Encouragement: Run the race!
Notes
Transcript
What are you conforming to?
What are you conforming to?
We know what it says in Rom12:2, what not to be conformed to
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
We know according to Rom8:29, what we are to be conformed to
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
In Richard Phillips book (Faith victorious) he asks:
“Do you think of yourself living in the midst of a secular society, with its testimony of materialism and sensuality and relativism? Or part of the family in which you grew up in, OR a part of God’s family in which you were born again into? (expand)
What is your mindset?
What is your mindset?
We know we are to have the mindset of Christ (Php2:5)
We know what we are to set our mind on things above (turn to read Col3:1-3)
1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
(expand: sounds easy, but the world is against us, against it)
Here is our passage this morning and the instructions that bring us encouragement.
Read our passage Heb12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
To run the race, to persevere, to endure in “our” race we are told what we need to do.
Lay aside, throw off every encumbrance and the sin. . .
summarize Col3:5-9
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
Reference Rom13:12
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
What is your mindset? Have we put off, and put on
turn to Eph4:22-24 read
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
or turning back to Hebrews, turn with me to Heb3:12-14
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
Christ our great encourager
Christ our great encourager
Again turn to and read Heb12:2-3
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Enduring hostility, weariness, being fainthearted or losing heart, do it by considering HIM!
Turn to Lk24, with me.
On the Road to Emmaus Jesus encounters, arranges to meet with two disciples that are loosing hope (v.21)
Now, read Lk24:25-27
25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Jesus went on to encourage them by staying with them for a time.
Read Lk24:28-29
28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.
Jesus encouraged them by sharing a meal with them. And their eyes were opened
Read Lk24:30-31
30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
They were encouraged, their hope was renewed and they went to encourage others.
Read Lk24:32-35
32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
This is what our great encourager does to us when we open the scripture!
Run the race picture inserted here
Run your race
Run to win (summarize 1Cor9:24-27)
Come along and encourage and help others to press on and reach for the prize (Php3:13-14)
Only one way to run the race that gets you to heaven. His way (Jn14:6).
Invitation
(Prayer) (Exit)