Running the Race With Patience

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Running the Race Focus on Hebrews 12:1-2, emphasizing perseverance and encouragement. “Hebrews chapter number 12, verse number 1, And wherefore seeing, we also are compassed about 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.” “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.” Seventh Article of Faith Belief in the perseverance of saints in grace. Tied to Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Salvation is secure in Jesus’ finished work (John 10). “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Eternal security is a gift, not earned. Responsibility to “stick with it” and “hang with it.” “Don’t give up. Don’t lay it down. There ain’t anything worth laying the cross of Christ down for.” AWOL (Away Without Leave) concept: God never gives leave from service, love, obedience, prayer, etc. “When a man is AWOL, it means away without leave. And I don’t know of a time that God ever gave a person leave. Not from His service. Not from His love.” Every believer has a responsibility to share Jesus. “When it comes to telling somebody about Jesus, you’re just as much required of that as I am.” Running the Race with Patience 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” Emphasizes running to obtain, not giving up. Run with patience the race “that is set before us.” God prepares the race; there’s a goal and purpose. “As a people of God, you ain’t just running aimlessly. There’s a goal. There’s always a finish line with God.” God sets the course; focus on running your own race. “If God set before you a course, you may say, well, I don’t like this course.” Galatians 5:7: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” Consider what hinders you from obeying the truth. Obstacles and difficulties are expected. Things to Consider to Help Run the Race Godly Examples “We also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” Living and dead examples encourage perseverance. Appreciation for those who “pressed through” despite struggles. “Thank God they pressed through. Some of you had something that you was fighting. Some of you have afflictions. Some of you have got problems.” Examples of faithfulness in the face of adversity (cancer, heart problems, etc.). Future repentance for not following good examples. “Maybe some of us will have to repent here but when we get there we may have to repent some of them and say you left me an example but I didn’t follow it.” Lay Aside Every Weight Separate from sin; weights hinder a good race. “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Worldly cares can be burdensome. “If you’re going to run a good race from God, you better get the world on your shoulders today.” Cast cares on God. Discipline is needed to remove “extra pounds.” “If you’ve got extra pounds, it’s going to take some discipline for you to get it off.” Deal with Sin Sin cripples; address it by repenting and seeking forgiveness. “Sin will cripple you… If he can get us to yield to sin and keep us in a place where we won’t deal with sin and take the sin to the Father and repent of it and let Him purge us of that sin, friend, you’re going to try to run crippled and it ain’t going to work.” The Holy Spirit reveals sin. “Because if the Holy Ghost lives inside of you, amen, He’s telling you. He’s telling you what sin is.” Run with Patience Long-distance race, not a sprint. “You’re going to need some patience in this race. Consider that. That this ain’t a sprint. It’s a marathon.” Commit to the long haul, knowing God set the course. “What you know is that your Father has set the course for you. And there is a finish line.” Looking Unto Jesus Consider Jesus’ race: enduring the cross, despising shame. “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.” Jesus endured a great contradiction of sinners. “He endured such a contradiction of sinners against Himself.” Even on the cross, Jesus offered salvation (Luke 23:43). “He looked over at him and he said, today. Today, he said, thou shalt be with me in paradise.” Fuel for Endurance: Hope “Who for the joy that was set before Him.” Hope is the greatest fuel for a spiritual engine. “Do you know the greatest fuel for any spiritual engine is hope.” Knowing there’s a finish line provides motivation. Jesus knew joy was beyond the cross. Romans 5:3-5: Tribulation leads to patience, experience, and hope. “Knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” Hope makes not ashamed; it’s an eternal hope. “And hope maketh not ashamed.” Jesus knew He was returning to the right hand of God. “And He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Set affection on things above for hope. “Set your affection on things that are above, it’ll give you hope.” Saved by Hope Romans 8:24-25: Saved by hope; hope that is seen is not hope. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 12:12: Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 15:13: God of hope fills with joy and peace. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Final Encouragement Deal with weight and sin, be patient, and turn heart toward God. Let God fuel your heart with hope. “If we’ll just let God fuel our heart.”