Compassing Light

How to Run to Win

              2 Timothy 2:5

If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

The Rules

1. You must prepare to run
   1. Preparing to run means training hard
      1. 1 Corinthians 9:25
         1. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
   2. Preparing to run means removing obstacles
      1. Hebrews 12:1
         1. Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

2. You must run the marked course
   1. Hebrews 12:1
      1. Run the race marked out for us.
         1. David - Living according to God's book
         2. Jeremiah - Living according to God's plans
         3. Paul - Living to complete the task
   2. Matthew 7:13-14
      1. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

3. You must be focused as you run
   1. Stay focused on the goal
      1. 1 Corinthians 9:26
         1. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.
   2. Stay focused on the lead runner
      1. Hebrews 12:2
         1. Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

4. You must break through to run to the end
   1. The race of life is tough
      1. Philippians 3:14
         1. I strain to reach the end of the race.
   2. You can't run this race by yourself
      1. Colossians 1:29
         1. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.

1 Corinthians 9:24

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race.  Everyone runs; one wins.  Run to win.