. Don’t get near them, they will entangle you, they will hinder you from running well.

  • One of the most grueling competitions of ancient Greece was for runners to run in full armor. Some people run like that, they run with too much baggage.
  • I think one of the heaviest things people carry is bitterness and unforgiveness; and it hinders many.

Hebrews 12:15, See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

  • Not only forgiving others, but self-forgiveness. Too many people are incapacitated by shame; shame of their past, shame of their struggles.
  • You need to forgive yourself and start walking in the newness of your new life.

Illus – To quote the famous philosopher from Frozen, Queen Elsa, “Let it go!”

II. Exercise Self Control in All Things

  • Verse 25- Paul uses the example of an athlete training to compete in the games as an analogy of how we should live spiritually.
  • An athlete must use self-control in what they eat, the regimen of their training, even the discipline of the mind.

1 Peter 1:13, Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

A. We need good spiritual food

  • An athlete wouldn’t compete well on the typical American junk food diet. They’re disciplined about what they eat because they know it’s the body’s fuel.
  • In the same way, there is junk food for the soul and there is spiritual food which endures to eternal life.
  • As Jesus was coming to the end of a 40 day fast, He was tempted by Satan who said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” Jesus’s answer gave great spiritual insight…

Matthew 4:4, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

John 4:32, 34, Jesus said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about… My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.”

  • Most people don’t like the idea of exercising self-control, but Paul’s point is powerful and practical.
  • Many people eat whatever they feel like at the moment without considering the consequences.
  • But comfort food, which does make a person feel better at the moment, will, little by little, eventually make a person feel worse.

Illus – There was a study done; does comfort food accomplish the goal of bringing comfort? Actually, no. The study revealed that instead of feeling comfort they felt guilty because they were starting to have a muffin top.

  • Is there an equivalent spiritually? Absolutely. There are many different things that the world dishes up for us to eat that impacts the soul.
  • Many people are medicating their emptiness or loneliness or despair with alcohol or drugs or sexual things.
  • Others are distracted by entertainment, and comfortable living. It numbs the soul.

Luke 8:14-15, “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life and bear no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”

Illus – Many things that make our lives comfortable, make people emotionally weak. Many of the things that people allow themselves to be hampered by are actually first world problems.

  • There are even things that has a spiritual impact that many Christians directly engage in.

Illus – I am astounded when I look at the celebration of Halloween. Witches, Zombies, images from horror movies. These are demonic things from the pit of hell. We are called to not be part of these things of darkness.

  • These are examples of many things influences your mindset and thought patterns.

Rom 16:19, …but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

Ephesians 5:11, 8, Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 

Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 

  • The opposite of self-control is ‘other’ control. What other things are controlling you?
  • Christ has set us free so that we do not have to stand under the control of anything. By the power of His Spirit, we can have self-control directed by His Spirit.
  • Especially when we taste and see that there is something better.
  • There is more. There is a place where the soul is satisfied.

Psalm 42:1-2, As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…

B. Discipline your body; it’s not the master

  • Verse 27 – Paul says, “I buffet my body and make it my slave…” That’s not the word buffet, that’s the word buffet which means to keep it in check, bring it under submission. It’s a wrestling term.
  • Paul is straightforwardly saying that one of the great troubles of life is that this body of ours wants to be the master. It has urges and desires and wants to be in control. In other words, it wants what it wants when it wants it.
  • Paul said, “I bring my body under submission and make it my slave.”

1 Corinthians 6:12-13, All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with them both. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.

  • An athlete who competes must discipline his body, he presses on even when he doesn’t feel like it. But the analogy is spiritual.

1 Timothy 4:8, Bodily discipline is only a little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

  • We are disciples of Christ. We walk in the discipl’ines of Christ.
  • I am not here to condemn you and tell you how to live. I am not setting up new rules. It stays your choice. But remember that the seed you sow will bear forth fruit.
  • How you live matters. You get to choose whom you will serve and the race you will run. Run well, the prize is eternal and imperishable.
  • This will have the result that your life will have meaning, will have purpose, will impact those around you, will have an eternal reward.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27    NASB 

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Audio

DonateLike this sermon?

If you enjoyed the sermon and would like to financially support our teaching ministry, we thank you in advance for partnering with us in sending forth the word.

Donate

We have a service in progress. Would you like to join our live stream? Join The Live Stream No Thanks