Just Do it

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Introduction

Now
-We just witnessed the Paris Olympics. I love the Olympics the pressure these athletes are under is unprecedented the spend the years training for one moment.
-The winner has been announce, another Kenyan has won the Marathon
-The Kenyan accepts the reward looking like he just woke up from nap, not completed a 26.2 mile course
-What can we surmise about the Kenyan after just completing a race that they won by 2 hours?
-They are well trained; they put their bodies through intense pressure both mentally and physically
-The Kenyans train at altitudes of 7500 ft above sea level, they train were the air is thinnest
-They run twice a day both am/pm
-They run on an incline for the duration of the course
-Their course has rocks, holes, and debris.  They only work out on a track once a week.
-American runners who train with them report that while we use: Gps Trackers, Heart Rate Monitors, Mp3 players, Water bottles, sweat resistance suits, and only the best of shoes.
-The Kenyans wear a windbreaker and a pair of decent shoes.
-Like the Kenyan’s Christian have to live the Christian life without all the accessories and resources the world has, yet God calls us to climb higher and higher.
The Hebrew churches was in this situation. Trying to be godly under intense circumstances.
Then
-The audience who the Hebrews writer is addressing is facing the same type of opposition
-They are being persecuted by Rome and the Jews for their faith, their property was confiscated important personal items taken.
Hebrews 10:32–39 CSB
32 Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. 34 For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. 35 So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.
-The book of Hebrews has two classes of people it’s dealing with:
Unbelievers who came to the race and got into the starting blocks, and took off when the gun sounded…but they have subsequently walk off the track when they realized that this race was a marathon not a sprint.
2. Then Believers who started the Race, but somewhere along the course got discourage and need someone to tell them to keep going. Don’t stop. The end is near.
-Hebrews is called the warning book let me show this:
Hebrews 2:1–3 CSB
For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
Hebrews 6:4–6 CSB
4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
Hebrews 10:26–27 CSB
26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.
-We call these the warning scriptures. The writer of Hebrews clearly has some concerns for the professing Jews. He is addressing what seems to be a return to the Jewish system of worship and a rejection of New Christian life that some of them had confessed and affirmed.
-You will notice in Hebrews 6:6 it uses the term “fallen away” which is one word in the greek which means “to abandon a former relationship or associate, or to dissociate.
-In any good training session or race there are those people who want you to stop or quit so that they can get a competitive edge on you. These folks are the false prophets: Who teach bad doctrine. Who teach that your feelings & desires supersedes spiritual revelation.
The book of Hebrews says “the Just shall live by faith!” but the false teachers says “the just shall live by feelings!”
Thesis-A true believer is characterized by an ability to preserver through high intensity training (persecution) & competition. True Believers don’t quit.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB)
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. 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.

I. Lay vs1- “Strip”

Hebrews 12:1 CSB
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
(v.1) “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us” -The analogy of Hebrews chapter 12 is a race, Jesus is awarding Medals, and the Cloud of witnesses are those who have endured the same race as we are trying to complete.  Their lives formulate a living example about what it takes to finish your course. Lets take a look:
Hebrews 11:4–11 CSB
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.
Enoch was by himself preaching to the generation of people prior to the flood that would be swept up in the flood he was only one who was saved
(v.1) These witnesses though dead are still speaking from the grave. We know at three things about them.
a. What they went through
b. How they handle their own personal races
c. What part God played in the completion of their race.
-The writer wants us to draw strength from the testimony of these normal, weak, sometimes hard- headed individuals that submitted to God and keep going...
Hebrews 12:1 CSB
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
(v.1) “Let us lay aside”- “Let us” the writer put himself in the race along with all of his Christian brothers and sisters.
(v.1) “Lay aside” is to strip oneself of anything that hinders you from running a successful race.   This weight is both external and internal. The Hebrews had become distracted about the persecution that was happening in the church.  So much so that some of them were turning away from the faith, because they were not willing to pay the cost of the association with Jesus Christ.  The race had become too hard, the mountain were to high so they deserted....They left the race
(v.1) A. Every Weight- Tumor, Bulk or Mass- Swelling Flesh or excess clothing. No runner comes to the track with layers of clothes on. They wear the least amount possible.
1.  These weights are amoral distraction.
(v.1) B.  And Sin
1.  These are things that are explicitly sinful.
(v.1)So easily Entangles”
“so easily” This is for the proud person who thinks they can run the races while carrying all kinds of weight. They are the ones that think they can play with the devil and not get burnt!
Entangles-Skillfully surrounds-to be distracted in all directions
This refers to things you willfully do, and things that you allow to distract you.  Distractions have a way a slipping into your life, and causing your Christian Walk to go from a run to a walk to a crawl and all the way into the stands as a spectator.
A man was praying with his pastor at the altar. He prayed a prayer the pastor had heard many times before. “Lord, take the cobwebs out of my life.” Just as he said this the pastor interrupted, “Kill the spider, Lord.”
Many times we ask the Lord to forgive us of some sin, yet we leave the source of temptation in our life.
Marriage Illustration of shorts in college----It’s either me or the shorts. I had to get rid of the source not just keeping washing the problem. Somethings just need to be purged.
Application
The OT & NT stories serves to energize our hope in the enduring power of God, to help us complete our course. These stories are your new family history!
This race involves the willingness to let go of anything that slows your pace; whether they be good things or bad things.
Transition Statement-Laying aside your sins is just one component of successful competition one must also get up and run
its time to “Leave”

