INTRODUCTION
A. Series “Becoming Contagious” to a Close!
1. “The Stockpile Factor” - Blessings
2. “A Contagious Heart” - Compassion
3. “A Contagious Faith” - Preparedness
4. “A Contagious Race” – Methods of Sharing
5. “A Contagious Storyteller” - Testimony
6. “A Contagious Message” – Gospel Message
B. The Application
God’s Mandate has been looked at each week
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
8 ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
C. Christianity
Last week, we finished looking at the different parts. Today, we bring it together. My prayer is that through this series, you have been able to better understand that Evangelism is a lifestyle! That of living in a way that would be Contagious To Another!
“Many would say Christianity…” - How would YOU finish that statement? Better yet, what would others say your answer would be?
I believe if you asked Jesus, He would say, “it’s about joy to the fullest!”
John 15:11 (lit)
‘these things I have spoken to you that the joy of me in you may be – and the joy of you may be made full’
What does Christianity represent to you? Is it “joy to the fullest”?
D. We Are In a Race for Christ – A RACE OF FAITH!
1. WE all are IN A RACE OF FAITH – How about Your Race?
a. Some have dropped out
Pain, disappointment of a Judas, insecurity, etc.
The Problems of life, storms, have left them in a trance!
b. Some are just going through the motions
They profess to believe – but it really depends on the surroundings!
c. Some are running at full speed but not seeming to go anywhere!
Love the Lord but are secluded in their own little world not really caring!
d. Some are running at full speed and trying to help as many advance in their position!
TEXT: HEBREWS 10:19-25 - 4 ADVANTAGES OF CHRIST IN THEIR RACE.
I. THRU JESUS – RUN WITH CONFIDENCE
READ 19-21
To understand the confidence in which the writer describes, we must understand some history regarding “The Most Holy Place”.
The Tabernacle was a Tent
a. Read Hebrews 9:1-3 – The Traveling Tabernacle (Tent)
Two rooms separated by a Curtain
1st room “Holy Place” – 2nd room “Most Holy Place”
b. Read Hebrews 9:6-8 –
High priest entered the sacred Most Holy Place once per year to make atonement for the Israelites sin. He was the only one that could enter and only once per year!
c. Read Hebrews 9:11-12 – Christ became our NEW COVENANT!
A. Vs. 19 - “By the BLOOD of Jesus”
WITHOUT THE BLOOD, THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS!
We have Forgiveness of Sins (all sins)
Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
We have Access to the Father
Ephesians 2:18 (NIV)
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
B. Vs. 20 – “A New and Living Way”
He gives us a new way of life!
John 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
No more sacrifice – the ultimate sacrifice is made! It’s ONLY JESUS! HE is ENOUGH! SO – RUN –THROUGH JESUS – RUN WITH CONFIDENCE!
II. THRU JESUS – RUN WITH FAITH!
READ 22
James 4:8
‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!’
1. Faith and Drawing Near to God are inseparable! They go hand in hand! You can’t have one without the other! Through FAITH we are to draw near to God!
2. Faith will Cleanse the Heart AND the Body
The priest would become sprinkled with animal sacrificed blood and would then be washed. Through FAITH IN GOD, through Christ, we become washed having our hearts (conscience) purged of guilt!
READ EZEKIAL 36:25-26
But we must DRAW NEAR TO GOD through FULL FAITH – not half hearted childishness and allow Him to Cleanse Your Heart and Your Body! SO RUN – RUN WITH FAITH TO GOD – SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART!
III. THRU JESUS – RUN WITH HOPE
READ VS. 23
‘let us ‘hold unswervingly’ to the hope we profess
‘let us ‘hold fast the confession’ of our hope
‘let us ‘seize and hold fast to …’
‘let us ‘keep a firm grip’
READ HEBREWS 11:1
Many reading this writing were discouraged from the problems, pressures, and persecutions of the church. This life of Christianity was not what they suspected. When they started, it was exciting – the church grew, everyone cared for each other, loved each other, never let anyone down – it was awesome!
BUT SATAN NOTICED AND WENT ON THE ATTACK! He does that to those that are loving God! HAS HE GOT HIS GRIP ON YOU?
