Running With Pure Heart

MICHAEL DONOHO

Running The Race of Your Life • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

2 Timothy 4:7

1 Corinthians 9:24–27

Hebrews 12:1–3

A Person Pure in Heart

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Introduction:

I remember in 1973 there was a horse by the name of Secretariat who was to captured the imagination of the sporting world nation as he competed for the horse racing triple crown. See In 1972 Secretariat won the prestigious American Horse of the Year Honors. unheard of for a two year old horse.

After the regular racing season in 1973 leading into the Kentucky Derby many people were very skeptical about Secretariats ability to run any distance over the traditional race which was 1 mile. The last race of the regular season before the Kentucky Derby was the Wood Cup and Secretariat lost. Most began to question Secretariats stamina because of his large bulky size, which was not typical of a distance horse classifying him as a sprinter. So rumors circulated that he was unsound. At the end it came out that he was suffering from a tooth abscess that irritated him because of the bit in his mouth.

Kentucky Derby:

The Kentucky Derby was the first race of the triple crown and the first of the longer races with a distance of 1 1/4 miles. Secretariat went on tho win that race setting a new track record that still stands to this day of 1 minute 59 seconds becoming the first horse to win the derby in under 2 minutes. The amazing thing is he ran each 1/4 mile faster than the previous one. The second place horse was a horse named Sham.

Preakness Stakes:

The Preakness Stakes was the second of the races for the triple crown with a distance of 1 3/16 mile. Again Secretariat went on to win this race setting another record at the Preakness of 1 minute 53 seconds, the second place horse Sham also ran at a time faster than the previous record. With this victory Secretariat was featured on Three National Magazines Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated becoming a national celebrity. Secretariat transcended horse racing and became a cultural phenomenon, it was just the right time in history as our country was being split because of the war in Vietnam and Watergate. Like any other celebrity in the Unites States Secretariat had to hire a publicist to manage his public appearances the William Morris Agency, and like any other celebrity Secretariat responded to his fame by learning to pose for the camera.

Belmont Stakes:

The Belmont stakes was the last of the Triple crown races and the longest distance race. The Belmont was a grueling 1 1/2 miles. Although Secretariat was heavily favored by the odds makers the other horse owners were sceptical at best. Sham had placed second in the previous two races and only lost by 2 1/2 lengths. Sham was suppose to be the better distance runner.

But through the ups and the downs, the fame and fortune Secretariat just ran the race the best he could and that is a great example for us, from beginning to end run the best race even if its against all odds.

Like any race though you have to be prepared:

Beginning the Race of Your Life: Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 12:1–3 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

The opening scripture paints this beautiful picture of all of the Saints that have ran this race of life before us. Those who are a witness by the testimony of their faith, that have run the race to the finish and had the endurance to win. Then it begins to tell us how to prepare for this race.

Surrender Yourself Moses Hindered

By laying aside every weight. This weight isn’t necessarily sin it can be all those extra things the hold us down from our relationship with God. Some of these things may seem innocent enough or could even be justified in our minds. They might even be right for others, but maybe not for us. For instance Moses laid aside his Egyptian Royal Status for the sake of his God-given mission it was a hindrance or weight to his faith. But under similar circumstances Joseph properly ruled in Egypt. Other weights may be ambitions,hobbies, wealth, fame, or even anxiety. When you think about it we try to keep busy to keep from becoming anxious but being so busy could very easily be the cause of our anxiety. I know that when I have a lot of things scheduled in my week I can become anxious in preparation. Have you ever prepared for an event so hard that you couldn’t wait for it to be over.

It is up to each runner to honestly judge what hinders their faith and lay it aside even though others seem to be unhindered by the same things. Another way of putting it, would you ever attempt to sprint or run a race in a completely buttoned up full length overcoat, with your arms tied behind your back. I’d like to see that as a matter of fact ill keep my phone in hand to call 911. But if you think about it isn’t that exactly what we so often catch ourselves doing.

But Sin is The Primary Block

We have to look also at what the writer said about sin. The primary block that keeps us from gaining the prize is sin that so easily entangles us. Being entangled while trying to run a race is worse than running in an overcoat. Do not take God’s word lightly. Do not excuse any sin as alright for you, but forbidden for others. Never feel like you can evade God’s discipline or judgement.

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Unbelief can look a bit trivial to us at times but Moses was kept out of the promised land because he treated God’s word lightly on one occasion.

King David must have also felt that his sins of adultery and murder could also be overlooked by God because he was Gods appointed King over Israel. God felt otherwise though he sent Nathan the Prophet to expose his wickedness and to announce his punishment.

