Striving for the Prize - Lesson 4 - Spiritual Guides

Let’s think about our Christian race.
When it comes right down to it, how hard are you actually running.
Just because we are tired when we go to bed at night
and we still haven’t accomplished all we need to..
Is that because we are exhausted from our Christian race?

I believe we are too busy doing the urgent things
That we don’t have time to do the important things.

Rebecca is behind on her reading.
I have wanted to read with her more one on one for over three years.

Cody failed 8th grade.
I’ve wanted to work more with him one on one each weekend.

I’ve wanted to talk to Autumn more about boys,
Her purity and her testimony.

What have I been too busy doing?
What have you been too busy doing?
How have you justified your actions in you race?
What excuses have you convinced yourself of,
But your children, spouse and certainly the Lord
are not buying?

Opening Thoughts…





Testimony of my introduction to the Psychiatrist…

After that introduction let’s talk about running in vain
Or more specifically not running in vain

Galatians 2:2, ‘And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.’

Your thoughts…





Anything worth having is worth fighting for.
It would be easier to parent and not care.
It would be easier to detach from your spouse
and merely stay together for the children.

Is what God gave you worth fighting for?
Is the plan He laid out for you worth laboring for?
Or are you convinced of the excuses you rehearsed in your head
and have shared with others?

Philippians 2:16, ‘Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.’

Can you give us some advice here when we get tired?





Have you ever said this or thought this…
‘I deserve to be happy.’
Did the Lord whisper that in your ear or someone else?

1 Thessalonians 3:5, ‘For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.’

Your thoughts…





We make it difficult don’t we?
We struggle with the balance of freedom to sin and liberty in Christ.
We struggle with grace and mercy.

2 Corinthians 11:3, ‘But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Can you help us here?





Psalm 127:2, ‘It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.’

Let me give this verse as translated by Jeff.
Your alarm goes off at 4:30 so you can get to work on time
and you leave the house without praying or reading my Word.

You stay up late watching movies until you fall to sleep on the couch
and you still haven’t read my Word
or told your children how proud you are of them and love them.

You feel sorry for your self in your mind,
Tell others at work so they feel sorry for you,
And you convince yourself that you deserve a good sin
to cheer you up until the guilt of chastisement kicks in.

Why do you think you can’t fall to sleep at night?
Why do you think I wake you up in the middle of the night?
I have something to say, you need to listen.
When you do so I will give you the most satisfying night’s sleep,
You will feel refreshed,
And you will have enough time in your day
to do everything I have told you to do.

Do you agree or disagree with my interpretation?





Divine Guidance is promised
to the Obedient In Making Decisions

Psalm 25:9, ‘The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.’

Meek, meaning: gentle, humble and lowly.

Why do we have a hard time understanding what He is telling us?





Psalm 32:8, ‘I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.’

Your thoughts…





His Divine guidance is promised
Unto the End of Life

Psalm 48:14, ‘For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.’

Your thoughts…





His Divine Guidance is promised
By the Still Small Voice

Isaiah 30:21, ‘And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.’

Your thoughts…





His Divine Guidance is promised
In the Midst of Uncertainties

Isaiah 42:16-17, ‘And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.’

Your thoughts…





His Divine Guidance is promised
By Divine Illumination

Luke 1:79, ‘To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’

Your thoughts…





John 10:4, ‘And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.’

Your thoughts…





We need to seek His Divine Guidance

Psalm 5:8, ‘Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.’

Psalm 25:5, ‘Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.’

Psalm 27:11, ‘Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.’

Psalm 143:10, ‘Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.’

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