Running the Race Well

At just 5-foot-10 and 202 pounds, Walter Payton was not a particularly big running back for the National Football League. But he set one of sport’s greatest records: the all-time rushing record of 16,726 yards. During his twelve-year career, Payton carried the football over nine miles!

What is truly impressive, though, is that he was knocked to the ground on average every 4.4 yards of those nine miles by someone bigger than himself. But he kept getting up, and he kept getting up, and he kept getting up.

I know some of you aren’t really into the world of sports that much, but the sporting realm does provide some good illustrations of life and our responses to it.

As an official for high school football, I have seen my share of teams and players that keep going until the last whistle is blown. I have also seen teams and players give up well before the game ends.

As a pastor, I have seen that in the spiritual realm as well. I’ve seen believers struggle with their walk in faith. They experience similar situations or circumstances, and one chooses to move forward and endure, the other becomes angry and bitter and walks away.

Have you ever felt like quitting?

...when was the last time you felt that way?...

What were the circumstances and why did you feel that way?...

What were you wanting to occur that wasn’t, and how did you respond?...

What is the key to enduring when life turns hard?

I would submit to you that one of the critical factors to endurance is Focus.

For the athlete to endure the pain that comes as they compete, they overcome that pain by being focused on the goal.

Much like those athletes, when the believer experiences the pain of suffering, the key to our enduring that pain is where we place our focus.

With those thoughts in mind, please turn to Hebrews 12:1-11.

Main Point: Running Your Race Well Requires A Focus on Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews is going to appeal to his audience through the use of a metaphor from the athletic arena.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

He likens the believer’s walk by faith to a race.

He paints a picture of the path being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.

Is he saying that all these people are watching us to see what we are going do…like spectators?

No...Our English word martyr comes directly from the Greek word used here that is translated witness.

These are the many individuals of Hebrews 11 that displayed an active, focused, and forward looking faith.

They are not watching what we are doing; rather, they are bearing witness to us that God can see us through.

We are to see the witnesses as teammates who have arrived at the finish line ahead of us, encouraging us to keep going, to testify that God can get you here, just like He did us...

God bore witness to them (Heb. 11:2, 4–5, 39) and they are bearing witness now to us.

The triumph of the OT saints ought to encourage all of us that a life of faith is possible, even in the most difficult trials and intense sufferings.

They were real people who chose to rise above their present situations and press on...

In verse 3 the writer says consider Him....

Him who? — Jesus

Even with those exemplary people of Hebrews 11, the writer makes a very significant point here to point us all to Jesus.

The one who got to the finish line first…the one who charted the course…(explain in a few minutes)

This is where we need to remember why the writer wrote this letter to the Hebrews...

Remember it was written to a group of Jewish individuals who fell into two broad categories...

Those who had genuinely come to Christ and had begun following Him and had become part of the church where they were obeying Him, and worshipping Him...

The second group were Jews who had essentially “come along for the ride”...

They left the temple and were coming to the church and associating with Christians but they had never genuinely put their faith in Christ.

Trials and suffering were hitting both groups hard…

They were facing trials because of their faith or their association to the church...their families were mad at them and some had lost their standing in the community or their place in the family business...

and so they are tempted to look back at the temple and the sacrificial system...

They were showing signs of quitting…having a willingness to throw it all away…some were in danger of never finishing

So he takes this opportunity now to challenge those who were off course to make a course correction, and to those who were on course to keep going.

That is what we want to do here this morning…it’s going to take us being honest with ourselves…to ask the Lord to remove the pride of our life that keeps us from seeing the condition of our hearts...

if you find yourself drifting off course, look to see where this speaks to you to get back on course...

if you are stuck, not really off course, but struggling to move forward, then allow the Spirit to speak to your heart to see what has you stuck and how to get unstuck...

if you are on course, then stay the course, keep going, keep pressing on...

Read Hebrews 12:1-11.

So as we examine this text, we want to answer the question “How?”.

How can believers possess an enduring faith that is focused on Jesus?

Let’s look at four keys to possessing an enduring faith that is focused on Jesus.

Remove the Hindrances (1).

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us...

We see two specific things here that hinder us.

Weights that impede your progress.

This imagery would have been very vivid to them…in the Greek games runners would remove every article of clothing so as not to be hindered...

What are the “weights” that we should remove?

Everything that hinders our progress.

A hindrance is something, which could be even something good, that weighs you down spiritually.

Remove that which keeps you from displaying the character of Christ.

It could be a friendship, an association, an event, a place, a habit, a pleasure, an entertainment, an honor.

It could be a thought, attitude, or practice which impedes our progress in the Christian life.

A winning athlete does not choose between the good and the bad; he chooses between the better and the best.

He examines himself to determine EVERYTHING that impedes his progress and then removes it.

This is where you need to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify the weights in your life that hold you back.

It is different for everyone.

It is taken for granted here that you are going to make every effort to do what is right.

The questions we should ask are: Will it hurt my testimony? Will this keep me from winning the race? Will this be a weight that is cumbersome?

Sins that entangle your life.

This verse reveals one of the most horrifying truths about sin....

Sin clings to us and can entangle us.

