EVERYONE WANTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL--WE ALL WANT TO WIN. SADLY, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL NOT. WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE? PAUL HERE GIVES US THE PATHWAY TO TRIUMPH FOR THE CHRISTIAN.
I. THE ACTIONS OF THE WINNER--V. 12.
A. APPROACH-- “WORK OUT”
EFFORT INVOLVED NOT A FREE RIDE TO GLORY.
B. APPLICATION-- “YOUR OWN”
WINNERS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES.
C. ATTENTION-- “FEAR AND TREMBLING”
CAUTION AND CARE--NO PLACE FOR CARELESSNESS.
II. THE ACTIVATION OF THE WINNER--V. 13.
ACTIVATED AND ENERGIZED BY GOD ALONE.
A. TO WILL--PURPOSE
DETERMINATION, DESIRE, INTENTION
B. TO DO--POWER
DESIRE WITHOUT POWER LEADS TO FRUSTRATION.
III. THE ATTITUDE OF THE WINNER--V. 14.
A. “MURMURRINGS”--GRUMBLING.
REVEALS A DEFIANT ATTITUDE SPRINGING FROM SELF-CONFIDENCE.
B. “DISPUTINGS”--MISTRUST.
REVEALS A DOUBTFUL ATTITUDE SPRINGING FROM MISTRUST OF GOD
C. SUBMISSION AND TRUST ARE THE WINNER’S ATTITUDE.
