For those who are not familiar with an an Anglican Service; there are four Scriptures readings prior to the Message; Today's assigned readings are: Isiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-18; Hebrews 11:29-12:2 and Luke 12:49-56.
I enjoy listening to stories about people who will not give up; ...... stories of those who stay the course .... even ...when the "going .... gets tough".
They are a source of great inspiration ... to all.
When people begin their Christian walk, .... and then later quit ... when the "going gets tough", ...... they can become an object of ridicule to some; .... and a source of discouragement ... to others.
That "Is" the reason ... that what the writer of Hebrews stated ... is so important.
Hear God's word, BIBLE "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, ... let us throw off everything that hinders ... and the sin ... that so easily entangles, ... and let us run with perseverance ... the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." END (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The Scripture compares the Christian life ... to a foot race, .... Yet it is a marathon ... not a sprint!
The word translated "race" ... that is used in this passage ... is the Greek word 'agon' ... from which we get the English word ... "agonize".
As with any footrace ... it does not matter how fast you start, ... if ... you do not finish.
And in a marathon, .... stamina.... endurance ... is the critical factor. (Pause)
Two gas company service men, ... a senior training Supervisor ... and a young trainee ... were out checking ... and reading meters.
They parked their truck ... at the end of the alley ... and worked their way from one end ... to the other.
At the last house ... a woman looking out her kitchen window ... watched the two men ... as they checked her gas meter.
When they finished ... the older supervisor challenged his younger co-worker .... to a foot race back down the alley .... to the truck.
As they neared the end of the alley, ... they realized that the lady from the last house ... was huffing and puffing ... right behind them.
They asked her ... what was wrong.
Gasping for breath she said, ... "When I saw two men from the gas company running full speed away from my house, ... I figured I better run too." (Contributed by: Stan Martin to sermoncentral.com)
That lady was running, ... But, she wasn't exactly sure ... Why she was running, ... yet was convinced... that her life depended on it.
Beloved .... it would be true blessing ... if every individual ... who called themselves a follower of the Christ, ... would run the race of faith ... with such fervency.
We are told in the Scriptures ... to run the race with Perseverance with Endurance.
"Perseverance" 'hupomone' (hoop-om-on-ay) is the steady determination to keep going.
It the Greek it means to continue.
To continue ... when everything within you ... wants to slow down ... or give up.
The Scriptures are clear; ... it is time to run!
Some of you, .... may be coasting or panting on the sidelines. ........ It is time to run!
Some of you... may be complaining about the condition of the race.
It is time to run!
Some of you may be out of shape spiritually ... and ready to offer excuses ... for your sluggishness.
Beloved ... it is time to get up ... it is time run!
Paul proclaimed, BIBLE "I have kept the faith. I have finished the race. Therefore, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. And not for me only..." END (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Finishing ... Finishing the race well... is critically important ... for all who would call themselves ... followers of the Christ.
We are Inspired, ...... Inspired by those saints, .... those believers .... That have finished the race ...that have gone on ... before us.
And praise God ....... "we are surrounded by such a great cloud ... of witnesses." (Hebrews 12:1)
And we can be inspired ... by those who have finished the race, ...... those that have gone on before.
Notice that chapter 12 in Hebrews begins with the word ....... "Therefore
That connects it ... with the previous chapter.
And in chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews ... the writer gives an extended list of people .... Who have finished the race ... who have been found faithful.
For instance, ... in verse 7, the writer mentions Noah. Remember Noah? (Hebrews 11:7)
He spent 120 years of his life building an ark ....... ... 120 years!
(Slow) ... Now I must confess ... that patience is probably not ... one of my finer virtues.
Did my wife Lee just say Amen? or (I can almost hear my wife Lee saying .... Amen!)
And every once in a while, ......when something I am concerned about ... seems to be moving way too slowly, .... I become anxious, ... and complain: .... Sometimes too loudly ...... "Why is this taking so long?"
Then I can almost hear Noah whispering in my ear..."Son, ... how long did you say you have been waiting?"
The list of the faithful ... goes on.
There is Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samson, David.
There is a great cloud of witnesses .... who have finished the race of faith ... laid before them.
In my mind's eye ... You can almost hear their voices.... "Don't give up! ... Don't lose heart.
The heavenly arena ... is filled with witnesses in the faith ... who have gone on before.
The question is, ... are they "witnesses" in the sense ... that they are watching and cheering for the contestants ...... or ... are they witnesses ....... in the sense .... that they have left examples .... for us to follow.
Although it may be encouraging to believe ... that it could be both... and it could be.
The Greek word translated "witnesses" does not mean spectators.
It is a word .... from which we receive ... the English word ... "martyr."
Yet their faith life ... their witness ... can be an encouragement ... that cheers us on... to finish the race.
