The Race

Date: 16 June 2007
Speaker: Yuzhen
Venue: Riverwalk

1 Corinthians 9:24-26
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. 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.

As the race progresses, the number of runners decrease. God wants us to be finishers of this race.

2 Corinthians 8:11
but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

When we try to do something for God, we often face disappointments and will start to doubt ourselves.

Why people often fail to do something for God? Fatigue, frustration, failure and fear.

Keys to be a good finisher:
1) Stop making excuses.
2) Once you find that you are off-track, start over immediately.

Traps which hinder us from starting over:
1) Perfectionism.
2) Procrastination.

Focus on the gain and not the pain.

Depend on God to help you.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.