2 Timothy 4:6-7 NKJV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
[7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Running to Finish the Race

Paul compared the Christian life to running a race.

Show Illustration: Expectation vs Reality

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a
way that you may obtain it. [25] And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. [26]
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. [27] But I
discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself
should become disqualified.

I: Run the race with a goal.

1 Corinthians 9:26 NIV
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of
that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. [13] Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward
to those things which are ahead, [14] I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus.

II: Our prize is not perishable but imperishable.

Ÿ Eternal Life (Matthew 24:13)

Ÿ Imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:25)
Ÿ Crown of life (Jame 1:12)
Ÿ Crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)
Ÿ Crown of glory (1 Peter 5:2-4)
Ÿ Crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
Ÿ Partakers of His glory (Romans 8:17)

Romans 8:18 NKJV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.

Luke 12:15 NKJV

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in
the abundance of th things he possesses.”

Job 1:21 NKJV

 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD
gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

I hope everybody could get rich and famous and will have everything they ever dreamed of, so
they will know that it's not the answer. (Jim Carrey)

I have been asking myself, "Bakit I feel empty? Hindi yung successful na shows o yung mga hits
ang makakapagkompleto sayo, ang makakapagpasaya sayo bilang isang tao." (Sarah
Geronimo)

John 6:68 NKJV

[68] But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal
life.

Ÿ God has not built life for anything apart from Him to satisfy. (Ecclesiastes 6:1-6)
Ÿ Man's life is not all about material things. (Luke 12:5)

Revelation 3:17-18 NKJV

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not
know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— [18] I counsel you to buy from
Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve,
that you may see.

Ÿ Our work can't provide ultimate satisfaction. (Ecclesiastes 6:7-10)

Ÿ Our wisdom can't fix the emptiness of our lives. (Ecclesiastes 6:11-12)
Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found: Not in pleasure, not in
money, not in position, and not in fame and glory. Where then is real joy can be found? The
answer is simple, in Jesus Christ alone.

III: The race we are running is an endurance race, not a sprint.

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us,

Ecclesiastes 9:11 NLT

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race,
and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the
skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful
lives....

Matthew 19:30 NIV

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Acts 5:38-39 NKJV

And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work
is of men, it will come to nothing; [39] but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even
be found to fight against God.”
 My country did not send me 5000 miles to start the race; my country sent me 5000 miles to
finish the race. (John Stephen Akhwari)

The same is true with our spiritual walk: Our God did not bless us with His Spirit for us to give
up but He intended for us to finish.

IV: How are we going to finish the race?

1.) It requires discipline: self-discipline and divine discipline.
Ÿ Get rid of excess / extra baggage.
Throw away your extra baggage. It slows you down. It hinders you to finish the race. Why
are you carrying something that is not necessary or intended for your life? It only drags
you down and hampers you to finish.
Ÿ Lay aside the sin that so easily entraps you.
Acts 5:38-39 NKJV
And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this
work is of men, it will come to nothing; [39] but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest
you even be found to fight against God.”

May the Lord help us to see sin as exceedingly sinful - to look upon it as He looks upon it.
May we ever see it as that which nailed Him to the tree.

Sin will take you farther than you ever expected to go; it will keep you longer than you ever
intended to stay, and it will cost you more than you ever expected to pay. ( Kay Arthur)

 Run according to the rules.

Jude 1:3 NKJV
[3] Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all
delivered to the saints.

Galatians 1:8 NKJV

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have
preached to you, let him be accursed.

 We need also divine discipline.

Revelation 3:19 NIV

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Hebrews 12:5-6 NKJV

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise
the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; [6] For whom
the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

You will hear the voice of the Lord through your pastor and leaders.

Psalm 141:5 NKJV

[5] Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as
excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it....
2.) Run with endurance.

Hebrews 12:2-3 NKJV

looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. [3] For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you
become weary and discouraged in your souls.

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 NKJV

From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. [25] Three times I was beaten with
rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the
deep; [26] in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own
countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in
the sea, in perils among false brethren; [27] in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— [28] besides the other things, what
comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

It is not time to retire. It is time to REFIRE.

3.) Love Jesus more than your life.

John 21:17 NKJV

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved
because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know
all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Ministry must come first before our own life. No sacrifice is too great for it.

I realize what a terrible task has given me. And yet I feel that this is the most glorious moment of
my life. What I do is done for my beloved country. No sacrifice can be too great. ( General
Gregorio del Pilar)

Acts 21:13 NKJV

Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready
not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Acts 20:24 NKJV

[24] But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish
my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel
of the grace of God.

4.) Look to Jesus

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith....

Here is the key, we are not going to finish if we depend on our ability. The only way we gonna
finish is we trust our Lord Jesus Christ and not in ourselves. Keep your eyes focus on the Lord
Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the one who forgave us and filled us with His Spirit. We would not even be running if
were not because of Jesus. The same God who got you started is the same God who will keep
you the rest of the way. The same one who makes sure you will not only start the race but you
finish the race. He is the pioneer and perfector of our faith. Jesus will make you gonna finish,
and finish the race well.

Preach to yourself when nobody can preach to you. Sometimes we need to encourage
ourselves in the Lord like King David.

Jesus is our Great I Am. God is saying, I Am whatever man needs. I Am grace; I Am love; I am
salvation; I Am power; I Am wisdom, and on and on.

Isaiah 43:2 NLT

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the
flames will not consume you.

Put this in mind, the same God who got us started is the same God who will take us to the finish
line.

What is your definition of success?

Paul's definition of success: I have fought the good fight of faith; I have finished the race; I have
kept the faith.

It is not being wealthy - but it is all about living in faith and dying in the faith. For to me, to live is
Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 NIV)

Mark 8:36 NKJV

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

In the coming day, there will be no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain. One day all
our races will come to an end. And everything that you went through, every hill, every valley,
every mountain, every storm, every hard time, it will all be worth it. And we get to spend the rest
of eternity with Jesus.

So if I can encourage you this afternoon, I encourage you to keep running your race. Run to
finish the race. By the grace of Jesus, we can do it.