Everyone wants to get ahead and win!
The Apostle Paul says: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 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’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
Whenever you are doing your best it seems the devil steps in with something to try to stop you or embarrass you into shutting up! I have a real-life example: My grandfather preached a sermon at a revival on the Healing Power of Jesus! What a response! The altar was filled with people seeking healing and giving their hearts to the Lord, he was so happy as he came into the house. There he saw his wife sitting with their toddler on her lap by the fireplace. The child was burning with fever, the fever that had taken the lives of other children in their 1930’s community. In his heart he heard the devil mocking him, saying “Where is your healing Jesus now?”The town doctor got word of the sick child and stopped to see her, he told my grandparents she wouldn’t live through the night. My granddad began to cry out to the Lord, reminding Him of every scripture he had used in his sermon, asking Him to heal his baby in the name of Jesus. My mother was ten years old and was so frightened watching her dad praying so earnestly kneeling there by the fire. Finally completely exhausted, he fell asleep with my grandmother still sitting there with the baby on her lap. About the time the sun came up so did the little one, eyes bright and asking for cereal! “I’m hungry” she was saying, “I want cereal.” As she was eating, there was a knock on the door, it was the doctor coming to give his condolences and see if he could be of any assistance. My granddad invited him to come in and see the miracle! She was eating but she looked up and began to sing him a song! As he left that house that morning there were tears rolling down his cheeks and a new belief in the “healing Jesus”of this young evangelist!
Anytime you give a testimony, expect to be tested, for where is the proof of your testimony without the test? We are competing with the devil every day of our life to keep our joy, peace even our eternal salvation! Don’t give up the fight. Paul asks the question “You did run well, who hindered you?” Don’t let anyone stand in the way of your victory you are in this fight for your very life!
You can do ALL things through Christ, which strengthens you! Philippians 4:13
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