AWANA April 10th

Run the Race

We have covered a lot this year in AWANA

Who God is (truth, all powerful, everywhere, all-knowing, three-in-one)

What the bible is and what it contains (History, Wisdom, Prophecy, Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Revelation)

We are made in the image of God

There is an adversary (the devil), and something went wrong (the fall) and because of it there is sin, sickness and suffering.

But there is good news (Jesus), who will come back, and we can have eternity with him if we have faith, if we believe.

For those that believe we now can talk to God through prayer, we can study the word, we can worship, we can serve, we can fellowship with one another.

Tonight we are going to finish the AWANA year, for teaching. We are going to wrap this all up.

If you know Christ you have been commanded to do all these things and more.

Let me ask you this: who in here plays a sport? (or maybe plays an instrument, play, etc)

Why do you do these things?

Do you want to do well when you do these things? Do you practice and work hard to do well?

You want to do well. You put hours of practice in to do well and be ready to push through.

Well in this life we only get one shot. There is no second chances. We don’t get to start over and do it again. We don’t get to prepare for another race or contest, there is one.

And the bible is very clear how we are to live and how we are to run this race, this journey of life we have been called to.

We are going to look quickly at two passages, first we’ll look at Hebrews.

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.

This text comes right after Hebrews 11 which is all about how all these things were done “by faith”

Noah warned the people, Abraham obeyed, Moses was born and then led the people, they cross the Red Sea.

So with that in mind, this is what you should do.

Run the race, with endurance, the race before you.

It is going to be hard, lay aside every weight, sin is going to grip you but let it go, move on and press on.

It is worth it. It is going to be challenging but keep going.

And there is a great cloud of witnesses, many people who have gone before you and finished the race are looking down on you and giving example of how it can be done. We do these with those witnesses in mind not to get their praise, but rather to look to them as examples of those who have finished well. They are to be an encouragement.

We are called to lay aside every weight and sin. That means there will be things that slow us up that are not sin, but nearly hinderances. Rules, church expectations, family, etc. They are not bad but they can hold us up.

The writer goes on to say look to Jesus.

He is the “founder” and “perfecter” of our faith.

He endured the cross, took the shame and is now on the right hand of God the father.

He was in our shoes, living on this earth, and he did it, he then died in our place, and is now seated above so that we can now run this race.

When you get tired, when you get worn down, look to Jesus. Consider what he went through and it will be okay. Our suffering and troubles are little compared to the cross.

Lets look at 2 Timothy

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.

Paul is writing a letter to his disciple Timothy. He is giving encouragement and instruction. These could be the last things he ever writes to Timothy, so he wants them to be of value. After all that Paul has written and done, this is the end, so remember that.

I have been poured out—my time of departure has come. Paul is saying I have given everything I can, my body is spent. I don’t have much left. This is the end.

Paul is reflecting. He has run the race, he has fought the fight. Ephesians (written by Paul) tells us this will be spiritual warfare. There will be battles. You will ware down and grow weary but keep going.

Paul has done that. Not perfectly, he has stumbled and failed. He sinned, he repented and was restored.

Keep going—there is a crown of righteousness, Jesus, waiting for you. That is what you get. The righteousness of Jesus put on our account and our sin taken on his account. And on that day we will get that crown.

Keep pressing on. Keep going. it is worth it. Run the race.

We have examples in the bible of all these people who ran that race. Abraham, Moses, David, Luke, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, Timothy. Run the race.

If you do not know Jesus, you are not running this race. You are actually running the other way. Full speed running away from Christ and don’t even know it. You cannot be part of this race without asking for forgiveness and putting your faith in Jesus.