Marked (Followed by Special Announcement)

Title:  MARKED   (Acts 20:24) (NLT) But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.   (Hebrews 12:1-2) (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.   Reasons we don’t run:   1.  Fear of Harm   (2 Timothy 1:7) (NLT) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.   2. Identity Crisis   (Jeremiah 31:3) (MSG)  “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!   (Ephesians 3:18) (NLT) And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.   SIX KEYS TO RUN THE RACE   1. Prepare   (1 Corinthians 9:25) (NLT)  All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.   2. Perceive   (1 Corinthians 9:25) (NLT)  All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.   3. Purpose   (1 Corinthians 9:26) (NLT)  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.   When people lose their WHY they lose their WAY.   4. Proceed    (1 Corinthians 9:24) (NLT)  Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!   5. Pursue   (1 Corinthians 9:24) (NLT)  Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!   (Philippians 3:14) (NLT) I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.   6. Persist   (1 Corinthians 9:27) (NIV) No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.   (2 Timothy 4:7) (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.   "In order to run our race and finish our course, we need to understand that God has an appointed time that is usually different to our due date." –Christine Caine   Vows of Mother Teresa   God, I yield myself fully to you. I embrace your calling on my life. I will do your bidding without delay. I will refuse you nothing. I will endure all hardships. When I don’t feel your presence, I will still be faithful. I will seek to love you as you have never been loved before. Here am I; send me.