Running The Christian Race

Running Hebrews 11:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

To begin with brothers and sisters, Christian Friends well wishers and saints of God as we review in retrospect the revelation of this reviving text we see some rejoicing moments. Give me a minute to tell this story.

Apollos the great theologian who studied at the finest theological seminary school of his time penned the book of Hebrews.However some scholars attribute the book to Paul. But based on the writing style I agree that Apollos wrote Hebrews. Maybe even as a ghost writer, in any case our Theme text is Running the Christian Race. I saw a bumper stick that said God doesn’t want weekend visitation he wants full custody. I laughed and laughed and I said who comes up with this kind of stuff. Then I realized that those folk are just as motivated as I am to present God in the best form possible. I’m trying to make God Look Good. And the text says in verse 1.Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In verse 1 I see several things

1. Wherefore seeing, stop right there. This literally means that we ought to be cognitively aware concerning spiritual matters. In other words you ought to be able to see right from wrong. You ought to be able to see with spiritual eyes.

2. We ought to consider our surroundings the bible says in the b Clause of verse 1. “We also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. This means that you and I didn’t get here by ourselves, we have Heaven’s grandstands looking and watching. You want to know the truth ab out it? Everybody who has passed that you know are up in heaven watching us, Your mama and daddy and grandma and great grandmother great great grandmother your grandpa, great grandpa and great great grandpa your uncles great uncles and aunts and great aunts your friends and associates and constitutes. are all witnesses of our Christian Living. And I know my Grand parents are counting on me to get it right. My grandpa never got to hear me on this side of heaven but on the other side the bible says we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,” on the other side my daddy and grandpa hear me preaching every Sunday.

3. The bible says “let us lay aside every weight”,

Tell your neighbor: You just got to let some things go.

We oftentimes put extra weight on us that we don’t need to carry. The bible says cast your cares upon the Lord for he careth for you. Some of that weight can cause a stroke, a heart attack, or a stress related illness. Saints of God sometimes we take on more debt than we can handle. I vowed to God “Lord if you ever get me out of that mess I promise I’ll never go back to being in bondage”. The weight was so heavy until I had to work on jobs I hated to be at. And now in this phase on my life if it seems like I’ve got too much of a work load I’ll back off. I’ll take a break and avoid burnout.

4. verse 1 says “and the sin which doth so easily beset us. Brothers and sisters sin can bring you down!!! Ah Yeah you ask the alcoholic what sin caused them, you ask the dope addict what sin cost them, you ask the adulterer and adulteresses what sin cost them You ask the gambler what sin cost them. You ask the talebearer what sin costed them, You ask the murderer what sin costed them you ask the liar what sin costed them. There is a price that makes us pay.. I know I’m right about it because the bible says the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. Preach Boy.

5. Then the last thing the bible says in verse 1 is and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, The bible saying here that we have a Christian Race to Run. And nobody gets out of running the race. Everybody got to run your own race. This is serious business because you can’t run my race. I can’t run your race. You will never get credit for running your Christian Race if I’m doing all the running for you. And that’s why we’ve got teach our children to have a working relationship with Jesus for themselves. Because everybody has got a race to run. And parents and grandparents you do them a dis-service by leaving them at home. rev I don’t bring em because they act up. let em act up the Holy Ghost will fix them up right in here. Because the word of God transforms lives. I know I’m right because the bible says Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Brothers and sisters the writer described the Christian Race as a sporting event as a running competition and athletic contest. The competitions were in reference to the Greek Olympic games that we saw in 2024 in Paris, France on TV just recently. And instead of running for the Gold Silver and Bronze metals the Olympians of biblical antiquity ran for a garland made out of and Olive Branch. And it was a big deal then as it is a big deal now. And Paul used this sporting contest to describe to us how we ought to run for Jesus. Church I’m running for Jesus and I’m not tired yet. I never expect to give the journey over until I reach my home.

