Run First, Run

FBC Wallace, NC –

May 28th, 2023

“Run First, Run”

Hebrews 12:1-3

Run First, Run

Hebrews 12:1-3

· Forrest Gump Video

“If I was going somewhere, I was running!”

“Church are we running? Are you Running?

Hebrews 12:1-3

Pray

Example: 1983 Inaugural Ultramarathon – CLIFF YOUNG

o Sydney – Melbourne, Australia

o 544 Miles Long

o Top Marathon Runners attended

o 61 year-old Cliff Young

o A potato farmer – registers –

o Overalls, work boots, NO dentures, due to them rattling

o Lines up with the professionals – race is off

o After the first day, trailed pack by a large margin, slow loping pace

o Competitors Run – 18 hours – slept 6

o Young Kept running

o Ran 5 straight days, taking the lead the first night

o PEOPLE ASKED WHAT DID HER DRINK/EAT?

o How did he do it?

o Won by 10 hours.

o He told the press that he had ran for two-three days before rounding sheep

o He imagined he was running after sheep trying to outrun a storm

o Young finished the Marathon in 5 days, 15 hours, 4 minutes

o “Young Shuffle” adopted by Ultramarathon Runners – expands less energy and helps build endurance.

Running with Endurance, that is the focus of todays message –

· For us as individuals – and for us as a Church/upcoming season

· Endurance: it is mentioned in all 3 verses

· The word is not perfection – BUT PROGRESSION

· Once you accept Christ into your life  you are in the race!

· The writer uses the example of something that is familiar

· We must run the race of the Christian Life with ENDURANCE while doing two things:

First, the writer of Hebrews starts off the chapter with connecting it back to what was just discussed in Chapter 11.

Vs. 1

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnessesf surrounding us

“Therefore” – Connection, bridge, (Stop, reflect, now apply)

Dr. Danny Akin – President at SEBTS

"When we encounter the word 'therefore' in Scripture, it serves as a flashing sign, directing our attention to what preceded it. It beckons us to pause and consider the implications, the logical connection, and the weight of what has been said. 'Therefore' is a divine invitation to connect the dots, to see the truths that have been laid out, and to respond accordingly. It is a reminder that God's Word is not a collection of isolated thoughts but a cohesive and purposeful message. So, when we see 'therefore,' let us lean in, study, and apply the preceding truths with conviction and obedience."

…since we also have such a large cloud of witnessesfsurrounding us”

· First participle clause in the passage

· “Surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses.”

· Referring back to Chapter 11, the Heroes of the Faith

· “Such a Large”

o Greek: tosouton – Such a great

o Such a great CLOUD

A “cloud” is a metaphor for a vast number of people congregated together, and they testify by their example as presented in chapter 11.

They “surround” us,

· filling the front rows of the stadium, with the first tiers containing row upon row of the great saints of the past

· sitting there wearing their gold medals and giving us the thumbs up,

· telling us how we can be victorious as well by following their example.

Imagine what it would mean for a runner in the great race looking up and seeing

· Jesse Owens,

· Carl Lewis,

· Michael Johnson,

· and Usain Bolt all giving encouragement and advice.

Here it is

· Enoch,

· Abraham,

· Moses,

· David, and the great prophets shouting that we can win as well.

The author’s focus is on the importance of current believers learning from those who have gone before, not on those who have gone before watching current believers.

Dr. James Moffat states,

“It is what we see in them, not what they see in us, that is the writer’s main point.”

So as we run this race of the Christian life, in front of all the great heroes of the faith before us – let us run!

Main Clause:

vs.1c:

…Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us!

· Main verse in the passage

· MAIN VERB – Single Imperative

· Everything is built around it

· The Greek literally reads, “Through endurance, let us run”

· Present tense, continuously –

Endurance – Greek translates to perseverance –

o active endurance involving effort and struggle.

the race – Noun Âgon

- We get the word agony from

Agon - to engage in intense struggle, involving physical or nonphysical force against strong opposition[1]

This race is marked out for us by God, implying that every believer’s duty is to run the race. Though it will be hard, we must persevere.

