Let us turn in our Bibles to the ninth chapter of First Corinthians. We'll go right into our study. I'm glad to have our friends at Radio Land tuning in with us. These studies and how they're blessing our hearts. I would that I could teach, try to do the best I can, to give it to you as the Lord gives it to me. As we study the Word of God together, there's nothing better that I know, to get familiar with the Word of God, to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to make the Word of God, the Bible, our companion. We're in the 27th verse We left off with the 26th last week. There was so much there. But now we're entering into the 27th. I want us to go back to the 23rd verse and read through the 27th. The 23rd of the 9th chapter of 1 Corinthians. And you bring your Bibles every time you come, and we'll give you thus saith the Lord, right from the Word of God. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize. Now, as we told you before, he has reference to the games, the Olympic games, the runners, the racers. And only one can win the prize when they participate in those games. So run that ye may obtain. So run that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is tempered. That is that one word that has to do for us in this race that we have to have is temperance, self-control, to adjust ourselves to this race And Paul has reference here to this race of faith, to the race for the rewards. Everyone has the opportunity of receiving the rewards. So he tells them, he said, now, so run that you may obtain. And he tells you now in that 20, tells us in his 25th verse, what efforts we must put forth, and how we should run it. Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things, not some things, but all things. Now, they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, those that ran in the Olympic Games, And even today when they run for rewards and prizes, they do it for a corruptible crown. But we, an incorruptible, a never-fading crown. I therefore, the Apostle Paul said, now I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beaded the air, But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection. And we'll find out what he means by that word, how you bring it in subjection. Lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Well, let's look at the 27th verse now. But I keep under my body Keep it under, and we'll tell you what that word under means. It brings it into subjection. In other words, let it be subject to you. Don't you be subject to it. Lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Now what does he mean when he tells us he keeps his body, he keeps under my body. I keep under my body. Well he means I bruise my body. I bruise it. I bruise it. Now here we have the adversary mission on which he was thus striking his effective blows upon his body. That body. It was his body, the body of the flesh. Colossians 2.10 speaks of it as the body of the flesh. Romans 7.23 speaks of it as the members, as the seat of sin. That which in its affections and lust was ever hostile to the inner man, the spirit. His energetic treatment the apostle expresses by a term borrowed from the athletic exercises of the Greeks. Like a boxer, like a boxer, I buffet my body. I buffet my body. I handle it roughly. I discipline it by hardship. You ever see a boxer train and how he toughens that body? He, well, he does his preliminary training. He boxes with others. They punch him and they They buffered the body to harden it, to fit it for the rough going ahead. He said, I buffered my body. I handle it roughly, discipline it by hardship. You know, there's one thing people are doing their best today to escape work. trying to escape as much work as they possibly can, not knowing that God has ordained work for us, every one of us. And in working, working, work hard, and by working hard, you come to discipline the body. a person who doesn't work and doesn't exercise, or, well, he just drifts and drifts, becomes soft, and he's subject to all types of things, all types of sins, yielding to all types of things, a lazy individual. But it's good to work, my friends. Work. Work is good for you. Work to harden that body, to toughen that body. And when you come to the end of the day, that body's tired, it's ready to relax. It's ready to go to bed and go to sleep. But now it seems like they're They're, I don't know, they're doing away with long hours of work in many respects, shorten the work week, give people more time and opportunities to go out and in the world and use it for leisure. And we even have our TV sets in the homes. They sit before those TVs hour after hour. They're eating their TV's dinners and their meals and all of that. That makes them soft and subject to anything. And temptations are easily yielded to. But let me say, let me speak to the believers. Let us take this admonition here this evening. the example of the Apostle Paul. He said, be ye followers of me. As I follow Christ, you follow me. And the Apostle Paul gives us these instructions here, this admonition, and he takes his own life. He said, now for me, he said, I buffet my body. I buffet my body that it does not get the upper hand. I handle it roughly and you read of the sufferings of the Apostle Paul and you see that all he went through for the cause of Christ and how he was disciplined by hardship and subdue it, he subdued