II. Leave (Run) vs.1

Hebrews 12:1 CSB
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
-The writer of Hebrews speaking in the third person again says “let us” he included himself which shows that he was humble and that he understood that the call to endurance is both for the people and the Teacher.  The writer of Hebrews was challenging the believers to allow the plundering of their goods, ignore the mocking from the Jews, and pray for those who have left the church because of tribulations. He has called them to stay focused on the race and if you had become weighted down with worry and discouragement to get back up and start running again.
(v.1) “Let us run with endurance” Why run instead of walk.
Running is harder than walking---this implies that our Christian journey will not always be a bed of roses.
Everyone Walks but not everyone Runs. Runners are intentional they always have an objective. They are either training just to stay in shape, or they are training for a competition. This is a challenge to live life on purpose.
(v.1) “with endurance” The writer tells us what type of race it is now. Sprints and short distances require raw power, but long distance requires endurance. Lets take a look at the word
Endurance: Hupomone—To remain underneath heavy weight. This refers to that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trials.
-Picture the Kenyan Runner going higher and higher in the mountain the higher he goes the thinner the air, making his lungs work harder and harder. Like the runner The Writer of Hebrews tells us in this race called the Christian life you will have to bear up under; persecution, affliction, trials & Tribulation. There will be sicknesses, lost jobs, broken relationship, deaths, and sorrowful nights. But he tells us to keep pressing higher and higher.
Enduring the Race- Agonizing or striving to win a prize; a steady determination to keep going (MacArthur)
-This is an attitude that says I am going to finish my course at all cost.  Knowing that the road will be hard but settle in my heart that there is no turning back, and believing that God will empower you to finish what he has started.
(v.1) “Set before us”
 Corporate race-Great Commandment & Great Commission
Individual Race-Facing our own trials and tribulation with endurance…stop wishing your life was somebody else's. Some folks will have a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Full Marathon uphill with 50lbs of military gear on. It is not for us to worry about someone else journey and wonder why their life seems to be so much easier than yours. Besides Job; Paul went through more than I have ever seen a man go through, and he never sat around wondering why Peter, James, or John had it easier than him.
Illustration:
John 21:18–22 CSB
18 “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.” 20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”
"By Perseverance, the Snail Reached the Ark."  Quote by  C. H. Spurgeon
APPLICATION
1. Some of us starting thinking about the Christian life and decided we needed a break: One hour/one day, one day/one week, one week/one month, one month/one year, one year/a decade.
2. Make a decision that you will trust God to give you the endurance that you need to finish strong(don’t worry about lost time)
3. Focus on your race. God’s is going to base your medal on the race he set for you. Stop wishing for other people lives. Or being silently bitter towards God for the hand that has been dealt to you.
Transition Statement-It is not enough to just Lay, Leave, not we have to Look.

