Running the Race: Guarding Our Spiritual Lives

Every man that striveth for the mastery that aims and pursues to become their best to be able to win a race to reach peak level physically, mentally the best they can become before they run the race and as they run the race every man that striveth that aims to be able to win to be their best to reach peak level and every aspect of their life physically mentally is temperate in all things is ruthlessly disciplined ruthlessly disciplined in every aspect of his life in every aspect of his life. [00:02:53]

I therefore so run in a spiritual race now spiritually I therefore so run not as uncertainly not as uncertainty I have no doubt as to what is required of me because of what God has given me in this book to tell me I have no doubt as to what is required of me in every aspect of my life to win this race to run this race I therefore so run in the spiritual race now not as uncertainty I know what is required of me I have no doubt so fight I so fight I not as one that beateth the air I know what I'm fighting for. [00:04:29]

Brethren I have to guard my spiritual life ruthlessly I have to guard my spiritual life ruthlessly lest that by any means when I have preached to others especially if I have preached or faithfully witness to others I myself should become a castaway literally meaning cost away terrifying words my credibility my credibility castaway tragically forfeited and lost my testimony castaway thrown away my ministry disqualified the tragic tragic portion of warning we have in God's Word beloved one of the most tragic one of the most tragic and unnerving onslaughts and attacks against evangelical Christianity today worldwide. [00:06:24]

Christ warned us all Christ warned us all that in these last days and you have to have your head buried in the sand so deep it's unbelievable if you don't know that's right now Christ warned us all that in these last days because iniquity shall abound that's a strange word in the Greek you'll find it is used now when you try to explain an avalanche it gains momentum have you ever seen an avalanche in a film in some documentary it doesn't just roll down it gains momentum that nothing in its way nothing that tries to stop it nothing that tries to avoid could be it's just gaining momentum to such a degree has nothing left now God says in the last days there will be an escalation of all things that have always been there. [00:10:34]

The love of many shall wax cold fearful words terrifying words now that word many is the most terrifying word of all the masses the Greek will come to the meaning of that Greek word is primarily the most in its context under the banner of Christianity worldwide the masses the most who gather under the banner of Christianity worldwide the love of the masses of the most in its context of people professing Christianity worldwide him that word many is again and again used because many false prophets shall arise and so deceive many the most people who preach under the banner of Christianity in the name of Christ walking into the proof of the Bible of false prophets many false prophets the masses the most potent they come to a place where there heap to themselves teachers having itching ears but they will not receive the love of the truth. [00:13:05]

Beloved beloved we are living it seems in an unprecedented dangerous age where many well-loved preachers prominent Christians respected Christians have fallen into and are being excessively exposed insane fool compromised and sin Christ warned us all Christ warned us all that in these last days and you have to have your head buried in the sand so deep it's unbelievable if you don't know that's right now Christ warned us all that in these last days because iniquity shall abound that's a strange word in the Greek you'll find it is used now when you try to explain an avalanche it gains momentum have you ever seen an avalanche in a film in some documentary it doesn't just roll down it gains momentum that nothing in its way nothing that tries to stop it nothing that tries to avoid could be it's just gaining momentum to such a degree has nothing left now God says in the last days there will be an escalation of all things that have always been there. [00:10:18]

Beloved one weak moment with all the devil needs one wrong choice and everything you have gained of trust of privilege from everyone who knows you beginning with your children could be lost and forfeited forever never to be regained I need to read that again one weak moment one wrong choice and everything you have gained esau everything that's meaningful everything you've gained of trust preacher of privilege from everyone who knows you could be lost and forfeits it forever never to be regained again Christian Christian think not that you're forgiven sins will have no earthly consequences I want to repeat that Christian think not that you're forgiven sins Oh God will forgive this - mercy that's amazing beyond the comprehension of God's mercy but that doesn't mean you don't lose forever and forfeit and become cast away a reject from the pulpit a reject that people will not trust you again your children will never look at you with rustic and your wife will never look at you with trust again. [00:18:17]

