2. Discipline

• The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do, in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be. – That is discipline, to bring yourself under subjection in order to become something better.
• Participation – let us run

Running was one of the most popular of the Olympic games. The place prepared for the race was called the stadium because its length equaled a stadion, or six hundred Greek feet (see John 11:18 “Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[a] away.)

The stadium was an oblong area, with a straight wall across one end, where the entrances were, the other end being round and entirely closed.

Tiers of seats were on either side for the spectators or witnesses.

The starting place was at the entrance end and was marked by a square pillar. At the opposite end was the goal, where the judge sat and held the prize.

The eyes of the competitors remained fixed on him:

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2 – “2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”).

The goal, as well as the starting point, was marked by a square pillar, and a third was placed midway between the two.

This goal is referred to in Philippians 3:14 – “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

The competitors, through severe training, had no superfluous flesh, and ran unclothed. Flesh and clothing were laid aside as a “weight” that might hinder them in the race.

See Acts 20:24 – “24. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

2 Thessalonians 3:1 – “3. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,”

Philippians 3:13-14 – “13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 6:12 – “12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

2 Timothy 4:7 – “7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

1. This a race that all are to be in

iii. There are no spectators of the show, only contestants

• Patience – with patience
• This can also be translated endurance

1. Patience is a virtue,

Possess it if you can. Found seldom in a woman, Never in a man.

iii. Biblical patience is a God-exercised, or God-given, restraint in face of opposition or oppression. It is not passivity.

• It is what we are called to do – Romans 12:12 – 12. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
• It comes through the trials we face (the positive outcome) – James 1:3 – Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
• Patience wins God’s favor – James 5:11 – 11. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

1. Stamina – the race that is set before us,
2. It takes strength and resilience to run a race
3. It is not a race with each other but a race to win the reward God has prepared for those who have run well –

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – 24. 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. 25. 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.