(Presentation Awarded)

INTRO: During this series we have looked at three different aspects of Running To Win. First, we looked at the preparation needed (or "Get Ready!"). Last week, we looked at the participation contributed (or "Get Set!"). And today, we will look at the presentation awarded (or "Go!").

I want to summarize quickly the ground we have covered…

As we looked at "Get Ready" we saw two main points, we need to…

Consider all things -"⁵But watch thou in all things…" - vs. 5

And we need to Continue on - "…endure afflictions…- vs. 5

In that message we saw…

We also saw the need for us to…

IF we are going to be like Olympic athletes, we must get ready.

In Last week's message, ewe looked at our

Foremost Purpose and Full participation

Foremost Purpose - "…do the work of an evangelist…"

Full participation - "…make full proof of thy ministry."

2 Timothy 4:1-8 ¹I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. ⁶For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸Henceforth 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.

Today, I want to focus on verses 6, 7, and 8. Paul here is telling about his winning his race and receiving his crown. Paul was ready. He had done his job. He had run his race. He had no complaints.

Let me tell you today, there will be no mistakes when it comes to our receiving our rewards.

It will be a great day when we stand before the Lord at the Judgement Seat of Christ as believers. - 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Just as the athletes stand on the podium in great happiness and joy, we too will stand before the Lord and hopefully receive our crowns of righteousness.

Lets get started…

" For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." He then summed it all up in verses 7 and 8. " I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸Henceforth 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."

 First, we see…
His finished task

And then we see…
His fabulous time