Striving For A Crown Rev 2:10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. NKJV A Study of 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:11
Run In A Way To Obtain The Prize 9:24 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. Paul points out; not everyone who enters the race obtains the prize. Therefore we need to be diligent to run in a way to obtain the prize. 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. Anyone who competes to win a race must be self-controlled in order to train their bodies, watch what they ingest, and get the rest necessary to win. They observe strict discipline in their lives in order to obtain a temporary crown. If our crown then is imperishable or eternal how much more disciplined ought we to be in our conduct and what we ingest.
Run and Fight This Way 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. Not with uncertainty but with a plan and a goal. 2Tim 3:16-17 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Paul says he gives his body a black eye to bring it under subjection to his greater purpose. of obtaining the prize. Phil 3:14 "I press toward the goal (finish line) for the prize (reward) of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Look At This Example 10:1-5 1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 1-4 makes the point they were all partakers of Christ too. But most of them did not obtain the prize.
Do Not Lust After Evil Things 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Numbers 11:4-6 "Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes! " Psalm 106:14-20 "But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. When they envied Moses in the camp, And Aaron the saint of the Lord, The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan, And covered the faction of Abiram. A fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked. They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass."
Do Not Become Idolaters 7 "And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. " Exodus 32:1-6 " Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. And Aaron said to them, Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me. So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt! So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord. Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."
Do Not Commit Sexual Immorality 8 "Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;" Numbers 25:1-4 " Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. Then the Lord said to Moses, Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel. "
Do Not Test The Lord 9 "nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;" Numbers 21:4-6 " Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread. So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Deut 6:16 " You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah. Ex 17:2 "Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, Give us water, that we may drink. So Moses said to them, Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord? "
Do Not Be Complainers 10 "nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer." Num 14:26-30 " And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, As I live, says the Lord, just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. Phil 2:14-15 "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,"