New Year - Run With Patience the Race!
Resolution: Make Jesus Lord
As a new year is starting, some are making new year’s resolutions.
New Year’s resolutions may not be as popular as they once were but I think it’s still a good thing to do!
I want to encourage you to make a resolution this year to make Jesus the Lord of your life!
Maybe as we make these resolutions, we’ll remember these commitments to ourselves and to God.
Again, I want to encourage you to resolve to crucify the carnal self and let Jesus live in your life!
Marathon Runners in New York
We have gone on mission trips to New York and it’s always around the end of October.
One year we took a few extra days after the mission trip to tour New York before heading home.
We were in Manhattan and took the Overhead Cable car to Rockefeller Island and when we did we could see the New York Marathon runners below us. It was a huge stream of runners that we could see very far in both directions from overhead. It was a pretty cool site to see.
Of course, this reminds me of a Bible verse:
Heb 2:1,2
1 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We really did feel like a cloud of witnesses to the runners below us! I can only imagine what it will be like someday when we get to heaven and get to be the witnesses spoken of in that verse and get to see those still here on Earth trying to run the race that God has set before them.
Did you realize that people in heaven may be watching you right now? This verse says that! Your ancestors in heaven? Your grandma, grandad, or even for some of you your mom or dad or brother or sister or uncle or aunt or friends or for some of you spouses that have passed on or other loved ones? It’s a little freaky to think they may be watching right now huh?
But, you know they are cheering you on and they want to see you do your best. I hope you will show God and show them you are trying to do your best for Jesus and running that race as best you can!
Resolutions:
Forget what is behind - Press on toward the goal - God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus
You have to run the right direction!
So are you ready to run? OK, let’s go! No, no, just kidding, I’ll get in trouble if yall are up running about! They’ll say who told you to do that and I’ll get into so much trouble!!!
No, I’m talking spiritually, running the race of life!
If you’re running without the Holy Spirit and you do not have your eyes fixed on Jesus, you’re doing it wrong! You’re running the wrong way! Turn around, repent right now!
Trusting in Jesus is the only way to be saved. He is the right way!
John 14:6 (I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus’ way is Better than Our way
But many times we want to go our own way and we deny God His way in our lives!
Surely, many of us realize that if we let go and let God have His wonder way in our lives, our lives would be so much better!
I lost some of you… You’ve started singing in your head, Let go and let God have his wonderful way! Yeah me too! It’s a great song.
GPS Navigation - are you getting off track in life?
So you know on your phone you can choose navigation and it will tell you where to go and inevitably you’ll miss your turn off and you’re going your own way. Then you hear that it’s trying to reroute. Sometimes it takes a while to get back on track, right?
So in real life, when you get off track, and you know your off track, why do you stay going the wrong way? Get your life back on track!
Still we want our own way, even knowing that’s a worse off way to be!
Stop, get some help!
What I want us to realize is that if we let go and let God have His wonderful way, our burdens will vanish, our night will turn to day… ;-) ;-) ;-)
Looking out for Number 1
So if Jesus isn’t the Lord of your life, who is? Eek!
Many people are looking out for number 1!
So if Jesus isn’t the Lord of your life, that’s a power vacuum that wants to be filled and often that’s field by some evil influence, be it a bad crowd, or bad behavior, or worse the Devil himself!
From a worldly perspective maybe that makes sense, but from a Godly perspective it’s horrible!
It’s selfish, it’s unloving, it’s based on self pleasure, it’s letting the carnal self take over.
Have you ever seen the number of inconsiderate people these days that think only about themselves? Who do you think is lord of their lives?
I still see people being considerate and nice to others, but it seems when I was a kid it was more prevalent, and love was stronger between people than today.
Are you looking out for #1 and your wants, or are you looking out for Jesus and what He wants (He’s the real #1)?
How many of you would rather watch TV than to do responsibilities? I know I would!
Do you know the way?
So if you don’t know the best way in life, what do you think are the chances you will get it right?
God does know the right way for your life, so trust in Him, turn your life over to Him, learn His ways, His burden is light and Load is not heavy!
If you crucify self and let Christ live in you, your life will go so much better! He knows the way!
