1 Corinthians 9: 24 - There is a Race, Run

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Apostle Paul, the writer of this book uses the example of athletes competing against one another to explain his point. Athletes compete to win the prize on offer which could be medals, trophies, championships and in the case of professional sports, money.

Exposition

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it – In the case of a Christian, you are encouraged to view life as a race in which there is a prize.

Running is exercising faith in Jesus Christ. It is increasing in the knowledge of Christ. It is going to Him at all times for strength to overcome the challenges of life.

For athletes, there is a winner and a loser. In the Christian race, there are no losers as there is a prize for all who run the race. We are not competing against one another, rather we are meant to help one another to run the race.

In the Christian race, what is the prize? It is not salvation or eternal life because that is a free gift that you do not work for. Jesus Christ has paid the price and it is settled. The prize is approval from God. Matthew 25: 21 shows us that the Lord will say to the servant – well done good and faithful servant. God introduced Jesus in Matthew 3:17 saying – this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. You and I should be running for such a great testimonial.

Finally, the charge is for you to run, know that you are in a race, do not allow the enemy to change your focus. The enemy is constantly looking for those who do not know their place in Jesus Christ by placing hurdles and pits along their race track. May we all overcome and run our races with distinction in Jesus name.

Prayer

Help me, Lord, to run the race in front of me. Help me, Lord, to focus on my race and my race alone. Help me Lord so I do not run another man’s race. Help me, father, to finish my race. Help me so I do not give up in the midst of my race. Help me, father, to complete my race.

At the end of my race, I will obtain my prize in Jesus name. Thank you for your abundant grace.

1 Corinthians 15:10 - Grace of God

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Exposition

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me – Have you ever been in a situation where your ability has been questioned? It could have been your parenting skills, your ability to do a job properly without messing up, your religion etc. In certain parts of the world, the colour of one’s skin or accent might have led you been treated differently.

Apostle Paul’s apostleship was questioned in the Corinthian Church because of his past persecution of the Church. He might have waited for people who supported him to speak on his behalf, but he didn’t. Paul pronounced it for everyone to know that whatever he had achieved wasn’t by his power or intellect. (He was a well-learned man). It was the grace of God.

The grace of God is the very centre of Christianity. Grace starts and ends with God. It is the very essence of God. God gives to us out of His completeness and love for us. God has given gifts to us to enable us to do all that we need to do while here on earth. We do not need to do anything to receive grace from God. Grace is free. Learn to operate on the premise that ‘All we have is from God and all we are is from God’. That is why Paul said grace was ‘bestowed’ upon him.

Paul was confident of the availability of grace to him. Yes, he worked harder than his colleagues but without the grace of God, it wouldn’t have been possible. As Paul believed in the grace of God, you can believe too. You can be confident that the grace of God is available to you in your Christian walk with the Lord. It is available to enable you to fulfil the purpose of God for you.

You can trust that that His grace is sufficient for you. As you submit to God, He will seal you with His grace. James 4:6 says God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

Prayer

Help me Lord to completely humble myself under your authority. Let the grace to obey you be part and parcel of my life. As you are the God of all grace, let your grace rest upon me. Let your grace steer me in the direction purposed by you O Lord. I am aware challenges are a part of the package. Help me Lord to overcome every obstacle that comes my way in Jesus name. Amen

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1 Corinthians 9 25 - Temperance is Key to the Crown of Glory

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Successful athletes do everything within their power to succeed. They go to training camps, their diets and heart beats are monitored, and they under a special regimen of exercises before the competition. They give up everything that can lead to failure during the competition. For example those who have matches the day after Christmas give up the turkey and the desserts. In other spheres of life the students, businessmen and women who succeed do things beyond what the average man would do. How does this affect your Christian race?

Exposition

And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things – Temperance or self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. There is a need to abstain from the lusts of the flesh. We also look at our main example – Jesus Christ who though He was God, made Himself of no reputation and took the form of a servant in the likeness of men. He humbled himself and was obedient to death. (Philippians 2: 5-7)

For example the man who wants to overcome every plan of the devil against him will prepare with diligence before the prayer sessions taking time to fast and meditate on the word of God.

Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible – In the world system those who get to the top or those who achieve success receive adulation which is usually for a season before another man does better and the clapping and sweet words are transferred to him.

The Christian reward is the crown of glory. It is incorruptible because it cannot be corrupted and diminished by anything or anybody. It can’t be placed on the head of the corrupt man.

You must make an effort to secure this crown. Weakness or complacency will lead to failure. That will not be your story in Jesus name.

Prayer

Help me Lord to strive for the crown that is awaiting me. Help me Father to exhibit self-control in every area of my life. Help me to overcome my human nature at all times. Help me Father to follow the example of Jesus Christ in every waking moment. Thank you Father in Jesus name. Amen

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1 Corinthians 8:3 - Identify with me O God

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Prayer

Help me to love you and my fellow human beings.

Pour love into my heart.

Let love be the essence of my being driving my daily activities.

Let me be special in your sight in Jesus name. Amen

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1 Corinthians 9:26 - Life directed by God

Prayer

Help me Lord as I look up to you at all times in running the race of life forsaking all types of aimless activity in Jesus name.

Help me to run the race you have outlined for me with joy in Jesus name. Amen

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1 Corinthians 1:3-5 - Enriched by Grace

Prayer

Lord I receive grace to run the race of life and peace in the knowledge that you as my father are with me at all times.

I thank you for the gifts of the Spirit that enrich my utterance and knowledge.

Help me Lord so that my utterance will draw men to you at all times in Jesus name. Amen

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1 Corinthians 8:9 - Good Example

1 Corinthians 7:23 - Complete surrender to the Lord

You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.

Prayer

Thank you father for redeeming me with the blood of your Son.

As you paid for me therefore you own me.

In return I am meant to devote myself to you and to obey your commandments.

Help me to obey you rather than mortal men who have no power over me in Jesus name.

I ask that you help me Lord in these tasks in Jesus name. Amen

1 Corinthians 7:20 - Divine Positionning

Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

Prayer

Help me Lord to identify where you want me to be.

Let the cares of the world, greed and all such things not pull me away from my place in Jesus name.

Help me Lord to remain where you have planted me.

Let my ordained blessings locate me where I am meant to be in Jesus mighty name. Amen

1 Corinthians 1:18 - The gospel is the power of God

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Prayer

Thank you for choosing to save me from sin.

Thank you for allowing me to experience your power reconciling me back to you.

Thank you for removing me from the rank of the foolish, helping me accept the truth that I all need do is to accept what Jesus has done for me.

You are an awesome God. I bless and magnify your holy name. Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:6 - Princes of this world are nothing

Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Prayer

Let my heart accept the wisdom of the gospel in Jesus name.

Help me to live by these eternal truths.

Help me accept the truth that despite all that is happening the princes of this world are powerless and are nothing before God Almighty. Amen