R1175 Run Like An Athlete

So where is in the first instance polls changed Timothy Fox like a soldier in the second instance. The sales run like an athlete you want to experience the power of the grace of God and stand up instead of lying down.

You want to be a spiritual powerhouse you want to demonstrate a spiritually strong line run like an athlete. That's the voice of Dr. Don Wilton, our teacher here on The Encouraging Word The Encouraging Word is here for that very purpose to encourage you with God's word as a matter fact you can visit us online right now The Encouraging Word.org to stimulate your eyes as you stimulate your ears… You yesterday about running like an athlete.

Part of this great series and how the grace empowers us to run the race that God has set before us unique path unique purpose that each of us have as we discover that together we watch God great and mighty things, where they will pray with you and for you at 866-899-WORD 24 hours a day. That's 866-899-WORD 9673 with Dr. Don Wilton are skewed.

Open your Bibles this morning to second Timothy chapter 2.

This is an amazing passage of Scripture folks because here in second Timothy chapter 2 we are looking at a full part series entitled strong in the grace by the way, that statement strong and grace comes from second Timothy and verse chapter 2 in verse one, you can look it up. That's right, they sometimes I wish that I had come up with some of these things, but but I haven't.

This comes right out of God's word.

Paul says this and I just want to shave this one with you and then I'm going to go where we need to grace is you, then my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and of course we discovered that that is a come on to an imperative. It's a powerful statement.

In fact, what Paul is saying here. Remember Timothy was being launched into the world. All right, we all live in the world in which we find ourselves and the world is a jolly tough place. It is an extremely arduous journey. There are so many challenges that confront us every time I talk about giving. I see someone who's been laid off. That's why the widow's mite is so important folks, it's not about equal giving.

It's about equal sacrifice sought about the amount about the hot and in this world that Timothy was going into he was being faced spiritual warfare. Satan's got your number. Some of you are battling with sons and daughters.

Some of you have broken hearts. Some people I know are distraught.

You know what it means to just be distraught.

Some are just upset every time I meet someone who's got an extra grind. I usually conclude that they are distraught. Some of just lost everything that they have a want to talk about the need to be strong and grace.

Paul here is looking into my life and into your life in the same God's word tells us something that we can be strong in the grace we can be strong because of the grace of God because of Christ we can have complete access to all that is.

I love that statement in the Bible. Greater is he that is in me then he that is in the world.

That means because Christ lives in me.

I have a resource I have a power I have God's presence in my life and because of him. I can with God. For me, who can be against me.

Be encouraged today. I want you to. I want you to be really encouraged in your heart today that thing that's going on in your daughter's life you know what I'm talking about be encourage gods on his throne what the dangling teens for evil God will turn into good.

Don't give up.

Don't back down. You got a lot of questions you want to know why you feel picked on it tide you worn out your weary seems like you always the one who has to do. Nobody else seems to ever help you don't stop.

Be strong. This is what he says you, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the thing you heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others in your hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ but no one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs, but rather he wants to please his commanding officer. That's what we looked at last week we looking now at how folks on the nuts and bolts person I want to know hello how do I do this what all I need to do to be strong and grace. Yes, Christ is in me, given my life to Christ.

I know that I'm a believer. I know that I belong to him. I done it right. If you pardon my friend of followed God's instructions. I know that I'm forgiven of my sin.

But I'm still being hammered and and I still need strength for the journey and I still have this loneliness and I still struggle and I still deal with these things I want to be strong. He says I can be strong. The first thing he says is fight like a soldier and we looked at that last week and some of you may remember because I will opt for long letters from a lot of people over God really spoke to us back like a soldier don't ever quit.

Don't ever take a detour. Don't ever being distracted. That's what we looked at last week a twentysomething year.

Don't ever quit. Don't ever take detours don't be distracted. He says no one who is a good soldier does anything less than obey his commanding officer. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

I'm going to look to Jesus, Peter discovered that he was walking on the water for crying in a bucket.

Jesus said, come on son, you can heated everything right got out the boat. He said you're a come, Lord kept these eyes on Jesus, at the moment he became distracted down. He went to comes the sharks fight like a soldier don't even don't be distracted, don't take your eyes of Jesus. Don't get caught up in everything else and and could we just be rank honest with each other, folks.

That's what we battle with because with some being on succeeding in life with some paint on making money with so on playing that ballgame with some paint on the good things. All these things we just with so busy doing these things. It is so easy I personally constantly find myself taking my eyes off Jesus, don't you praying will make you do that. Like a soldier. Then he goes on to what I want to look at today which is which is such a great thing.

I want you to focusing on verse five.

Similarly, by the way, that would similarly is this English expression. It literally means just the same as what has just been stated in lack manner. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules you're listening to Dr. Don Wilton our teacher here on The Encouraging Word. Don't go away will be back with the rest of run like an athlete. This powerful message from second Timothy in just a moment. Dr. Wilton insists I remind you we are here for you. Happy to talk or pray with you and have you connect with resources and so many folks asking about this unique collaborative effort.

