How to Win the Race is a sermon teaching us that the Christian life is like running a race, a long-distance race. The race begins on the day of salvation and continues until we finish the Lord’s work.
Our sin drags us down and keeps us from focusing on the Lord’s work. We are to get rid of the thing in our life that keeps us from focusing and get rid of our sins. We need to set a good pace in the race. Run with patience to maintain the pace. We need to get going and set that steady pace and then give it everything we’ve got in the last part of the race. We ought to be the best Christian we can be. We are called by the Lord to serve Him and not to seek notoriety. Everyone needs to do their part in what God calls us to do. We are all called to witness if only to talk to people or hand out tracks. Any of us can serve God by giving testimony.
Everyone is running in the race but there is only one who wins. We may all be in the race but run to win. Run in the Christian life as to win. Give yourself 100% to living a Christian life in everything you do. Everyone is working to be a master at what they do. They’ve earned the title “master” by putting their all into it and achieving mastery. Christians should strive to be the best that they can be.
Be temperate — we need to discipline ourselves. Don’t give in to the weakness or temptation of the flesh by using control. Follow a hierarchy of control. Allow the Holy Spirit to control your spirit, then your mind controls your body. Bring your thoughts under control by the Holy Spirit. We need to be in control of all things. Discipline ourselves to be the best that we can be.
Know what the finish line is. Sometimes we don’t have our goal in sight. We must not go off track and must head for the finish line and reach our goal. Our goal is to be like Jesus. We are called to be our best in the situation God put us. Once we get the general things in line, then we can focus on the specific goal. Aim for the prize, a goal. Accomplish goals and set a higher goal and go after it. Target something and then hit it.
We are to keep our bodies under control. Don’t let your body control your life. There are higher principles to guide our life than just what we feel like. Set higher goals and priorities in our life. The cost of losing is too high. Give everything to the Lord. Talk to the Holy Spirit to help you say what you can say to other people, to do the things you can’t do. Once we are saved, we are in the Father’s hand. We are to keep going and not quit. Do not be a hypocrite. Strive to be genuine, the real deal. We all have struggles, but let the Lord help you to be used of God so others can see your life and hear the Gospel.
Grow spiritually constantly. It is a matter of spiritual growth. Some may not have the weight of sin you have, but you can take care of those things. Ask God to help you. We are in a race to succeed in what God wants us to do. Keep our eye on the goal and then keep going. Near the end, give it all you got. Cross the finish line. If you tire, lean on the Lord. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Get new energy to cross the finish line. Ask the Lord to strengthen us. But first, you must be in the race — you must be born again.
How to Win the Race sermon starts with verses from I Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Galatians 2:2:
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Philippians 2:2:
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
II Timothy 2:5:
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
II Timothy 4:7:
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Hebrews 12:1-2:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Ephesians 4:15:
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
John 17:4:
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
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About the Speaker
Dr. Michael L. McClure
Senior Pastor
Dr. Michael L. McClure, our lead pastor, is known for his in-depth knowledge and effective teaching style of biblical truths applicable to everyday living.