his body. Now let us keep in mind what the Apostle Paul is speaking of here. He is speaking a reward for service, not for salvation. The Apostle Paul was saved, he gave his testimony of saving grace. If you read over in Galatia there, at least the first chapter in the first epistle of Timothy, the first chapter, and then you read about how God saved him, But now he's speaking of reward. And that's what I'm interested in. And if you're a believer, you're interested in that too. I don't think there's any believer listening to me that will say, well, it doesn't matter whether I get the rewards or not. I'm saved. Praise the Lord. I don't believe. The believer can honestly say that from the heart. Because the rewards are to be given. God's going to give rewards and glory. And it's how we follow him here and how we are loyal and true to him here as his child. Whatever capacity, office, or place that you're in, if you're occupying that to the glory of God and giving it all you have, you have a reward in glory. He told the same thing to Timothy. when he passed the ministry on to Timothy. He said, now Timothy, my course is finished. And I have a reward in heaven waiting for me. And not only for me, but for all, all they that love the Lord Jesus Christ and love his appearing. He said, I think it's foolish for a believer to say I'm uninterested in reward. I think it is. It's very foolish. Because there it is for us, otherwise it wouldn't be here. So he had in mind here a reward for service. When he says, but I bruised my body, he means by it the mortification of the flesh. by privations, labors, sufferings, sufferings endured inconsequent of his devotion of his calling and his renunciation in this respect as we studied before of all support. He didn't ask for support for himself. Now my body As the Apostle goes on, I'm paraphrasing a lot of this, my body is not to be the Lord of me. That's what the Apostle Paul is speaking of here. My body is not to be the Lord of me. I am to be the Lord of my body, sustained by the grace of God, I am to keep every physical appetite in its place, lest if I become careless," now you listen, and self-indulgent, and bring dishonor upon the name of the Lord, lest that by any means I, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway, which means that be disapproved of the Lord." Now the word disapproved carries with it this meaning. Upon entering a race, the participants who came out victorious had to face an examination. Now I read the papers quite a bit, and I read a few stories. And I've noticed even in the horse racing, when the horse, when they would ring that bell and the horses would stem out from it and the racers won. Before they can name that horse who finishes first as the winner, they have to examine that horse to see if it wasn't given some kind of stimulants and different things like that that will quicken the horse, daring, bold, and put extra, I guess, physical stamina in it. And if it was found with any of those things in him, the horse was disqualified. Now that's what the Apostle Paul is getting to here. Now you have the idea, now listen to it. Upon entering the race, the participants in these Grecian races, he's talking about the Olympics of his day, who came out victorious, they had to face an examination. If it was found that they had contended unlawfully or unfairly, they were deprived of the prize and driven with disgrace from the games. How many have read that story about that great runner, that Indian runner, Thorpe? T-H-O-R-P-E. One of the greatest athletes of this century. And he won every medal that was to be won during the Olympic Games. And usually the only ones that participate in those games are non-professionals. But after he won everything, they began to examine his records and found out that one time he played baseball and he played for money. and that disqualified all of his medals and it like to broke his heart. Because he took a few dollars playing professional baseball. It like to broke his heart. He thought it wouldn't be discovered. But listen my friends, listen believer, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and he's given out the rewards. Then, if we've done everything that he's, within his will, that he's led us into, and we were faithful unto him, loyal in the place he's put us, then we shall be approved of him. and given our reward. But listen, let's go on a little further. Now, as I just stated, they were disqualified from the race, and were deprived of the prize or reward. In other words, they were not disqualified from the race. Now, we're all in this race, but let's run it rightly. Let's run it according to the rules. And the Word of God is a rule for our hearts and for the practice of our life. Listen, they were not disqualified from the race, but they were deprived of the prize and the reward. Well, in the same manner, the apostle was concerned about the rewards that the Lord promised every believer who abided faithful. He wasn't afraid of losing his salvation, the Apostle Paul wasn't afraid of losing his salvation, but the rewards. I read where someone defined the word cast away as meaning that the Apostle felt that after all he had done for the cause of Christ, that there was a possibility he might be lost. I read that commentary and I praise the Lord for the spirit of truth. He gives us a spirit of discernment. I could not understand. I know what the pastor meant now when he said, many commentaries you might read and it just doesn't sit right with you. Of course, that doesn't disqualify the whole book itself. But there's some things you just cannot accept. Where the Apostle Paul, what he meant here was that he would be eternally lost forever. But now how can we prove that the Apostle Paul was saved? How can we? Or how can you prove that you're saved? All right. Let's see what the Apostle Paul says in regard to this assumption. First, I want us to turn our Bibles to Romans, the eighth chapter. The eighth chapter of Romans. and let the Apostle Paul speak for himself. Begin reading with the 28th verse. