Run Well the Race of Grace

1 Corinthians 9:24-27Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.

²⁵ Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.

²⁶ Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.

²⁷ But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

 

 

Run well the race of grace
Refusing any let or hindrance.
Run well the race of grace focusing on Jesus-the Author and Finisher of your faith.
Refuse distractions along the way. Let no accolades or accomplishments deceive or steal your steel or zeal. Let no jealousy or attacks or disdain trip you up.

 

Hebrews 12:2Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

² Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Set your face like a flint.
See your Saviour who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross. See also the joy and banquet set before you and endure your cross.

 

Philippians 3:12-14Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

¹² Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.

¹³ I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
I have made you a bronze wall and an iron pillar and a fortified city like Jeremiah.
Be not afraid of their faces. I am with you and in you and for you. And if God be for you, who can be against you? They will try to resist you but they will not overcome you. They will fight against you but they will lose, stumble and fall.

 

¹⁷ But you [Jeremiah], gird up your loins! Arise and tell them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed and break down at the sight of their faces, lest I confound you before them and permit you to be overcome.

¹⁸ For I, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land—against the [successive] kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land [giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome].

¹⁹ And they shall fight against you, but they shall not [finally] prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.
Refuse to use carnal weapons.
For the weapons of your warfare are not man-made, but they are mighty through God, with divine potency to decapitate and completely neutralise and discombobulate your adversary. Let this be your confidence. Cast not away this confidence. Be bold and strong with a sure-footed stability. Put on the whole armour of God and stand in the evil day.

 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

⁵ [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
You are more than a conqueror. Greater is He that is you than he that is in the world. ( 1John4:4, 1John5:4) In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And I did it for you. ( John16:33)

Run well the Race of Grace. Consistently and continually seek God’s face. Let the Holy Spirit guide you as to how train for the race. Know that it is not a 100 metres dash but a divine marathon. You just need regimental training and exercise  and strict diet and mental agility moment by moment.
Let the Word of God dwell in you super-abundantly, saturating you, lighting your path, carrying you, building you up, speaking to you as the Holy Spirit brings it alive as the Word for the moment-rhema.(John16)

John 16:13Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

¹³ But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].
He guides the steps of His own. He guides them into all truth. He guides them to green pastures. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. The path of the just shines brighter and brighter unto the full light of day. ( Prov4:18) You will hear a word and a voice saying to you, “This is the way. Walk in it.” He will guide you like he did, the Israelites (Ex14), Abraham’s servant, (Gen24) Jesus Christ Luke4:1, Paul and Silas Acts16, Cornelius, Peter (Act10), Phillip (Acts8:26)the  disciples (Act13:2).

Acts 13:2Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

 
Wage a good warfare with the prophetic word you have received in times past.

 

1 Timothy 1:18Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

¹⁸ This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, ^[a]in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,

Pray the word back to God or use it as an armament against the enemy, like Jesus did, “It is written…It is written…It is written.”
Run well this race of grace knowing when to retreat in prayer and fasting to advance. Moses did and did great exploits. Joshua did and God opened his eyes to see why Israel was defeated by Ai. Jesus did and was able to defeat the devil and complete His assignment. Nehemiah did and not only obtained favour with the king but went on to start and finish building the walls. (Neh6:15, Josh7)

Finish with finesse like Paul. It is good to start but more important to finish and finish well like Usain bolt will do on a track and field event and break records.
See the saints of old gone ahead of you beckoning on you; cheering you. “Common on, you can make it. You’ve got what it takes. You have the Holy Spirit. You have the Word of God. You have All you need. Angels are on assignment for you. Finish like Solomon finished the building. Finishing like Nehemiah finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Finish like Esther brought Harman to justice and cut down the sword of damocles hanging over the heads of her people. Finish like Jesus did and said, “It is finished.!” It is done. John19:30, Esther4,5,6
Like Paul finish and be able

2 Timothy 4:6-8Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

 to say, “I am now ready to be offered as a libation. I am ready to depart and join the cloud of witnesses. I am ready to meet my Maker. I have finished my race of grace. I have finished my course. I have completed my assignment. Henceforth is laid for me a crown of righteousness which the righteous judge shall give, not only to me but to all those awaiting His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

⁶ For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free.

⁷ I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

⁸ [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).

Glory to God!