Hebrews 12:1-2 † Looking to Jesus
Notes
Transcript
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
SERMON IN A SENTENCE
SERMON IN A SENTENCE
In Hebrews 12:1-2, the author challenges believers to approach the race of faith with endurance. Christians run the race with endurance by remembering the cloud of witnesses, removing what slows us down, and ultimately relying on Jesus as our champion.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
On juice fast and my lack of endurance. (KFC)
We live in a sprint culture, but the Bible calls us to a marathon of faith.
How do we endure the circumstances around us? How do we uncover the joy of walking with Jesus as we run?
INTRO PRAYER
INTRO PRAYER
Lord, in love you have made us yours. You invite us to walk in true joy. Still, we see that there is a marathon in front of us that takes true endurance. Teach us today how to embrace our race and how to run it well. Fill us with your Spirit as we seek to obey your word. Amen.
THE PICTURE: RUN WITH ENDURANCE
THE PICTURE: RUN WITH ENDURANCE
Chapter 12 begins with one main call: “Run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The picture reminds us that there is a finish line.
The picture reminds us that there is a finish line.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
Running in elementary school?
There is some motivating factor for running. The question is, who gets to define the victory?
Hebrews teaches us that it is God who “sets the race before us.”
The picture reminds us that there are obstacles to overcome.
The picture reminds us that there are obstacles to overcome.
The inner dialogue of a distance runner: slow down, walk, quit.
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
From where do we draw our confidence when the pain seems stronger than our vision of the finish line?
THE PROCESS
THE PROCESS
Within the call to run, we see the method by which believers are to run. Let’s look at three particular parts of “the process.”
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Remember the cloud of witnesses.
Remember the cloud of witnesses.
Seeing God’s faithfulness in the lives of God’s faith-driven people can give us confidence for the race.
Remove what slows you down.
Remove what slows you down.
Part 1: Identify “every weight” and work to set it down. What am I prioritizing in my life today that doesn’t help me run with endurance?
Part 1: Identify “every weight” and work to set it down. What am I prioritizing in my life today that doesn’t help me run with endurance?
Part 2: Be honest about the “sin that clings so closely.” Do I see sin as a problem or as a poison?
Part 2: Be honest about the “sin that clings so closely.” Do I see sin as a problem or as a poison?
What if God really knows best how the race is won?
Rely on the Champion.
Rely on the Champion.
The race is real and we are unfit to finish on our own:
If every weight of care must be laid aside, and every rag of sin, who is sufficient for these things? How can we poor limping mortals run in such a race as this? …The race of holiness and patience, while it demands our vigor, displays our weakness. We are compelled, even before we take a step in the running, to bow the knee and cry unto the strong for strength. We do not dare to retreat from the contest, but how can we begin a struggle for which we are so unfit? Who will help us?…Does not all this very admirably introduce the next verse—“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith”?
Charles Spurgeon
The key to finishing the race is to look to Jesus’ work and trust that his victory belongs to you.
Embrace the grace of the gospel.
Embrace the grace of the gospel.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
The gospel says the victory is guaranteed. Every other philosophy or religion says that we run to earn the gold medal. The gospel says we run with the gold medal already on our shoulders.
Consider for the ripple effect of the gospel.
Consider for the ripple effect of the gospel.
When you throw a stone in still water, the ripples go far past the original point of impact.
We run with the joy of heaven that enables a Christ-like pace:
He ran with a heavy cross on His back, and yet He ran faster than you or I have run. He ran because He had more joy than we have. So let us live in the joy of heaven, let us live in the joy of ultimate victory, and this will enable us to bear all the toils and trials of our present life.
Charles Spurgeon
PASTORAL PRAYER
PASTORAL PRAYER
Lord, in a world that constantly tempts us to take our focus off of you, we pray for eyes that will consistently be fixed on your grace in the gospel. Fill us with the joy of heaven that will motivate us to run our race with endurance. Amen.
