Carrying the Message

Grabbing the Torch

  Each of us carries the fire imputed within.  If you’re Christian, you carry this fire within.  A fire placed there by God.  Today we pass the baton like that of a relay race.  It’s a baton with fire & smoke.  Like that of the Israelites if you will.  We carry the message of eternal life & death.  You can say that it’s a hot topic in the world!

  Ministry is a marathon relay race.  Winning requires Teamwork.  Strength & Conditioning.  Stamina.  Endurance.  Confidence.  Balance.  Flexibility.  Communication, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, & Accuracy.  All of these areas of spiritual conditioning must be explored and integrated into the character of the competitors.  The person passing the torch or baton needs to know that the receiver is ready.  They both need to know where to meet & when.  They need to know who.  We need to know how.  As teammates we must have the same objective in mind, heart & in spirit.  Or else the race will not be finished, nor will they, the competitors receive the prize.  What is the prize?   

We Carry the Fire Imputed Within

The outline for today’s message is:

•         To win the race we must begin with the end in mind.

1.       Making ready is not vanity.

2.       Have it to give it, give it to have it.

3.       Divine Cooperation.

 1 Corinthians. 9:24—27   Primary Text:

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 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.  

1 Co 9:24-27 NIV 

Cross Reference:  Ecclesiastes

We have a lot to unpack here in only 3 verses.  Lets try to get into the context of what’s happening here.

In this race that Paul used as illustration to the Church in Corinth.  The objective of Competition of the world & of God aren’t the same.  The prize we compete for and how we compete has an eternal purpose in perspective.  The world’s prizes are only temporary gain but also lead us away from eternal life for today and can promote eternal death for tomorrow.

What prize is Paul referring to? Let's survey the entire library of the Bible today to make sense of it.  Just kidding we're limited on time, but none the less it's very important that we be familiar with the entire library.

1.   Making Ready Isn't Vanity.

How do we make ready?  How do you get ready to run a marathon?  Practice Makes Permanent.  Ministry is a marathon.  Who or what are we racing? What is the competition? What's the objective? What's the goal?  To win this race we will need to have Perseverance (Endurance, Persistence) Patience (Delayed Gratification, Self-control), Self-Discipline, Responsibility (see also Accountability).

To the Corinthians they observed Paul as running vainly with weakness.  For anyone to run a marathon none run the 26.2 miles the first attempt.  This Kingdom ministry is a relay marathon.

2. Have it to give it, give it to have it.

You need to have it to give it.  You can’t give what you don’t have.  We both have it.  Many of you have it.  That’s why you’re here today to motivate and spur one another on in love.

a. Give it to have it, have it to give it.  You have to know it to let it go!  Grab it to give it, give it to grab it.  Don't become lost in this paradox.  What is it?  The message of eternal life & eternal death.  Eternal life found only in Jesus Christ!  You have to know the message to compete in the race the Apostle is speaking of.

b. Enter the race. Hear the call. Answer the call. Accept the call to serve. Serve with endurance.  Consider what Paul is referencing.  Enter to compete.  In the world we are surrounded a world of witnesses.  If you’ve truly received the message, you will want to share it.  The gospel becomes a burden upon your heart.  Giving what we have to share takes work. It ought to be a labor of love.

Striving for a Crown 👑 

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 NIV

3.   Divine Cooperation.

The operations within Kingdom ministry are a Cooperation.  The great commission is a co-mission.  We are NOT left out of His glorious plan.  We are the plan.  Conversely, we don’t remove God from this mission.  When we remove God from the throne of our hearts, we become self-reliant.  We isolate from each other and the Creator. We have the reward of the opposites of that which is required to win: Teamwork.  Strength & Conditioning.  Stamina.  Endurance.  Confidence.  Balance.  Flexibility.  Communication, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, & Accuracy. and the opposite of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Communion:  Man did not make this meal, God in the flesh like yours and mine started this meal.  It symbolizes the promised prize and more…Crucified with Christ we rise with Christ.  Let us pass the elements around and consume the Lord's Supper Together.

"14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?"

1 Co 10:14-22 NIV

Conclusion:  Make ready to get ready.  The message of eternity isn’t from man, it is given to man and man must be a good steward of this message in order to share the message and the message must be shared if we are to receive the prize.  Without the end in mind, we will not get to the finish line.  Where is the finish line?  Let me share a preview of what we'll unpack later in this Sermon Series.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

Rev 14:13 NIV

7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

Rev 19:7-9 NIV 

Exhortation:  Be bold and go for the gold!

Be bold. Go for the gold, eternal gold.  Who here wants to be bold and go for the gold that only comes from God above?  We are all in this race!  We are better together.  Let’s run with the horses! [Jeremiah 12:5]

Prayer:  

For Bill & Tami.  Let us honor a bless them oh Lord.  Thank you for these two faithful servants whom have been dedicated to Your call upon the life they have in Christ Jesus.  We ALL have benefited from their ministry.  We welcome them back! May they always have a sense of adoration and warm welcome in the times of coldness and a cool welcome in the times of heat.  The baton of responsibility at Dove Creek First Assembly has been carried not in human strength alone, but in a supernatural human strength empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Holy Father we praise you for the sustainment and leadership that you have given to Bill & Tami.  Wherever you take them in their journey within the Kingdom ministry may they be encouraged to sustain the faithfulness and steady hearts that seek your precious heart, oh Lord.  Continue to lead them in Your everlasting way so that NONE SHALL Perish, but that all may have everlasting life.  Life that can ONLY be found through Jesus the Christ our Lord & Savior.

Prayer:  

The body of Dove Creek.  Merciful God, Strong to Save.  We praise You and thank you for the dedication and tenacity within Your people.  We are the bride and You oh Lord are the head of our church.  Continue to sustain us that we may endure the race before us providing and protecting one another for your purpose upon Dove Creek.  Continue to pour out Your amazing grace and Majestic Sovereignty.  Lead us in this transition that we willfully endure to the finish line.  Empower us to unite and produce the Gospel boldly as those who’ve passed the message on to us.  May we learn to ever grow spiritually as trees that bear good fruit.  We trust you because you are Loyal and True.  Trustworthy Creator we follow your lead and remain steadfast in your great commission.  We love you Lord!  May we learn to truly love our neighbors, obediently for Your cause.  Thank you for that which has passed, that which IS and that which will be done.

Throughout the Bible history we can observe within scripture the turnover included a prayer from the departing leader to the faithful following leadership.  Pastor Bill, please entrust a blessing upon the church.

Prayer by shared by departing Pastor, Reverend Bill Beagley.  

Pot-Luck Style meal shared together for Bill's last supper with Dove Creek Assembly of God.

Sway View:

https://sway.office.com/ndOQLXtK8otlxgC1?ref=Link

Spoken Word:

Fire Imputed Within