A Christian is in danger zone spiritually he is in danger zone spiritually when like Esau he faces temptation and costs aside literally costs aside he disregards any thought of the consequences he only regards the moment of sinful pleasure I want to repeat that a Christian is in danger zone spiritually he's in it when he like Esau faces temptation and he literally casts aside disregard any thought of the consequences the consequences don't matter whatever lost only regarding the moment of sinful pleasure later Arnie wit for the rest of his life ages with everybody else near him that loved him don't doubt it he is in high alert zone where a high occurrence of fatal accidents happen in our privileged Christian war world and he has most surely beyond doubt thrown aside every meaningful spiritual exercise and discipline to maintain a vital relationship with God he has most surely there's no doubt he's thrown aside of his life every meaningful spiritual exercise to maintain his relationship with God be careful be warned no matter who you are sin lieth at the door you think God said those words to Cain there's not a word in this book in its context but in the light of the rest of Scripture that isn't vital or it wouldn't be in this book for your understanding the heart of God for you and me to survive there's nothing that we don't need from the first thing he said to Adam only the first thing he said to Cain ok sin lies at the door you need to look at your own heart as to whether what you give to God is wrong it isn't what God wants sin lies at the door therefore be sober be vigilant because your adversary your enemy the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour God isn't playing the fool yes sir this isn't some empty words that cannot happen not in God's Word sir be sober be vigilant because your adversary Christian the end the devil your enemy as a roaring lion God says walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5 verse 8 neither give place to the devil God warns us in Ephesians 4 verse 27 neither give place to than ever what does that mean don't foolishly invite the devil to destroy you Christian don't invite him to destroy don't give him opportunity to destroy you let me warn you brother's sister don't play the fool with a lion don't you dare play the fool with a lion. [00:21:07]

