Catch the Vision Part II: The Grace Race!
October 12, 2008
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Text: Philippians 3:12-16
Article on current reality of stress - "Rat Race!"
The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat." - Lilly Tomlin
Do you know about the race that wins?
The grace race! Real satisfaction! Peace, strength, love! God has a vision for you!
How do you run the grace race?
Problem? No vision! No motivation! No aspiration! Greyhound race, no rabbit
How will you race? V13 - How does Paul race? With focus - with desire
He gives his all for the call of God - To attain to all Christ has for him! To catch vision!
1) Give it your all
A) "Forgetting what's behind" - Disassociate - Those things you've passed
"To forget" in the Bible means "no longer to be influenced by or affected by."
How to pass a runner - what can happen - the pack can hold you! I am not influenced by the things I have passed! Depths of pain - Break away!
B) "Straining for what's ahead" - Associate! He's not being pushed, he's pulled! The Leader and Lord!
Dr. Rogers story about commitment - surrender
He has a great course for me to take! The danger of leading yourself!
How will you race? Different ways - Slow and steady wins the race? Why race?
2) Because of God's call
"I press . . ." There is no quit because of want to!
The complete transformed life!
To finish a champion for Christ! The narrow way!
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14
A) Red Zone running - Press for the finish! Race to win! VISION!! See the markers!
Red Zone racing is using oxygen you haven't breathed yet! Trusting God in the difficult days! Trusting God to lead the way! "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
By grace you are saved!! God has a wonderful course for you to cover! A marvelous vision to catch! Will you choose the grace race over the rat race? 2 Kings 18:4-7