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, now you see the Apostle Paul includes himself there. If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifyeth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. The Apostle Paul includes himself. Now look at the 35th verse. Who shall separate us from the love of God? Does that sound like the Apostle Paul was lost? Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him, that loved us. Does that sound like the Apostle Paul would be lost? For I am persuaded, and the Apostle Paul says, I am convinced, I know with surety, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." Does that sound like the Apostle Paul was thinking about being lost? Was he fearful of being lost? He certainly wasn't. He wasn't fearful at all. If you look at the 7th chapter of Romans, look at it, at that 15th verse, listen, For that which I do I allow not, For what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now that it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. For to will is present with me, and how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. And he cries out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? With the next breath he says, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. He thanked God for the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't that wonderful? Can you do that tonight? Oh my friends, I thank God for the Lord Jesus Christ. I do. Then, if you will turn to the 8th chapter again, that 18th verse, listen to it. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Isn't that wonderful? Then Galatians, the first verse. Turn over to Galatians. I mean the first chapter. The first chapter of Galatians. Begin reading with the 15th verse. Listen to it. But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace to do what? To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen immediately. I conferred not with flesh and blood, but when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace to reveal His Son in me. And that's wonderful. That's salvation. How can any preacher or any teacher or any individual say otherwise can ever come to any conclusion the Apostle Paul was afraid that he was going to be lost in the end. And that's what that word cast away means. It means disapprove. It doesn't mean lost. It means disapprove of God when God gives out the rewards to the believers. It is the idol, now you get this, it is the idol and the self-indulgent individual, that's always indulging himself, that is always in doubt about his salvation. And there are many individuals who are in doubt about whether they saved or lost. Saved or lost, they don't know whether they saved or lost. But it's that individual who is always self-indulgent. He lives close with the world. He's fulfilled the desires of the flesh. He has never been completely separated from everything. Now, it's that individual that is always in doubt about his salvation. The word disapprove is also used for complete disapproval. You may be a church member, taking more or less a part in so-called Christian work. But see to it, my friend, that there is a real work of grace in your own soul. Or the day may come when you will be utterly disapproved And you will find yourself outside the number of those who enter into the Father's house in that day. But because your life, not because you were once saved and no longer, but because your life has proved that you were never truly born of God. And you can be in the work. Now let me read that again. This is something that struck with me. You can be in the work, given the best you have, just as faithful as can be, and still miss heaven, if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, if you do not know the grace of God. Let me repeat again. See to it that there's a real work of grace in your own soul, or the day may come when you will be utterly disapproved, and you will find yourself outside the number of those who enter into the Father's house in that day. Not because you were once saved and are no longer, but because your life has proved that you were never truly born of God. And how many preachers have come and gone, have preached from this pulpit, who's turned on the truth, turned away, who's turned upon our late pastor. They can be in the same boat that the Apostle Paul is speaking of here. Do you know you can be a preacher and yet lost? Just because you're in the work is no sign you're saved. Just because you're doing religious duties is no sign that you're saved, or that you'll ever get saved. Unless that will is broken, unless that rebellion is broken, unless that heart is tendered, unless there's obedience on your