Now when I get discouraged, ... I think not only of the great saints of the Scriptures, ...... but also the men and women of God ... who have had an impact on my life .... who have inspired me......who have finished their race ... on this side of eternity.
I cannot help but remember those friends and family ... that have gone on before:
My great grandmother Parmly ... who sold large family bibles ... door to door ... on the streets of Cleveland Ohio.
Her Faith Life... is an inspiration ... that is cheering me on.
My father in law, ... a fellow Gideon ....... the memory of passing out hundreds of bibles together over the years .... sweeps through my very soul.
And How he led others to our Lord .... Even as he was suffering with cancer ... in the veteran's hospital in Cleveland.
His life ... his witness ...His Faith ... is cheering me on!
And one of my greatest cheerleaders ..., was my mother .... who while dying from Leukemia would call me ...... and ask how (Slow) she could pray for me.
God gave me the honor at the end....to hold her in my arms .... "and while" singing to her one of her favorite Christians songs .... "Jesus name above all names" .... she took her final breath.
Her Faith ... Her life ... Her witness ... is an inspiration that is ... cheering me on. (Pause)
Beloved, ...... it is not easy out there on the marathon race .... we call Life.
When we feel like ... slowing down ... or giving up ...we must press on. (Pause)
Thomas Edison, ... the inventor of the electric light bulb .... shared that he had to experiment 10,000 times ... before he succeeded.
"These were not failures," he insisted.
"I just discovered 9,999 different ways ... that the bulb didn't work. "
If he had given up after the 9,999th time he would not have invented ... the light bulb.
His eyes were focused on the prize ... and he did not let anything encumber him ... from obtaining that prize.
The Scriptures are clear ... they are not confusing: BIBLE "lay aside every encumbrance ... and the sin ... that entangles us ... and let us run the race ... with perseverance ... that is set before us." END (Hebrews 12:1)
To run a race ... takes an action.
An action on your part.
Beloved to lay aside something ... takes an action ... an action ...on your part.
No serious runner ... would ever consider carrying extra baggage ... if they are competing to win.
The Greek word translated ... "Lay aside" ... requires an ongoing action ... the action of removing the extra baggage continually ... every moment ... of every day.
What things are encumbering you ... what things entangle you .... That you need ... to set aside?
The Scriptures are clear ... we are to Lay aside every weight.
The Greek word for "weight" is 'onkos' ... which in itself is neither bad or evil.
"Onkos" ... is simply something ... which weighs us down, ... diverts our attention, ... saps our strength ... or dampens our enthusiasm ... for the things of God. (Pause)
"The army of Alexander the Great ... was advancing on Persia.
At one critical point, ... it appeared that his troops ... might be defeated.
The soldiers ... had taken ... so much plunder from their previous campaigns ... that they had become weighted down ... and were losing their effectiveness in combat.
Alexander ... immediately commanded that all the spoils ... be thrown into a heap ... and burned.
The men complained bitterly ... but soon came to see the wisdom ... of the order.
One of the commanders wrote, ... "It was as if wings had been given to them ... they walked lightly again." Victory was assured." [Our Daily Bread, July 3, 1991 -www.bible.org/illus./Hebrews]
We are also called ... to Lay aside the sin ...which so easily entangles us ... that easily ensnares us."
Since the writer of Hebrews ... uses a definite article ... "the sin" ... he seems to be referring to the specific sin that each of us, ... individually ... is most likely ... to commit.
What is ... the sin ... that so easily ... entangles you ... that clings ... so closely to you?
Is it jealousy ... of what someone else has?
Is it envy?
Is it a Critical spirit?
Is it hatred?
Is it lust?
Pride?
Beloved ... Whatever ... the sin is, ... it must be stripped off and left behind!
The Christian race is not a competitive event ... to see who comes in first, ... but an endurance run .... to see who finishes ... faithfully.
The text states ... we are to be looking to Christ.
For He is the "author" (the starting point) ... and "finisher" (the finish line) ... of our faith.
The word "looking" comes from a Greek word 'aphorao' that points to someone who is.... concentrating their gaze.
It means you are to look away from other things ... so that you can focus ... all of your attention ... on one object.
It is much like a coach when he tells his runners,
"When the gun sounds, ... start running.
Don't look back. ....... Don't look around.
Keep your eyes on the finish line .... and ...... just keep running."
As the old hymn says,
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace."
Beloved ... It is time to run!
And Remember ... the race is not over ... until you have finished ... until you have crossed ... the finish line.
Beloved ... I pray that your life is listed ... with those saints ... of Faith.
And That your faith life ... your witness ... your race ... is an inspiration ... that cheers others ... on.
Amen and Amen!
Much of the first Quarter of the Message was from a Sermon by Melvin Newland titled "Run the Race" and I commend it to you .
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