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The Prize Fighter from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

While on his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul spent 18 months in a town called Corinth. It was one of the wealthiest and the most immoral of the ancient cities, and Paul's letters contain several stern corrections to them, including one church member who was "having" his father's wife (1 Corinthians 5:1). 

Paul established a church there and later wrote them two lengthy letters, 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians. Corinth was a large and significant city on the tip of Southern Greece, right near Athens. When the Romans conquered the area, they made it the new capital of Greece.

The Olympic Games and sporting events were as big in Paul's day as they are now. Corinth was the center of the Isthmian Games, which were second in prestige behind the Olympics. The Isthmian games were held every six months and drew huge crowds from across Greece. 

The Apostle Paul took inspiration from the culture around him. He uses examples taken from arena competitions at least twelve times in his letters and includes examples of runners, boxers, gladiators, chariot racing, and trophies. 

There were dozens of pagan temples there, including the temple of Apollo at the center of the city and temples to Athena and Aphrodite. There were fountains, a theater, and a thriving marketplace. It was a beautiful city and a hotbed of immorality. Corinth had a reputation. In ancient Greek, to "act like a Corinthian" meant to practice fornication, and a Corinthian Companion meant prostitute. Aphrodite, aka Venus, was the goddess of sex and fertility and was widely popular with the Corinthians! 

The Apostle Paul saw it as a great place to set up shop, and he worked there as a leatherworker and tentmaker, probably in the marketplace, along with Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:3). So when Paul wrote this to the Corinthians, he used language they were sure to understand:

(1 Corinthians 9:24–25 NASB)  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Athletes competing in the games had to train for months to join the competition. They had to exercise moderation and say no to some things which were fine for everyone else. They had a higher calling, and if they did not take their training seriously, they would have no chance of winning the prize. 

(1 Corinthians 9:26–27 NASB)  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul now switches from running to boxing. He said he disciplined his body and made it his slave. Disciplined is a weak translation, as the original Greek text means to "give a black eye." Paul taught his body that "No means no!" Paul's body was the servant, and his spirit was the master. 

Paul didn't mean to punish your body like some through the centuries who would whip, beat, and torture themselves to pay for their sins. Jesus Christ paid for our sins, but we need to be led by the Spirit, not our fleshly desires. The lusts of the flesh have to be brought under control. 

Being disqualified probably does not mean losing one's salvation because a Greek's citizenship wasn't revoked if they lost the game. They just didn't receive the prize they could have. 

Paul goes on to share the story of the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt. They all left Egypt, passed through the Red Sea, ate manna, and drank the same water, and they followed the cloud. Yet, the Lord was not happy with most of them. Then Paul says they were an example for us today.

(1 Corinthians 10:6-7 NASB)  Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”

Eat, drink, and play was the focus of the day, and by play, it means drunken orgies. So even though the Israelites had all these spiritual privileges, they still didn't please God, for they loved the creature more than the Creator. They were not even thankful for what He had done for them, even bringing them out of slavery. They murmured and complained and wanted to go back to Egypt. 

(1 Corinthians 10:8–9 NASB)  Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.

(1 Corinthians 10:10–11 NASB)  Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Fight the good fight. Forget what is behind and focus on the road ahead. The past cannot be changed, but today is the first day of the rest of your life. Pull yourself together and build yourself up in the Lord as David did. Focus on the prize. Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). 

(1 Corinthians 10:12–13 NKJV)  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Too many try and make the Bible toothless and remove or ignore any offensive reference. But Jesus Christ was crucified by religious people who hated Him because He told them the truth, and all His apostles except John were martyred because people were offended. The Apostle Paul was beheaded in Rome. 

(Acts 20:29–31 NKJV)  For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

We should remember Paul and not ignore his warning:

“If it happened to Israel, it can happen to you.”

You can pray this with me if you like: 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the things I have done wrong. Teach me, lead me, guide me today into all that You have for me to do while I am here. I want to be a part of what You are doing on Earth today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!