RUNNING THE RACE OF FAITH
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Throughout our study, we have noted the emphasis on being steadfast in our faith...
Throughout our study, we have noted the emphasis on being steadfast in our faith...
The warning against developing unbelief...
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
The need for a faith that endures...
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
In chapter eleven, we were reminded of many who had this kind of faith
This emphasis continues, with our own life of faith described as a race...
This emphasis continues, with our own life of faith described as a race...
In which we are “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses” - Heb 12:1
The “cloud of witnesses” refers to those mentioned in the previous chapter
That is, those Old Testament saints like Abraham, Moses, etc.
In what way are they “witnesses”?
While the word can mean “spectator” - it is not likely so used here
That would suggest they are now “looking down” on us from heaven
But there is no indication the dead know what is going on earth...
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
While they may have “memory” of what happened (cf. Lk 16:28), their attention is focused upon their present condition...
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The word can also refer to those who “bear witness”
By their lives, they have borne witness to the value of faith - cf. Heb 11:1-40
By their exemplary lives, they encourage us in “Running The Race Of Faith”!
As we seek to follow in the footsteps of others who have successfully “run the race of faith”, there are three things necessary as presented in our text. The first one is...
As we seek to follow in the footsteps of others who have successfully “run the race of faith”, there are three things necessary as presented in our text. The first one is...
DISCUSSION
WE NEED TO LAY SOME THINGS ASIDE
WE NEED TO LAY SOME THINGS ASIDE
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Note the comparison to running
Note the comparison to running
The runner who seeks to win:
Loses as much weight as possible without hurting performance
Wears clothing that is light and allows freedom of movement Excess weight, chafing clothing, etc., can be the difference between victory or defeat!
We too must lay some things aside
We too must lay some things aside
We must lay aside “every weight”
That is, things which would slow us down in our spiritual progress
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Such things make “running the race of faith” difficult, if not impossible!
Must also lay aside “the sin which doth so easily beset us” [clings so closely - ESV; entangles us - NAS]
Any and all sins should be laid aside
From the context, I understand “the” sin to be the “sin of unbelief”
The epistle was written to encourage faithfulness to Christ and His covenant
We’ve seen warnings against unbelief...
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
When one no longer believes, the race is lost!...
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
With a full assurance of faith, and with every hindrance laid aside, we can “Run The Race of Faith” as God intended.
With a full assurance of faith, and with every hindrance laid aside, we can “Run The Race of Faith” as God intended.
But as we comprehend the true nature of the “course” set before us, we can appreciate the need for the element of endurance...
But as we comprehend the true nature of the “course” set before us, we can appreciate the need for the element of endurance...
WE NEED TO HAVE ENDURANCE
WE NEED TO HAVE ENDURANCE
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
The race of Faith is a marathon - NOT a sprint
The race of Faith is a marathon - NOT a sprint
It does not require one quick burst of energy, in which the race is soon over
This “race” requires a sustained effort over a long period of time
Endurance is a necessary quality
Endurance is a necessary quality
Jesus often taught His disciples concerning the need for endurance (i.e., patience)
In the parable of The Sower...
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
In preparing the disciples for the Limited Commission...
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
In His discourse on the Mount of Olives -
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
The writer to the Hebrews had stressed this virtue earlier
In which he appealed to the example of Abraham
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
In which he quoted from the passage in Habakkuk
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
We can develop such patience with the help of the Scriptures -
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
We develop patience as we read of the faithfulness of God Who fulfills His promises
We develop patience as we read of the ultimate end of those persevered in faithfulness
Paul wrote that eternal life would be given “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality” (Rom 2:7).
Paul wrote that eternal life would be given “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality” (Rom 2:7).
Therefore, endurance is required for successfully running this “race of faith”!
Equally important is where we have our mind focused as we run the race...
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON JESUS
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON JESUS
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
We must “Look unto Jesus”
We must “Look unto Jesus”
Our focus must be upon the Lord as we “run the race”
We might “glance” at others (cf. Heb 11)
But we are to “gaze” upon the Lord Savior
We must gaze on the Lord as suggested by this “Formula For Spiritual Success”:
If you want to be distressed -- look within
If you want to be defeated -- look back
If you want to be distracted -- look around
If you want to be dismayed -- look ahead
If you want to be delivered -- look up!
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
We must look to Jesus for He is “the author and finisher of our faith”
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega - Rev 1:8, 11
He has blazed the trail for us...
By having run the race Himself
As a forerunner He has entered the heavenly sanctuary...
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
He has opened a “new and living way” for us...
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
And now He helps us to finish it ourselves...
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
He succeeded in running the race by looking at “the joy set before Him”
The “joy” that inspired Him was likely that privilege of being seated at God’s right hand...
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
With the anticipation of such “joy”, Jesus...
“endured the cross” (the physical pain)
“despised the shame” (the emotional and spiritual agony)
Just as Jesus looked at the joy set before Him, so we must look to Jesus!
We must “Consider Him”
We must “Consider Him”
We must consider how He endured, not only on the cross, but even before that!
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
We must consider how He “endured such hostility from sinners against himself”
This hostility is something He experienced frequently...
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Meditating upon our Lord will prevent us from becoming “weary and discouraged in your souls”
We cannot run with endurance if we become weary and discouraged
But as we consider the Lord and His example we shall not grow weary nor faint...
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.
CONCLUSION
“Running The Race Of Faith” requires both negative and positive elements...
“Running The Race Of Faith” requires both negative and positive elements...
Negatively, we must lay aside things which would hinder us
Positively, we must keep our focus on Jesus who has made our salvation possible
In both cases, the Word of God (the Bible) is crucial...
In both cases, the Word of God (the Bible) is crucial...
For in it we learn what sort of things we must lay aside
For in it we learn about our Lord, what He endured, how His example should inspire us
Have you lost your endurance? Have you grown weary in “Running The Race Of Faith”?
Have you lost your endurance? Have you grown weary in “Running The Race Of Faith”?
Let the Bible help you examine what “baggage” should be left aside!
Let the Bible help you learn about Jesus whose own example can encourage you to continue on with perseverance!
Remember what we read earlier...
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.