III. Look v.2

Hebrews 12:2 CSB
2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. 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.
(v.2) “Fixing our eyes on Jesus”- to turn the eye away from one thing and then focus on another.
-In this text this is a willful turn from Internal/External distraction both in thought/deed, to a one-minded focus on Christ(or the finish line).  Knowing that he is both the beginning of your salvation, sustainer of your salvation, and the finisher. This knowledge should stabilize your life and cause you to become more focused in your Christian walk.
Analogy when Rian learned to walk and I was in front of her.
(v.2) Jesus is our finish line. He is our objective. and Why?
(v.2) “the author and perfecter of faith” This is astounding. He is the source of our faith, and he is the perfecter of our faith. He is like a sculptor with a slab of marble. He is the potter with clay. He has tailored made a specific journey for us to run that guarantees our maturity, and victory.
Jesus’ examples:
-When it was time to die
Luke 9:51 CSB
51 When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem.
(v.51) With a focused intensity he set his mind to calvary
Hebrews 12:2 CSB
2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. 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.
(v.2) “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Jesus look through the pain, suffering, and rejection to the finish line. His gaze did not focus on his present pain, but his future glorification. This teaches us a valuable principle. The best way to stomach or endure present pain is to keep our eyes fix on the future benefits that come from eating right, running, and getting the right amount of sleep.
-This same principle is what got Paul through:
Romans 8:18 CSB
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
(v.2) This is more than just effort. This is an intentional, directional, and focus attempt to reach the Lord.
Thomas Henry Huxley was a devoted disciple of Charles Darwin.  Famous biologist, teacher, and author. Defender of the theory of evolution.  Bold, convincing, self avowed humanist. Traveling lecturer.
Having finished another series of public assaults against several truths Christian held sacred, Huxley was in a hurry the following morning to catch his train to the next city.  He took on of Dublin’s famous horse drawn taxis and settled back with his eyes closed to rest himself for a few minutes. He assumed the driver had been told the destination by the hotel doorman, so all he had said as he got in was, “Hurry, I’m almost late. Drive fast!”  The horses lurched forward and galloped across Dublin at a vigorous pace. Before long Huxley glanced out the window and frowned as he realized they were going west, away from the sun, not toward it.
Leaning forward, the scholar shouted, “Do you know where you are going?”  Without looking back, the driver yelled a classic line, not meant to be humorous.  No your honor! But I am driving fast.
Many of us are putting forth a lot of effort, but If we were to be honest; We ain’t going in the right direction.
How much of that effort is Christ-Centered?
-We work 50-60 hours a week
-We come home and get our Kids to all of their school and extracurricular activities
-We are busy at church, but not necessarily productive.
-The World and those around us get our best, but the Lord gets our left overs.
Conclusion
-Therefore in v.1 points to those clouds of witness.
-Saints according to multiple reports of those close to Lebron he spends 1-1.5m on his body every year. Trainers, Chefs, and Dietician.
-These witness lives are testifying the result of following the greatest personal trainer in history God, and guess what he is free. Look what he did for Noah.
-Speak up Noah by faith he took 120 years to build a boat, while preaching 5 word message..”it is going to rain” God sustain him in the boat and brought him to dry land.
Speak up Abram—I had my son of promise at 100 years old He is now the Spiritual Father of all those who will ever be saved.
Speak up Jacob—I had to wait 21 years to marry Rachel through me 12 sons came
Speak up Moses---He was an 80 year old man when he emancipated the children of Israel. Through him came the Law of Moses which was the precursor to the Law of Christ.
Speak up David---After killing the giant and becoming the enemy of Saul he waited for 10 years while being hunted by Saul before he took the throne becoming Israel’s greatest King and a direct ancestor of the Messiah.
Speak up Hebrews Boys---We endured the Nebuchenezzar BBQ pit while being protect by the Angel of the Lord. Through them the Heart of Nebbie began to be softened to God.
Speak up Daniel----I spent the Night with a den full of Lions and use them as my furniture
-Speak up Jesus-I was spit on, punch, smacked, whipped, rejected by friends, and left to die on the cross, but I endured it all to bring Glory to my Father. I finished my course. Through his sacrifice we who were once afar off have been brought near to him.
-Speak up Paul---
2 Corinthians 11:25–28 CSB
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
-Through his endurance we have 13 epistles which show us how to be saved and how to live this Christian life.
At the end of his life Paul says “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”
Truth Baptist continue to fight a good fight, finish your course, Kept the faith!!!
Open the Doors of the Church
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