The bible says in verse 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

let’s unpack this verse Looking to Jesus. There is no other name under the heavens whereby men must be saved except the name of Jesus. Call upon the name of Jesus and thou shalt be saved. Church I look towards Jesus because Jesus said I am the way the truth amd the life and no man come to the Father but by me. WE ought to look to Jesus because Jesus said I am Alpha and Omega. I am the beginning and the ending. I look to Jesus because Jesus said I am the Bread of life In other word bread in a starving land. I look to Jesu because Jesus said I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down My life for my sheep. I look to Jesus because Jesus said that He is the True Vine and if you’re connected to the Branch the True Vine Jesus the Christ you’ll have Eternal Life. because the rest of the phrase in verse 2 says that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith; Church I follow Jesus because I don’t want to fizzle before the finish and have a fatal fall.

Then the word says in verse 2 “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,” Listen brothers and sisters “Jesus accepted the shame for us as if it were nothing but joy that God put before him. In other words Jesus wanted to die for us Jesus willingly died for us and Jesus won the victory because He died for us. It wasn’t no shame in his game ya’ll

Then finally in verse 2 the bible says and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus earned the right to be set at the right hand of God. Because the bible says that He though it not robbery to be equal with God. I’ve taught you this psychology before that association brings on assimilation and assimilation brings on accommodation and accommodation brings on equalibration and equal means equal. Jesus is God the Son. And He’s an integral part of the Trinity. He’s an integral part of the Trinity because there is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost and they are equal in every divine perfection and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Teach me Pastor.

And so brothers and sisters I must close here But tah I’m reminded of a story that comes to my mind Um Um Um yes Once upon a time there was a famous runner and he had won all kind of prizes and awards yes In fact he had never lost a race nah nah and One day while touring over in Europe he was window shopping for souvenirs And an old man came along and began talking with him um um um yes. And the old man said Hey aren’t you that famous runner and the young man said yes thatt’s who I am um. And the old man said well I myself am also a famous runner yes. and I myself have never lost a race either Oh Lordy And the old man said I wonder would you mind running in a race with me. um um um yes the young man laughed hah ha hah an old man like you running in a race against me, it wouldn’t be fair. Great God But the old man insisted and after a while the young man agreed. They went down to the track to run the race. They got a man to run the gun. He said on your mark get set ready go.

And both men started running yes On the first lap the young man said I’m going to run this race like I usually do and to his surprise the old man was still right by his side. Oh Lordy yes they went around the second race and the old man was still right by his side. The young man said I’ll put on a little more speed yes I am. The young man began straining every muscle and every nerve in his body yes He said I’ll leave his now but to his surprise the old man was still right by his side Oh Lord and They came up on the last lap of the race and the young man gave it all that he had but the old man was still right by his side yes and the last 100 yards of the race the old man moved on out in front and crossed the finish line first. Oh Lord And the young man out of breath came up to the old man and said Mr. who are you and what is your name because I’ve never lost a race in my life.

The Old man said You know me but you just don’t know my name. Why ah Methuselah ran with me for 969 years but I caught up with him um um I caught up with Noah one morning yes I did And I caught up with Abraham Isaac and Jacob one morning oh Lord. I caught up with Moses and Joshua um um um and I caught up David and Solomon yes I did I caught up with Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zachariah and Malachi yes I did On Calvary I caught up with Jesus One Friday Oh Lord and He died on the cross and they put him down in Joseph’s new tomb. He stayed in the grave three days and I thought I had him been but Early Sunday Sunday Morning He Got Up! with All Power in His Hands yes He did and

I heard Jesus came in on the scene and said get back death oh death where is thy sting and grave where is they victory because I came that man have life and through Me he have it more abundantly. Ain’t He Alright! I wish I had a witness in here Oh Lord . I Running for Jesus I Running that One day I’ll swoop out my cross for an imperishable crown and all the saints of the ages will welcome me home Oh Lord. I’m through here now but I’ve got to tell you That You don’t know like I know what the Lord have done for me.. He been good to me. Have He been good to you… If He’s been good to you Say Yeah Say yeah Say Yeah Oh Lord.