Introduction

Good morning, beloved congregation. It is a joy to see you all gathered here today, eager to hear the Word of God and to grow in your faith. The Lord has a message for us today, a message of perseverance, pursuit, and patience. These are not merely words, but they are the very essence of our Christian walk.

In the words of Charles Spurgeon, "By perseverance the snail reached the ark." It's a simple statement, yet it holds profound truth. The snail, slow and seemingly insignificant, made it to the ark through sheer persistence. Similarly, we are called to persist in our faith, to keep moving forward, no matter how slowly, until we reach our heavenly ark.

Today's Scripture passage, found in Hebrews 12:1-3, echoes this sentiment. It reads,

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

This passage calls us to cast aside all that hinders us in our spiritual race. It encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. It reminds us of the great sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, enduring shame and opposition for our sakes, so that we might not grow weary or lose heart.

Perseverance in the Path

The path of faith is not always easy. It's filled with obstacles, challenges, and setbacks. It's a path that requires us to keep moving forward, even when we feel like giving up. It's a path that demands perseverance.

Perseverance is the ability to keep going, to keep striving, to keep pushing forward, even when the going gets tough. It's about not giving up, not throwing in the towel, not letting go of our faith, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. It's about holding on to our faith, even when we can't see the end of the road.

This is what the author of Hebrews is talking about when he says, "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." He's not talking about a physical race, but a spiritual one. He's talking about the race of faith, the race that we are all called to run as followers of Jesus.

In this race, we are not competing against each other, but against the forces of evil, against the temptations of the world, against the doubts and fears that try to pull us away from our faith. And in this race, the prize is not a gold medal or a trophy, but eternal life with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But how do we run this race with perseverance? How do we keep going when the road gets tough? How do we keep our faith strong in the face of trials and tribulations?

Firstly, we need to understand that perseverance is not something that we can muster up on our own. It's not about gritting our teeth and pushing through the pain. It's not about relying on our own strength or willpower. Rather, perseverance is a gift from God. It's something that He gives us, something that He develops in us as we walk with Him, as we trust in Him, as we surrender our lives to Him.

Secondly, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the "pioneer and perfecter of faith," the one who has run the race before us, the one who has shown us the way. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we are reminded of His love for us, of His sacrifice for us, of His victory over sin and death. We are reminded that He is with us, that He is for us, that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Thirdly, we need to throw off everything that hinders us in our race. This includes not only the sin that so easily entangles us, but also the worries, fears, doubts, and distractions that can slow us down. We need to let go of anything that is not of God, anything that does not align with His will for our lives, anything that does not bring us closer to Him.

Finally, we need to remember that we are not alone in our race. We are surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses," a community of believers who have run the race before us, who have faced the same challenges, who have experienced the same struggles. They are cheering us on, encouraging us, praying for us. They are reminding us that we are part of a bigger story, a story of God's love and redemption, a story that is still being written.

Pursuit of Spiritual Training

As we navigate the path of faith, we are beckoned to actively engage in spiritual training ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO