Keep On Running!

“KEEP RUNNING!” Hebrews 12:1-2

FBCF 8/24/25

Jon Daniels

INTRO – https://sermoncentral.com/church-media-preaching-sermons/sermon-video-illustrations/run-6437-detail

This coming Friday – 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina – Massive Cat 4 hurricane that hit the MS & Louisiana coast in 2005 killing over 1300 people & causing $200 billion in damages – one of the deadliest & most costly natural disasters to ever hit the US.

We all have our Katrina stories – Finished our FLC @ MBC in April 2005 – Katrina hit in Aug. In bldg design, put showers in bathrooms “just in case we needed to be a hurricane shelter” – Hwy 27 one of main evacuation routes out of LA.

- PK Conference in Mobile that Fri & Sat. I had not been paying attention to weather. AM – “Louisiana brothers… After lunch – “MS brothers…” – FD mtg that night.

- Ron Mumbower began a revival w/ us on Sun, Aug. 28. Preached AM service, then we canceled remainder of services. Vicki, Rachel, & Russ headed to Cleveland – took them about 6 hours

- People began showing up, mostly people from the 9th Ward in NO.

- Stretch limo showed up packed w/ food

After the storm passed, so many things had changed.

- Lives were changed.

- Landscapes were changed.

- Livelihoods were changed.

- People would never be the same.

- Families would never be the same.

- Communities, neighborhoods, & cities would never be the same.

- And we’re still talking about it 20 yrs later.

What brought about the change? Power! – the unstoppable power of the wind & the power of the waves. And while the vast majority of the changes that Katrina brought were negative, I want you to consider this w/ me:

We had an “event” here this past week. And we witnessed the power of God in our midst.

- The wind of the Spirit of God blew through us.

- The waves of the presence of God swept over us.

My phone dinged & rang all week during the revival & after the revival.

- People wanting the revival services to continue

- “Got me so fired up”

- “In all my years, this was the most powerful revival I’ve attended.”

- Church member wanting to find their place of service as a result of the revival – “just going through the motions is not enough”

- “Sunday morning revival still seemed to be an abstract concept. By Monday night, it’s as real as you & me!”

- “Can’t believe how blessed we are! Thank you so much for praying for us, following the Lord’s lead & bringing Dr. Leblanc to share the Word w/ us this week! It was incredible!”

- Larry himself said, “That was the best revival I’ve been a part of & I love your people.”

Today, I want us to consider what we should do now. What’s next? How do we continue to build on what the Lord has done & is presently doing in our lives? Was this a “one & done” experience & we’re back to “business as usual”? Was this just us going through the motions? Or was this for real? Will we see ongoing evidence that real, Spirit-led revival has come to our lives & to His Church?

As your Pastor, I firmly believe that God has begun a new work in the hearts of many of us & in the collective heart of this Church. The old hymn says, “Revive us again, fill each heart w/ thy love, may each soul be rekindled w/ fire from above.” That’s what HE has done! He has revived us – He has refilled us – He has rekindled us! So, LET’S GO! We cannot stop! We must not stop! We must press on & keep on running the race of the Christian life! The Gospel demands it! The lost world needs it! Jesus is worth it! This is true for those of you who came every night of the revival as well as those who couldn’t come to any of the services. Don’t want you to feel left out b/c the message is the same – the call of God is the same – the opportunity for revival is still the same & is still just as available today as it was each night this past week.

EXPLANATION – Hebrews 12:1-2

The main theme of book of Hebrews is JESUS. You might say, “Isn’t that the theme of the whole Bible?” & you’d be right. But the book of Hebrews makes it abundantly clear that Jesus is greater than any angel, any priest, or anything that mere religious performance has to offer. Larry challenged us to make sure that we weren’t just going through the motions or relying on our past experiences. And the writer of Hebrews does the same thing. Jesus is superior to anything & anyone, so keep living for Him & keep running toward Him!