1 Cornithians 9:27

1 cor 9:2 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The word beat is the same word used in Luke 18:5 where the man gave up because he didn’t want to be worn out through her persistent asking. The idea of beating the body is to persistently keep beating it, through trials, hardships or a continual focus in itself. Make the body a slave means self control and self discipline. Think of the idea of breaking the horse. Their wild spirits won’t allow anyone to ride it, but through the breaking process (in some cases, through force) they submit and allow what the owner wants.

You must beat your body until your body will allow you to do what you want. A slave to you for your ambition which is to do what God wants. Your body is a slave to you, you are a slave to God. (Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.)

The Prize: Referring to the words before, his prize is people. He becomes a slave to people in hopes to win them (v19) and to save them (v 22).

Disqualifying yourself means you break the rules that are set in a game. Our life is set by the Word. If we break them, aren’t we being hypocrites? We preach things, yet if we don’t follow them, how are we suppose to win those who we are trying to save? Walk the talk.

Overall application: Focus and self discipline. Focus on yourself and your actions. See characteristics not worthy of God and discipline yourself. (Since your last two characteristics that needed to be tweaked is laziness and to be a selfless servant, work on those. Focus on what needs to be done or could be done. Look at others and see if they need anything that you can help with. Keyword is to look. Don’t let good deeds be done just because it is convenient but rather God told you so. That means, go out of your way to help….)