Ye Did Run Well
A. WERE PAUL'S EFFORTS WASTED ON THE GALATIONS?( 4:11 ).
B. THE PREACHER'S GREATEST JOY( 3 John 4 ). GREATEST GRIEF?
C. WHAT IS OUR RACE AND WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO RUN WELL?
A. PAUL OFTEN COMPARES OUR LIFE WITH THE OLYMPIC GAMES
( 1 Cor. 9:25f.; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Heb. 12:1-2 ).
1. Only qualified Greeks could run. We must be qualified( Gal. 3:26-27 ).
2. Training and persevering necessary( 1 Cor. 9:25-27 ).
B. THE PROPER BEGINNING IS VITAL, BUT SO IS RUNNING & FINISHING.
1. Galatians had a good start( Gal. 3:1; 5:7 ), poor finish( 1:6; 3:1; 5:7 ).
2. The difference is heaven or hell( 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 1 Cor. 9:27 ).
A. SATAN DOES WHAT HE CAN TO HINDER( 2 Cor. 2:11 ).
B. SOME HINDRANCES:
1. False teaching, "not obey the truth"( Gal. 5:7; 1:6-9; Mark 13:22 ).
2. Improper attitude toward others( Gal. 5:13-15, 25-26 ).
3. Worldliness - Love of the temporal( Gal. 5:16-21; Rom. 13;11-14 ).
C OVERCOMING HINDRANCES.
1. It's possible and necessary( Rom. 12:21; Heb. 12:1 ).
2. How? By faith( Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4; Rom. 10:17 ).
A. RUNNING WELL IS NOT ALWAYS RUNNING PERFECTLY.
1. We all stumble( 1 John 1:8, 10 ), but there is mercy( 1:7, 9; 2:1-2 ).
2. But we are to run the best we can( Rom. 6:1-2; Phil. 3:15-16 ).
B. RUNNING WELL INVOLVES OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH( Gal. 5:7 ).
1. Obedience to the truth begins our race( 1 Pet. 1:22 ).
2. But we must continue to the end( John 8:31; Rom. 11:22 ).
3. We must contend according to the law( 2 Tim. 2:5 ).
C. INVOLVES CONTINUAL TRAINING( 1 Cor 9:25-27 ).
D. A STRUGGLE FOR PERFECTION( Phil. 3:12-14 ).
E. SINGLENESS( Heb. 12:1-2; Luke 9:62 ).
A. WE HAVE HELP IN THE RACE( Heb. 4:15-16 ).
B. ARE YOU RUNNING WELL?
C. ARE YOU EVEN IN THE RACE?