Run to Win- Part 2
Last time, we discussed how the race set before us is our individual race and is not to be compared to anyone else’s. In order to be an effective runner, we need to know the rules of the race and ensure we are diligent in running that race. Knowing how to run to win, without actually running is mere knowledge without manifestation.
This week, let’s further study subsequent verses which highlight some things to watch out for as we run our race, in order to win the prize set before us.
“Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].” 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 AMPC
HAVE A DEFINITE GOAL
If you have ever been involved in playing archery, the bullseye is the specific target that the player wants to hit with their arrows. It would seem so silly if a person fires an arrow and wherever it lands, they then draw a bullseye around it. I’m sure we can definitely agree that such a person would be disqualified from the game. But funnily enough, many people live their lives in a similar manner. Yes, there is a race that has been set before you but due to lack of direction, you may have convinced yourself that you are “running” by waking up every day to go to a job for 8 hours or more, yet deep inside, you know you do not know where you are going in life. There is no clear purpose that you are chasing after and life seems like a blur. In fact, you have decided to take up someone else’s goal since it seems to be “working” for them and you have started running with it. However, because it isn’t your goal, you are tired and have started the search for the next “happening/ exciting” goal to chase after. Despite the “chasing”, you know there is no fulfilment and this is currently breeding frustration. Myles Munroe once said that when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. Let me share a secret with you: Your purpose is only derived by the One who created you and He is willing to reveal God’s purpose for your life, if you will give Him a chance.
I love the way it is worded in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT
“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets”
From the beginning of creation, God was very purposeful in creating and forming you and assigned a purpose specific and tailored to you. In you, He placed the right personality, gifts/talents, that would be great seeds in helping you achieve your God-given assignment. He ensured the Holy spirit was sent as our helper to help us in cultivating those seeds in us; coaching us, guiding us, pointing us in the right direction and prompting us of potential pitfalls to avoid. When you drive, google maps notifies you of routes with traffic, then how much more the Holy spirit. Someone once said the Holy spirit is our G.P.S (God’s Positioning System). Just like any GPS, the moment we give our ears to follow His directions, we will end up on the right track and attain the vision God has always had in store for us.
GET READY TO FIGHT
Initially when I came across the part B of verse 26 in 1 Corinthians 9, I was wondering why Paul, the author, switched his reference from a runner to a boxer and later made mention of an adversary. As I pondered, the Holy spirit started explaining how the devil, our adversary, hates and I mean hates anything and anyone that has to do with God, Almighty; and because we are children of God, he also hates us. As a result, the devil works extra hours to try to prevent/ oppose children of God from achieving their God-given assignments here on earth. The race set before us is not an ordinary race on a bed of roses but we need to fight.
When you study Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah in the book of Nehemiah in the bible, you will see how enemies such as Sanballet, Tobiah, Geshem, arose the moment he started running with the vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. You need to contend for what God has given to you. Nehemiah and his workmen did not give in to the pressure/ opposition of their enemies. Instead, they built with one hand (running with the vision they had) and on the other hand, they had swords, ready to fight.
“15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.” (Nehemiah 4:15-18 NLT).
As you begin to run with the vision God has given you, the devil will try to attack you and one way he does so is through Emotional Attacks. When Sanballat and Tobiah heard the wall of Jerusalem was being rebuilt, their initial attack was by mocking and despising their work.
Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:1-3 NLT)
Many times, as a person begins to take steps towards building the vision God has placed in their heart, they may come across people that would belittle such vision. Sometimes, it might not be a person but discouraging thoughts that the enemy would begin to fill their minds with. Unfortunately, many people give in to the discouragement of the devil and have stopped running with the vision. Instead, they do the job of the devil by using their own mouth to start despising what God has given to them. Someone once said that everything big started small. It is no wonder that the bible says in Zechariah 4:10 NLT, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Do not give in to the lies of the enemy. Keep pressing on, keep running!!
