Focus on Jesus
Hebrews 12:1-13
Introduction
Wednesday night changes:
- Dinners begin on March 5 – every other week
- Bible Study / Sunday school class – Cross-talk and discipleship
- Growths happens when we share experiences
- It is time to grow, by being honest and encouraging one another
Tonight’s focus is on servanthood through Jesus’ leadership in our lives
It’s so easy to panic and jump ship when things get tough, only to find ourselves in deeper trouble than had we stayed and seen the journey through.
Consider Jonah for a moment – had he not ran from God, he might have not had to spend three days in total darkness in the belly of a whale!
Consider Judas for a moment – had he been submissive he would have not had to deal with the guilt of turning in Jesus to the authorities.
Let’s look at a passage that encourages us to stay the course in submission to Christ.
Turn to Hebrews 12:1-13
Paul gives us some very unique perspectives on Christian leadership and tonight I want to see if we can explore and discuss some of them together.
It is very important as Christians that we understand where God is moving, that we see where God has called us, and that (most importantly) we are faithful to obey and follow the Master.
Let’s explore the concept of “going the distance” and “going with discipline” and see where and how God would speak to each of us.
Pray
Point 1 – Go the distance (read v1-3)
The most important principle in running a race is to keep our eyes on Christ.
Paul is stating as fact that we must remember that we are surrounded, constantly, by a great cloud of witnesses. These are the Saints in whose footsteps we are following.
This is not following after just any-old people, but Paul uses the word specifically here – he calls them “witnesses”.
Question: What is a witness? How would you describe a witness to another? What is your witness tonight to Jesus?
Verse 2 says that we must fix our eyes on Jesus.
Going the distance requires a proper focus. It means you die to yourself and look to the one who finished your faith for all of life’s needs.
Some would say that Jesus should be the only thing in our focus, but we don’t always live that way, do we?
Question: What is the importance of looking toward Jesus in this life?
Paul reminds us that we should consider him (Jesus) who endured opposition at the hands of sinful men. We should consider the life Jesus led and the death He died and be very mindful of that example in our own life, not just on Sun/Wed.
When we spend time focusing on ourselves, Jesus is no longer Lord.
When we spend time ensuring that what we have to say or do is more important than worship – Jesus is not Lord.
When He calls and we don’t answer – Jesus is not Lord.
When our own family does not see Jesus in you – Jesus is not Lord.
We need to take encouragement from the fact that He was (and is) real! That He lived a life so that we could gain strength from it – and not to spend time wrapped inside of our own worldly needs.
Jesus came to this Earth to teach repentance and forgiveness, and not to be wrapped up in our own sinful ways. This happens all over the place from Sunday morning to Sat night – we feel that we have it down and I am here to confess that even I don’t have it all down.
Question: Can you be honest right now, and admit where you have struggled?
Let me see if I can encourage you to be honest with one another.
Question: Can you admit (and possibly share) where you have failed to keep Him at the center and thought of taking care of things yourself?
Application: Jesus has given us a model to follow, because He wants us to live better than we currently live – to live honestly and upright – rather than defeated and with our heads down between our legs. This is the devil’s plan for us – so who wins in your life is your decision.
Point 2 – Go with discipline (read v4-13)
Staying the course requires the discipline of God in our lives. It means that there is more to following Jesus than lip-service – it means there is a devotion required. Take the example of the runner trying to win the race, doesn’t he practice? Doesn’t he train? Isn’t he prepared to run and go the distance?
In order to win life’s race you have to be involved in the preparations.
Discipleship is a life long process, and not something that we just get and call it done. You will be done being disciplined when you are in Heaven, so we can never say that we are “good to go”.
Now, honesty time when it comes to being faithful to what God desires.
Question: Who here has a quiet time and would be willing to share what it involves?
This is what training is. It is being faithful to study and to read and to meditate on what God says to your heart.
In the Bible many godly men and women rose early to meet with God. Some of these were:
Abraham--Genesis 19:27
Moses--Exodus 34:4
Job--Job 1:5
Hannah and Elkanah-1 Samuel 1:19
Jacob--Genesis 28:18
David--Psalms 5:3; 57:7,8
Look at Verse 5 again – some are being disciplined now (expound ...)
God requires of us faithfulness, and anything less is disobedience and it is sin against God that we must confess.
Paul is writing so that we may understand that it takes more than a one time thing to serve God whole-heartedly. It is a life-long process.
Question: How long do you think God should discipline you?
Re-read verse 10
When God gets a hold of your heart, and he changes it, that changing time is never a good thing – it is something that many of us simply avoid because it is too painful.
But, once you allow God to work, and you allow God to make the change in you- several things start to happen. One is that we get right with God. Our lives become something more pure in His eyes because we are following Him, and not ourselves.
We see Jesus for who He is and we look to Him for guidance.
Discipline requires not only faithfulness, but endurance.
When verse 10 says that God disciplines for good – it means that once we accept the discipline and we change, THEN He begins to move onto something else. If God is continually beating you over the head tonight about one specific thing, it means you have not changed.
Sometimes, we get real good at tuning out the voice, don’t we? Don’t we reach a point where we convince ourselves that we are good to go and don’t need discipline?
We must not reject but embrace and endure discipline, for it is proof that we are sons and daughters of God.
No discipline? Maybe you need to have a talk with the Lord and be sure you are hearing His voice!
God will never stop disciplining us because we are not perfect, but through His Son we are made perfect.
Conclusion
Are you focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ?
We have read directly from God’s Word, in terms that we can all understand, that there has to be a change to our lives by following Jesus.
Question: Have you experienced God’s discipline lately?
Question: Are you submissive to change when God says to change?
God requires no less than complete submission to Him and focus upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith!
When we get that in our lives, and we get it grounded in that, then the messages God brings don’t sting as much.
Paul says to “count it all joy” when we have to go through trials and tribulations, and we need to be faithful that God knows what He is doing – we just need to follow.
Pray
Sermon outline written by Rev Melvin Tucker, 2008
