April 3 <br>The Christian Marathon

# April 3 <br>The Christian Marathon **TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO PROPERLY RUN THE RACE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.** AS BELIEVERS WE ARE CALLED TO RUN THIS RACE WITH **FAITH** AND **ENDURANCE**. AND IF WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY DO SO, **WE WILL BE SO EASILY SLOWED DOWN AND HINDERED BY THE WEIGHT OF THIS WORLD**. Cover end of Hebrews 11: SO GUYS - SO IN Hebrews 11 the Faith chapter all of these characters and instances of faith are presented. - From Abel to Abraham to Moses and the Israelites to Samson. - IT TALKS ABOUT THROUGH FAITH STOPPED THE MOUTHS OF LIONS, QUENCHED THE POWER OF FIRE, ESCAPED THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND MADE STRONG OUT OF WEAKNESS. - And chapter 11 ends with all of these before us that had a commendable faith. **That's right before Hebrews 12 begins:** **CAN SOMEONE PLEASE READ:** **Hebrews 12:1-4** **1) 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 endurance the race that is set before us, 2) looking to Jesus, the founder 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. 3) Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.** Lets examine verse 1: **1 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 endurance the race that is set before us,** - 1 **Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses**, - cloud of witnesses = the literal definition is a cloud of people who proved the strength and genuineness of their faith. These are believers that went before us. - We see some examples In Hebrews 11 of other bible characters that believed GOD. Such as Abraham and others who we all look at and say, **“I want to have faith like that”** - It is not an easy thing to get up and wander until the Lord tells you to stop. **That requires great faith**. So it makes sense that these people listed in Chapter 11 are some spiritual juggernauts when faith is discussed. _THE TEXT SAYS:_ - // **let us also lay aside every weight,** // - So because we are surrounded by these people of faith that went before us… - “let us also” this is an invitation **somewhat of a challenge.** …The author gives an example, of what the people in _Chapter 11_, did in faith and is challenging the audience of this letter to metaphorically take up this baton of faith. - Weight= something that we all have. It tends to give us a sense of security. What was some weights that **Noah** or **Abraham** or **Sarah** had to lay aside? - comparability, predictabilitafety, _**anything that would leave you predisposed to not trusting God**_ - Whats the weight in YOUR LIFE? (PAUSE) - **Is it your comfort?..Is it the predictability of life?..Is it something else?** - (Do you think it was comfortable for Noah to build the ark for 120 years?/ do you think it was predictable for Abraham to go to the land that GOD was going to show him) - (**Church, I want to encourage you that**…We as believers have to participate in this process of putting down the weight down in your life, its an active continual thing. Its not just a one and done type of deal. And the text says: - // **let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely,**// - Scripture calls us to lay aside every weight and sin. - We defined what a weight is so now lets define sin. - Sin = Simply Means to miss the mark. (Its an archery term: Anything that doesn't hit the bullseye) That's what kept us from being in right standing with GOD and separated us from him. Its a serious thing. So we should lay sin aside in our lives because it clings on so easily. (It can look like a lot of things but you can boil them all down to **pride** and **unbelief**) - **The question I usually asked myself when I’m thinking about doing something is**: “Is it sin?” - That is a terrible question to ask: Because the bible tells us to lay aside every **WEIGHT** and **SIN**. Transition: - **So for what purpose do we constantly evaluate our lives for weightiness and sinfulness**. The author tells us the answer to this question… at the end of the Verse 1: SO LETS LOOK AT IT: - **and let us run with endurance the race** - The common race of faith that we as believers are all running together. This is the race of faith. - **WITH ENDURANCE** = not only are we running BUT were running with what the Greek translates to as: **Steadfastness and Perseverance**. - This individual race that is before us BUT is also a race that we get to run, in community. - NOT ONLY WITH COMMUNITY BUT WERE RUNNING WHILE BEING SURROUNDED BY THE CLOUD OF BELIEVERS WHO RAN BEFORE US. - **The same race that Noah, Abraham, and all of these other great people of faith**, that are mentioned ran with less than what we have today. They didn't have Abrahams to look to that went before them. Some didn't have scripture to hold on to. - They didn't have encouraging stories to read of others that went before them. - But one thing that they had in common, that we should want to take part in as well is that… **they all finished well**. **ILLUSTRATION**: **GUYS:** God has called us to be marathon runners not sprinters. - God wants us to run the race with endurance. He doesn’t want us to be sprinters, he wants us to be marathon runners for Christ and endure, **the pains of running this faith race.