Has the devil washed away most of the spiritual soil that you once sunk your roots into daily I want to repeat it under God answer your conscience has the devil washed away most of the rich spiritual soil that you once sunk your roots into daily spiritually with meaningless activity and you let him don't tell me you didn't know you were doing it if the Word of God is first goddess first that's the only way you know God is first if it's second to anything God is second if it's tenth in line God is pink than line don't dare say it isn't Christian you urgently need to carefully take those roots you urgently need to carefully take those roots that are hovering tragically over nothing over a void of meaningless activities you need to redirect them to lead them to redirect no matter what it costs you no matter what you have to throw out of your life no matter how much it costs you in life it'll cost you more if you lose your tender walk with God and privilege and fall you need to redirect those routes that are hovering over meaningless activities and emptiness and you need to sink them back into the soil into the rich spiritual soil of God's Word firstly and foremost sink them back into God's Word once again beloved from the day you're saved till the day you die excluding that one day in your life no matter what the consequences no matter what the circumstances your greatest duty in life is to meditate the Word of God wherever you can and if it isn't you are a total backslider don't blame your work don't blame anything if it keeps you from God we don't even blame the ministry don't blame the work of God if the work of God keeps you from God Himself the work of God is your biggest sin and every other sin will be the result of that don't play the fool with the privilege of your name being not destroyed don't play the fool beloved firstly you need to sink back into God's Word desperately your roots and someone and I thank God it is someone why is it someone because you've got to be doers of the word not hearers only deceiving yourself you live someone you apply your life before you dare to read Psalm 2 or you are playing the fool with God why some wonder 19 the longest passers in the entire Bible beloved there's a reason every verse tells you the essential necessity of why you need to be soaking yourself in the Word of God treasuring it above any gold anything you could attain in life financially any achievement and like anything if it is first God is first and you're safe every verse relates to this in every aspect of Christianity that's why it's the longer but the first ssam you've got to live because before you jump to some - in some tree and start taking promises no there's a condition for God's promises you gotta live it that's why someone blessed is the man who doesn't give time to the things that grip the world verse 2 but his delight his delight all-consuming delight the Hebrews him not one of his delights the other delights fade into significance they have no drawing power because the more you read God's Word the more you want it the more each time you give to God's Word earnestly with all your heart the less time you find for anything that is not essential for your survive o his delight is in the law of the Lord now that's what they had when this was written now we have the entire Bible his delight is in the Word of God and in his law in the Word of God that he meditates that Ted cancels out hurry now you only cancel not hurrying with God's Word when God's words first and sage first there's nothing to hurry - there's nothing Hollywood has that could divert you it just becomes wasted vanity worthless there's nothing only with all its technology can do to put in that box or any in this world that can draw you away from what excites you a billion times more and any persons been excited under what Hollywood can give you the day no matter why is I believe that with all my heart I want to find another man a more excited everyday in this entire world than I am with this book and throg weeping trembling worshiping oh his delight is this makes him blessed he's in the law of the Lord in his law doth he meditate day and night not all day of course you have responsibilities with other things but it may shock you you give God first place with his book and the time your wife needs you won't neglect your children will treasure the memory of you if you give God's Word but they'll curse the memory of if you dig lect that and give them all day you'd be a failure your workplace you achieve you be more diligent more conscientious more worth than anybody else if you don't neglect this book you'll find you don't steal you won't even steal a phone call from the company you it's something of the sensitivity that this book's gives you that the Holy Ghost works in you to the degree you have the mind of crisis the degree you soak yourself in this book but gives us the mind of Christ said Oh in his law doth he meditate day and night not all day no whenever he finds time there's a choice he doesn't hesitate to choose this and not to be drowned and all the devil's giving us to drown ourselves and not find time with strength he doesn't waste his time with worthless distractions endless diversions redeeming the time if he's in five as one goddess lowers us name God assures us verse three he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his reliefs are not with her whatsoever he doeth shall prosper that spiritually is not speaking about financially materially that's trash and that's of the devil that doctor him it's speaking about you will grow where others will fall you will be said you bring forth what's expected of Christian in all circumstances where God and man expected you to bring forth fruit to see the fruit of God the Holy Ghost to see the fruit of this book working in your life there God promises that that will happen to you if you put this book first in your list of what the devil will give you should be first run away no matter what it costs is it worth losing a tender walk with God for the rest of your life the things embrace is vital for your survival and happiness that have kept you from this book and now your roots hovering over nothing spiritually of any worth Oh beloved steer your roots over the chasms the tragic boys that you avoid that your spiritual life now dangerously hovers of steer back to the fertile rich spiritual soil if reason 3 7 that ye being rooted and grounded that's staggering Coliseum's to verse 7 roots and built up in him literally established in the faith as he have been taught you have to be stable and this is the way beloved there's no other way David cried in some 119 verse 37 turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity now we may think that sin Morrow temptations know the literal meaning the close turn away my eyes from beholding vanished from looking at worthless things literally things that are worthless to me verse 47 for I will delight myself in thy Commandments sorry it wasn't David it was Ezra that wrote on 119 firstly you need to lead your roots to steer every Rooter lead ruthlessly back to soak in God's word as the greatest discipline of your life secondly into good literature that opens up God's Word that we have an access to now beloved I believe that the great majority of Christian books today are dangerous forgive me I see a sell onus of diversions that I don't even know what they're speaking about at times I just say God forgive me that I'm even bothering to look at this I even look at the cover knows God forgiveness to even touch it the cover is so defining degrading of Christianity forgive me and what doesn't grip my heart and break me and reach me and throw me in the first few pages I throwed I don't put it up there to say I've got another book I throw it out so nobody wastes their time it might get it of my children but beloved there are books that we would be illiterate not taking that God's given us beginning with pilgrims progress I mean you're illiterate sorry but rough language but you are