Pastor Niran Seriki Easter Retreat Saturday 4th April 2015.

See me through, Lord Jesus, See me through x2

There is a race I must run and there’s a Victory to be won,

Give me grace every hour to be true.

The Christian life is a race and every Christian needs to realise this truth as we live our lives daily. A race in English language dictionary refers to a contest, an onward movement; an onward or regular course, the course of time, the course of life or a part of life. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/race

A race has an Aim – to begin and end

A race has a Beginning – You have to start it

A race has Contestants – there are others involved

A race has Difficulties – could face challenging moments

A race has Expectations – expectations by people watching

A race has Foes – people and things that can stand in your way

A race has Goals – to reach the end and win

A race has Happy and Hurting moments – when you are right on track and when you appear laid back.

A race has Instructions to be followed

A race has Joy and Jubilation for those who end it well

A race has Preparations – you don’t just get into it without adequate preparations

John 3:1-7; Lk10:20; Lk14:28-33; Phil 4:3

Every race has a beginning and a preparation. The race to Heaven surely has a preparation and a beginning as well. Heaven is so far and you cannot embark on this journey without adequate preparation. You cannot win a race that you do not begin.

Different types of believers in the Church today

Fallen believers – fallen out of grace – Rev 2:1-5

Faltering believers – unstable, rising and falling

Faulting believers – always seeing other people’s faults and never examining themselves

Falsifying and forgery minded believers – living double standards & hypocritical

Futile believers – received God’s in vain – 2 Cor 6:1

Different types of believers in the Church today

Frivolous believers – never serious with spiritual things

Fruitless believers – not bearing the fruit of righteousness & soul winning - Lk 13:8

Fearful believers – fear to do the right things because of persecution and being misunderstood by others

But the Lord wants to make of us –

Faithful believers – “be thou faithful till the end” – Rev 2:8-10.

Fruitful believers – Jn 15:1,2.

Fulfilled believers – are you fulfilled in your service to the Lord? Are you sure you are at the very centre of God’s Will for your life? Are you fulfilling the purpose of your creation, conversion and calling?

Fertile believers – is your heart fertile to receive and grow the Word of God?

Be determined - Ps57:7 - my heart is fixed

Be decisive – Lk 9:23 – take up cross and follow the Lord

Be diligent to make your election sure – 2 Pet 1:10

Be disciplined in your Christian life – 1 Cor 9:27 - I put my body under.

Keep focused- Lk9:57-62

Lay aside every weight Heb 12:1 - Overweight Christians will have difficulty winning any crown - just like a man in a race - being overweight works against victory.

Listen to God's Instructions and delay not to do them – Ps 119:60.

Be sharp-eyed - able to detect obstacles in the way

Not swayed by spectators' noise or public opinion

Cleanse yourself from all filthiness - flesh & spirit - 1Cor7: 1. Picture your body & look at what you do with your members- your head, tongue, hands, feet, etc.

Keep your heart with all diligence- Pr 4:23; Mk7:21

Put off & put away all hindrances and practices that can lead you back into sin - Col.3:8; Eph 4:22-32

Be constantly prepared for the Coming of the Lord or for death - Rom 13:11-14; 1 John 3:1-3.

Remember, “for here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come". Hebrews 13:14.

Remember only “he that endures to the end shall be saved”. Mt 24:13.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”. 2 Tim 4:8.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”. Jam 1:12

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”.1 Pet 5:4.

“Fear none of those things, which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life”. Rev. 2:10.

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown”. Rev 3:11.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”. 1 Cor 9:24-27.

Hebrews 11, the Heroes’ Chapter and in fact, the whole Bible contains the names of those who made it to the end – From Abraham to the prophets, from the Apostles to the New Testament Saints.

Some people started the race but did not finish it to win the crown –

GEHAZI - 2 Kgs 5:25 – Covetousness did not allow him

THE YOUNG PROPHET -1 Kgs 13 – Partial obedience and resting by the wayside as well as deception by the old prophet

JUDAS – Acts 1:25 - fell by transgression, love of money and greed

DIOTREPHES – 3 Jn 1:9 – love of pre-eminence, position and title.

DEMAS – 2 Tim. 4:10 – “having loved this present World”

Whose name will be next?

Not mine! I believe and pray, not yours!