06-10-12 PM - Spiritual Olympians

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Eric Liddell was a famous Olympian who ran in the Olympics in Paris, France in 1924. He was a devout Christian who went on to be a missionary to China. He chose to drop out of the 100 meter race rather than run on Sunday. Despite not being favored to win the 400 meter, he went on the win that race, earn the gold medal, and set a new Olympic Record of 47.6 seconds. His story is immortalized in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire.

Long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland was an Olympic champion, winning twelve medals (nine of them gold) in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Games. Nurmi was famous not only for his achievements, but also for running with a stopwatch in his hand to check his performance. It’s good to know how you’re doing along the way if you want to win a long-distance race.

focus on Jesus when we ask for wisdom in handling our family matters.
focus on Jesus when we seek the sufficiency of His grace in every situation.
focus on Jesus when we see opportunities to care for others.
1. Spiritual Olympians keep their eyes fixed on Jesus.
What are some practical spiritual things we can do daily to fix our eyes on Jesus?
1. Read God’s Word
2. Be in an attitude of prayer
3. Sing to the Lord
4. Share your testimony with others
5. Take time to be alone with God
6. Ask yourself the question “what would Jesus do”(WWJD)
7. Review Hebrews 12:1-2. Remember the cloud of witnesses cheering you on.
8. Confess and remove sinful habits

2. Spiritual Olympians must depend on Jesus from the start to the finish of their lives of faith.
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish” (Hebrews 12:2a).

Philippians 1:6, we read, “He who has begun a good work in you will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ comes back again“.
“Be not conformed to this world, but let God transform you into a new person, by changing the way you think [and act]. Romans 12:2.

 3. Spiritual Olympians run their races with glory in mind. In Heb.12:2, it was said of Jesus that.. “He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy that was set before Him. Now He is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.”
2 Tim:4: 7&8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge will give me on that great day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His glorious return.”

4. Spiritual Olympians do not stop before they reach their goal. In Heb.12: 3, we read, “Think about all He endured, when sinful people did such terrible things to Him, so that you do not become weary and give up.”
“Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord”.