Life: The Greatest Olympics
Hebrews 11:39 –12:2
Preached by John Ingham –August 2004
INTRODUCTION:
1.There is nothing quite like it. Have you ever been in a large stadium full of people cheering for a team or even more…for you as you were participating in a sporting event? How the adrenalin flows!
2.There are some huge stadiums. Our own Sanford Stadium, the home of the Georgia Bulldogs holds 91,100. But we are in a great amphitheater far larger than any ever built on this earth.
3.Those pictured as being in the stands are the men and women of faith described in Hebrews 11. What is it that Paul has to say about these heroes that makes them
stand out from others in the Bible.
4.Paul says they are people of great faith.
5.Are there other attributes that make these people stand out? Yes there are many:
A.Abel was a worshipper. He offered a true sacrifice of praise to God.
B.Enoch was a holy man who walked with God so closely one day God took him home with Him.
C.Noah was a righteous man who was the only preacher in a sinful world.
D.Abraham was an obedient man. God loves obedience better than sacrifice so this is a superior attribute.
E.Isaac was faithful to the great traditions of the faith heritage.
F.Joseph was a man of great vision and personal holiness.
G.Moses was a man of unusual humility.
H.Joshua was the General Swartskoff of the Old Testament –a man of great courage.
6.But Paul has them stand front and center to show us their attribute of FAITH. He is saying that with regards to the race of life, faith is the one attribute that we need to look at. Each one has a faith lesson that will help us to begin the race, to properly run the race, and in finishing the race set before us as a winner. Jesus says in Luke18:8, “When the son of man returns to the earth will he find faith on the earth?”
SERMON BODY:
I. You see there is a race set before us.
A.Not what many nominal church members see.
1. Some see it as a social affair.
2. Some see it as a personal platform
a. for business, b. politics, c. fame
3. Some are too lazy to run
4. Some just never get started
B. What some make it become because of a wrong perception of race
1. Place of bickering and backbiting
2. Place of gossiping
C. This is what the race meant to these men of faith. Here is the reason for their faith or the object of their faith.
1.HEAVEN: To Abraham it was a call to leave Ur of the Chaldees. Itwas a race whose finish line is “a city whose builder and ruler was God”… the New Jerusalem and Heaven!
2.A DREAM: For Joseph it was a dream. Many of us have lost our dream, but not Joseph. Every leader should have a dream for his people as well as for himself. Martin Luther King had a dream. Well,I have a dream too. People freed from the bondage of sin. Revival in
Sunday School class, youth group and household. I have a dream for Christian Life Worship Center. (Repeat area where you have a dream)
3.CHILDREN: We know that the parents of Moses were Amran and Jocabed. Paul identifies them only as the parents of Moses. I bleive hta was pueposely done sothat all parents could identify with their plight. They had as their reason for faith the salvation of their child. They committed their boy into God’s hands in the most dangerous time of history for a male child. Parents we can run in that race too! Many times most difficult point is after we have built the ark of flax and pitch and the time has come to take our hands off, and we watch the current take them away.We’ve got to remember that God directs the currents.
a. Illustration: The Bay of Fundy at the head of the St. Lawrence River is 110 miles long and 32 miles wide when it empties into the Bay, it is a spectacle to see the currents of the mighty St.Lawrence rushing to meet the tides of the Atlantic Ocean. You would think there could never be anything that could stop the
raging flow of the St. Lawrence. But every evening at the changing of the tide the flow of the St. Lawrence can be seen slowing. The Atlantic tide comes in little by little at 29, 30 and 40 feet until it reaches a height of 70 feet. The tide pushes and pushes until suddenly it reverses the river and flows towards its
source. It is at this time that huge ships can enter the St.Lawrence River to gain access to the Great Lakes. I submit to you that it is time for the spiritual tides of God’s blessings to come in becasue youhave trusted your children into God’s hands. If you have had faith, Parents what ever Satan does that
seems so indomitable, remember God’s power is greater and His tides always come in. I believe it is about time right now! God honors that kind of faith.
4.BREAKTHROUGH: Joshua had a race that was obstructed by the walls of Jericho. For most, that would have been the end of the race but not for Joshua. He made 7 laps around the walls of Jericho and the walls were gone and he kept on running. God had given him a promise. He believed it. He claimed it. The thing to remember is that this is a race and not a rocking chair marathon. So let’s get our track shoes on and get
into the race. If there are any hurdles jump over them and keep on going.
II. But there are some necessary procedures for success in the race,
A. First we are exhorted to lay aside weights.
1.For Jacob it was conniving stinginess. It took near bankruptcy for him to change.
2.Moses weight was timidity and backwardness. He thought he was out of the race as he woke up one day on the backside of the desert. But God was not finished with. The race had hardly begun for him. It is strange how different God’s opinion can be from ours. In Acts 7:22 Stephen speaking under the anointing of the Holy Spirit said that Moses was “powerful in speech.”
a. Illustration: I like an athletic interpretation of 11 Corinthians 4:9, “Persecuted but not forsaken.” In other words, “Falling behind in the race, but I’m not quitting.” The reasons are there
for me to stop altogether. “Let someone else finish for me.” Or “Put someone else on base to run for me.” “Someone else can teach my class. I’m old and not relevant anymore.” “ I’ve got a handicap. I can’t get around as good as I used to.”
b.Illustration: I’ve never been much of a letter writer, but when I first went to college I had a great aunt that would send me letters of encouragement. We called her Aunt Ted. She was 98 years old and only had one finger that was not crippled with rheumatoid
arthritic that she used to type letters. She lived in a retirement home in Davenport. Iowa. She could not move about but she could type a letter with that one finger that would make you feel like conquering the world. She had have one fault. She liked to have a prompt response to her letters which sad to say she never got from me.
