"In Christ"
"All The World’s A Stage"
Hebrews 11:32-12:2
"And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 11:32-12:2 (RSV)
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances; 145
And one man in his time plays many parts
Our Story
Life is better than fiction
Each of us has a story to tell
Stories of bravery and cowardice
of wisdom and stupidity
of success and failure
-each of us can tell (of) the story that shaped our lives
The stories are not ours alone, but we share them
My story is intertwined with my wife’s.
Our story is intertwined with our children’s.
Etc.
So enriching are the stories we can tell that the study of family genealogies is a hot topic.
-our family historian
Our genealogy enables us to both see the larger story, but also to participate.
Broader View
The first century Christians were struggling; facing persecution, ridicule, oppression
-questioning how God could allow them to suffer
-questioning why God would let them suffer so?
Writer of Hebrews writes these early Christians reminding them of their heritage.
These early Christians were not the only ones to suffer.
-Theirs is not the only story
-They have a spiritual genealogy
-Their story arises out of a larger story of the struggles of God’s people
The struggle of God’s people to do God’s will, while opposed by a godless people.
"And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." Hebrews 11:32-38 (RSV)
We are reminded of the struggles and of God’s provision.
"Things may be bad, but God is with us"
"Don’t give up! You are not alone!"
A Race To Run
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 (RSV)
The saints are called to "run the race with perseverance".
Our goal, as Paul states, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:14 (RSV)
The secrets of racing:
diet
exercise
elimination
Diet- we control body weight and metabolism
Exercise- we increase body strength, stamina, and endurance
Elimination- cut back hindrances
You’ll never see a racing bicyclist in jeans
You’ll never see an Olympic swimmer with body hair (male swimmers cut hair off of their head)
You’ll never see a runner in a parka.
To be participants in the larger story we are called to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely"
Get rid of all our hindrances
Excess baggage
Scripture describes three weights that hold us back and the example of Christ we are to achieve.
1. Weight of Self (pride, selfish ambition, love of money, etc)
"Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."" Matthew 16:24-25 (RSV)
There are those trying to run the race, but they are being tripped up by temptations on the side.
"I’d like to follow you Jesus, but I want to be number one in my career", so they drag behind them their instruments of work: laptops, cell-phones, pda’s, etc.
"I’d like to follow you Jesus, but your ethics are too strict"
"I’d like to follow you Jesus, but I don’t want to sell all I have"
Distinction is as "darkness" and "light"
"And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:19-20 (RSV)
"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4 (RSV)
Jesus said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28 (New Living Translation)
2. Weight of Doubt (fear, focusing on our insecurities)
Jesus said, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:22-24 (RSV)
Don’t look at the obstacles in the way. Trust in God to remove them. The heroes of faith trusted in God to overcome their mountains.
"he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord." James 1:6-8 (RSV)
Jesus prayed, "Let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but Yours".
3. Weight of Presumptuousness
"From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."" Matthew 16:21-23 (RSV)
We can’t run the race, if we’re trying to coach the Coach.
Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise." John 5:19 (RSV)
