“Run the race to finish”
“How we run the race will determine if we finish.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
Sunday Morning Sermon
06.10.07
Intro: (Start with Title and Text)
If the Christian life is a race – my question this morning – are you running the race to finish it? Are you preparing yourself, your family, your spouse, and your children to finish the race? I will never forget what my father in law told me about my spiritual responsibility, right before we got married – it was my duty to make sure we were in church, active in fellowship and growing in our relationship with God. My responsibility increased when we had Hailey.
Sometimes I think we get the idea that we should be running this race, but we’re in it all alone – Actually the opposite should be true – the church should be a place of confession, encouragement and love – people who are willing to run beside you in this Christian life. Really the goal of the church should be to take those who are inactive runners and help them – start or start up again, and then run beside them. Unlike church league softball this isn’t about winning this is about finishing.
Discussion:
I don’t want you to quit – I don’t want you to walk off the track, I don’t want you to look around, make excuses or get discouraged. Yet I know the very nature of the Christian life – it’s sometimes easier to walk off the track than it is to keep going. Church, I’ve been there in my own Christian life – at different stages ready to walk off the track. I’ve had good friends – men I would trust with anything, walk off the track, away from Christian service. My prayer for you this morning – is that we together would keep running this race that is the Christian life – and although discouragement might come our way – although challenges might present themselves – we would keep running, to finish.
Are you running the race to finish it?
The author of Hebrews – that sounds so official – it was Paul – Paul writes a house church in book of Hebrews. His encouragement to them is the same as my prayer for us – is that we would keep going, regardless. We would keep running – regardless.
Turn with me if you have your Bibles to (Advance) Hebrews 12:1-3 (Read)
I see three things this morning – three things that will encourage you to keep running – your Christian life – Remember the goal is long term.
(Advance)
I. Look Behind you (1)
98% of the time when you are running a race this is not the proper thing to do. In fact the quickest way to lose a foot race is to look behind – take your eyes off the finish line and put them on those who will only pass you if you slow down.
a. We should look to our past – for encouragement
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…
i. We can receive hope and encouragement
1. From those who have gone before us
2. Those who remained faithful and did things because of their faith.
3. Those who suffered loss, and kept going
4. Those who had excellent victory because of their faith.
It’s not so much that they are looking at our lives – but that we are looking at the lives of Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Rahab – the list goes on and on. Paul’s encouragement to the house church – you want to run the race – remember the old stories, remember times gone by, remember the victories that God gave his people – and know he hasn’t changed and will give you the same. Listen, church the same God who told Joshua to fear not, I am with you always is the same God you pray to – and we have the same promise. Are you running the race to finish it?
When you line up to start the race – don’t bring your robe.
Actually, a runner in those times would strip down to almost nothing – so that he would not be hindered in running the race. Which is why Paul would tell the house church – and they both went to these races – they would have been familiar with this process – you get rid of and remove anything that hinders.
b. The Christian life is no different
If you truly want to run the race to finish it, if you are honestly leading your family to run the race so they can finish it – get rid of what does not belong in your life. It can be a sin (probably not though, cause he will deal with that in a moment), or it can simply be a distraction.
I heard a story about a man playing golf – it’s getting late and his wife was getting worried – He gets home at midnight. He explained that he and his buddy bill were playing along 2 under par the best he’s ever done – then on the 6th hole – Bill had a heart attack – so he played and then had to drag bill, played and then drag bill. Get rid of the things that do not belong in you life. Anything that hinders running the race – does not belong in the life of the Christian. Now he deals with
c. Sin – that so easily entangles
I have come to the conclusion that people like their sin. People, Christians too, have the idea – that we can control our sin – that we can cuss like a sailor around our friends, and somehow turn that off when we are around the preacher – ‘cause you can’t cuss around the preacher, and if you do – wooo, you have to apologize 3 hundred times – that makes everything right with God.
Listen to me – hear what I am saying – you can not, and will not run this race, and finish it – if you are holding on to sin.
d. This is not easy sin – Everyone can stop the mild stuff
i. This is the stuff that you are holding on to
1. The hate and anger from the past
2. The resentment of those around you
3. Self-righteousness
4. Greed – love for money
5. Sexual sin – we can still preach against that right?
The mistake that we make is that we can just put our small toe in the water– 99% of the body is dry if the small toe is in the water – but before we know it – we’re all wet, not only that but we’re getting out to jump back in – and we’ve stop running the race. We’re tangled up in something we thought we could control.
Allow God to handle your sin – allow him to remove those things in your life – that don’t belong – ask God – if something doesn’t belong – you could justify it to me all day – this is between you and God.
We’re going to take the time right now to ask God to show us what doesn’t belong.
Pray with me – Gracious God
Show me what does not belong in my life
Give me courage to allow you to deal with it – I want you to deal with it and remove it – I want your victory in my life.
If I need to say that I’m sorry – give me your strength, and knowledge
Amen.
All of that is preparation for what’s next – and this is meant together so we are going to prepare ourselves to run this race together. When I ask you are you running the race to finish – I want you to shout – YES WE ARE (it’ll be on the board). Let’s try it once – Are you running the race to finish – (Advance) YES WE ARE!