** Being a marathon runner takes a lot of discipline, that Sprinting just doesn't take. For example how many of you in here have ran a race, in your life and you were sprinting your fastest trying to win? (pause) Everyone has, maybe a long time ago but everyone has sprinted before. **Now how many of you have ran a marathon before?** FOR ME ITS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I RAN A MILE. You see there is a large amount of discipline that it takes to run a distance race. - **WITH THAT BEING SAID.** There is a level of discipline that Christ calls us, to run this race of faith with. - Through the pain, and suffering, and even through the obstacles that may be in the way. APPLICATION Some questions that I have for you all today are? - Are you tired; Are you suffering from pain as you run this race that the Lord has set before you? (pause) TRANSITION: Sometimes as believers we can run with endurance (Holding on to promises in scripture, fleeing from temptation, not conforming to the way of the world but being transformed by Christ)… **but** often times we feel like walking instead of running? And if that describes you this morning, I want to remind you of THE KEY to running this race. **We have to lay something down… and take our vision up. We have to actively lay down these sins and weights that hang on to us so easily and look up to the founder of our faith**… (PAUSE) - _Lets look at Verse 2_ ---------- 2 //**looking to Jesus, the founder 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.**// - **looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,** - The founder = the start of the race; the reason that we run the race in the first place. - This **RACE OF FAITH**… **THIS RACE OF OBEDIENCE**… **THIS RACE OF ENDURING AND SUFFERING**. //THE VERSE SAYS founder **and PERFECTER** of our faith// - The reason that Jesus is the perfecter of our faith is because he ran this race perfectly. (emphasis) Jesus ran the perfect faith race. - The Greek translation of perfecter is *Teleiotes* (Tell I O taste) meaning = **The one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and has set before us the highest example of faith.** - So he is our example to follow. When we run this race well it is only because we have been looking to Jesus, we are not capable of running this race, **on**… **our**… **own**. - Jesus is the ultimate example of faith because he was fully GOD and **fully man**. He was even tempted, he was tempted by Satan himself **but** he depended on **prayer**, **scripture**, and **being obedient to the fathers will**… - These are all of the same things, that we are called to depend on, as believers… in this race. LETS LOOK BACK AT THE TEXT: //**who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame**// - So we talked about Jesus’ obedience to the fathers will. And apart of that will being **enduring the cross on cavalry.** - The cross was his finish line, in putting man in right standing with his father. **The ribbon that was crossed**… to show… that **GOD's wrath was satisfied**. - Guys I want you to picture in your minds… The celebration of a marathon runner **crossing the ribbon**, as they’re completing their race… (_their hands are outstretched as they cross the finish line_) and **the joy that is on their face and in their minds** as they see that their race is coming to completion. **No matter the _pain or the suffering_ that they have endured**… during this race… - In the same way Jesus,**(with outstretched arms)**, through the pain, he endured at the end of his race up to the point of **being beaten and nailed to a cross** and while **dying a humiliating/horrifying death**, was filled with joy when he said… - “**It… is… finished**” “PAUSE” - Church, Do you ever think that the more that I suffer, the more joy I will have? - I can tell you that many times in my life I don't think that? Its not a natural thing that our flesh wants us to think about. - But For Jesus there was joy in his suffering… there was joy in his obedience… because Jesus knew of the joy, that there would be, as he was sitting down at the fathers right hand knowing, his work was complete. - That was the reward that Christ received. - As it reads at the end of verse 2: - //**and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.**// - Church, we get to receive rewards too… - We have already received the gift being in right relationship with GOD through Christ and also being heirs with Christ. - We also store up rewards in heaven by running this race in faith. Which is even more icing on the cake. - Throughout the Bible rewards are promised… **but** sometimes as believers **we just don't believe… that they are promised**. There are many areas in our **lives that show** …that we have not **FULLY**… bought in to this truth… - Instead, we choose the **safety and comfort** of this temporary life… instead of having faith in whats to come. The ultimate reward being: **us seated at the feet of Jesus.** LETS LOOK DOWN AT: VERSE 3 ---------- 3 **Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.** - **Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself** - **This is a powerful statement and a lot to consider.