3.Everyone has different infirmities and hindrances, sickness and pain. Paul suffered more than any of us and yet he said in Philippians 3:13,“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
4.Jepthath’s weight was not of his own making. He was born a illegitimate child. He was put out of his own family even though he was an exceptional young person. Judges 11:1 says, “He was a mighty man of valor.” Jephthah was mistreated there is no doubt. He could have let that ruin his life. He could have said, “ I won’t run anymore.” How many of us have said that? Many of us have had had unjust things happen to us.
Perhaps because of the sins and mistakes of your parents you have had to suffer. At times you feel left out, while others are bragged about because of their lineage you have had to sit by and listen. You’ve
thought many times, “I have more potential than he has.” Well, don’t give up. A need will arise that will call for your expertise. You see if you stop in the race now you wont’ be prepared when the need arises.
Jephthah was ready. When the children of Amon made war against Israel the elders of Gilead didn’t send word, they went to get Jepthah to be their Commander in Chief!
B. You see there is interest in your success in this race.
1.When you begin feeling the world closing in on you and you feel all alone there are some things you need to remember. You are not alone in this race. We are init together. Your success is important to me, to the
Christian next to you in the pew. We are a team. Remember that!
2.Secondly, there is a world of people on the other side who are interested. I don’t know that they can actually see you but I know they do know when you got saved. In Luke 15:7-10 Jesus tells us that there is a great emotional response to one sinner being saved one earth. He says there is great joy in heaven and the shepherd who rescued the lost sheep invited his friends and neighbors to celebrate with him.
Verse 10 says, “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repents.” I don’t claim to know all the kinds of angelic creatures in heaven but I do know there are saints there in the midst of them, and I can’t help but think they have a vested interest in seeing the answers to their prayers that they have prayed while on earth. Now I
certainly don’t advocate saint worship, but on the other hand we do not need to put too much distance between ourselves and the would-be helpers in the stands. We need their encouragement too. Paul is not
implying that we can have physical connection with them, but you see the universe is far more knitted together than we ordinarily sense.
a. There are many ways these individuals help us. Have you ever thought that there are people, heroes of the faith, who have invested in your life? There are things to be accomplished in your life not totally of your doing. What about the relatives
who have gone on to glory that prayed for you. What about the wonderful example their lives leave us for encouragement? Then there are the spiritual mentors who have had faith in us.
b. Certainly each of the men and women of Faith in Hebrews 11 speaks to us a word of encouragement today.(Go through each one)
C. Secondly, we must “Lay aside the weights and the sin that so easily besets us.” The NIV puts it this ways, ”easily entangles us.” Illustration: The picture I have is of my son David running out the door towards the awaiting car in the morning with his shoe laces untied carrying all of his school books and trying to jump into the car with his friends going to school. I am just waiting for the morning the foot long string of laces trips him up.
1.Some faced weights:
a. Moses faced timidity. He thought he was out of the race And left behind on the backside of the desert. God told him that he had other plans for him at the burning bush. Find your burning bush.
b. Sarah had a bad temper.
2.Paul says there is a sin that besets us.
a. He included himself. I can’t imagine Paul having a problem with any sin, but if he did it was covetousness. He says in Romans 7:7, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not
known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law said, Thou shalt not covet.” (11) “For sin taking occasion by the commandment deceived me, and by it, slew me.”
3.All of these men and women of faith had weights and besetting sins to face at some time or other in their lives and I must face mine and you must face yours.
4.Some had sexual vulnerability like Samson and David.
5.Abraham had a problem with lying and telling half-truths. Wow, how prevalent today!
6.But this is a very private area that we must deal with ourselves and overcome through God’s grace. Only you can decide what area of your life is more vulnerable to Satanic attack. Burt we all are alike in that we must take action and guard that area and seek God’s help and the help of others.
III. But we have a great help in this race when we realize where we are in this race.
A. Every race is divided into segments according to its length. In each one the participant begins with a fast start and quickly establishes a measured energy
conserving pace to insure that there is plenty of energy left for the last leg of the race when the runners all come into the home stretch. This is the point when every bit of energy and stamina is expended to win.
B. Hey, the truth is, this is where we are in time. Right now we are in the last few meters of this race! It is like I can fell the presence and encouragement of the grandstand. I can feel the shadow of the paraclete, the Holy Spirit along side saying, “Pick up the pace.” And It seems I can sense the presence of Jesus Christ at the finish line. As Paul says, in Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
CONCLUSION:
1.I remember when Missy, my oldest daughter was running in the Junior Olympics in Junior High School. She had entered the mile run. I had intended to be there on time but being a very proud parent, I was bringing several friends and relatives to see her run that afternoon. The race had already begun and Missy was in the lead. And as we sat down near the track we could clearly see that she was pulling away from the pack even more. Then all of a sudden she doubled up with pain in her side and fell to the track. She was in the troughs of a terrible cramp. Everyone passed her. Then all of a sudden Rita and I jumped to our feet and began shouting, “Missy get back in the race.” Soon all of our friends were doing the same thing. And for the first time Missy became aware of all of u in the stands and our sentiment toward her. Well, she seemed to forget all about the cramp in her side. She leaped to her feet and it seemed she left the spot where she fell in a cloud of dust. She soon had caught up to the pack and one by one she streamed by until right at the finish line she came across the finish line in first place.
2.Hey, that is what our encouragement is today. Can you imagine the saints who have gone on before” Don’t you feel the holy Spirit this morning along side of you. And can you even imagine the finish line with Jesus awaiting your arrival?
3.The question is where are you in regards to The Race of Life.