Two very important things about the race
e. It requires perseverance
i. What do you think is going to keep you away from the things we just prayed about? Perseverance.
ii. It is not a contest of speed but one of stamina
The idea is a distance runner – it requires great skill and strength – not the sprinter who just runs fast.
f. It’s course is already set
i. God has a will for your life (Advance)
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV) – For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
1. Holiness – Blamelessness
He went to great lengths to make sure you could be holy and blameless. Some choose the course that God has for them – wherever that takes them, and some don’t. Some choose to run the race and others simply don’t. Regardless God has a plan and purpose for your life – but he’s not going to make you follow it.
2. It’s your choice to follow
3. To seek after him – (Advance)
Jeremiah 29:13 – (NIV) – You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
4. He wants to be found –
There is no huge mystery when it comes to God – he requires a child like faith and a heart that seeks after him – Honestly – he takes care of the rest – He will bring you to growth, and as you grow and are taught – change happens in your life. You step on that track and run the race like you are going to finish it.
If looking to those behind us – those in our past – getting rid of the things we don’t need – and seeking after God will keep us on the track here’s another thing. (Advance)
II. Look to Jesus (2)
Literally – “Fix your gaze”. This is the difference maker right here. If you keep your eyes on the savior – you will not walk off the track. Stories of old times are good for encouragement – this is good for all things.
a. If my eyes are on Christ
i. I’m not looking around – making excuses
ii. I’m not influenced by sin.
I’m not in another world – removed from this one – this doesn’t mean you are singing all 16 verses of Amazing Grace when someone is hurting and in need of encouragement – Jesus would help, Jesus would love, and Jesus would encourage. The more We focus ourselves on who Christ is – what he did in situations, how he reacted to sin – what he taught – the more we begin to look like him. That’s why Paul tells the church in Corinth: (Advance)
1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV) – For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Jesus is what this is all about – and he should be the focus of your life. So let me ask you – are you running the race to finish the race – (Advance) YES WE ARE.
Notice what it says Jesus is and what he did:
b. Jesus is the author and perfecter
The word “Perfecter” actually means Accomplisher or finisher – “One who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith.” This is not something he could have done from heaven. He could have been the author – the writer of our salvation – but for him to perfect it – he had to live it. Because he lived it, you and I can do the same – we can live it. We can embrace who Jesus is – and be that to the world.
c. He endured the cross – scorning its shame
i. He went to the cross – when he didn’t have to
He could have saved himself from the cross – he could have come down, and removed himself from the situation – but he didn’t. He could have chosen the temporary satisfaction, of proving himself right, but he didn’t.
Biblically, the cross always comes before the crown. That’s just the way it works. I know some of you this morning – you are facing your cross – a bad home life, a difficult marriage, feelings of being alone, depression – if you find yourself in those situations – don’t give up. Jesus didn’t give up.
d. He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
i. He has a place of honor – because of what he did.
ii. If you endure through this life – if you stay on the track and run to finish the race – there is a place for you as well.
I’m asking you – are you running the race to finish it? (Advance) YES WE ARE!
If you will do this third thing – you won’t walk off the track (Advance)
III. Consider Him (3)
Again this is all about Jesus – but what we are to think about is different. (Advance)
John 15:18 (NIV) – If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
a. The would will hate us
i. This is a promise –
If you keep yourself and your family on the track running the race to finish it – the world will not like you. You will lose promotions, you will lose friendships, your life could be measured in loss – here’s why:
b. Sinful man
i. Will act sinful
Even inside the church – We have a great fellowship here – But I do remember one time Amanda and I were ignorant and we got caught in a congregational meeting after church – WOW – the language, the frustration, the accusations – it was like they ask Jesus to leave with all the non-members. It was bad.
– Remember Jesus’ greatest opposition didn’t come from tax collectors and sinners – but from those who considered themselves righteous. Paul calls them “Sinful man”.
c. If it happened to Jesus --
i. It will happen to you
The opposition won’t come from the church – but from the outside those who have power and authority over our lives.
He reminds us of all this – so that we won’t lose heart – so that we can prepare, and realize when opposition comes – it happened to Jesus, and he endured it, so can we.
So let me ask you – are you running the race to finish it? (Advance) YES WE ARE.
Conclusion:
A world-class woman runner was invited to compete in a road race in Connecticut. On the morning of the race, she drove from New York City, following the directions -- or so she thought -- given her over the telephone. She got lost, stopped at a gas station, and asked for help. She knew that the race started in the parking lot of a shopping mall. The station attendant also knew of such a race scheduled just up the road and directed her there.
When she arrived she was relieved to see in the parking lot a modest number of runners preparing to compete. Not as many as she’d anticipated; an easier race than she’d been led to expect. She hurried to the registration desk, announced herself, and was surprised by the race officials’ excitement at having so renowned an athlete show up for their race. No, they had no record of her entry, but if she’d hurry and put on this number, she could just make it before the gun goes off. She ran and, naturally, she won easily, some four minutes ahead of the first male runner in second place.
Only after the race--when there was no envelope containing her sizable prize and performance money-- did she confirm that the event she’d run was not the race to which she’d been invited. That race was being held several miles farther up the road in another town. She’d gone to the wrong starting line, run the wrong course, and missed her chance to win a valuable prize.
Let us determine here and now that we will run the right course set before us – that we will stay on the track and keep each other on the track – not so we can just run – but so that we can finish. Let’s pray.
I have the power point for this sermon ready to send via email free -- just email me with the name of the sermon in the subject line. Jaywmc@aol.com
