Introduction
Our message this morning is “Go for the Gold” and is found in Hebrews 5:1-10.
In the Olympics, every individual and every team strives to “Go for the Gold.”
They prepare, train, and live to “Go for the Gold” most of their lives.
They sleep to “Go for the Gold.”
They train to “Go for the Gold.”
They live to “Go for the Gold.”
As Christians it is our duty to, sleep, train, and live so that we might “Go for the Gold.”
The apostle Paul tells us using the Olympics as a metaphor that we should “Go for the Gold.” Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race (Going for the Gold) that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
If you would please stand and follow along with me this morning as I read from our passage this morning in Hebrews 5:1-10.
Scripture
1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You."
6 As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek";
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
10 called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"
Prayer
I. Christ is the Our High Priest for you.
A. The Our Heavenly Father, God almighty sent Him.
B. He Jesus Christ our savior became the perfect sacrifice.
C. He lived, experienced what you and I experience in life.
D. On Calvary he paid for our salvation.
II. He wants us to run the race, to “Go for the Gold.”
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
A. Our obedience equals our love for Him.
1. Who do you spend time with?
2. What do you set your affections on?
B. Our sins puts a barrier between us and God.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV)
1. Christ offers help when needed
9 On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. 1 John 1:9 (MSG)
2. God offers no help to Deliberate and Defiant
lawbreakers.
Hebrews 10:28; Exodus 21:12-14
3. When you slip up and want to get back on track, you
have nothing to fear.
1 John 4:18 (MSG) says; There is no room in love for fear.
Well-formed love banishes fear.
Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
When we are truly in love with God, then love abolishes fear.
III. If God handed out medals today, where would you STAND?
In Apostle Paul metaphor that we should “Go For Gold.” Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race (Going for the Gold) that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Paul’s metaphor is not that we finish first but that we finish the race then we will receive our prize.
A. Obedience does not mean that you are perfect, that is Christ’s Position. Obedience means that you finish the race.
B. Obedience means you mature in a faith that GROWS in
love with Christ INCREASINGLY.
Conclusion/Invitation
Are you running the race to “Go for the Gold?”
Have you quit running the race to “Go for the Gold?”
Have you even begun training?