Charles Spurgeon,

1. "The call to run with endurance in Hebrews 12:1 implies that the Christian life is not easy. It requires steadfastness, perseverance, and the determination to press on even in the face of difficulties and trials."

It is not about speed, this is not a sprint, but it is a marathon of the Christian life.

Command – NOT AN OPTION – Once you accept Christ, you are to run!

In this passage, the writer refers to two things that will help to endure the race.

1. Run Lightly – v.1b

1… Let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us…

“lay aside” – 2nd Participle Clause

Greek “Apotithemi” - ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee

· Cast off, put away

· In the Greek textit reads “By means of throwing off, LET US RUN”

· Run with freedom & agility, not to be weighed down.

· As Forrest began to run and the leg braces began to fall

· He ran with freedom

“Every hinderance & The sin that so easily insnares us”

· The participle (lay aside) is completed with a compound direct object: “everything that hinders and the sin.”

· “laying aside every weight ESPECIALLY THE SIN”

o Noun: Onkos – Weight, hinder, prevent, impediment

o UNFAITHFULNESS – Sin from chapter 11 (Live by faith)

· In the first century AD, runners ran in the stadium virtually naked.

· They would enter wearing long flowing, colorful robes.

· At the start of the race, these would be discarded.

· Some would RUN NAKED

In like manner, the author is exhorting believers to discard anything that would encumber them and hinder them from running the race.

EXAMPLE: Coach Beasley

· 2001-2005

· 64 games

· Hard Coach

· The run was easier without the weight and hinderance of the gear

What is hindering you?

o May or may not be sinful, but it is dragging you down.

o Preventing you from running faithfully

o Lay aside – cast off

o Anything, any mindset, any attitude, any habit

o THAT IS HINDERING US, HINDERING YOU, HINDERING FBC

Understand this: The good things we do, may be hindering the greater things God has for us.

“Don’t let the good things get in the way of the best things”

Back in chapter 11, - BY FAITH! – Are we running by faith or running while trying to control and do it on our own, staying in our comfort zone, doing it the way we want, not adapting, not trusting in Him

When you’re living for Christ

- Serving the Lord in your Christian Life

- The Holy Spirit reveals a habit, an attitude, faults, words, deeds, SIN

- That are inconsistent with the Gospel, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

- YOU THROW IT OFF, YOU LAY IT ASIDE

- AGAIN, What needs to be cast aside in our own personal life?

WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE THROWN OUT IN OUR RACE AS A CHURCH? Unbelief!!!!

As we RUN!

Not only should we run LIGHTLY -

2. Run Intently – v.2

2. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…

In verse 2 – third participle clause “fixing our eyes/keeping our eyes on Jesus”

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus”—

· The verb aphoraō means to “fasten your gaze” or “focus your attention” on what would be the finish line in a race.

· At the end of our race, that is Jesus, and he is presented here as the final and greatest of the “heroes of the faith” for us to emulate.

Example: 1929 Rose Bowl – Pasadena, Cali – Roy Riegles

o Cal Berkley vs Georgia Tech

o Midway through 2nd quarter

o GT – Jack “Stumpy” Thomason fumbles on their own 30yrd line

o Riegles picks up the fumble and RUNS

o HE takes off, no one in site

o 30 – 25 – 20 -10 – then TACKLED

o BY HIS OWN TEAMATE – BENNY LOOM

o He was tackled bc HE RAN THE WRONG DIRECTION

o Nickname: Wrong Way Riegle’s – Rest of His life

o If God says “There goes wrong way, Jimmy, Bill, Sussy, Jacob, FIRST BAPTIST”

CONTINUED:During Roy’s Run, GT Coach Bill Alexander said to his excited players who were jumping up and down on the Tech sideline

o “Sit down, sit down, He’s running the wrong way. EVERY STEP HE TAKES IS TO OUR ADVANTAGE”

o The is what the devil says when we don’t run to the cross, keep our eyes on Jesus –it is to his advantage

Paul mentions the importance of DIRECTION IN…..