It's a resource from Dr. Wilton friend Chuck Colson here in the summertime it makes me think of all the times I spent with Dr. Wilton in prison in prison ministry. That's part of the ways that this is such a perfect collaboration. Dr. Colson's book, my final word of Dr. Wilton's message. The final authority. It's a powerful dual resource is available right now on our website@tewonline.org again.

This allows us to be a powerful witness in this unique age where there is opposition to the Christian way of thinking you'll be blessed by this resource.

I hope you pick it up today on our website@tewonline.org now backstage great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton.

Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete. He does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the where is in the first instance Paul says to Timothy fight like a soldier in the second instance he says run like an fleet you want to experience the power of the grace of God and stand up instead of lying down. You want to be a spiritual powerhouse you want to demonstrate a spiritually strong life run like an athlete. Love any kind of metaphor that involves athletes. We all they some of those things that I love to look at watching the root for our people in and watch the United States bring back gold medals left and right Olympic Games. A spectacular event will pull here was invoking this escalating metaphor for someone like me saying you want to be strong and grace run like an athlete athletics to these people to Paul and Timothy were very significant and in Paul's time. The Romans who were the rulers held what were called the Greek games.

By the way, the origin of the Olympic Games.

Any person who competed in the Greek games during Paul's time to qualify in three ways that were nonnegotiable.

You want to be part of the Greek games in Paul's time there were three qualifications number one you have to be at the have to prove their birth only Greeks could do it better prove their birth had to do whatever it took that to go down to the place where all stats are kept had to prove their birth.

You know we've got means being I would approve birth and my three children. My two sons and my daughter so proud of the fact that they born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Well, the Greek athlete participating in the Roman games had to prove his birth. The second thing that I have to do is they had to persist in training. The training regimen was the very means by which they qualified for the games you could put a really good spin on it just: Boot Camp for the Greeks.

It involved a 10 month range.

Human of training to those who had proven they Greek birth and citizenship.

I had to go through a 10 month period of training, and at the end of the 10 month period of training, the have to actually swear allegiance to a statue of the God Zeus ZEUS so they have to persist in training the have to go through this regimen and then the third qualification to participate in the Greek games was that the have to participate in competition they will whole lot of many little Olympics held much like our athletes today.

Every time we open the pipe put on the newspaper. You see Michael Phelps is run another race to qualify him for the London Olympics. The process of competitive participation speaks to the quality of the you parse contest so to speak. So then the three qualifications to prove their birth had to persisting training and have to participate in competition. So yes, pull, and he looks at Timothy and he says be strong and grace. And in order to be strong and grace run like an athlete. What was he talking about three things that you and I bought a new number one we must be sure of our salvation and athlete was an athlete, what Paul was saying as he was holding up. This person and he was saying here is an athlete any questions you. I look out on love coaches menu get around some of our great coaches you know if I was coaching today. I would probably get that football player basketball player, whatever does not say stand up man. I stand on my side.

What kind of games you play will I play football I say will Lynn be a football player arming good grief. Football players need to play football any questions. I'm standing here today.

Not because I'm your pasta because I'm your friend. I'm standing here today that I and saying to you that I'm a Christian man I'm a sinner saved by the grace of God I trusted Jesus I've repented of my sin.

By faith have accepted them into my heart I'm a Christian man, Paul is saying to me will are you sure that yes sir I'm I'm a Christian man would be a Christian see folks can I say this very lovingly. I'm I say this with such love in my heart that's the thing about church you know that my heart behind us come from Tom Gandhi. If you don't know who Mondo's, John Gundy was. He was known for sure. Mahatma Gandhi.

He was the great pacifist Indian leader who espoused the whole system of such a good which was the peace movement or passive resistance.

His name is hello to all across the continent of India will bond us, I'm trying Gundy said the only reason I will never become a Christian is because of other Christians run like an athlete, be sure of your salvation. Stand up and be counted.

You want to be you are operating the full strength of God's grace be sure of who you are in Christ.

I pray every day, you know, folks, it's not a matter of me saying no, I don't want to do that.

I just don't do that I'm a Christian man. Why do I need to go and soak my head in that barrel of junk you call yourself a Christian, but you fraternizing in carrying on with all the pagans during the week you're sitting here today looking all nice and spiritual and cleaned up. But as soon as you get up into the world.

Your mouth doesn't sound any different. You sitting there putting it back with everybody else. You telling the same filthy jokes you watching the same things acting like the world you behaving like a twentysomething no one you so miserable what you struggling so much.

