Don’t Give Up
March 11, 2018 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must remember our task by keeping our eyes on Jesus.
Focus Passage: Hebrews 12:1-3
Supplemental Passage: Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:23-24 NASB)
Introduction: When I was a Boy Scout, we often went on camp-outs in crazy locations in Oklahoma. Once such place was next to a quarry pit lake. It was a beautiful place to camp, fish, and swim. I was a chubby 12 year old at the time and rather reluctant to do daring things. The older Scouts encouraged everyone, including the adults, to swim to the other side of the quarry lake and jump off the 12-15 foot cliff. I was scared to death, but I did it anyway. One of the things we had learned back at the Scout meeting was how to use your pants as a makeshift flotation device. The Scout Master instructed us to practice using the improvised life preserver to swim back across the quarry lake. While treading water, you were supposed to take off your pants, tie a knot in each leg, then try to get air in each leg to create a temporary buoyant cushion of air. I treaded water for what seemed like an hour before I realized I had a hole in my jeans and they were never going to hold enough air. All of the other scouts had made it to the other side and I was still out there treading water, getting very exhausted. One assistant Scout Master stayed behind to make sure everyone made it safely across. And there I was; chubby little Ricky. He called to me from the other side to forget about making a float out of my pants and just to come on over. He kept calling to me, encouraging me by telling me I could make it and that I’d be ok. I’d get scared every so often, because I was so tired. He’d tell me to look at him and listen to his voice and that would help me make it. He could have jumped in to rescue me, and would have if I began to sink. However, he just kept encouraging me to make it across by myself. More than 40 years later, I still remember that lesson.
I. The Task
a. Run the race (live our lives)
b. Lay aside
i. encumbrances
ii. sin
II. The Goal
a. Jesus
i. Author of our faith
ii. Perfecter of our faith - "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17 NASB)
b. Heaven (Where Jesus is)
III. The Motivation
a. Don’t Grow Weary
i. We will grow weary if we are trying to please others
ii. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:23-24 NASB)
b. Don’t Lose Heart
i. We will lose heart if we do not see immediate results
c. Consider Jesus’ suffering
i. Endured the cross
ii. Despised the shame
iii. Endured hostilities
iv. Sat down at the Right Hand of God
Application/Invitation: Are you already weary? Have you already lost heart? The way back is through Jesus. Study His Word. Talk to Him many times a day. Love His people. Do His work.
