Maybe life has thrown you some curve balls. At night you dream about standing on the podium after the race and hearing the national anthem, seeing the flag raised, and bending low to receive the gold medal. Our natural bent is toward sinfulness and laziness. Jobs can be a distraction. Solomon was a good man. Yes, difficulties will come and trials will cross our paths and often, we will be tempted to quit on God and drop out of the race. Then, run, Christian run! Verse 2 tells us He is the founder of our faith. I As a believer in Jesus Christ, you run a race. Stop looking at the other runners. 13:5.). Likewise, as Christians, we work hard to strengthen our faith to endure the race of faith. Running Gods Race. The same is true in a spiritual race as well. Hebrews 12:1-3; Philippians 3:10-14 We are what motivated the heart of the Savior to go to that cross and die. WebThe aim of the message today is, God wants us to stay in the race! A spiritual champion is one sold out to Jesus, straining to become more like him everyday. WebStaying in the Race-Heb. How many times have you heard a sermon or listened to a Bible Study or read a book about following Jesus and said to yourself: "I've got to try harder to be a better Christian"? 2. I would only be able compete in a triathlon by training for a triathlon. WebWe need to run with endurance the race that is set before us. Yes, difficulties will come and trials will cross our paths and often, we will be tempted to quit on God and drop out of the race. (. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV) The Race of Faith. Jesus Christ Himself is our greatest role model for You will run the race. We have statistics on every person in the entire nation on computer. Cake and late-night slumber parties were not the only thing I needed to lay aside. Have you ever watched the Olympics on TV? Like the orange cones on the roadway that indicate the path of a long distant race, God has marked out a race distinctive for you that will take you on an adventure. He was rejected, hated and opposed by the audiences who came to hear Him speak Matt. The Hebrew writer gives us insight and direction of being a witness to others. Attributes of people who finish what they start. Hebrews 12:1-4, Denomination: They endured unspeakable pain and suffering, still they ran. In the spiritual arena, this refers to anything that hinders our walk with God. The Greek word means One who begins or originates, and thus it is translated author, founder, and pioneer in different versions. ( Philippians 3:14) Run the race that is set before you. I pray that youll finish the race, and that youll finish well. Bible Truths and LIFE Applications The writer of Hebrews spoke of this race, "Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us" (Heb. David Wilkerson (1931-2011) September 28, 2017 Your ongoing trial may involve physical suffering, unemployment, children who rebel, faithless friends, mental distress, turmoil or pain. While the destination is the same for everyone - a life like Jesus, the journey that gets us there is different for everyone. Both of these passages speak of It takes hours of training. WebTwelfth Sunday After Pentecost. They did not quit until the race was finished. Forever! We looked together are two primary passages, Psalm 61:1-3 and Psalm 62:5-8. read more, Scripture: Winning is not beating the other runners. He should always be the focus of our faith because He is the giver and wellspring of faith. The writer of this text uses the illustration of a race to 2. The Believers Authority by Kenneth E Hagin(PDF), C3. Yes, difficulties will come and trials will cross our paths and often, we will be tempted to quit on God and drop out of the race. We will be rewarded if we run the race God has set for us and not the race He has set for someone else. It does mean that they are witnesses to the faithfulness of God. 1:6-9), GODS JUDGMENT OF THE RELIGIOUS MAN (Rom. But it is worth it. You Might Feel Like You are By Your Self, But Just Stay In The Race." Like the marathon run, this race has no time outs, no breaks, no intermissions, and no halftimes. Do you need encouragement tonight? There are many sins that could be mentioned at this point, but the idea in this verse is that particular sin which trips you up. D. Consider His Resolve Verse 3 tells us that Jesus endured must to finish His race. read more, Scripture: Sermons on Staying the Course. God makes us all winners when we cross the line. b. 12:2 Msg). Those who persist prevail. WebSTEPS FOR STAYING IN THE RACE Intro: Nowhere in the Bible are we promised that the Christian life is going to be easy. Each look at Jesus would strengthen us to endure and finish well. But, we must remain focused! Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Rick Ezell on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM. 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. C. Consider His Reward Jesus ran well and when He finished, He sat down with the Father in His throne! The one who selected unattractive, unlikable, and unreliable men to be his followers and loved them to the end. 3. The lighter the endurance runner, the swifter the runner. 