The Great Race II
Notes
Transcript
Last week we talked about getting ready to run an ultra marathon—freeing ourselves from the things that take our focus off of the prize. Getting rid of our sins, and anything that cause us to lose focus on Christ. the author of Hebrews wrote to a group ho was facing persecution, persecution from their own people, from their family and friends because they now followed “The Way”. Some had lost their jobs, some had been imprisoned for their faith in Christ. So, we see this call to endurance to run this race without stopping, without giving up. Today we are going to look at how we can endure, but first let me ask you a question, how many of you have suffered for your faith, have you every lost your job, have you lost a relationship, has your life ever been threatened. We are going to pick back up at verse 3, but first I am going to read all of Hebrews 12:1-11.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
“Consider” what does the author mean when asks us to consider. We are to focus on Christ, meditate on Him, ruminate on who He is and what He has did and continues to do for us. We are to carefully calculate what Jesus went through. We “consider Him who endured”, Jesus endured for each and everyone of us. He endured hostility from His family, from His friends, from the very people that He had come to free from the strangle hold of sin. But they rejected Him. Jesus is the perfect example for us. We are to put aside the sins and weights that cause us to loose focus, and calculate what Jesus endured for us. We must be totally absorbed with Christ. He should invade and take up residency in every area of our lives. What is the first and greatest commandment? we are to love and serve with all of our being. The Greek word for “consider” is “katanoeo” it means to perceive, observe, understand, to consider attentively, to fix ones eyes and mind upon. Think about that definition, it is an action. we are being called to action, to actively focus our lives on Jesus. And that is how we can run with endurance. Looking to Him the author and perfecter of our faith. We must remain focused on and plugged into Christ, light example. Read the story from the commentary about the race. When we take our eyes off of the goal even for a second we , fall behind. We must focus on Jesus. What we endure is nothing compared to what Jesus endured for each one of us.
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Sin is our adversary, we must fight against it. The author points out that things may seem bad, but no one has been martyred. He is in a sense telling them and us to stop being drama queens. It is not as bad as we really think it is (remember the questions I asked at the beginning). But we always focus on the bad and not on Jesus it seems as if we cannot overcome. Well guess what get over yourself and focus in on Jesus. There are many parallels betwen these believers and the current western church. do we face persecution and hardship, at times yes. Are we being killed for our faith, no. We have not yet resisted to the point of blood shed. In our relationship with Jesus there will be things we must give up. but if we focus on Him , plug into His power and strength we can endure, far more than we have to this point. Remember who can be against us when God is for us. As we discussed in our study about kingdom focus, everything good takes sacrifice. Everything good takes effort. Are we focused on Jesus in every area of our lives. Are we following His example, more concerned with the will of God than the will of man. Are our eyes set on the prize which is Jesus. There is nothing in this world more important than a relationship with Him.
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Starting with verse 5 the author points out something, these Christians had forgotten God’s word. When they were facing trials and tribulation they had failed to turn to God’s word for answers, for correction and for encouragement. This is also sadly true in our churches today, people do not turn to God’s word enough. His holy Scripture is how He has chosen to communicate with us. One commentator puts it this way “We cannot be profoundly influenced (or encouraged) by that which we do not know”. Knowing God’s word is essential for spiritual survival. Lets be very clear, it is not about how many verses you can memorize. It is about truly knowing God’s Word. Having that intimate relationship with His word. Knowing what it means, not just knowing the words. The author then recalls Proverbs 3:11-12. As children of God they had forgotten that God punishes those He loves. When we face hardship are we looking for what we can learn, how we can grow, how can we be strengthened or do we just have our pity party. Remember everything good comes through sacrifice. Think of a diamond—something that we place great value on. It is made by intense pressure, pressure that is 50,000 times the pressure at the earths surface, and 2,912 degrees Fahrenheit to form one diamond. Through intense pressure something beautiful is made. Everything good comes through sacrifice. The author now reminds his readers trials and suffering are used by God to educate and discipline believers through such experiences.
Vs. 6) This is something people do not want to hear about, God’s discipline, well trust me you would rather face God’s discipline than to face His eternal judgment. Everyone says, well we thought God is love, and that is correct, it is out of His love for us that we are disciplined by Him. Now I am not saying every single hardship or trial is God’s discipline, some come from our poor judgment. Sometimes as the man born blind it is to glorify God in that moment. God does discipline those He loves, just as we discipline our own children. This is a part of our relationship with our Perfect Father, so we need to focus on what He is showing us through our trials.
The Great Race II
The Great Race II
I would like to read a couple of verse from Mark 8:34-37 from the Message translation. Christ shows us how we should live our lives, He shows us how we are to endure.