Get a life. Decide who you are run like an athlete, you feel like be sure of our salvation. Number two, we must be set for the finish line we must be safe for the finish. You know they had to persisting training. I wish I could demonstrate this for you because really folks, I'm just here to tell you what an incredibly fine sculpted athlete. I am and if it were not for the fact that I would trip over my feet coming out of the starting block. I would personally feel compelled to demonstrate to you what an athlete looks like when he takes his mark, but we're all familiar with that even the symbolism take your mark get set go no good athlete takes his Marco takes her mark without stating his or her eyes on the prize what Paul was saying to Timothy run like an athlete. Be safe from the finish. I'd say to all of you young parents here today just totally enjoy your kids have a bowl be with them. Spend time with them, get down with them. They will one day they the things they are going to tell you about our not going to be all the things you thought were important by going to tell you about sliding down the slide with them and getting in the modern going on that camping trip in all the mosquitoes that attacked you up there in the park. That's something in a tell you about, and you will never accomplish that. If you don't sit for the finish with you kids, your children will grow up before you know it folks make every moment count because all of a sudden they not going to be there, just like that. You gonna wonder what happened if you didn't sit for the finish at the beginning when you take your mark when it happens just like that you will have a life of regret and Paul here is invoking this matter, for he saying here simply folks persisting training safe for the finish. Be faithful now in study and prayer, get down with it and when you get down with the be focused shut out everything else know what you're doing. Love to be around people know what they do. You got the stuff man.

You got the stuff stuff we see from the finish. By the way a word to anybody here today who has made a stop.

That means every one of you should be looking at me right now.

Don't live with regrets. Folks don't live with regrets when you belong to Christ. If your marriage broke up, look ahead if if you've gone to the forgiveness is absolute.

Don't live with regrets with you kids.

My wife and I have cultivated a delightful habit is invariably one of our adult kids come up and say to us you know something bad when I was 15. You never came to that game you know what I say looks looks what you doing tonight son you know something, folks, there's nothing I can do about wanting the clock back 17 years to go to his ballgame. I'm going to beat myself to death over that some of you are living under a fall beating yourselves today you living in the parsed Paul said, I press on. I look ahead I forget that which is behind me holding on the Jesus Christ sure about celebration was beset for the finish and there's one more year and I'll close with it run like an athlete be sound in our doctrine be sound in our doctrine in the Greek games these people had to participate in the competition to prove their worthiness. What Paul was saying his you want to be strong in grace be sound in what you know and what you believe. Now, now a week.

Theology will always result in a week lifestyle. One of the reasons why some of you are cheating on your wives, and running around and getting drunk and using foul language and backsliding and battling with yourselves and fighting with yourselves and fighting with everybody else and struggling in life is because you've awarded yourself the degree of a week theology you don't care about what you believe or who you believe in you say it doesn't matter what I believe. If it doesn't matter what you believe. It doesn't matter how you live.

We living in a world in America today where we are neutering the population when it comes to gender. The more woman can look and be like man in the more man can look and be like woman, the greater the accolades are coming from Hollywood and from talkshows, but God created male and female in his image, and so it is that God has spoken to us through his word. He's given us theology. What we believe and what we know about God. The fact that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God and that he loves me and that there is no other way whereby I can come to heaven accepting through Jesus Christ and he accepts nothing less that repentance and confession and trusting in him by through the finished work of his spirit. That's what God sees and God tells me I can be strong in grace, I'm going to take that to the bank. How about you I am strong in grace. Paul put it like this. I am what I am by the grace of God. Listen up America will not be mocked. He's not a head basketball coach. He's not an icon in the box is not upholding pasta or a Sunday preacher.

He's not alive and is not on mommy and daddy run like an athlete competing according to the room competing according to the rules.

God's rules and you will be blessed. This represents my greatest represents our greatest be strong in grace my son, be strong in grace my daughter, by the grace of God be upon you will pray you can do it. Greater is he that is in that strength. We can move forward knowing that when Jesus comes into our life we have that greatness in us not asked Jesus to come into your life, it's not available that greater that he is available as a free gift. You listen to Dr. Don is been teaching and preaching from the word of God in the pulpit that will open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with right dear God, I know that I was and I know that Jesus is God today.

I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my in Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting new welcome family is convinced that some of you, praying along with Dr. little moments ago to give your life to Jesus for the very first time, and some of come home. You realize that today's the day to dedicate your life and what's the Lord working like that is our prayer. Dr. Don love to pray with you, for you if you let us know about your decision that a number of ways you can call us right now at 866899 word and we would be honored to pray with you to celebrate with you and Dr. Wilson has prepared some free resources that he feels will help you grow in your faith in this initial stage of dedicating your life or giving your life to Christ for the very first time what you have free but you got a call and let us know so we can send you 866-899-WORD's.

The phone number 866-899-9673. You can also connect on our website TW online.org again that's TW online.org while you're there, check out this wonderful audiobook offer from The Encouraging Word this month as a special bonus offer. You can purchase daily as a brand-new force audiobook audiobook is narrated by Dr. Don Wilton would be a great gift. Great to listen to in the car you will enjoy hearing about the beautiful friendship between Daly Doran and his friend and pastor time belting with the audiobook. We are offering a DVD collection on Daly Grand Prix sent a gathering of souls. This documentary gives the history of the Crusades from the first evening 1949 to the remarkable events behind the Iron Curtain in the Far East you are sure to enjoy watching this collection of timeless Crusades.

Please visit TW online.com or call 866898668999673 let's stay connected between now and then on our website@twonline.org that's TW online.org