Cecil A. Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
June 20, 2004
Stay the Course
Stay in the Race
I Cor 9:23-27
INTRO: Paul did not want to be a castaway; he did not want to fall by the wayside. It seems to me that there are men today who don't care if they fall by the way or not. They are not diligent, not faithful, not strong, not committed. So many men today are infected by humanism. They are diseased and don't know it.
Men, let's run the race with patience; let's stay the course (Heb 12:1). So many men have fallen by the way; they have shirked their duties; they have abdicated their rightful place as leaders in the home.
I. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE WEIGHED DOWN (HEB 12:1).
A. The world and its weights will rob you of true Christian joy.
1. You need joy for "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh 8:10). There is not joy nor strength unless you lay the weights down.
2. Lay down the weighs and sins that do easily beset you.
a) Habits,
b) Sinful practices
c) Sins of commission and omission.
3. It is the little things, little foxes that will spoil the vines (Song of Solomon (2:15).
B. You will never lay down those weights and sins that get you down unless you look to Jesus.
1. Look to Jesus for strength.
2. Look to the one who endured (Heb 12:2-4).
II. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE OF AFFLICTION
A. Trials will make us bitter or better. God wants us to be better.
B. Sometimes God has to afflict us because we have been sinful (Heb 12:5-7).
C. Learn to trust God and pray when affliction comes. Don't quit. Pray.
1. James 5:13, "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms."
2. Psalm 119:67, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray..."
D. Joseph did right even when afflicted, sold into slavery, lied on, etc. (Gen 50:20).
1. God means to do you good.
2. Romans 8:28.
3. Affliction at times is a means to bring us back to God (Psa 119:75, 71).
III. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF DUTY
A. We are to keep going, to keep doing right because duty demands it (Ecc 12:13).
1. We need men who will resolve to do what they ought to do. Stonewall Jackson said: "Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
2. Duty comes first.
a) Duty before play.
b) Duty before entertainment.
c) Duty, duty, duty first.
d) Duty to God, duty to wife, children, home, and church.
3. "Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less" (R. E. Lee ).
B. It is your duty to be:
1. Faithful- faithful to God, wife, home, and church.
2. Faithful in giving.
C. We are to do our duty without thought of praise (Lk 17:10).
D. Duty:
1. In success or failure.
2. In life or death
3. In victory or defeat
IV. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT TAKE CORRECTION
A. No on is right all the time. Some are so hard headed that they refuse to be corrected (Prov 15:10, 12). Pride goes before the fall (Prov 16:18).
B. Correction is important lest we go on in error (Prov 15:22, 32).
V. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE WEARY
A. The Bible instructs us to not grow weary in well doing (Gal 6:9).
B. Sometimes we are weary in the way, but we are not to be weary of the way.
1. Satan will try to discourage you. He'll try to get you to quit (Dan 7:25).
2. God needs men who will not quit.
VI. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE OF DISCONTENTMENT WITH WHAT GOD HAS ALLOWED
A. We are to be content with where we are and with what we have (Phil 4:11).
B. We need to pray as Agar did and accept the answer (Prov 30:8-9).
C. There is a phrase that has almost fallen into disuse- "Make do with what you have." Remember, God is not against you having nice things. He is against nice things having you.
D. Godliness with contentment is great gain (I Tim 6:6).
1. Money will not make you content.
2. Things will not satisfy you.
3. Only Jesus will satisfy your soul (Jn 10:10).
VII. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE OF UNRESOLVED CHILDHOOD ISSUES
A. It seems everyone today has issues.
B. We need to resolve childhood issues.
1. Forgive those who have hurt you whether they ask for it or not (Eph 4:30-32).
2. Forgive and forget and press toward the mark (Phil 3:13-14).
VIII. SOME FALL BY THE WAY BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF
A. They have nothing within to keep them going. They are devoid of the Holy Spirit.
1. At salvation, we are given what we need to keep going (II Pet 1:3-4).
2. Make your calling and election sure (II Pet 1:10).
B. If you are not saved, you lack what it takes to live righteously.
CONCLUSION: God needs men who will stand for right no matter what comes their way. Will you be that man?