Putting Faith into Motion
Griffith Baptist Church – 2/22/09
A.M. Service
Text: Hebrews 12:1-2
Key verse: Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Premise: This life is a race and faith will be our strength that helps us finish strong. But we have to put into practice the three vital components that will us win that race.
The Introduction
A few years ago, at the 2002 Winter Olympics, there were five finalists for the Men’s 1000 Meter Speed Skating Race. During the final lap, the American and Chinese were out front with the Canadian and Korean skaters hot on their heels. Australia trailed behind obviously destined for last place. As they came around the last curve for the final straightaway stretch, everyone gathered around the television, on the edge of their seats cheering for America to pull out in front. The winner would receive the Olympic Gold medal. Suddenly, the Chinese skater slightly bumped the American and sent both of them careening into the wall as they spun out of control. With no time or space to get out of their way, the tangled mess caused the Canadian and Korean skaters to also spin out of control and join them in a tangled heap of arms and legs. The Australian skater pushed by the heap and shouted to the top of his lungs as he crossed the finish line, “Gold! I won the Gold!” This was so great! You see, he won the Gold for no other reason than he crossed the finish line! He finished the race! He was not the fastest. He did not set any records. He just simply didn’t quit or get tangled up in the mess around him.
This Christian life is likened to a race (1 Cor. 9:24; Gal. 5:7)
There is some important information to note:
o We are not in a race with each other – this is not competition to be the most holy (remember the disciples wanted to know who would be first in the kingdom of God- Mark 9:33-37)
o We are not alone in the race – we have Jesus Christ, theses witnesses and each other to help us along the way
o The race is long, but it does have an end – heaven and eternity with Christ
Three factors for a strong, race to the finish faith
Body
1. Training – 1a
A. A man once went to a training conference where a course was being taught on how to improve your memory. He spent nearly $200 on the books, tapes and worksheets for the course and brought it home. When he arrived at home he stored the course and then went about his daily business. He confessed later that he never started the memory course because he forgot where he put it. When God gives us tools for training, we need to use them.
B. Take advice from experienced athletes - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
i. The witnesses mentioned are those in Hebrews 11
ii. Witness (martus) = martyr – one who gives testimony or a witness for God who dies because of that witness
iii. We look to those who have gone before and follow their best faith
C. Get rid of what will slow you down - let us lay aside every weight,
i. What are the “weights” that we should remove so that we might win the race? Everything that hinders our progress. They might even be “good things” in the eyes of others. A winning athlete does not choose between the good and the bad; he chooses between the better and the best. Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Heb 12:1
ii. Illustrated in the blind man casting away his garment to come to Jesus - Mark 10:50 - And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
iii. Ephesians 4:22-24 – 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
iv. Colossians 3:5-8 - 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
D. Avoid what will disqualify you - and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
i. This is disqualification from participation not salvation
ii. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and even harmless and otherwise useful things which would positively retard us JFB A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997, S. Heb 12:1
iii. This can also be unbelief, which is the most destructive element of faith (James 1:5-8)
2. Discipline – 1b
A. The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do, in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be. Tom Landry – That is discipline, to bring yourself under subjection in order to become something better.
B. Participation - let us run
i. Running was one of the most popular of the Olympic games. The place prepared for the race was called the stadium because its length equaled a stadion, or six hundred Greek feet (see John 11:18 Furlong). The stadium was an oblong area, with a straight wall across one end, where the entrances were, the other end being round and entirely closed. Tiers of seats were on either side for the spectators or witnesses. The starting place was at the entrance end and was marked by a square pillar. At the opposite end was the goal, where the judge sat and held the prize. The eyes of the competitors remained fixed on him: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). The goal, as well as the starting point, was marked by a square pillar, and a third was placed midway between the two. This goal is referred to in Philippians 3:14 - I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.. The competitors, through severe training, had no superfluous flesh, and ran unclothed. Flesh and clothing were laid aside as a “weight” that might hinder them in the race. See Acts 20:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Philippians 3:13, 14; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7 for other allusions to sports competitions. Freeman, James M. ; Chadwick, Harold J.: Manners & Customs of the Bible. Rev. ed.]. North Brunswick, NJ : Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998, S. 545
ii. This a race that all are to be in
iii. There are no spectators of the show, only contestants
C. Patience - with patience
i. This can also be translated endurance
ii. Patience is a virtue,
Possess it if you can.
Found seldom in a woman,
Never in a man.
iii. Biblical patience is a God-exercised, or God-given, restraint in face of opposition or oppression. It is not passivity. Wood, D. R. W. ; Marshall, I. Howard: New Bible Dictionary. 3rd ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 1996, S. 873
iv. It is what we are called to do - Romans 12:12 – Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
v. It comes through the trials we face (the positive outcome) - James 1:3 – Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
vi. Patience wins God’s favor - James 5:11 – Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
D. Stamina - the race that is set before us,
i. It takes strength and resilience to run a race
ii. It is not a race with each other but a race to win the reward God has prepared for those who have run well - 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 - 24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate (self-controlled) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
3. Inspiration - 2
A. I like the story of a man who walked into a gift shop that sold religious items. Near the cash register he saw a display of caps with "WWJD" printed on all of them. He was puzzled over what the letters could mean, so he asked the clerk. The clerk replied that the letters stood for "What Would Jesus Do", and was meant to inspire people to not make rash decisions, but rather to imagine what Jesus would do in the same situation. The man thought a moment and then replied, "Well, I’m sure Jesus wouldn’t pay $17.95 for one of these caps."
B. Keep Christ in Focus - Looking unto Jesus
i. One cannot look around and be distracted and expect to win
ii. Keep your eyes on the prize
iii. When the dying Jews looked to the uplifted serpent, they were healed; and this is an illustration of our salvation through faith in Christ (Num. 21:4–9; John 3:14–16). “Looking unto Jesus” describes an attitude of faith and not just a single act. Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Heb 12:1
C. Consider what our hero did - the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
i. He ran the race first and set the course - the author and finisher of our faith;
a. Author = originator - Jesus “pioneered” the path of faith Christians should follow. Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 2:810
b. Finisher = perfecter - He also “perfected” the way of faith since He reached its end successfully. Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 2:810
c. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
ii. He endured - endured the cross
a. Through humility - Philippians 2:8 - And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
b. For humanity - Hebrews 2:9 - But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
c. He took all the sin of the world on Him
d. He died a horrible, agonizing death
e. It was the worst humiliation known to man
iii. He suffered - despising the shame
a. No the shame of the cross but he shame of all of mankind’s sins on the perfect holy one
b. He despised the shame, but never rejected it, for you and me
iv. He gained the ultimate prize - who for the joy that was set before him is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
a. Psalms 110:1 - The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
b. See also Heb. 1:3. 13; 8:1; 1st Pet. 3:22
c. He sits as the ultimate judge and rewarder of each one in the race
Conclusion:
What weight is holding you back from faith?
What sin are you chained to so much that don’t feel you can break free?
Are you moving forward in your faith?