WE FORGET THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE & HAVE A MATE DESIRING TO RUN WITH US!
ILLUSTRATION: FAITHFUL TO THE FINISH
In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Derek Redmond of Great Britain was in line with seven others in a semi-final race of the 400 meters. Redmond knelt poised, and as the gun went off, his body was translated into a human locomotion, charging against the other runners.
As Redmond prepared to round the curve after the halfway mark, he suddenly heard a pop. It was his right hamstring. Redmond soon found himself trapped by the searing pain of his leg. The other runners finished the race as he desperately continued his painful hobble towards the finish line. He waved off the stretchers, however, determined to finish the race.
From the stands, his father had been watching. He pushed his way past security guards to meet his son on the track. He then reached his weeping son. “Son, you don’t have to do this.” To which Derek responded “Yes I do.”
His father then said: “Well, if you’re going to finish this race, we’ll finish it together.” With his arm locked around his son, Jim Redmond helped his son to the finish line to the sounds of a cheering stadium.
We have to remember that God is like that in the race we are running. Sometimes we may get injured in the race, but God is always there ready to come out of the stands, put His arm around us, and help us to the finish line.
IV. THROUGH JESUS – RUN SO AS ‘TO PROVOKE’!?
READ VERSES 24-25
The literal is ‘let us consider one another to “provoke” into love and good works’
God’s intent is that we work together by helping each other attain perfect love and good deeds! But so many today want to RUN ALONE!
EVEN CHRIST WORKED WITH OTHERS!
They failed him, hurt him, disappoint him, abandoned him, -THE LIST GOES ON BUT HE STILL DIED FOR THEM.
We tear up the church, start another church, abandon the church, - AND EACH OTHER but yet HE STILL DIED FOR US!
READ VS. 25 AGAIN!
Don’t dessert or abandon the flock. The Bible would describe you as a sheep among wolves. The reason so many things in life require numbers is because the Lord has placed a need in us for other people.
Hebrews 3:13
“but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Be an encouragement. Help your brother or your sister stay on track! Think also of the fact that not only do others need you, but you need others! Again, to think that you are above and beyond that is to have a false sense of pride.
So RUN – RUN SO AS TO ‘PROVOKE’ ANOTHER!
SUMMARY
Jesus is the Key to a SUCCESSFUL RACE. And if we RUN AS HE INTENDED, we will BECOME CONTAGIOUS.
We MUST:
1. Run WITH CONFIDENCE
2. Run WITH FAITH
3. Run WITH HOPE
4. Run SO AS TO PROVOKE One Another
BUT RUN THE RACE
ILLUSTRATION: Bill Broadhurst
Bill Broadhurst was a great runner and he entered a 10k race, a race that he would win in less than 30 minutes. You see, he had a handicap - he was paralyzed on his entire left side from an aneurism early in life. But he still loved to run and for him to be in the same race as his hero Bill Rodgers was the greatest thing he could imagine.
The banners had been taken down, the traffic had begun to flow on the roads, there was nothing left that would tell you that a race had been run – well except for one man, Bill Broadhurst who was still running the race.
2 hours ago, Bill Rodgers had finished the race and now Bill Broadhurst was nearing the place where the finish line was. A couple of kids on bikes road beside him and said "hey mister are you still running the race, it’s been over for hours, someone’s already finished first and won, why don’t you quit, the race is over!"
Broadhurst replied, "I can’t, I have to make it to my hero at the end of the line". And he kept on running.
As he approached the place where he knew the finish line would be, Bill Rodgers and about 30 people stepped out from an alley and they placed a banner up and strung a ribbon across the road.
And Bill Broadhurst stumbled across the finish line. And there stood his hero , Bill Rodgers who took off the ribbon from his neck and placed it around the neck of Broadhurst, and he said, “you a winner because you never quit”.
APPLICATION:
Don’t quit, keep running. Your hero, Jesus Christ is at the finish line waiting to give YOU the victor’s crown of life.
Today, if you are not a Christian, you need to join the only race that will give you a victor’s prize.
And we Christians need to keep running the race. Jesus is at the finish line waiting for you... He wants to place the golden crown of life on your head...
LET’S GO FOR THE GOLD!
