EVERYDAY VICTORY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - WEEK 7 - DAY 1 RUN TO WIN Memory verse: Acts 20:24, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish the course whtih joy and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." The Christian life is a race. When you became a Christian, you entered the race. Are you still in the race? How well are you running? Perhaps you've realized the strongholds and temptations in your life have hindered your ability to run the race. Congratulations. You've taken an important step. In this week's study, you'll learn more about the Christian race. You'll learn principles that will help you run well, finish the race and win the prize. A RACE TO RUN Hebrews 12:1 pictures the Christian life in vivid images. The race of faith is cast as a grueling marathon. As you run, a great cloud of witnesses is looking on. They watch with anticipation to see if you will complete the course and finish the faith. *In the context of this verse, who are these witnesses that watch you run the race? All the saints who have gone on before you now watch to see how you run the race. They are there to encourage and motivate you. *Think about the way you have lived your Christian life. If you had to compare your life with an actual running event, how would it be classified? Check the race category that might characterize your life. _____ Spectator - watch while others run _____ Walkathon - walk while others run _____ Fun Run - run until it begins to hurt; then stop _____ Sprint - start fast, but turn out quickly _____ Marathon - keep a steady pace; go the distance *Why did you make that choice? God has called you to run a marathon for Christ. If you attempt to view the Christian life in any other way, you dilute the vital faith Christ wants you to enjoy. Hebrews 11 is the Hall of Faith for the saints of the Old Testament. Read Hebrews 12:1 again. Those about whom Paul writes in chapter 11 are part of the cloud of witnesses mentioned in this verse. *How does having these faithful saints watch your race of faith make you feel? In 1 Corinthians 9:25, you'll find another important athletic principle that illustrates the faith race. *What image did Paul use in 1 Corinthians 9:25 to illustrate this principle? Before athletes were allowed to participate in the games, they had to train for their event. Athletes who did not train could not keep up the pace. Have you ever considered strict training essential to your Christian life? *From the following list, choose the answer that best describes your PAST attitude: _____ Becoming a Christian is all that is necessary. _____ I attend church and assume that is enough spiritual training. _____ Spiritual training is for super-Christians, ministers and missionaries. _____ I want to develop my spiritual life, but I don't know how to start. _____ I'm committed to developing my spiritual life and I work at it every day. *Explain your answer. As a Christian you have an incredible heritage of faith. As you run the race God has set for you, be encouraged by the living testimony of the men and women who have gone before you. When you consider the price they paid to live for Christ, youwill be motivated to deal with any difficult area of your life that is hindering your ability to live for Jesus Christ. *What are the strongholds or problems in your life that have hindered your ability to run the spiritual race God has set before you? *What price are you willing to pay for the strict training you need to run your race? Many Christians believe their spiritual race can be run with minimal training. As a result, they live for Christ the best they can, never truly understanding why they are often frustrated. God designed the Christian life as a life of victory, but it is a life that demand you to train spiritually and develop your life for Christ. Dear God, give me the desire and motivation to run my spiritual race in ways that will be pleasing to You. Father, I want to develop my spiritual life and grow closer to You. Help me grow in ability as I run the race of faith. Amen. EVERYDAY VICTORY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - WEEK 7 - DAY 2 A Prize to Win A little boy got a new archery set. His grandfather stacked some bales of hay behind the barn and helped the boy learn to use his bow and arrows. After some practice, the boy could shoot the arrows in the general direction of the hay bales. His grandfather then proceeded to fasten a multicolored target to the hay bales. The boy watched him and said,"Grandpa, I don't want to use that target. I like it when I shoot and you say 'good', no matter where my arrows land." It is the same in your spiritual life. God has given you a target to aim for: the life of Christ. The work you do in this program is spiritual training. Initially you should focus on bringing only one area of your life under Christ's control. Once you experience victory in that area, you should move on to other areas that need Christ's control. *According to 1 Corinthians 9:24, with what attitutde should you live your spiritual life? God wants you to be spiritually competitive. You aren't racing against others, but God has called you to a personal race of faith. You are accountable only for how you run YOUR race. *What does Philippians 3:14 say about your future spiritual prize? God allows you to live on earth knowing that one day you will complete your earthly race and stand before Him in heaven and receive your prize. On that day, God