Spiritual Gifts part 207: As we run, what was authorized becomes appropriated.

Spiritual Gifts Part 207: As we run, what was authorized becomes appropriated.

The word for “race” in HEB 12:1, agona, is in other places translated as a “fight”. It can mean a contest, a fight, or a battle.

The combat objective in the angelic conflict is to seize and hold the high ground of the “supergrace” life: the life of the spiritually mature believer .

We are to flee from some things and pursue other things instead.

“Flee” is the present active imperative of
 Φευγω
pheugo
= to run away (literally or figuratively); by implication, to shun.

to move quickly from a point or area in order to avoid presumed danger or difficulty - “to run away, to flee, flight”.
“ to escape, to avoid.”

Other verses in the NT epistles tell us to also flee fornication (1CO 6:18), idolatry (1CO 10:14), and youthful lusts (2TI 2:22).
 

“Pursue” is the present active imperative of the Greek verb
διώκω
dioko
= to pursue (literally or figuratively).

to follow with haste, and presumably with intensity of effort, in order to catch up with, - “to run after, to chase after, to pursue.”

to move quickly and energetically toward some objective - “to hasten, to run, to press forward, to press on.”

to do something with intense effort and with definite purpose or goal - “ to do with effort, to strive toward.”

Did you ever experience as a reality in your soul that you cannot do both of these at once?

JOH 17:3
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

The verbs in verse 12 are in the present MIDDLE imperative.

ἀγωνίςομαι
agonizomai
= to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary),

to strive as in a contest for a prize, straining every nerve to attain to the object

to strive to do something with great intensity and effort

ἐπιλαμβάνομαι
epilambanomai middle voice
= to seize

to learn something about someone, with the purpose of seizing, arresting, or overcoming

It is middle voice because it means
to grasp something, in the sense of to acquire for oneself.

Congress uses a two stage process: Authorization and Appropriation.

1. Authorizing legislation. This creates or continues an agency or a program as well as authorizes the subsequent enactment of appropriations.
 

2. Appropriations. This is the enactment of appropriations to provide specified funds for the authorized agency or program.