Run Your Race Focused On Christ

Great Cloud Witnesses

demonstrated all the pillars of the faith. They were ordinary people that had faith in an extraordinary God. They were not super spiritual giants that God favored and chose because of their greatness. As a matter of fact all of them had flaws that are recorded in scripture:

Adam: Disobeyed God/ Prophesied that his seed would overcome Satan

Noah : Got Drunk/ Rescued from the Flood

Abraham: Lied/ Started a blessed nation

Moses: Lacked Confidence In God/ Delivered Israel from Egypt

David: Adulterer and Murderer/ Established a worldwide kingdom

Paul : Murderer and persecutor of the church/ Wrote most of the new testament

Peter: Had a violent temper/ Used to start the church

Although these men of faith had significant character flaws, God used them in significant ways. God use the ordinary to extraordinary things.

Tell Story about Mordecai Ham (Led Billy Graham to Christ)

God use ordinary people to do extraordinary things

Lay Aside Every Encumberance

impediment ⇔ bulk n. — something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress; understood as a large and weighty mass.

There will be things in your life that will weigh you down and try to keep you from running the race God intends for you to win. We often refer to this as baggage in our lives. These are things we have done in the past that keep us from pressing forward into the future. These could be old habits such as cussing or lying. They could be more permanent things like divorce. They could be serious things such as jail time. When we allow these things to define our personhood, we are allowing them to encumber us. When Jesus sets you free and forgives you, you are set free indeed.

19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John Newton

Newton seemed as far away from God as he could get. But God had other ideas.

Born in London in 1725, he was the only child of a sea captain and a churchgoing woman. His mother taught him to read the Bible and go to services, but she died when Newton was seven years old. His father and stepmother did less to keep him on the straight and narrow, and he got into trouble many times.

However, he never forgot the lessons his mother taught him.

Newton became known for his wild behavior (he almost drowned after falling off a ship during a party) and for openly mocking faith. He seemed as far away from God as he could get.

Newton's spirit was nearly broken. His mother's God seemed far away and uncaring. When he tried and failed to escape, the ship's captain had him stripped and flogged.

Later Newton was transferred to another ship, and he became involved in the brutal 18th-century slave trade. The work was horrific and cost many human lives. Yet at the time it was legal—and lucrative.

Newton became known for his wild behavior (he almost drowned after falling off a ship during a party) and for openly mocking faith. He seemed as far away from God as he could get.

But God had other ideas.

In 1748, Newton was on board a slaving ship called the Greyhound. The ship was in bad shape. During a violent storm, it began to fall apart and take on water. A crew member was swept overboard.

God loves to show mercy even to those who believe they're beyond redemption.

In 1748, Newton was on board a slaving ship called the Greyhound. The ship was in bad shape. During a violent storm, it began to fall apart and take on water. A crew member was swept overboard.

All night long Newton tried to keep the ship from going under. And he thought about the state of his life. He knew he had run from God, hurt other people, and made a wreck out of his own situation. He had even mocked the Gospel.

Newton realized he might die in the storm. Would God still be forgiving, even after Newton had rejected Him?

At last, Newton recalled what his mother had taught him from the Bible: God loves to show mercy even to people who feel they are beyond redemption. Newton asked for God's help for the first time in years. He survived the storm.

It didn't happen overnight, but Newton's life began to be transformed. He learned to pray. He found friends who shared his faith and could help him understand how it applied to his life. Eventually he gave up his role in the slave trade and stopped sailing for a living.

It didn't happen overnight, but Newton's life began to be transformed. He learned to pray. He found friends who shared his faith and could help him understand how it applied to his life. Eventually he gave up his role in the slave trade and stopped sailing for a living.

Instead, Newton, who had married Mary, became the curate, or pastor, of a small English church. He also became a writer. One of his hymns, "Amazing Grace," describes his very personal journey out of spiritual blindness into the light of God's grace.

In his later years, Newton became the pastor of a larger church in London, where he helped lead many people to the God he had once mocked. He was also active in the movement to abolish the British slave trade. When the prime minister appointed a committee to investigate the slave trade, Newton was a key witness. He explained the horrors of the "industry" from the inside out. His compelling testimony helped make the slave trade—and eventually slavery—illegal.

John Newton did not allow his past to dictate his future. He used his past to make a better future . Remove your encumbrances and use them to run your race!

Lay Aside Your Sin

When you come to know Jesus as your Savior, he sets you free from the bondage of sin.

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

You have the ability in Christ to overcome sin. Maybe your here this morning and you are a christian and are struggling in sin. It may even cause you to doubt your salvation. I want to encourage you, to know that God is not going to allow you to be tempted to the point that you cannot resist. He will always provide a way. Ask Him to show you the way this morning?

Run With Endurance

The race we must run is the race of life.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. -8

Paul was faithful to run the race God called him to. He suffered persecution, stoning, shipwrecks, betrayal and many other sufferings in life in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. This idea that being a christian and doing the right things earns us the right to a trouble free life is a false doctrine. It is quite the opposite. Being a follower of Christ is hard.

33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

So how can a follower of Christ be committed if life is going to be difficult?

Fix Your Eyes On Jesus

The key to following Jesus is not taking your eyes off of him. Saturate your life in abiding with Him. We must make time to spend with Him alone. We must be constantly aware of His presence (pray without ceasing), Know his word (Know the Truth and the Truth will set you free), Obey His word (Love Me, Obey My commandments), Bear Fruit.

Jesus endured the cross, despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the Father

Jesus endured the cross because He knew that was the purpose He came for. The defeat of Satan, the salvation of believers, and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom occured on the cross. Humanities perspective was one of defeat, but heaven’s perspective was the greatest victories that would ever be won!

There may be times in your life where you feel like you are being tortured in this life. Look at Jesus! This may appear as a defeat for you, but it may be a heavenly victory. I remember April 4th 2015 the Colley Family got the call no family wants to get. You need to come to the hospital, David has been in an accident. David did not leave the hospital alive. When I was asked to do the funeral, I said yes, but didn’t know how I was going to do it. I remember crying out to God and asking the unanswerable question “why”. Why did you take this young man that followed you? What about Darien and Isabella, what are they going to do without him? How about Warren, Keren and the boys, how are they suppose to get over this? Why did you allow this to happen? I remember that small still voice that said “Why not”? I have his reward waiting for him now! I have a future for Darian and Issabella! I will carry Warren, Karen and the boys through this and they will see things that will cause them to be in awe of the true man that David was! It has been 4 years since this has happened and I am beginning to see the answers that God gave me. Though these things can never replace David, we can look to Jesus with assurance and know that one day we will see him again. From an earthly perspective David’s life was cut short, but from the heavenly perspective it is a victory because He finished his race well! It is in Christ that tragedies can become victories. In order for us to see them we must look to Christ.

Jesus despised the shame. He took the shame of our sin upon himself. Imagine how ashamed you are when you are caught doing something wrong. Jesus took all of this upon himself when He hung on the cross. Not only did he feel the wrath of God but also the shame of sin that he never committed. He took our shame, so we would not have to live with it the rest of our lives. Are you living in the shame of your past. Let Jesus have it, because he has taken care of it.

Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father. This means he rules eternally. all things are under his authority.

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 [e]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [f]always, even to the end of the age.”

Look to Jesus So You Don’t Lose Heart

Jesus is the light that shines brightest in your darkness. When you have troubles and are tired this is what Jesus says.

28 “Come to Me, all [a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is [b]easy and My burden is light.”

When you don’t have the energy to go on. Let Jesus carry your load for a while!