will evaluate the way you have run. Your goal should be to hear Him say, "Well done, faithful runner. I am pleased." Galatians 2:20 informs us of a dimension of the spiritual prize you can enjoy now. *What is your reward in this present life? *What is Christ doing in your life right now? In what ways have you experienced Him living in you? For the Christian, Christ is the prize. He works in your life, giving you the desire and the power to live in a way that pleases Him. He empowers you in practical ways such as helping you to reach your goals and living a healthier life. Incredible as it seems, the God of the universe does work in your life. This is the prize you can enjoy now! In Acts 20:24, your memory verse, Paul explained the task he hoped to complete in his own life. *What is the task given to you according to this verse? *In what ways is God using your training thru this program to help you share with others the gospel of God's grace? With strict training you will reach the finish line and claim the prize that God has for all who follow Him and are obedient to His commands. Lord, thank You for the work You are doing in me and for giving me such a great prize. Help me to continue to live for You and run my race faithfully to the end. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me and dying for me so that I may live with You when my race is finished. Amen. EVERYDAY VICTORY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - WEEK 7 - DAY 3 A Danger of Disqualification Playing games with children can be frustrating. Rules often are invented (or changed) as the game progresses. "That's not how I play," someone might say; and an appeal to the official rules generally does no good. It doesn't work that way in the spiritual life; we cannot decide to make up our own spirutual rules for our lives. *What does 2 Timothy 2:5 say about the rules for a race? *According to 2 Timothy 3:16,17, how can you know the rules for the spiritual race? *What are the four purposes for Scripture? 1. 2. 3. 4. All Scripture is inspried by God and useful to us. Look at how much He provides for you to keep you on the right track and in the right lane in your spiritual race. *According to 1 Corinthians 9;27, why can't you simply live your Christian life any way you choose? *Does the possibility of disqualification concern you? *What was John's purpose, according to 1 John 5:13, for writing his first epistle? *What does this verse mean to you? In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul describes his work for Christ as if he were building a house. *How will that building be tested? You cannot earn salvation through what you do, but you have the opportunity to express love to Christ by what you do! God will help you live all areas in your life in such a way that your life will be a gift of love you can offer Him. Father God, help me to build my life on a solid foundation based on Your love for me through Your death on the cross. Lord, help me to use Your word to teach, train, correct, and rebuke myself so that I will run the race based on Your rules and win the prize You have for me. Amen. EVERYDAY VICTORY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - WEEK 7 - DAY 4 Staying on Course God has a race marked out for you. God wants to fill your life with positive experiences, but sometimes the negatives creep in. He wants you to run with perseverance, joy and determination to succeed. *According to 1 Corinthians 9:26, what are the two negative examples of running a race? 1. 2. In your spiritual life, you need to be like the runners who run with a clear sense of direction. Be like a fighter who boxes for real - not just shadow boxing. Obviously, God intends for you to accomplish a clear purpose in your spiritual life. Sometimes you might struggle to know the direction God has planned for you, but you can know the overall course of your race. Anytime God works in your life, you have an opportunity to testify to others about Him. people long to know that God exists and that He works in their lives. Your responsibility is to tell them by sharing your own experience. In 2 Timothy 4:7,8, Paul reflected on the way he had lived for Jesus Christ. *What changes do you need to make so that you can stand at the end of your life and say "I finished the race"? *When the race is finished, the course complete, what will be your reward? *According to Romans 8:29, what does God want to accomplish in your life? *How does 2 Corinthians 5:17 describe the changes God is making in you? God began transforming you into the image of Christ when you became a Christian. He will not stop working on you until you are transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Such radical transformation involves every area of your life. In the First Place program you will focus on all foru aspects of your life: physical, spiritual, emotional and mental. God will transform these areas of your life when you seek His help and guidance. You are a work in progress - always under construction. You have the right to the victory in overcoming the world. You are a conqueror. *According to 1 John 5:4,5, who is it that overcomes the world? God is doing a wonderful work in your life and is helping you become a new creation - inside and outside! Lord God, thank You for transforming my life and making me a new creation. Father, continue Your work in me and motivate me so that I will stay on the course and finish the race You set for me. Amen! EVERYDAY VICTORY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - WEEK 7 - DAY 5 Perseverance Until the End Hebrews 12:1,2 provides important insights for running a long distance race for Christ. *What two steps are required for success in this race? 1. 