Destiny Church Naples

CATCH THE WAVE
Spirit Life: Part 3

EMPOWERED TO WIN THE RACE

I. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians compares our spiritual journey to that of an athletic race.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25. (MSG)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win! All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that is Gold Eternally.
A. Train hard
B. Stay focused
C. Run to win

II. This spiritual race can only be won by the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)
Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man (our spirit man) is being renewed day by day.

John 6: 63
The spirit can make life, sheer muscle and will power don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a spirit word, and so it is life making.

A. The inward man is to be renewed day by day
B. Salvation by faith is life giving, giving control of our lives is a daily process.
C. It cannot be done in the flesh or by self determination.

III. We must decide daily to train and surrender to the Holy Spirit in order to win the race set before us.

Hebrews 12: 1-3 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to 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.

A. This spiritual race is not a sprint, it’s a marathon run with the staying power of the Holy Spirit.
B. What’s our role in order to run and win this race.
1) Throw off unnecessary weight. Things that are not by definition a sin, but can become a distraction.
2) Let go of the past. Past failed relationships, past failed business ventures, the guilt of past sins.

Isaiah 43: 18 - 19 (MSG)
Forget about what’s happened, don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present, I’m about to do something new. I’m bursting out! Don’t you see?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the bad land.

Echoing Pastor Greg’s message… A river of refreshing, a river of revelation, a river of power, and a river that produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 57: 15 (MSG)
A message from the high and towering God who lives in eternity, whose name is Holy; I live in the high and holy places but also with the low spirited, the spirit crushed, and what I do is put a new spirit into them, get them up and on their feet again.

3) Break ties with the ungodly (bff’s), company we keep. They may ensnare us to stumble in the race.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (MSG)
Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong?
That’s not a partnership. That is war. Is light best friends with darkness?
Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?

Proverbs 12: 26 (NKJV)
The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.

The Holy Spirit will give us discernment to make the right choices when it comes to friends. Some will be for witnessing to, others will be for fellowship.

D. Our role to run and win the race is to also throw off the sin that so easily ensnares us.

Hebrews 12:1 (MSG)
"No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins."

1) Here sin is compared to a parasite. A Parasite deprives the
2) Stop calling sin by other names ( character flaws, weaknesses, indiscretions)

3) Allow the Holy Spirit who is the great sin detector to lovingly convict us of our sin.

Romans 2: 4 (NIV)
" God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance"

Ephesians 4: 22
Since then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything and I do mean everything connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life, a God fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you.

Philippians 1: 6
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
So let us run the race that is set before us! Jesus created the course, the Holy Spirit is the trainer and guide.

A life that is lived by the Holy Spirit will be empowered to successfully win the race. host of nutrients, making the host weak