The Faith Race

Hebrews 12:1-3

First of all, the cloud of witnesses is not speaking of faithful saints in Heaven watching your every action.

This is speaking of the previously mentioned “heroes of faith”,......

Better stated “Seeing that you have all these testimonies of winners of the ‘faith race’.

Not sure how Heaven can be Heaven if folks are up there watching the fallen world.

Next, seeing that we have these examples, “Let Us!!!!”

Examples of faith, gives us the understanding and encouragement to “Let Us”, which is calling us to action!

Listen to the report of these witnesses.....Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

This kind of faith should inspire our action in faith!

Now, let us lay aside all the hindrances to keep us from running this race of faith.

Romans 13:11-14 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Lay aside the worldly and put on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Let us run this race of faith......it is not a jog........we are running with endurance

2 Timothy 2:4-6 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

Running the race............with endurance! Running not jogging, but with force striving for the crown, the prize!

Looking....fixing our eyes on Jesus as our object of faith!

The Author....Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

The originator, the beginning

The Perfecter, The Finisher..........Jesus carried this through to perfect completion!

For the joy that was set before Him............Jesus persevered so that He might receive the joy of the accomplishment of God’s will and exaltation.

Sitting seems to imply the completion of His atoning work.

At the Right Hand is a place of authority, power, and honor.