** It’s telling us that when we are getting persecuted, no matter how little or how much, **and when we want to give up or give in because of the pressure that comes**. - Consider Jesus, **who is GOD and humbled himself down to flesh** and **endured persecution to the point of death** from sinners who didn’t even deserve to know who he is. (PAUSE) - Scripture says: - **so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted** - To be frank…**I feel like we are too faint-hearted as believers today**. When it comes to **fleeing temptation** or **enduring persecution**, **we are easily overwhelmed**. **Now** there are exceptions for sure. But I feel like **the majority** of the Big C Church (which is all of us) tend to be faint in heart, when it comes to **walking by faith in our lives.** - **My question is “Why are we?” “Why are we so fainthearted?”** - **IT doesn't make sense because…** - _**We… serve… Christ!!!**_ - **In John 16:33** Jesus said you will have many trails, _but take heart_ **“I have overcome the world”**. - **That's why we look to him and follow in his footsteps of faithfulness.** - Church the word says, Without faith it’s impossible to please GOD. **We need to be a people of faith. This race that were running requires it.** - **As believers Our biggest problem is taken care of…( repeat) That being the separation between man and GOD.** - **So why are we so faint of heart?** - Since the biggest problem in the history of problems is taken care of… **that should effect the way that we operate today.** - (If you knew that at **the end of this week** you were going to **inherit a billion dollars**, would that change the way that you lived every day until then? - Ill answer for you and me…“**IT WOULD**”… - **I’d be giving all my things away**. - **Spending money that I don't have**. - **Filling up my gas-tank even though gas $4 a Gallon.** - (Just CRAZY THINGS.) - But we as believers have something that is, no doubt, more valuable than money. **That's Christ** and being an **heir with him**. - Guys (**IN MY 24 YEARS OF LIVING I'VE REALIZED THAT…Our life is a vapor**), IT PASSES BY FASTER THAN WE THINK, so this MARATHON (**that feels so grueling and hard**…is going to be over before you know it.) - **How will you look back on the race that you have ran when it is all said and done? Will you be able to say that I walked in faith or will you wish that you would've trusted the Lord more?** (PAUSE) **TRANSITION**: Church, The reason that we shouldn't be fainthearted, even though our persecution maybe difficult is because we are supposed to be considering Jesus… **WHO**…endured far worse! - (AND SCRIPTURE ELUDES TO THIS IN VERSE 4) SAYING… ---------- 4 **In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.** - As believers getting rid of this sin that clings closely to us is difficult, its a struggle. - No matter what kind of sin you have been resisting you have not resisted to the point that you have bled. - The audience that the author of **Hebrews** is speaking shows us in Chapter 10 that they had been getting persecuted because of their faith and also imprisoned! Scripture was telling them to take heart in the fact that **they were being arrested but they were not shedding blood.** - ## Doesn't that sound like the church in America today? - We have the woah is me mentality, because we are looked at differently by the world. That's our persecution. - **This passage is so sobering and helpful for us to hear**. BECAUSE…we aren't even persecuted as bad as **our brothers and sisters in other countries**. _Let alone the way Christians have been persecuted since the early church. **(lions den, tarred and feathered, etc.)**_ - **Christians from the early church** and **Our brothers and sisters**…who **are persecuted in other countries** know… that **there is no higher honor than to suffer for Christ…** in a way that we can only hope to know. - I want to encourage you all, to Go to OpenDoor.com and look at what some of our brothers and sister in other countries are going through. When we take the lens off of ourselves and focus on Christ and his body… **that action of selflessness, encourages us and convicts** us… to run **this race** to the best of our ability. **ILLUSTRATION**: Guys I want to share with you the story of **William Tyndale**: He was born in the late 1400s, he studied theology at Oxford University. - **Tyndale became a popular preacher.** At this time the bible was neglected by the church and clergymen were very **ignorant to scripture.** - ****Tyndale was an excellent linguist**** and translated the **New Testament** from **Greek** to **English**. And the **Old Testament** from **Latin to English.** He needed permission to translate the Bible but He never got the permission. - Tyndale wrote multiple books that were banned that exposed the **corruption in the church of England.** - In 1526 copies of the translated Bible were smuggled (_yes smuggled_) **into England** - In 1535 Tyndale was arrested for heresy. - In 1536 William Tyndale was **strangled and burned in a market square**. His Last words being a prayer, “Lord open the king of England's eyes.” **APPLICATION**: As believers Continue in your faith…there is no fear of persecution, no fear in death because we serve a GOD who has power over both. Don't be beat down by the worries of this world but instead live this life, run your race for eternal things… And The only way that we can do this is to look to the one who shed his blood, and endured agonizing persecution for our sake. So that we can take part in this race and endure persecution with a **WITH A HOPE THAT NOT EVEN DEATH CAN INTIMIDATE.** LETS PRAY… Cited: William Tyndale Biography: https://localhistories.org/a-short-biography-of-william-tyndale