We would like to be able to say that once we come to faith, sin is no longer a problem for us.

Sadly, it’s not that easy to eliminate.

We live in bodies that are being continually corrupted by sin.

Ephesians 4:22 “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,”

Scripture never tells us that sin will no longer plague us, or will stop enticing us.

However, Scripture does give us warnings and examples, as Paul does in Romans 7.

Until we are in glory, sin is a real threat that requires constant alertness.

We can never become comfortable thinking we’ve mastered it.

What is “the sin”?

I think the context of Hebrews would reveal the specific sin in the mind of the writer is that of unbelief.

What hinders us so often is doubting God will be true to His Word…

Pray that God would remove the pride in our hearts that keeps us from thinking God’s way is best…and sometimes that way is the way of suffering.

We need to pray that God gives us the spiritual insight required to be aware of the constant bombardments of sin, and how to employ the armor He supplies to help us stand against it.

Run With Endurance (1).

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Race = agon…the English word agony is derived from this word.

It is a demanding and grueling effort.

By using this metaphor, the writer communicates that we should not expect a faith-filled life to be one of ease.

Every one of us has been given a course by God to run...

We cannot select our own program.

We must faithfully follow the route God Himself has marked.

The “race” we are talking about is not a sprint race…it is a marathon.

That is why we need endurance.

The word used here can be translated also as perseverance, steadfastness.

It is word that means the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty...(William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1039.)

From the moment we trusted Christ until the moment we die we are in “the race”.

We should desire to have the same mindset as Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;”

To finish the race well requires endurance, but none of us can endure in our own strength.

We can only endure because we belong to Him.

We can endure because we know God is faithful to guard us...

1 Peter 1:5 (NASB95)

who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We need to remember that endurance is not passive...

God does not honor the Old Testament saints because they were passive, they were actively faithful.

Likewise, we must vigilant to live by an active faith that keeps moving forward.

Remove the Hindrances…Run With Endurance…

Remain Focused on Jesus (2-3).

Hebrews 12:2–3 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, 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. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

In verse 2 we are told to fix our eyes on Jesus…

It is actually a present, active, participle meaning we are to KEEP FIXING our eyes on Jesus...

This is the same terminology that the writer used to describe what Moses did…

looked away from the worldly allurements and looked toward the promise of a better future in the Messiah.

In verse 3, the writer commands his readers, and us, to consider Jesus.

To not do so is to be disobedient to the Lord…the implication here is that our focus is a choice of the will...

Consider is a word means to reason with careful deliberation…

we don’t just accept blindly, we think through all we know and draw conclusions…a thinking man’s faith...

Focus on Who Jesus Is.

verse 2 describes Jesus in two ways.

Jesus is the Author of our Faith

Author — The term is also used in Hebrews 10:2 and Acts 5:31.

Hebrews 10:2 - it is translated as “Captain”

Acts 5:31 — it is translated as “prince”

It could also be translated “pioneer,” “leader,” or “originator.”

Jesus is the source, the initiator, and the leader in regard to salvation.

He has led the way into heaven as our forerunner (6:20).

Without Jesus, our faith is futile and we have no basis for belief.

If Jesus is not who he says he is, then our faith is in vain (1 Cor 15:14–15).

Our entire faith rests on the validity of Christ’s person and work.

Jesus is the Perfecter of our Faith

Perfecter means “finisher” or “the One who completed it.”

Christ’s work was perfect when he said, “It is finished,” and when the Father honored his obedience by raising him from the dead.

Christ’s work is still perfect today.

As the author has made abundantly clear, Jesus continues to act as our mediator and will succeed in bringing his people home.

In other words, Christ has done all things necessary to secure our salvation, and he will see his work through to the end.

Focus on What Jesus Did

Endured the cross

to seize the blessed joy set before him.

The joy set before him was the exaltation he would receive after his death on the cross.

Jesus persevered so that He would receive the joy of knowing God’s plan was complete.

The path God designed for victorious joy led through the cross.

He alone bore the wrath of God and carried the weight of all our sin

Even though His path was marked with intense suffering, Jesus never stopped trusting His Father to fulfill His plan through Him making Jesus our ultimate example of faith!

Scorned the shame of the cross

Crucifixion on a cross was the most shameful way for one to die.

Not only would one experience the excruciating physical pain from the torture, they were put on display for all to see in public humiliation.

In fact,the Jews knew what God said in Deuteronomy 21:23 “his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.”

Then we read in Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—”

He took the curse upon Himself to set his people free and to experience with them the joy God had set before Him.

Sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This is a statement of victory.

The crowing point of Jesus life, death, and resurrection is His enthronement at the right hand of God.

It is a place of honor that belongs to Him for all eternity.

Jesus accomplished his task on earth, assumed his place in heaven, and now assures us of his divine assistance in the race marked out for us!

Focus on What Jesus Provided

The writer exhorts us to compare our life with Jesus’ life and to take careful note of all He had to endure.

Reason in your heart to think about all the rejection Jesus experienced, all the ridicule, all the hatred.

When we honestly and intently look at Jesus we see he provided the example to follow and in Him we find the strength and courage to face our present circumstances and not loose our faith.

