The 6^th Sunday After Epiphany

SERMON

In Nomine Jesu!

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that those who run a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 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. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

In Christ Jesus, who encourages each of us to run our race in this life with our eyes focused on the goal of eternal life in heaven, dear fellow redeemed:

We have reached an exciting part of the year if you enjoy sports. The Minnesota High School hockey and basketball tournaments are coming up. Here at Immanuel we are preparing for the CAL Tournament and the ILC Grade School tournament in Eau Claire. For those who follow college sports, MSU’s hockey team is among the best in the nation right now, and for basketball enthusiasts "March madness" is just around the corner.

Sports are an important part of American life today, even as they were in Corinth and all of Greece in the apostle Paul's day. The Olympic Games, after all, originated in Greece, and many Greek cities, including Corinth, had their own games. It is not surprising then that the apostle Paul would use an illustration from the world of sports to impress a spiritual truth upon the Corinthians and us. He speaks of running a race, of which there were many in the ancient Greek games, and the determined effort it takes to be successful. Let us examine Paul’s illustration today and then follow his exhortation—RUN TO WIN THE PRIZE! In order to win that prize, Paul’s urges us both to be confident and to be self-disciplined!

I.

The apostle begins by saying, “Do you not know that those who run a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” There is only one gold medal, and it is that prize for which the Olympic athletes strive. They go through intense training, preparation, and practice—all for a race that may last less than ten seconds, all in order to stand on the highest platform, have the medal placed around their neck, and their national anthem played. “They do it,” Paul says, “To obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” In ancient Greece there were no gold, silver, and bronze medals. Rather, the lone victor in any event received a laurel wreath to wear on his head. This alone and the recognition that came with it was the prize for the ancient Olympic athlete. Paul’s point is that if athletes will train and strain and compete for something that is so insignificant and of such temporal value—a crown made up of wild olive leaves, ought not we Christians, who are striving for an imperishable and eternal crown, strive equally hard? That is, after all, our promised prize. The apostle Paul in his final epistle—his second epistle to Timothy wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but to all who loved His appearing” (4:7-8).

Dear friends, the future God has promised us in heaven will be glorious and beyond compare. Let us run to win that prize. In so doing, we can be confident that we will achieve the goal. The apostle writes, “I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.” Paul was confident that he would reach his goal. He was not like the boxer flailing his arms and hitting nothing but air. No, he was landing body blows to his opponent Satan, and he was confident that he would eventually score a knockout blow. How could Paul be so confident? How can we be so confident? Are we not weak and sinful? Are we not confronted regularly by problems, which frustrate us and fill our lives with seeming uncertainty? Was not the apostle himself regularly beaten, abused, and imprisoned? How could he and how can we be confident under such conditions?

The answer lies in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, on our own we could do nothing, but in Christ all things are possible. That is what the apostle Paul believed and confessed, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We are not alone in this world. Our Savior is with us—“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” He tells us (Matthew 28:20). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” the Psalmist reminds us (46:1). Sin is a problem together with the weakness, fear, and foolishness that it inspires, but our Savior Jesus—the Son of the living God, has overcome sin and its author, Satan, for us. Yes, He has even overcome death. The writer to the Hebrews assures us, “Inasmuch as the children (that is, us) have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy Him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (2:14).

But have we not fallen into sin, and do we not regularly continue to fall? Does this not disqualify us from this race for heaven? As we look at ourselves, we may well be tempted to join Paul in crying out in frustration at times, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Yet, with Paul we can with joy also confess, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord…There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 7:25-8:1). Yes, we can be confident—not because of ourselves and anything we have done, but rather because of everything that Jesus has done for us! He cried out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30) He has given us His righteousness. He has paid for our sins. He embraces us as brothers and sisters through faith. He promises to be our Advocate at God’s right hand. He is busy preparing a place for us. He holds us in His hand and will never let us go! Therefore, let us RUN TO WIN THE PRIZE! Be confident, dear friends, for you are assured by the promise of God Himself that you will win that prize!