totally illiterate if you haven't read and devoured pilgrims progress that gift God gave to us second most printed book in the history of the world the first is the Bible the second most read and printed book in the entire world history its pilgrims progress why do you think God did that because it's 90% scriptures literal all in an amazing way given to that man to somehow work in a practical art working of Christianity in daily life whatever we pay it's the Word of God put into practice in a life in all circumstances to show us from the unconverted man coming under the conviction right the day he dies and as he goes to live with everything is his scriptures and because he honors his word above all things God honored that book above all other books about the Bible we need to soak ourselves in that book we need to take what is rarely genuinely you know I tell you when I got saved I didn't dare read a book unless I went to every god-fearing man that I knew that godliest of the godliest and woman and asked their advice what I said read biographies they said one after the other preachers it'll keep the flame going because you'll find that the men don't read the biographies of the new people most of them will die insane read the biographies and their hundreds of men that moved the whole world to God moved millions moved nations to God and who died climbing with their testimony intact integrity their name is the John Wesley's is George Whitfield here are Wesleyan Arminianism doesn't matter to me they're both men of God no hallelujahs anyway they're to get back to my corner Oh beloved go to the biographies of the great men that shook this world and there's unending it the big thick books are too heavy of the charts phonies Andrew Murray Hudson Taylor's go on Oh some little doctrinal differences but don't worry they moved millions to God and the wonderful thing about the biographies is you find they they say the mistakes the failures the weaknesses the fears and you realize men who moved the Word of God like me like you and how they overcame these things and what their priorities was became to survive and to thrive and to Ryan rise up above the others in the world to bring this world to God oh it's a wonderful thing biographies but I would ask who asked the godliest of the godliest of the godliest people you know in your heart you can find for advice and for do not play the fool with books that could divert you to rubbish the God second best be careful because a lot of books today are dangerous and have you diverted to things that aren't the priorities in God's words and emotionally contributes of the devil and I had no doubt of that because of the end of those people's lives oh you need to get back to godly books and not bury yourself but be careful never neglect the Bible for books when you know the Holy Spirit witnesses with your spirit that you haven't neglected the book and that you will walk with God and the witness of the Spirit is in your heart as a result of the time you've spent soaking yourself in the book and then get up and walk with God through the day not leaving him behind in the time but this book does that you walk through the day like Enoch walked with God sir no less but then when you find out the time and it will be there in God's first and take up good books that are there for our well-being and our survival and then good sermons you may say there's no churches very few churches left anywhere where we don't get broken down beginning with the rubbish music they give him it no sermon could mean anything because you're so destroyed broken down by what you were saved from in the nightclubs it's worsened in the church today and it breaks godly people down they just don't know how and how do you preach the gravity of this book after such music and you can get up and dance to the atmosphere oh no or beloved we need to go and realize that even if you can't find as God's word one just will happen in the last days of famine and the Word of God men will crush oceans lands to try and find seeking something of truth being preached that happening that's right now but even if you can't find go there go to the best you can get something out of a hymn that God can feed you something out of the scriptures that are read but seek God and that would be an example and pray for the man preaching pray for those around you be an example in everything beginning with your dress code beginning with your conduct and every statement you can make just here and there it can influence that can stagger people go yes but you can get good sermons the greatest sermons in the world history no the greatest sermons of our generation on the Internet today now I know the Internet can deprave you I know there's dangers but you're safe if you soak yourself in the Word of God let me tell you you hate the evil and love the good to the degree you soaked in the Word of God will stop try you're safe so go on to the website such a sermon index 7 audio and many others but mainly those and listen you can listen to the aw Tozer sermons he's dead and gone you can listen to Reese Howells and the greatest preachers in the world's history Leonard revenue the most courageous preacher may be Duncan Campbell I don't know but these people sermons David Wilkerson these men were men who were valiant for the truth who gave no place to compromise no matter what it costs them and as he and every one of them had to pay the price tremendous persecution undermining and onslaught but they died climbing these men sermons are there even moody you can listen to you can listen to William Booth the beginning even maybe a little tape that was there but you can listen and you need to ask each other to be safe what websites to go - what - look what names to look under and you can be you can get food come from your church yes but you have to go to the godliest group you can find for fellowship and food and get on to the websites carefully prayerfully asking God's protection but getting protection from the godly to know what Simmons they are that will build you up before the devil attempts to wash away the remaining soil before the devil attempts to wash the remaining soil that your spiritual roots are still somehow keeping you from a total for the few roots left that have kept you from a total fall and collapse that will devastate everything yeah you that knows you to be a Christian I beg you to guide those roots now ruthlessly throw out all the things in your life that is not of God that God doesn't want in your life that is not essential for you discipline yourself to redeem the time all the time you have the little time you have left to plant yourselves back into the roots that God has given you sir you have to today as never before we look in shock and sorrow and shame at great men who once were used mightily by God who have shamefully fallen brother sister we dare not look at them judgmentally we dare not look at them judgmentally but as God's merciful warnings to all of us or you may be next preacher take care here today there may be only two defining moments in your god-given ministry firstly the call secondly the form owned artist it may be that the message would be to you a beam from a lighthouse but suddenly will shake you to realize what's about to happen to turn this beam suddenly in the lighthouse that will make you turn in time to avoid shipwreck of your life and ministry but you must not hesitate you dare not hesitate another day another moment there must be a turning point if you are in this danger brother sister you must make that moment now a radical turning the vessel that's leading to crash on the rocks and bishopric your greatest need is to rededicate your life I don't believe you're going to drift back into these things I'm one of those preachers that believe you must make a dedication you must make a turning point that's so dedicated and then these things you'll get the strength to once God has heard your confession you're asking for the cleansing of the things that have turned you away from