Spring Training Chapel 1 2/16/20

Tony Graffanino

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Spiritual Disciplines

Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV

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, 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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

In , the writer likens the follower of Jesus to a long-distance runner. He exhorts the “runner” to hear the exhortations of those “great heroes of faith” written about in Chapter 11 who fill the stands as spectators, and who, through their own great faith, finished the similar spiritual race he ran and is encouraging us to run. The writer lays out the following essential spiritual disciplines needed to finish the Christian race successfully:

Throw off everything that hinders.

The runners of a race in this time would run naked. They didn’t want any encumbrance or hindrance, anything that might get in their way or slow them down. That’s how important the “race was to them.

So for us, what does that look like? Clearly, the writer of Hebrews is not asking us to go about our business naked. But what in our life is slowing us down, getting in our way when it comes to our journey with Jesus and our growth as a Christian?

Many of our daily choices may be perfectly all right (not sinful), but they may not be the BEST choices for a person running the race of faith. Anything that distracts us from what should be our main focus is a “hindrance” that should be cast off. “Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial” ().

Repent of sin that impedes.

Sin, disobedience to God, has the power to “entangle.” Besides hurting our relationship with God, it will also prevent us from being victorious Christians. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, lead me in the way everlasting” (, ).

If the goal at the end of the Christian life here on earth is to hear the words, “well done good and faithful servant” from Jesus, we need to ask ourselves, “What in my life is preventing me from growing and being that good servant?” Well in Matthew chapter 13 Jesus tells us of a few things in His parable about the sower and the soils. I encourage you to read the entire parable and Jesus explanation of its meaning in and 13:18-23, but for now I will read verses 20-22

Matthew 13:20–22 ESV

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Ok, next point from Hebrews 12:1-3

Remember that perseverance is crucial. The Christian “runner” will face moments that will challenge his determination to keep going. Pressing on through those times is absolutely essential to Christian growth. “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” ().

Remember that perseverance is crucial.

The Christian life is a marathon not a sprint. Upon our placing our faith in Jesus and His work for us, His perfect life on our behalf and His sacrificial death in our place, we are saved, rescued from an impossible and unfixable situation, and called righteous in Gods sight. But we can’t expect or assume that because we are following Jesus our life will be perfect and we won’t have any problems, or that only good and “prosperous” things will happen to us, that is a false gospel.

That being said, we need to know that we still live in a fallen world, a broken system, and bad things happen all around us and may happen to us. Like in the verses from read a minute ago, are we going to let those things derail us, knock us off course in our journey with Jesus. Will we let those things disillusion us and cause us to doubt Gods love or His trustworthiness and goodness?

Like in the verses from read a minute ago, are we going to let those things derail us, knock us off course in our journey with Jesus. Will we let those things disillusion us? What

The Christian “runner” will face moments that will challenge his determination to keep going. Pressing on through those times is absolutely essential to Christian growth. “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” ().

Let the example of Jesus be your inspiration for overcoming.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (). We can rise above the pounding waves of life when our eyes are fixed on Jesus.

Matthew 14:28–31 ESV

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:28-31

The waves will overcome us if, like Peter, when Jesus summoned him to walk to Him on the water, we get our eyes off Jesus and focus them on our problems and the storms in our life. “In this life you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world” (). When we focus on our problems the get bigger and God gets smaller, when we focus on God, He gets bigger and our problems get smaller.

But the waves will overcome us if, like Peter, when Jesus summoned him to walk to Him on the water, we get our eyes off Jesus. “In this life you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world” ().

Like Jesus, keep your focus on your eternal reward.

Philippians 3:12–14 ESV

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:8 ESV

Henceforth 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.

2 Timothy 4:8

Philippians 3:12-14

Listen to what Paul writes near the end of his life to his protege Timothy, in

2 Timothy 4:6–8 ESV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth 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.

Now Hebrews 12:2

“…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” ().

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” ().

Jesus understood His true purpose in this life, to live and die for us, His whole life was centered around that purpose. That was His joy, dying for us so we would be with Him for eternity.

I think most of us struggle with what our true purpose is in this world. We may think it’s to be a baseball player, to be a big leaguer, but that is only what you do, not who you are and why you were created and that’s why we lack true inner joy. Most of us can experience happiness, but usually that happiness is circumstantial, things are good, we are good, things are bad, we are bad.

But all of us were created in the image of God, to know and enjoy God and to make Him known, to love God and to love others, that is and will always be our true purpose and what will ultimately bring you joy. This purpose and joy is also not circumstantial, it doesn’t depend on “how things are going”. When we live out our purpose the way God designed it we will experience a fulfilling life and deep inner joy, living out who we were created to be.