Page 8 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

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“I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, Having identified the prize as a name (the Bride of Christ) and
I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, a place in God’s House (New Jerusalem) that is better than
I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. sons and daughters, let us now look at the criteria that defines
the race we must run in order to win the prize. Paul spells out
FINALLY, THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME three things which he himself did in order to lay hold of an
THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, imperishable crown: “I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith”, and so must we. Our
WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, fight is with a three-fold enemy: the world, the flesh and the
WILL GIVE TO ME ON THAT DAY, devil. Paul establishes himself as a pattern to be followed (Phil
3:17, 1 Cor. 4:16). No one will be crowed unless they run by the
AND NOT TO ME ONLY, BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO rules of the race ( 2 Tim. 2:5). Notice the mandate,”I kept the
HAVE LOVED HIS APPEARING.” 2 Tim. 4:7-8 faith.” This is important in light of Paul’s prediction that “...in
the latter times,some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim.4:1).

The second criteria for running the race is that
of dealing thoroughly with sin. A. W. Tozer
stated it this way:

“DEAL THOROUGHLY WITH THE ISSUE OF SIN,
OR THE ISSUE OF SIN

WILL DEAL THOROUGHLY WITH YOU.”

“...SIN LIES AT “DO NOT LET These two passages, one from the Old Testament and one
THE DOOR, SIN REIGN IN from the New, convey clearly that God intends for His people
YOUR MORTAL to reign over sin in their lives. Grace covers sin, but was
AND ITS DESIRE never meant to be a license to continue in sin:
IS FOR YOU, BODY,
BUT YOU THAT YOU “SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN THAT GRACE
SHOULD RULE SHOULD OBEY IT MAY ABOUND? CERTAINLY NOT!” Rom. 6:1
OVER IT.” IN ITS LUSTS.”
“THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH
Gen. 4:7 Rom. 6:12 WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES.” Gal. 5:24

“DO NOT BE The third criteria for running the race for the prize centers
CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, upon our ongoing warfare with this present world. “Conformed
or transformed” is the issue at stake. The world seeks to
BUT BE TRANSFORMED conform us to its mold, but the Word can transform our mind
BY THE RENEWING to think differently about the world. The world lies under the
OF YOU MIND sway of the Wicked One (1 Jn. 5:19). The direction of this
world is according to the Prince and Power of the Air, Satan
THAT YOU MAY PROVE (Eph. 2:2). All the philosophy that is in this present world (the
WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) is
ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT stated as not being of God. Also, the Word tells us that
whoever loves this present world does not really love God (1
WILL OF GOD.” Jn. 2:15-17). The apostle James tells us that if we are a friend
of the world, then we make ourselves the enemy of God (Jm.
Rom. 12:2
“AND DO THIS, KNOWING THE TIME, 4:4).
THAT NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE
OUT OF SLEEP; FOR NOW OUR SALVATION The fourth criteria for running the race deals with the issue of
IS NEARER THAN WHEN WE FIRST BELIEVED... laziness and indifference. Paul tells believers it is high time to
LET US CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS AND awake out of sleep since our salvation is nearer than when we
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT. LET US WALK first believed. Nearly two thousand years have elapsed since
PROPERLY...PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, Paul gave this warning. How much nearer do you suppose is
AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, our salvation today?

TO FULFILL ITS LUSTS.” Rom. 13:11-14 Paul charges the believer with the responsibility of “knowing
the time.” God commended:

“THE SONS OF ISSACHAR WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING OF THE
TIMES, TO KNOW WHAT ISRAEL OUGHT TO DO...” 1 Chron. 12:32

Paul tells us here in Romans 13 exactly what the church
ought to be doing in light of the time in which we live.