the vital there has to be a ruthless turning point an absolute surrender Andrew Murray says I love that a full surrender it may be that you once truly experienced a spiritual life it may be that you once truly have experienced a spirit for life by that I mean a spirit controlled life be careful of the word spirit food it can lead you to manifestations and to seek anything but what God says it is all it means is to be controlled he's in new but he's not controlling you look at your life and tell God he is it maybe you once truly experience a pitiful life but through all the diversions you allowed Satan to make you take you're not fully surrendered anymore you're totally taken off the altar it may be that you never came to a place of dying to self at all in Romans 2 verse 1 Paul cries out to Christians I beseech you literally I beg you now if Paul begged I'll beg I'll beg you scripturally I'm begging you brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable should listen he doesn't want a whole dead carcass of an animal the whole animal had to be on to the odor he wants the whole of your life everything on the altar but living not dead a living sacrifice you have to dedicate that God can't do for you what you dedicate he consecrates that you can't do and so Paul begs you and begs me and I beg you through the words of Paul that you do this that he may prove what is that perfect and acceptable will of God and don't throw the side before it's approved of what God that you'd have to come to a place of putting your all back on the altar and seeking God to fill you that is to take complete control is your all and the altar of God the old hymn says wonderful wonderful hymn before going further I just need to take one moment to address the family of the loved ones and the loved ones and those that are have been staggered through such folds of people like your father or your preacher that led you to God that's everywhere don't let this be your undoing let this be the reason you cost yourself so upon God's grace give yourself as never before to the things you've heard in the sermon that you will not experience what those who let you to Christ or your father or your mother or leading Christians that brought you to Heights that you would never reach through their ministry and now they've fallen to shame don't let this be your undoing let this be the reason you seek God as never before even if you've been wounded by the failures of other don't give the devil the privilege of seeing you being destroyed through that and you don't have to be you could rise up to heights you've never known before in your life through this you don't let have to let this be the means of your becoming negative and self-destructive and hopeless and with unbelief you don't do that to yourself of course you can make submit morally as I have spoken of secondly just very briefly you can make sit back as a preacher this when I preach the outside biceps becoming doctrinally that is a great danger here to one of us because I'm preaching to every Christian I hope you're knowing that when I preach to the leaders this could happen to you equally doctrinally hold fast the form of sound words southland of me Timothy 2 Timothy 1:13 Titus 1:19 holding fast sound doctrine as you've been taught you may be able to hold hold sound doctrine exhort and convinced others with it study to show yourself approved unto God a workman that needs not to be ashamed and you will be ashamed if you note rightly dividing the word of truth Titus 2 verse 7 in doctrine showing uncorrupt nurse gravity sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is the country part will have no evil thing to say to you 1 Timothy 1 basics from which some having swerved have turn decides to vain jangling idle talk desiring to be teachers of the law understanding neither what they say no what are they friend and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine turn from it protect yourself omit one to be 119 some have made sibling there may that they those by them might as war a good warfare holding the faith and good conscience which some having put away concerning the faith that makes it break this born in us concerning the doctrine of shipwreck being cast away not because of morally and destroyed to the moral phase but lest by any means after that I've preached to others i myself should be cut away doctrinally or we need to be very very careful yeah you henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive you if he says 4:14 oh I could go through lists of people who once really were fire for God who fallen and are now dangerous to society dangerous to the church there six oh it is fearful it is fearful I touched it last night men I once wept with who in out dangers to the Christianity everyone that comes here then how did that happen Oh Jenny's daddy is a farmer and a preacher more loved across South Africa than most preachers in our history as a nation he didn't go to theological seminar he learned the Bible's aren't working on a tractor plowing the land this godly man that people with degrees from Theological Institute's across southern Africa flocked to hear this old farmer who has never been one day in a theological seminar but God taught him so much as he went to the school of God like job and came out like job no he sings jokes in not with his mouth no charge God foolishly he passed the exam though he slay me it when I trust him I've seen him crying that when he lost everything my father now he once lost everything those farmers lose everything bankrupt that's farming once had trees orchids planted orange Nazis all these fruits that were exported if he were wonderful he really did wonderfully with his son valleys and the valleys of all these altars no one day some man arrived there that gave them a poison that could protect the tree and so he talked him into using his poisons and so they into the sand into the soil was all of us that would protect from all sorts of things that could destroy the tree you know real something wonderfully knew the farming scientists have developed now so of course they did it today these the poison was wrong it went inside the tree and rotted from the inn's nobody knew these trees were rotten being rotted inwardly suddenly led again to four bellies and verus they were ruined as far as they were destroyed but took a lifetime was go through the poison that was urged on you which sounded exciting it sound right another doctrinally you've got to be as guarding yourself that after it's after you have preached to others yourself should be cast away thrown aside rejected disqualified looked upon as a dangerous sect a dangerous heretic and how many are they that I've known that once preached jhooth that once really Walter I don't know how this is comprehendible but it's happened and I'm warning I don't care about touching doctrines I'm not caring about doctrinal differences I'm warning you from my heart for your well-being I'm not here to defend doctrines I'm here to protect the soul but anything God gives me be careful Lord we would be faithful Lord we would follow you and would enter each morning devoted and true at the end of life's journey on that glorious day as we look into your eyes we want to hear you say well done my good and faithful servant enter into my kingdom you have fought the fight you have kept the faith according to my word well my good and faithful servant great is your reward you have been faithful now your race is run well done my servant well done or I was hungry and you fed me thirsty and you gave me drink you served others in my name you spread my gospel without say and you were light in the darkness you were strength to the weary you were my messengers to spread my gospel of life well done my good and faithful servant enter into my kingdom you have fought the fight you have kept the faith according to my word well done my good and faithful servant great is your reward you have been faithful now your race is wrong well done my servant well done. [00:41:10]