Jesus The Example

The next few words tell us how to run the race look at the runner of the race before us, Jesus the author and finishers not only of the race but of our faith. Jesus carried on His back the weight of the sin of the world on a cross. With this example it is saying keep your eyes on Jesus look to him when you feel like you can’t take another step. Look to Jesus for the strength to endure all things and never get discouraged, never quit running, never stand still. This race is a race you have to run, it is not enough to walk through life. This race is a race worth running because of the prize at the end. So run the race for all your worth.

On the day of the Belmont stakes the track was fast and the weather was beautiful, a perfect day for racing. As the race began Secretariat broke to the outside to the outside rail and Sham ran up next to him keeping pace.

They ran the first quarter mile in a blazing 23 3/5 seconds.The second quarter they ran ran even faster at a swift 22 3/5 seconds, completing the fastest opening 1/2 mile in the history of the race. Secretariat went on to win the race at a record setting 2:24 flat breaking the stakes record by 2 seconds a record that stands today. Sham finished last because he tried to keep pace with Secretariat.

The second quarter they ran ran even faster at a swift 22 3/5 seconds.

Running the Race: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NKJV

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. 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. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Cor

Do you know that those who run in a race all run. In the race of life we have absolutely no choice but to run it. The example of Secretariat verses Sham is a great example of running the race for the prize. If we look at Secretariat as a Christian running the race and Sham as the world. If we are running the race correctly we will leave the world behind. If you chose to run the race as the world your prize is whatever you can collect here and when you are gone it will all be left here behind for the enjoyment of whoever it is left to. If you run the race with Christ the one who ran before us we run with the certainty of a nonperishable crown of eternal life.

Paul say’s we have to discipline our bodies and bring them into subjection, otherwise any testimony we give of Christianity may actually disqualify us from the race.

If we claim to be Christians but we live a life or lifestyle that is contrary to the teachings of the Bible and salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ with the sealing of our adoption into the family of God almighty by the Holy Spirit, we are disqualified from the race and become team members of the world.

Secretariat won the race by 31 furlongs, that's 330 feet, picture this distance this would be the distance of a football field including one of the end-zones.

Finishing the Race: 2 Timothy 4:7

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NKJV

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Tim 4

In 1973 Secretariat became a legend in his time. Not only did Secretariat win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, but he did it with an unprecedented performance. At the Belmont Stakes, he not only won the race by 31 lengths, but he set new records along the way as he went faster with each phase of the run. For one-and-one-half miles, that famous thoroughbred ran faster every second. Secretariat was accelerating at such an incredible pace that his trainer noted if the race had been extended another lap, his heart would have literally exploded. It is always tempting to settle in to status quo performance, but the greatest joy is found in straining ahead to not just finish, but to finish well.

In 1973, a horse named Secretariat became a legend in his time. Not only did Secretariat win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, but he did it with an unprecedented performance. At the Belmont Stakes, he not only won the race by 31 lengths, but he set new records along the way as he went faster with each phase of the run. For one-and-one-half miles, that famous thoroughbred ran faster every second. Secretariat was accelerating at such an incredible pace that his trainer noted if the race had been extended another lap, his heart would have literally exploded. It is always tempting to settle in to status quo performance, but the greatest joy is found in straining ahead to not just finish, but to finish well.

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

It’s kind of interesting but the one thing I failed to mention was that Secretariat was pure heart as a matter of fact his heart weighed 22 pounds it was 2 1/2 times the size of the average horse. Sham Secretariats closest competitors heart was 18 pounds. So Secretariat not only ran mentally out of pure heart he ran physically out of pure heart. We as Christians need to run the race of life in the same manner. The only difference is we have an advantage over secretariat, we can run not only mentally, and physically, we have assistance because we can run spiritually.

We all have a race to run and I need you to know that the race you are running is significant. A significant race can only be ran by a person of significant. You are so significant, you are so loved, God only wants what is best for you, he wants you to run the race unburdened by the weight of the world or sin.

I made a statement last week that while I was praying a question came to my mind:

What are you willing to do for Me?

The answer seemed quite obvious to me, Lord I can’t do anything for you. That answer is correct, we really can’t do anything for God that He can’t do Himself, but that’s not the question:

The question is what are you willing to do for Me? Not what can you do for Me?

See in my human mind we automatically hear the question as what can you do for Me. That’s what the world demands whats in it for me, but Gods not that way. What are you willing to do for me?

Are you willing to release your past?

Are you willing to give up those things that get in the way of your relationship with God?

Are you willing to ask God for forgiveness and come face to face with Him?

Are you willing to release all of those things that cause you anxiety?

What if you were to come face to face with Him today would He say you have run the good race My good and faithful servant?

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