“let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”
Hebrews 12:1
It is near the end of the race that the heart is tried, and passions are revealed. To gain the crown of Life, one must dig deep into the resources promised to all, yet which only the victor receives.
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”
1 Corinthians 9:24
Much of the gospel of today has been stripped of any sense that we are in a race, failing to comprehend that there is a prize awaiting those who run with diligence and endurance.
“I press toward the mark for the prize…”
Philippians 3:14
Paul uses the analogy of the Olympic athletes of his day. The Spirit of God dwelling in the heart of every believer should impel them “to run the race set before them”.
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
1 Corinthians 9:25
Too many of God’s people do not even realize that we are in a race for the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”! Rather, they are content to believe in Jesus, settle into a life of mediocrity, and wait to gain some ethereal mansion in heaven after they die.
Paul concludes his short dissertation with a declaration of faith!
“I therefore so run…”
1 Corinthians 9:26
Do we not feel the great press of His Spirit within?
“So run, that ye may obtain”
A gospel that carries no impetus, no zeal, no purpose, no sense of the divine race to which we are called is an indictment on our generation. Feeble declarations of “the work of God is enough for me” so I need not trouble myself regarding my salvation, create lives without passion and direction.
“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (ESV for clarity)
Disqualified?? The preachers of today would tell him, “Paul, don’t be so hard on yourself. God loves you just as you are; relax”.
May God bring a fresh renewal of the living truth that we are in a race to lay hold of the prize. May we find places in God, wonders hidden in the Son, so that we may overcome the ethos, the passivity and the indolence of this hour.
Read the letters of the Spirit to the seven Churches in the book of Revelation; feel the rebukes, the warnings, but most of all the promises of God to each. The promises, though offered freely to all, are only realized by those who overcome the error and the evil that characterized each location of the Church.
The Spirit cries out in this late hour:
“So run, that ye may obtain!”
Let not thy hand be slack, let not the slumber of this hour overtake you as a thief that would rob you of your heavenly inheritance. Lift your voice to all who would hear:
“Let us go on…!”
Hebrews 6:1
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16
SEND THE FIRE
“God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
’Tis fire we want, for fire we plead,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For pow’r to walk the world in white,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!”
– William Booth (selected verses)
Related Post: Thought for Today
Related Vision by Tony Puccio: Running the Race
Brian Troxel
Do you remember commenting on this last June of 2024?
Running the Race
I had a dream 06/13/2024 where I saw a running track with runners on it. I saw the finish line with an individual waiting to crown the victor. Then I saw 3 individuals, although there may have been more, but it is these 3 that were prominent in the dream as they represent 3 hindrances to finishing the race.
The first individual, although physically fit, was greatly struggling to walk let alone run. Then I was shown what looked like a concrete slab, picture a segment of sidewalk, attached to his leg by a chain.
The second individual had in their arms what looked like dolls that were piled above his head thus restricting his sight.
The third individual seemed to be very gaunt and I watched as he was blown by the wind all over the track and therefore was unable to focus on the victor’s crown awaiting him at the finish line.
The interpretation is as follows:
The slab pretty much crippling the first runner was called unforgiveness.
The second runner was hindered by idolatry thus his inability to focus on the goal of finishing the race. Idols are those things in one’s life that can keep an individual from serving the Lord with a whole heart and even take the individual out of the race completely.
The third individual being blown all over the track is described in a Ephesians 4:11-15.
Ephesians 4:11-15 (NKJV) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
This is an individual not submitted to sound doctrine but rather chasing doctrines that appeal to his fleshly desires
Send me the link I will add it to this post.
Blessings
BT
https://tpuccio.wordpress.com/2024/06/14/running-the-race/
Updated.
For your blog and response, beloved brother Brian, praise be to Yah!
I thank our God of wonders that I am pain-free and enjoying immensely walking through the village, countryside, or along the harbor daily, seeing and savoring His very Presence shown forth over all His creation. Imminently, in the holy, happy highlands of heaven hereafter, I expect I will be jumping up and down, leaping, doing cartwheels and backflips, and reunited with beloved beings, including my horses, to the glory of my Forever First Love and All Magnificent Obsession, the One Whom I am mercifully enthralled to brag from and capaciously brag about.
Romans 1:20 AMP
For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.
Oh, to the Three-Personed God, Who omnisciently is presciently the Truth and Justice of Love Almighty, so very much temporarily and especially eternally, such as His ceaseless compassion and constant companionship, we, in all actuality and supernality, harbor to be ecstatically glad and awe-saturated, wondrously grateful for. Most certainly, He, Himself no less, is our heavenly Inheritance, our exceeding and eternal great Reward. Alleluia!!!
Concerning insomnia, I would appreciate prayer; I strongly suspect prescription medication is insidiously interfering.
Mercy, grace, and peace multiplied to you, your family, and your readers in the ravishing revelation of the preeminent perfection and prepotent power of the One Beautiful God’s beautifying, peerless Presence as the Author, Architect, and Artist of our lives. Amen to Amen, the Almighty
Romans 8:28-39 AMP
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].
31 What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? 32 He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect (His chosen ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself]. 34 Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. 35 Who shall ever separate us from the love of [d]Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written and forever remains written,
“For Your sake we are put to death all day long;
We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. 38 For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Alleluia!!!
https://youtu.be/jbjg2jCp0gs?si=n4HZf-U78yKQQg1H
Re Run The Race
Thursday 26, 2025 | North Korea
Open Doors estimates that there are 60,000 Christians in prison for their faith in North Korea. Pray that somehow, even in the darkest places on earth, they would know God’s love and presence with them. Pray that God would shine as a light through them.
Get involved praying daily and giving financially for our brothers and sisters of Jesus, for the love of Christ and His and our love for them!
https://www.opendoorscanada.org/get-involved/pray/
Open Doors International
https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/
Amen.
Excerpt from Open Doors Canada:
Life in North Korea is dangerous. It’s illegal to be a Christian or even own a Bible. If you’re caught with a Bible or found out to be a Christian, you and likely your whole family will be imprisoned.
Today, there are approximately 60,000 Christians imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ. This means there are more prisoners of faith in North Korea than there are prisoners in the prison system in Canada.
These imprisoned believers face interrogation, torture, deplorable conditions, and hard labor with little food. Would you pray for the thousands of brothers and sisters in North Korean prisons?
A powerful word, Brother, thank you.
Heading to India to preach the Gospel – prayers appreciated
Prayers for protection/provision for spirit, soul and body/passion/perseverance preaching/divine appointments/heavenly connections/fine fellowship with the saints/eternal harvest of blessing for the many, all by the mercy and grace of and to the splendorous sufficiency of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We love you, my brother.