Another attack launched by the enemies was the weapon of disunity/ confusion. The weapon of confusion/disunity is so powerful because we can see this same weapon used by God, Almighty during the building of the tower of babel. Keep in mind that whatever God does, the enemy always tries to imitate a distorted version of it. With the tower of babel, the people were of one language, had one vision and worked towards it and God Himself said ““Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.” Genesis 11:6-7 NLT. As a result of the confusion and different languages, they stopped building the city and they were scattered all over the world (Genesis 11:8-9). Never give in to discord as the enemy will try to tempt you with discord in the form of offense but instead, let the love of God saturate the atmosphere of the work before you and keep running!
You will think that at this point Sanballat , Tobiahs and the other enemies would give up and call a truce but no, they persisted. With spiritual attacks launched by the devil, it could come in two forms: intensity (through force) or frequency (through persistence). With an intense attack, you need strength/power in dealing with such but with a frequent attack, you need endurance. With a frequent attack, it may not have as much intensity but it keeps showing up again and again till a person is tempted to just give up. This was the same tactic Goliath used when facing the children of Israel. He came out night and day, even though he was not firing any physical arrows but instead emotional arrows. Little did Nehemiah’s workmen know that the emotional attack of weariness gradually started piercing their souls With time, they started complaining and the door to discouragement was opened.
“Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” 11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.” Nehemiah 4: 10-11 NLT.
The devil studies people and tries attacking when a person is most vulnerable. But this is the time for us to reinforce ourselves with the word of God. Notice that from then on, the labourers worked with one hand and on the other hand, they had swords by their side. “...The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side…” (Nehemiah 4:17 NLT). In Ephesians 6:11-18, we are reminded to put on the whole armor of God, in order to withstand the devices of the devil because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. One of the pieces of armor we as believers are to have for battle is the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). This particular weapon is to be “taken” not just looked at.
“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)
One way we “take” the word of God is by constantly meditating on the word of God and accepting it. When you take something from a table, for example, you move it from its initial position to a different position, which is then put in your hands. Likewise, we take the word of God from the letter form in your bible and it moves to your heart as your own truth. The devil tends to use the weapon of deception, which is falsehood but the word of God retains the truth, on a foundation that never moves. As you keep on meditating on the word of God, something else begins to grow. Guess what that is? It’s Faith!!!
The bible says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17 NKJV). The bible had to repeat the “hearing” because it is not a one time thing. The word of God produces faith, which is another piece of armor we put on against the wiles of the devil. Look at what happens when we take up the shield of faith- It quenches the fiery arrows of the devil (Ephesians 6:16). Halleluyah!!!! This shield of faith not only stops the arrows but also quenches the fire in which the arrows are engulfed in. This is a double bulletproof shield!!! Wow, we truly serve a brilliant and mighty God!!!
You will notice that all the above attacks we have discussed are emotional attacks with the focus on the soul. Remember we are a spirit being, with a soul and a body. On the next blog post, we will explore attacks focused on the body, that could distract a person from running or attaining the prize set before them.
As we conclude this post, I would like to extend an invitation to you, if you haven't RSVP'd yet to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. Remember we talked about the word of God and faith as some weapons in fighting against the wiles of the devil. To gain access to those weapons, you need to have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior If you would like to make that decision today, please say this prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, I believe you are the Son of God and I believe You died for me on the cross of Calvary. I know I am a sinner and today, I come to You to forgive me of all my sins and to make me a brand new creation. I accept You as my personal Lord and Saviour. Thank you Lord for forgiving me and making me born again, in Jesus name, Amen.”
Congratulations!!!! You are now born-again! (It simply means a new born baby in Christ and there is a great celebration in heaven right now because of YOU!)
If you made this decision, I would love to hear from you today! Please leave a comment on this post or reach out to me at https://www.cccghq.org/contact/
By: Pastor Ibukun Adewusi