2. As a Christian you should use both steps to focus on many areas of your life. In the First Place program, you learn how to eat in healthier ways, memorize scripture, encourage others in their struggles, pray and study God's word in your efforts to become closer to Him. Use these steps to develop spiritual maturity in all areas of your life. *What is one particular area of your life that may be hindering you, something that is not sin yet still needs to be set aside so you can run your spiritual race (for example, rationalizing eating habits, making excuses for not exercising or being too busy for quiet time and Bible study)? What can you do to get rid of this hindrance? *Is there some element of your spiritual life that could be classified as sin that entangles you (for example, pride, sarcasm, resentment, anger, impatience with others)? Name it and explaine one action you can take to get rid of this sin. *What does Romans 6:12,13 tell you about these weaknesses or sin? *What encouragement do 1 corinthians 10:13 and Hebrews 2:17,18; 4:14-16 offer about your ability to persevere and win the race set before you? *What is the prmise found in Romans 8:37,38? *What does Romans 15:4 mean to you as you run your race? With God's help, you will finish the race and attain the prize of abundant life. Oh, Father God, take all the sins that threaten to entangle me and let me live my life for You in a way that is pleasing and acceptable in Your eyes. Thank You, heavenly Father, for making me a conqueror and giving me the victory that overcomes the world. Amen!! EVERYDAY VICTORY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - WEEK 7 - DAY 6 In this week's study you have learned about the importance of running the race God marked out for you and giving testimony of your faith in the gospel and of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. As you focus on this week's memory verse, ask God how to put that memory verse to work in your life. Think of ways you can give testimony to the gospel of God's grace. Memorizing and sharing verses with others gives you the opportunity to share important biblical truths with those around you. While God is doing His work in your life, let others see and know how your life is changing and what God is doing for you. By adhering to the strict training required for a successful race, you will have the victory and others will see your success. no matter what the stronghold is in your life, no matter how big or how small it is, God shows in His word how to overcome it. With the word of God and prayer as your primary weapons, you will overcome every stronghold and be victorious in your race. God can set you free of your addictions - whether they be substances or behaviours. However, God requires from you time, trust and cooperation. Release won't come in a day or even several weeks, but it will come if you persevere stay on course and focus your eyes on Jesus Christ. The harder the lesson, the more long lasting it will be. EVERYDAY VICTORY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - WEEK 7 - DAY 7 Since the focus this week is on running the race and following the course God has set for you, think of ways you can serve Him and testify of His grace in your life. Keeping a prayer journal not only gives you a place to list the paryer needs of the day or week, but it also gives you a place to list the answers to prayer as they come. Your prayer journal is also a good place to write down verses that are a blessing to you. This will help you memorize verses that you can directly apply to your daily walk with Him. When your relationship with Jesus Christ is on a level that brings you closer to Him each day, He provides the needed stamina, strength and desire to endure to the end. His word is full of promises and hope for a future that will only bring good in your life. He will also provide the weapons for you to fight your spiritual battles, and He always provides a way of escape when you are tempted by Satan or the desires of the world. In addition to the assigned memory verse for the week, look for another meaningful verse in your Bible study and commit it to memory. Wirte it in your prayer journal or start your own memory verse cards. By now you should be more comfortable with scripture memory. If you still feel its too difficult for you, lets review how you can make memorization a little easier: 1. Write the verse down several times and read it aloud as you write it. 2. Personalize the verse by putting your name in key places and by putting it into your own words. This will give you ownership of the verse and help you apply it. 3. Seek to understand the verse. Always read the verse in its context. Study the verse to understand its meaning. 4. In order to learn the reference, always repeat it before and after each time you say the verse. This will help to glue the reference to the first and last few words of the verse. Learning and using jGod's word in prayer gives you power to defeat Satan at every turn, just as Jesus defeated him in the wilderness. The power of God's word will tear down any stronghold that is keeping you from a full, intimate relationship with your Lord Jesus Christ. God will continue to work in your life daily when You call on Him in prayer.