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
It’s a Long Way so
Marathons are like 26 miles (42km)! Can you imagine running or jogging for 26 miles?
You have to pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
For us too, we need to keep connecting with the living water! Read your Bible, pray every day and stay connected with Jesus! He wants that relationship with you!
Buffet your Body - Crucify Self - Become a Living Sacrifice
So how do we overcome our carnal selves and start to live spiritually and righteously?
When I say “crucifying self,” I don’t mean killing yourself! But instead be a living sacrifice!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
This is a beautiful verse that exemplifies the Christian walk. If you are saved, put on Christ!
WWJD!!!
The Bible even says put others before self - which can be hard to do and few do it effectively!
We have to give up our wicked carnal nature and be born to a righteous spiritual nature.
So who is the Lord of your life? Who is on the throne of your life? Is it your carnal self, or is it Christ? For many of us, we have a hard time giving up the wheel!
Have your Eye on the Prize
At the end of the day we saw runners with their paper number tag still clipped to their shirts and with their medals walking around the city. Some people would take pictures with those people. They got their prize for running in the marathon!
Do you have your eyes on the prize? Do you have your eyes on Jesus? When you are running this race of life, you need to fix your eyes on Jesus! He’s your goal, your prize, He is the perfecter of your faith! He is the reason that you have a goal. He went to the cross, shrugging of the shame that came with it, and He went all the way to save you! And, HE WON! Now He sits at the right hand of the throne of God!
Won’t it be great to see Him there someday? You’ll only see Him if you’re saved, tho.
Make a Resolution - actually make several resolutions
Make a “real” commitment and purpose to truly follow God’s high calling this year!
Let’s truly have a closer walk with Jesus this year!
As the new year is coming, I want to encourage you to have a closer walk with Christ and to make not just one but a few resolutions today to step up your game in your Christian walk!
These are probably things we should be doing anyway so they are not new but good reminders to be doing anyway.
(Go through these briefly depending on the time left).
1. If you are not saved - the most important is to repent of sin and find out how to be saved or else the rest of the list doesn’t really matter - trust in Jesus!
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
2. Commit to Repent daily (Mortification of Sin - be intentional to repent - kill sin or sin kills you - call on Jesus and confess to Him, as it may be impossible with His help)
1 John 1:8-10 (we deceive ourselves if we say we have no sin and we call Jesus a liar)
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
3. Commit to Love (God and others)
1 John 4:7 (Love one another for love comes from God)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Luke 10:27 (Love God Love Others)
27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
4. Commit to Read His Word - Bible (Daily or at least Weekly)
2 Timothy 2:15 (study to show yourself approved)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
5. Commit to Pray (Daily or at least Weekly)
Luke 11:9,10 (Knock and the door will be opened)
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
6. Commit to Praise and Worship God
Hebrews 12:28,29 (worship God - consuming fire)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
7. Commit to Share the Gospel
2 Timothy 4:1,2 (preach the Word!)
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
8. Commit to Forgive
Matthew 6:14,15 (if you do not forgive…)
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
New Cloud of Witnesses
They say there are only two thing that are sure, death and taxes?
Someday we’ll all pass away and we will stand before God and have to give account!
I hope you know Jesus, I hope you’re prepared for that meeting with God!
And as you enter heaven, remember that you may be the next generation of that cloud of witnesses that watch us here on Earth running our race. Will you be cheering us on? I hope so! What will you do? Buy hotdogs and popcorn? Will there be hotdogs in heaven?
Let us commit together to: To Confess and forget sin - To a closer walk -To keep on track with the Lord - Nearer my God to Thee this year and every year!
Let us show our Love to God by keeping His commandments and walking by the Spirit.
Let us commit to reading our bibles, praying, worshipping Him, forgiving.
Above all, let us love one another for Love comes from God.
Philippians 3:13,14 - High Calling of God
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion: Let us commit together to: reject sin & to have a closer walk with Jesus. Let’s let go of our carnal self and take hold of God’s wonderful way!
Let Go And Let God Have His Wonderful Way,
Let Go And Let God Have His Way.
Your Sorrow Will Vanish,
Your Night Turn To Day.
Let Go And Let God Have His Way.