Considering what Jesus endured will help us endure in a world that continues to grow more and more hostile to God and His people.

Remove the Hindrances, Run with Endurance, Remain Focused on Jesus,...

Receive God’s Discipline Well (4-11).

At first glance, this section appears to be somewhat out of place…what does God’s discipline have to do with our endurance?

God’s discipline…appears 8x in these verses.

Root word is the Greek word for “child”

It is a very broad term, which speaks of whatever parents and teachers do to train, correct, cultivate, and educate children in order to help them develop and mature. (John MacArthur, Commentary on Hebrews, p. 385)

He is not really changing the subject but rather further develops his argument.

Remember they were suffering and their suffering was proving to be more difficult for them than what they thought they signed up for…

He challenges them to think...Hebrews 12:4 “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;”

None of them had suffered martyrdom.

None of their suffering had reached the level of what Jesus suffered.

So he turns to the subject of God’s discipline to offer them a theological perspective they needed to consider…

He brings the discipline of God to bear on their present situation to help them see what they were not seeing...

He wants them to consider Jesus and what it means to suffer as a follower of Him.

How we handle suffering is a theological issue...

This text provides some very critical elements regarding our theology of suffering...

Read Hebrews 12:5-11.

Three crucial truths regarding God’s discipline.

We Need to Know What Discipline Requires.

Spiritual Sensitivity

quoting from Proverbs 3...the writer says...verse 5 - do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord.

How does that happen?

We take God’s discipline lightly when our response to the suffering fails to focus on God and what He might be trying to do.

...we are not willing to consider all the ways this situation could help us identify the weights that hinder us or the sins that entangle us...

...Whenever we face difficulties, we should ask ourselves the question, does my response demonstrate a spirit of being sensitive to something God is trying to do in my life?

Spiritual Endurance

verse 5 goes on to say – nor faint when you are reproved by Him.

If God is disciplining you in any way, shape, or form...the last thing you want to do is to lose heart, is to quit, is to give up, or have a pity party...

that would be the polar opposite of what the direction this passage is urging us to take...

We all need to remember that suffering is par for the course of being a child of God…it comes with the territory.

The problem is we can be incredibly forgetful, can’t we?

Which is why verse 5 began with “you have forgotten the exhortation.”

Sometimes it is a mater of reminding ourselves of that truth and then looking for opportunities to act on that reminder in a way that meets the requirements of discipline.

Psalm 42:5 “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.”

So we have to know the requirements of discipline if we want to handle it well.

We also...

We Need to Know What Discipline Demonstrates

2 crucial answers...

The Lord’s Love

God doesn’t discipline us because He’s mad at us or hates us…He disciplines because He loves us.

Parents who think that the best way to get their kids to love them is by allowing them to do whatever they want are making a fatal error...

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Develop a little

That’s what the writer meant in verse 9 when he said – We had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them...

We need to remind ourselves we are rooted and grounded in God’s love through Christ.

Ephesians 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”

Our sonship

Hebrews 12:8 “But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

Have you ever gone to a store and observed the behavior of some of the kids?

I would venture to say that all of us have thought about wanting to take those kids and administer some discipline.

And we all know what would happen if we acted upon that wish.

But you don’t why?…because they don’t belong to you.

So, when we envy the wicked and begin to ask why people who don’t know God seem to have it so easy and followers of Christ have it so hard...

...That is when we need to remember God is doing a special work of grace in us...

We need to remind ourselves that our trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord means we will never have to face the wrath of God.

That wrath for our sin was placed on the cross...once and for all...He paid the complete and sufficient price...

It is then that we also need to remind ourselves that as a a son or daughter of God, we still need to grow...

We will face His fatherly displeasure

We will face His discipline in a variety of forms...

but we will never face His wrath...

We must realize that there is a great difference between God’s discipline and His judgmental punishment.

As Christians we often have to suffer painful consequences for our sins, or go through difficult situations to reveal the needless weights we carry around, but we will never experience God’s judgment for them.

Though we deserve God’s wrathful punishment because of our sin, we will never have to face it, because Jesus endured it for us.

Neither God’s love nor His justice would allow Him to require payment for what His Son has already paid in full.

When God disciplines us it is always as a loving Father, not a judge.

We Need to Know What Discipline Produces.

Holiness

see, if we allow it to...God’s discipline can make us holy...

We must be trained by it.

Train is where we get our word gymnasium from…

Whether God’s discipline is to help us identify the weights that hinder or the sins that entangle us, it is always designed to produce holiness.

Being humble enough to recognize the areas of our life that weigh us down that need attention.

Learning to say thank you for the consequences of sin because without them we would continue on the path away from him.

To say with the psalmist in Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”

But holiness only comes to the child of God…(explain)

Many times trials can actually bring us to a place of seeing our need for a personal relationship with God through Jesus.

Holiness will not grow in you if it has not been implanted in you.

Peaceable fruit of righteousness.

When we accept the discipline of God we open our hearts to the Spirits work in us to produce the fruit He desires in us.

It is peace that passes all understanding knowing God is at work producing in us a harvest of righteousness

Lesson for Life: Have You Lost Your Focus?

Wrap up.