part, and you're brought into subjection to the voice of authority, there's no way in the world that you can be safe until that happens. You don't know how careful I watch the workers. I watch their actions. Because I know that you can be in the work. As many people are in religion, you can be a leader, you can be a mission leader and still be lost, unless you know the Lord Jesus Christ, the grace of God in your heart. Unless you're able to say, I know whom I have believed, and then your conduct will tell if you actually believe. It's your submission, being submissive unto the will of God. God tests his people. He tests every individual in the sound of the gospel. He does it for a purpose, to bring out what's in the heart. If Christ is in the heart, there's obedience. There's a willing spirit. There's a tender spirit. On the other hand, it could be an obnoxious spirit, a harsh word, a cutting remark, a critical spirit, and a self-will. I will not listen. I will not obey. I'll do as I please. That's the echoes of hell. That's all it is. Those echoes of hell. Well, we've gotten through that 27 verse. And what gracious thoughts there for us to think upon. Lord, do you know Christ as your Lord and Savior? You know, everything, my friends, is going to be made manifest in that day. It's better to be stripped now. It's better for the sham and everything to come off now. It's better to be exposed now. It's better to undress now of all of that self-righteousness. It's better to be broken now than at the great white throne, judgment. Then you'll be stripped before everyone. And then you'll be shown as a fake. Oh, may God hear us. May every one of us in this house tonight take note of what's been said. give ourselves wholly and completely unto the Lord. God hasn't gone off and left us. He's still in the saving business. He's still saving sinners in spite of others who will not yield, who will not break, who will not confess Now, we're through with that chapter. We have a gracious chapter ahead of us in the 10th chapter of 1 Corinthians. I just, I believe I'm gonna wait till next week and start with that chapter. But I believe the Lord's left us enough to think about tonight. You know, it's the greatest thing in the world to know the Lord. Greatest thing in the world to know him. I don't know why he saved me. I don't know why he called me, separated me from my mother's womb, revealed his son in me. I don't know why he called me in the ministry, but he did. As the pastor, But he's put me here, and everyone who rises up against me will go down in defeat. Every voice that's raised against me will go down in utter defeat. That's the heritage of God's servant. No weapon that's formed against me is going to prosper. He said they may gather against thee, but it won't be of me. I will not leave him. And you can be sure as God's people, as you belong to the Lord, everyone, every tongue that will voice criticism against you will go down in defeat, will go around and go away in derision, in confusion. God will confuse their hearts and minds. They will not give an opportunity to save them and to be broken. And therefore, God's gonna send them a delusion to believe a lie, whereby they'll be damned in the end. That's how serious this matter is, this ministry is. It's not like any other ministry. God has ordained this ministry for this day in preaching the gospel. And if individuals don't want to hear it here, they'll not hear it anywhere. If you won't be saved here, you won't be saved anywhere. And they've gone out from us, they've gone out preaching, making preachers of themselves, and preaching truths that they have learned here, but never experienced in their own heart. Sure, anybody can ape the late pastor. I could. But where he learned, I learned. Where he was taught, I was taught. And I don't have to go around trying to imitate another man's ministry, or try to ape another man's ministry. I don't have to do that. I go on and preach the gospel. I preach the Word of God. I don't have to build on another man's ministry. I'm not building on another man's ministry. I'm building on that sure foundation, Christ, the cornerstone. And the Holy Spirit is adding to it, taking this jewel and this jewel and this jewel and putting it all together into a house unto the Lord, to the glory of God. Yes, we are aware of Satan's devices. But when we walk in the will of God, and he's leading us, we don't have nothing in the world of fear. Nothing at all. Others have risen up against this ministry. They've gone down. Others have tried to destroy it. They're gone down. We're going ahead. And this ministry has a bright future ahead of us. It has. It has. I praise the Lord for it. And we are to defend the faith. Defend it with our life, if need be. Unto death. Contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Contend for it! Fight! Battle on! Every one of us. Not just me, but you too. Every one of us. Get in this thing, battle along, for the glory of God, for the salvation of souls. Victory lies ahead. Victory lies ahead. God's given us victory now. And let's buffer these old bodies. Let's mortify the deeds of the flesh. Those things are not pleasing unto our God. And we'll be renewed in our hearts and minds by the Spirit of God. May God help us. Glad you came. I'm going to let you go now. Turn to the Lord, will you? Turn to the Lord. Let's stand.