Phil 2:12-14

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

We are to run to Christ because, continue in verse 2…

“Keeping our eyes on Jesus, THE PIONEER AND PERFECTOR OF OUR FAITH!”

EXAMPLE: In the movie Chariots of Fire, the British runner, Abrahams, studies the running style of all his rivals to learn from them.

In the same manner:

We are challenged to study the life of Jesus and pattern ourselves after him, and this tells us why.

He is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith” “Pioneer” was used first in Hebrews 2:10 of Jesus as the “pioneer of their salvation” whose office was completed (“made perfect”) at the cross.

WHY IS HE THE PIONEER & PERFECTOR?

Remainder - Verse 2-3

For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.

HE ENDURED THE CROSS  Could have called 10,000 angels to come

BUT HE DIDN’T, HE ENDURED, WHY?

“For the joy that ley before Him”

· What does that mean? “THE JOY THAT LAY BEFORE HIM”

· – look around – you, me, we are that joy

That fulfilling the mission and dying for sinners like us, so that we would have eternal life in Him when we accept Christ into our lives, THAT IS THE JOY!

THAT WAS HIS MISSION!

HIS RACE LED HIM TO THE CROSS

AND THE JOY WAS KNOWING DEATH IS ABOUT TO BE DEFEATED

THAT TOMB WILL BE EMPTY!

I AM GOING TO DIE FOR ALL OF MANKIND

FOR YOU

FOR ME

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL THIS MORNING?

GET TO THE GOSPEL  For unbelievers in the room

3 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.

Jesus ENDURED – He ran the Race – WE ARE TO LOOK TO HIM, WHY?

SO THAT YOU WON’T GROW WEARY AND GIVE UP!

AD LIB TRANSITION

Don’t make any mistake this morning about who is in control –

JESUS IS IN CONTROL

ALWAYS HAS BEEN – ALWAYS WILL BE

RUN!

RUN TO THE CROSS

RUN TO THE ONE WHO DIED FOR YOUR SINS

THE PIONEER, THE PERFECTOR,

RUN TO THE ONE WHO ENDURED THE NAILS, THE CROWN, THE SPEAR IN THE SIDE RUN TO THE PROMISE OF GRACE, PROMIS OF FORGIVENESS, PROMISE OF LOVE

RUN AND DON’T GIVE UP,

KEEP RUNNING

WITH YOUR EYES FIXED ON THE CROSS

FIRST BAPTIST – KEEP RUNNING

RUN LIGHTLY

RUN INTENTLY

RUN FAITHFULLY

RUN TO JESUS!

DON’T GIVE UP,

DON’T STOP, DON’T QUIT

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED! KEEP RUNNING!

Again, like Gump said, “If I was going somewhere I WAS RUNNING”

Brothers and sisters, First Baptist Church,

· let us run this race with endurance,

· traveling lightly,

· and keeping our eyes fixed on the Jesus, Cross of Christ,

· trusting in Him,

· and proclaiming His message.

For we are one church, on one mission, proclaiming one Jesus

LET US RUN!

You may think this morning, I have messed up so much

I have failed in my race,

I haven’t even been running, I have stopped and I’m just sitting down because life has been so hard.

I have wondered from my faith,

I have become stagnant,

Can I run again? YES!!!

Roy Reigles was so distraught that HE HAD TO BE TALKED BACK into the game

· Nibs Price, his coach, wants Him to get back in the race and to trust Him.

· Reigles “Coach I cant do it, I have ruined you, ruined myself, ruined our team. I can’t face the crowd”

· Price responds:

o Roy, get up and go back out there

o The game is only half over.

f Heb 11:2,4–5,39 f Heb 11:2,4–5,39 [1]Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 495.