2. The first few steps felt easy, and my way was clear and bright. Look to Him this evening, get rid of those weights, strip off the besetting sins and make up your mind to run a patient race. INTRODUCTION Jesus Christ Himself is our greatest role model for If you have tripped and fallen, don't stay there. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. We must seek fellowship among other believers and let our fellow church members encourage us in the faith. You are thinking since you're already on the ground, there's no point in getting back up. (Ill. Thats why Jesus ran! Glory to God, that will give you a second wind to be able to run your race with patience!). WebWe need to run with endurance the race that is set before us. Jesus is the creator and sustainer of the universe. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. We must be temperate in all things. Photo credit: Unsplash/Jonathan Chng. The good news is Jesus made us lightweight runners. 1 2 3 4 Next For our lesson today, we are looking at the life of King Solomon. They did not run perfectly, but they ran. In a quarter mile, that's a long distance to make up. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. c. Giving our attention to things like music, television shows, movies, etc that do not focus our minds on the Lord. Topic: *DONT RUN THE RACE FOR FUN, RUN TO WIN* We must run lawfully, i.e., according to the Scripture rules of the race. It all comes down to one question: Will you engage in the training so that you will have the endurance to run the race? They were merely common men and women who evidenced a profound faith in God. ", You are surprised because the farthest you've run in years is from the couch to the refrigerator. INTRODUCTION read more, Scripture: Ultimately, He will bring us to our long-awaited reward: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.. The race you are running has been prepared just for you. D.H. Groberg in his poem "The Race" describes a young boy who ran a race, falling many times, yet finishing. Progress and coronation. We need perseverance as Christians. 2:16ff, 7. Stay in the Race Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1, NAS). The same is true in the Christian life. Likewise, the great need for spiritual races is persistence. In fact, often the opposite is true, John 16:33. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. o Strongholds are birthed and dwell in deception (which are lies and false beliefs), so naturally the cure is to bring the truth in God's Word on the scene. II. Jesus is our joy. Stay fit to win, May the peace of the Lord be with you. February 25, 2021. If you have tripped and fallen, don't stay there. Introduction It is what you live for. Every ounce counts in a foot race. Hebrews 12:1-2, Denomination: Personal discipline is essential if we are to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. read more. For Him, the joy was the day of redemption that would bring about the following: 2. The goal is not perfection, but progress. He waits for us on the other side. In the Bible, we can find many stories of those who have stayed the course during difficult times. A Closer Walk with God. The secret to winning the race, to truly live a Christlike life, is to order our lives around those activities, disciplines, and practices that were modeled by Christ, in order to accomplish through training what we cannot now do by trying. The race gives purpose to life, hope for the future, and a reward in glory. We will persevere by maintaining a Christlike attitude even in the midst of trials ( 1 Peter 2:21; 4:1; 1 John 2:6 ). We will be rewarded if we run the race God has set for us and not the race He has set for someone else. Our course has been individually designed! In the Bible, we can find many stories of those who have stayed the course during difficult times. 9:24 HCSB). Maybe in your race you've been knocked off your feet a few times. Charles Jr. Pastor-Teacher at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville and Orange Park, Florida. Endurance refers to patience, steadfastness, perseverance. In 1968, the country of Tanzania selected John Stephen Akhwari to represent it We have come together to honor the life and service of Meryl Wolfe, Mike Seilhammer, and George Gauker. Veterans whose memories take them back thirty-five years and in some cases longer in the history of athletics were unanimous in the opinion that Liddell's win in the quarter mile was the greatest track performance they had ever seen.". For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. Evangelical/Non-Denominational, This Christian life we live is a race, make sure you are in the best of shapes always. Has life ever been so that you wanted say, Im not doing this church thing anymore? You get tired of the same old, same old in churches that go onYou get tired of people in the church acting like people in the worldYou get tired of trying to live this Christian life and always failingYou keep hearing the preacher say one thing, and culture say another , God wants us to stay in the race! In: you are surprised because the farthest you 've been knocked off your feet a few times is if! Against Himself, so that you wanted say, Im not doing this Church thing anymore Father His! 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