The Race of Faith

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

INTRO:

Now I am not a runner. As I am sure you can tell. But, when I was younger I would race my little brother home from school. I lost most of the time. I didn’t really know why. I was skinnier then him. I was faster then him. So everything would say that I would win the race. Then one day I noticed something. I always brought home a lot more books then he did.

Now professional runners will go to any depth to make sure they have every advantage they can in a race. Some male runners will shave their heads, chest, legs, and arms because sometimes a race can decided by just a fraction of a second. They want to get rid of everything that would hinder them from running the race and winning the prize!

It is like that in the Christian race of faith too. We need to lay aside everything that hinders our walk with Christ!

There are four things that we need to do to win the Christian race.

1. Reach forward and forget the past

Philippians 3:13 (NKJV)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

C.S Lewis said that “we cannot go back and change the beginning but, we can start where you are and change the ending”

1. Many Christians and churches live in the past.

Paul’s practice of forgetting the past gave him the freedom for straining toward the future. This is the only time this word straining appears in the NT. This verb means to “exert oneself to the uttermost.” It graphically portrays Paul running a race: his body “is bent forward, his hand is outstretched towards the goal, and his eye is fastened upon it.” Every thought and every emotion reaches out in eager anticipation of arriving at the goal

He is looking forward and not what was behind him.

You might hear the christian race compared to as a marathon where we need to pace ourselves or else we will get tired and burn out. I want to challenge that notion and ask how can you ever burnout when your burning within?

We need to look at what is in front of us. Not behind us

2. We need to follow the Apostle Paul’s example and forget the things that are behind us

Remember Paul was a devout Jew. He was a pharisee to the greatest extent. He believed in all the rituals, and traditions, and legalism. That’s until He encountered Christ on Damascus road. You see even Pharisees can believe they are doing Gods Work by upholding the traditions of men. But, that isn’t so. They may have a form of Godliness but they deny it’s power!

3. We win the race when Jesus becomes our prize

Jesus needs to become our greatest desire and our deepest need. We need to be so hungry for Him that we would fast for joy. So thirsty for Him that He is the only well that we drink from. We need to have this relentless love of Jesus.

The gospel is the good news that Christ paid the PRICE of suffering, so that we could have the PRIZE of enjoying Him forever.

God paid the PRICE of his Son to give us the PRIZE of Himself.

Secondly, we need to....

II. Have Action with purpose

Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

As a runner straining every effort toward the finish line, Paul pressed on toward the goal. In Greek athletic games, the winner’s prize was a garland or palm branch. While Paul didn’t identify the prize, it seems from his writing that above all, he wanted to know Jesus Christ. Paul aimed to win the prize, but all who finish the race win it as well. To know Christ is the prize for which believers gladly lay aside all else.

1. Too many Christians lack vision

Billy Graham is arguably the most influential person of the twentieth century. He has preached the gospel to millions of people worldwide and thousands have come know Christ through his ministry

What accounts for this success? Graham’s life is guided by a clear vision. He wrote, “My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”

Another modern hero in the faith, Mother Teresa

She felt the call of God on her life at age twelve and became a nun.

She simply couldn’t ignore the poverty she seen. So she started a ministry for the“the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.” Mother Teresa remained focused on her calling and those she served. She said,

“At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by...

“I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.”

Hungry not only for bread—but hungry for love.

Naked not only for clothing—but naked of human dignity and respect.

Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks—but homeless because of rejection.

This is Christ in distressing disguise.”

2. We should allow the Lord to order our steps

If we want to have purpose and fulfillment in life, it’s not found in pills or a bottle of jack but, it’s found in who Jesus is and knowing Him. Psalm 37:23 says the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. The good news is that when we get off track in this race of faith, God gives us the grace to get back on track. The good news is that we don’t have to do this alone. God is with us. He will direct us and guide in the path to walk. God doesn’t give us the whole blueprint for our lives at one time. He will give us steps to take. God is our GPS. “God’s Plan of Salvation”. But we cant know the direction God wants us to go if we don’t spend time with him.

3. Make goals for Spiritual growth

If we are to spend time with God, it’s going to take purposeful action. We need to have a divine appointment each and every single day. We need to make goals for our own spiritual growth. Such as I am going to read the bible so many minutes each day, I am going to enhance my prayer life, im going to start volunteering in a ministry, or im going to donate my time to help out at a homeless shelter. But we need to prepare and plan for it and follow through with action or else it will never get done.

Conquer sin with God’s Power

Romans 8:37 (NKJV)

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1. Our world if filled with evil and sin. We have an enemy who is seeking to kill and destroy

In order to win this race of faith, we need to conquer sin with God’s power. The power of the Holy Spirit from God gives you the power you need to stand firm in the fight against sin and never give up, no matter how long the temptation continues. To deny the temptations to sin. To commit sin is to do something that you know goes against the known will of God.

2. We will face temptations and persecution. We need to use Gods power to be more than conquerors through Him

The more you overcome in temptation, the more hope you get for the future. God can transform you, change you, make you new. The future becomes exciting, and filled with amazing possibilities, when you know that you are not bound to react according to the sin in your flesh, but that you can walk in the newness of life! Sin has been put to death.

3. We can win the Christian race. But only with God’s Strength

Endure hardship with Patience

2 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV)

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

1. In the Christian race there will be hurdles to jump and obstacles to overcome. God never said it would be easy

It is through these very hurdles and obstacles that we learn to rise and experience Gods grace and loving care. The feelings of anxiety, stress, helplessness that we have that accompany suffering and pain, God uses to to give us peace and joy!

2. We should Expect suffering and trials but remember that they produce character and that we have Hope in Jesus Christ

3. We need to keep our eyes on the prize and not on what’s going on around us.

CONCLUSION:

To win the Christian race of faith we need to reach forward & forget the past,

we need to have action with purpose,

we need to conquer sin with God’s power

and endure hardship with patience.

APPLICATION:

I think about the christian race and how many have had thoughts about quitting, especially toward the end of the race. By then, for many, the experience has faded, they are tired and going through the motions. The adrenaline of the race has gone by. They have witnessed others who have given up or are limping along.

But the most dedicated runners make it because their focus is on Christ and not on their circumstances. So ask yourself “What Kind of race are you running”?

I want to show a video that illustrates our verse in Hebrews and the race of faith...

*SHOW FOREST GUMP VIDEO*

Will we be able to say as the Apostle Paul said at the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

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