II.

However, the race is long and the route at times is treacherous. Consequently we must also be self-disciplined! Paul writes, “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things…. I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” A successful athlete follows a training routine established to maximize his effort and help him achieve the highest results. Such an athlete will eat only the right foods, and will exercise diligently to achieve his goals. He will remain focused and not allow himself to be distracted mentally and physically from the tasks at hand, which will help him reach his goal. This is simply understood in the athletic world. If you do not have the drive and the commitment; if you do not have the self-discipline and determination—you might as well throw in the towel.

My dear friends, were we only talking about a temporal and earthly goal, we could easily take the attitude that it really doesn’t make much difference. But this is not the case. We are in a race for our lives and for life everlasting. Satan is our opponent and he together with this world, and our own sinful flesh, will attempt to trip us up, and end our hope of vicitory, which is indeed possible if we are not careful. The apostle Paul suggests in our text, that it was possible for him—the author of nearly half of our New Testament—to become “disqualified.” We would be foolish not to admit that the possibility of our own failure. Consequently, we must strive to be self-disciplined!

What does that mean? Spiritually, it means that we need to eat the right stuff. We need to nourish our souls with the truths of God’s word. Set aside time each day for personal Bible study—you will grow in your faith and benefit immensely. By way of practical suggestion, I would urge you to set a regular time for such study—not just when you get around to it, for if you do not set a regular time, it will not get done! Since arriving here in Mankato, I have striven to read two chapters in my Bible every morning before getting cleaned up and ready to go for the day. I am now reading through the book of Deuteronomy on my fourth time through the Bible. I am not telling you this to boast, for there are many individuals who read through their entire Bibles each year. I am telling you this, because I want to assure you that each day when I read God’s word, it strengthens me, gives me further insight into the Lord’ s will and ways. It reminds me of the things that are truly important, and it prepares me for the work the Lord entrusts to me to do each day. You too can be and will be strengthened if you nourish your soul regularly with the study of God’s word.

Secondly, get yourself into a regular program of exercise in Christian love. Our tendency as human beings is to look out for ourselves—our own personal welfare. In the very next chapter of 1 Corinthians we read these words of Paul, “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being” (10:24). Seek each day how you can be a blessing to those around you. Husbands—seek to affirm your wives each and every day—not just once a year as the world did on Friday last. Wives—strive each day to find ways to help your husbands accomplish the work God has entrusted to them. If you do not know what to do, ask and you may be surprised that there are relatively simple things that you could do, which would enrich and ennoble your marriage. Young people—take a look at the student across the row from you in school, and think of some way to encourage that student. Compliment them when they do a good job. Rejoice with them in their successes. Siblings—stop fighting with your brothers and sisters. The goal of fighting is domination, while the goal of your life as a child of God is service. Be kind to one another and find ways to help one another. Building together will always and ultimately be much more exciting, enjoyable, and beneficial than tearing each other down. If is helps think of the race you are running as a relay. If your brother or sister falls down, it puts the whole team at risk of losing!

Thirdly, we are all subject to temptation and we each have our own personal weaknesses. Learn to know yourselves and in those areas, in which you possess personal weaknesses, develop a program of specific spiritual therapy. Are you subject to secret sins? Confess them to someone you trust. Seek their help by asking them to hold you accountable in your area of weakness. Pray openly and frankly to God, asking Him to create within you a new heart and right spirit, as the Psalmist suggests (cf. Psalm 51:10). Ask Him to enter your life in more and more ways, so that His gospel may permeate your every thought and serve to motivate your every word and action.

Dear friends—the race is real and while you are here in this world, you must participate. When our individual races will be over, we cannot and do not know. However, our blessed Savior has promised, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). RUN TO WIN THE PRIZE! Do so with confidence! Do so with self-discipline! Amen.

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting