Focus on the One Who Picks You Up

Little Johnny was racing around the neighborhood on his new bike and called out to his mother to watch his tricks:

“Look, Mom, no feet!

“Look, Mom, no hands!

All of a sudden he crashed, but he jumped up and yelled:

“Look, Mom, no teeth!”

I want to read a familiar couple of verses today from Hebrews chapter 12, and I hope you’ll feel encouraged this morning to get back up when you fall. I want you to focus on Jesus because He’s the one who can help you today!

Hebrews 12:1–2 CEV

1 Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. 2 We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!

These verses tell us that as believers we are in a race. People who are in a race have direction, purpose, and desire to finish something. Their eyes are focused on something.

There was once a man running in a marathon. He wasn’t doing so great. He had injured his leg during the race which had been bandaged. He was in great pain, suffering from fatigue, leg cramps, dehydration, and disorientation.

All the other marathon runners had crossed the finish line an hour before he crossed. He could have quit and not one would have judged him. Actually, by the time he made it to the finish line it was dark and most of the spectators had gone home.

After he finished someone asked him why he didn't just quit. He thought for a moment and said, "I didn’t come here to start the race; I came here to finish it."

What slows you down in your Race?

Hebrews 12:1 (CEV)

1 Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.

Now the word "witnesses" does not mean "spectators" as though these are people watching us from heaven. The word witness literally means "someone who bears witness to the truth."

Who are these witnesses that the bible is talking about? It's talking about those runners who have already crossed the finish line and are now in Heaven waiting for us.

Specifically it is referring to all of those great heroes of the faith that were talked about in Chapter 11 of Hebrews; our spiritual forefathers, who have run the same race that we are running now.

These witnesses encourage us because they ran their race and they won their race, and if they could do it, we can do it.

Don’t think for one second that those Old Testament heroes had some special power that you and I don’t have.

You need to understand that every one of those heroes in the Bible that you read about in the Old Testament were men and women just like you and me.

Did you know that some of the greatest encouragement for living the Christian life is found in the Old Testament? It is found in the lives of believers who have gone before us. It is a tragedy if Christians neglect the Old Testament in their Bible study.

Because some of the greatest lessons of the Christian life, and some of the most inspiring stories in the entire world, and some of the greatest encouragement you will ever find, is found in the Old Testament.

As a matter of fact, do you even know why the Old Testament was written?

Romans 15:4 CEV

4 And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope.

These people we read about in the Old Testament were meant to give us encouragement and to be our examples.

For example:

You may be thinking of dropping out of the race; you may be thinking about quitting altogether. Maybe you have lost your family, or your health, or your job.

Well, Job stands up and says, "I've been there. I know what it is to lose everything. But God is faithful-hang in the battle."

Maybe you are saying, "I'm thinking about quitting because life hasn't been fair to me. I've been treated so unjustly."

Well, Joseph stands up and says, "I know what it's like to be treated unfairly. I know what it's like when life deals you a bad hand. I was thrown in prison for something I didn't even do; left abandoned in a pit by my brothers. But I learned that God is good even when life is not-hang in there."

You may be saying, "I'm so discouraged. I feel like quitting. I'm facing the biggest problem in my life and I just don't believe I can overcome it."

Well David says, "I have been there. I faced the biggest giant who ever lived, and by the power of God I knocked his head off. -hang in there."

You see, we should be encouraged by those who have gone before us, but they teach us some things about how to run the race.

First of all, we must "get rid of what slows us down”

You would never run a race in an big bulky coat and with a suitcase in both hands. When you run a race you get as light as you can. If you're going to be a winner in the race you are running, you've got to literally "lighten up."

What slows us down in our walk with God?

Anything that keeps you from becoming everything that God would have you to be. Something that, in and of itself, is harmless and a good thing. But it can become a bad thing if it keeps you from the best thing.

Some people just love to go fishing. There is nothing wrong with fishing, but if fishing keeps you from church, if fishing keeps you from spending time with your family, if fishing keeps you from doing what God has called you to do, and being what God wants you to be, it's a weight that needs to be dropped.

If you're a Christian you've got a very unique problem. Your problem is not generally choosing between good and bad; we all know how to do that.

Our problem is choosing between what is good and what is best.

I can remember very clearly a dream I once had. Now, I’m not saying this was a dream from God, but I am saying that I had a dream at an important time in my life and it illustrates my point today.

I was facing a decision on whether or not I was going to make a pretty big move. And in this dream I had I can remember looking up and seeing a fork in the road. On the left side everything looked good and I could tell it was an ok road to travel, but on the right side things looked even better. The grass was greener, the light was brighter and it was clearly the better choice.

It occured to me that in that dream that I had a choice between what was good and what was best.

God in His grace can turn even our bad decisions into something good, but it sure is easier to make the best choice right up front and maybe avoid some of the steps it takes to get back to God’s best for us!

So how can we determine what God’s best is for our lives?

I'm going to give you four questions to ask yourself about anything or any activity you might be involved in. Your answers will tell you whether or not something is a weight.

Does it build me up spiritually?

Is what I'm doing, what I'm watching, what I'm listening to increasing and enhancing my spiritual walk with the Lord; bringing me closer to God or further away?

Does it bring me under its power?

It could be excess. It could be alcohol or tobacco or television or sports or gambling or drugs.

Does it burden my conscience?

If whatever you're doing, for whatever the reason, causes you to have guilt and you feel like you cannot do it and honor the Lord, then you should lay it beside you.

Could it block someone from Jesus?

Simply put, is this activity possibly a stumbling block to someone else who does not know the Lord Jesus Christ.

Get rid of the things that are slowing you down.

Don’t get Tripped Up, Tied Down, or just plain Tired!

Hebrews 12:1 CEV

1 Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.

He mentions “sin that won’t let go”

It's one thing to run with heavy ol’ suitcases under each arm, but imagine running with chains around your ankles.

That is exactly what sin can do to you.

Sin trips you up. It’s nothing to mess with. Some of the best people have been tripped up because they have allowed sin into their lives. Oh, we always think it happens to someone else until you find yourself flat on the ground when you should be running strong!

Sin is like a rope that will wrap itself around your body.

It will trip you and make you fall flat on your face.

Satan has a strategy for you as you run your race.

Yes, Satan is real. You have an enemy.

He will try to tempt you to quit running or get off the track.

If you listen to him, then he will trip you and make you fall every time.

What’s worse, once you are flat on your face he will trap you where you won't get up and run anymore.

Oh, it’s sometimes a slow process.

There is an enemy of your soul and he would like nothing more than to cause you to stop running the race.

But there is something else to see about this sin that is mentioned in the first verse.

This sin does not refer just to wickedness, it refers to discouragement.

That's why the author of Hebrews goes on to say in verse

Hebrews 12:3 CEV

3 So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up.

You see the greatest enemy to a marathon runner is discouragement.

There’s a lot on the line with you. You have a purpose. Your life matters!

Time is the ultimate tool of the enemy. He is very patient and will wait until you’re tired and worn out. That’s why I want to give you a piece of advice.

When you see sin crawling across the race track of life, don't step on it, don’t look at it, don’t touch it - - jump over it, run around it, sprint away from it! Do whatever it takes to get away from it!

Never laugh at sin, and never become familiar with sin.

Treat sin like sin would treat you. Sin will have no mercy on you; you have no mercy on sin.

Leave behind what that which can Tripped Up, Tired Down, or Tired.

Keep your eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1 CEV

1 Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.

We must be determined to run the race ahead of us!

You should run your race with determination. You should run your race with endurance.

The Christian life is not about the short 100 yard dash, lots of people can commit to that, no, it’s much more of a commitment. It’s the 26 mile marathon.

It’s going to take effort to win.

It’s going to cost you something to win.

It’s going to take a plan to win.

It’s going to take HELP to win.

Thank God that it's not how you start your race, it's how you finish it that counts.

Jesus is not timing you with a stopwatch; He is measuring you with a yardstick.

It's really not how fast you run, it's how far you run that really counts with the Lord. You must run with determination.

Running requirement at ORU, Aerobics, Fun Run, Medium Shirt, Psycho, One light at a time. Once I set my focus, the end goal was attainable.

But the secret to winning the race is to focus on the finish.

Hebrews 12:2 CEV

2 We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!

In any race, the most important thing is to keep your eyes fixed on the goal, focused on the finish.

In our personal walk with the Lord we must take our eyes off of everything else except the goal.

You see, you must not only run your race with determination, you must run it with concentration.

You've got to fix your focus on the finish.

You've got to put on spiritual blinders.

You've got to take your eyes off of others, take your eyes off yourself, and keep your eyes on Jesus.

We are to look at Jesus because He will lead us and give us the faith we need.

What does that mean?

Well it means, He is the one that puts us into the race and He will be waiting for us at the end.

Philippians 1:6 CEV

6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

Can I tell you what is so exciting about this race we are running? When you come to the finish you don't find a tape, you find Jesus.

He is watching you and He is waiting for you. Doesn’t that make you want to run harder?

You see, the way you win the race is not by focusing on the finish line, because we don't know where the finish line is.

The way you run and the way you win is by focusing on Jesus!

Salvation is not a reward you get at the end of the race. Salvation is the gift that puts you into the race.

When I started the message today I told you my goal. I want you to be encouraged.

First off, be encouraged that you can get in the race. Jesus has made a way for you to be part of the team. Forgiveness of our sins was bought with the precious blood of a loving Saviour!

If you accept Him today, He's got the shoes and the uniform waiting for you.

Secondly, if you are already running your race, run it for the glory of God!

Throw off the Weights!

Don’t get Tripped Up, Tired Down, or Burnt Out!

Set your Focus on the One Who Picks You Up!

You know what my favorite part of all this is? We are part of the winning team! Let’s go out there and act like it!