Winning the Race of God

1
Winning the Race of God

• Hebrews 121-4

2
Proverbs 425-27 (NASB)

• 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead, And let
  your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26
  Watch the path of your feet, And all your ways
  will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right
  nor to the left Turn your foot from evil.
• Are you spiritually focused?

3

• Focus is extremely important to
  meeting our spiritual goals!

4
2 Corinthians 417-18 (NASB)

• 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing
  for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all
  comparison, 18 while we look not at the things
  which are seen, but at the things which are not
  seen for the things which are seen are temporal,
  but the things which are not seen are eternal.

5

• Our greatest motivation to persevere and be
  spiritually focused is the example of Jesus
  Christ! (Hebrews 121-4)

6
There is a Race of God We All Must Run.

• Heb 121 (NASB) Therefore, since we have so
  great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us
  also lay aside every encumbrance (or weight), and
  the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us
  run with endurance the race that is set before
  us,

7
So Great a Cloud of Witnesses Surrounding Us!

• Gods faithful people from Old Testament times
  are cheering us on to win! (Heb. 121a cf.
  Heb. 11).
• Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob,
  Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, the
  prophets, and others.

8
Romans 154 (NASB)

• For whatever was written in earlier times was
  written for our instruction, that through
  perseverance and the encouragement of the
  Scriptures we might have hope.

9

• The race is from God who
  has set the rules for the race (Heb. 121c).

10
Many people are running the wrong way!

• Matt 713 (NASB) 13 "Enter by the narrow gate
  for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that
  leads to destruction, and many are those who
  enter by it.

11
There is only one path that leads to eternal life
in Heaven.

• Matt 714 (NASB) "For the gate is small, and the
  way is narrow that leads to life, and few are
  those who find it. cf. John 146
• SO WE BETTER BE ON THE RIGHT RACE TRACK!

12

• We must run the race that God has given in such
  a way that we will win - according to the
  instructions of His word.

13
1 Corinthians 924 (NASB)

• Do you not know that those who run in a race all
  run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such
  a way that you may win.

14
2 Timothy 25 (NASB)

• And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he
  does not win the prize unless he competes
  according to the rules.

15
Philippians 216 (NASB)

• holding fast the word of life, so that in the
  day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I
  did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

16

• A daily focus on the spiritual rules of the race
  is essential (e.g., Bible study /meditation,
  memorization, prayer, spiritual companions, etc.).

17
What We Must Do to Win the Race.

• Lose weight (Heb. 121b).

18
Hebrews 121 (NASB)

• Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
  witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside
  every encumbrance (weight KJV), and the sin
  which so easily entangles us, and let us run with
  endurance the race that is set before us,

19

• A weight or encumbrance would be anything
  that hinders us in our running the race of God.

20
1 Corinthians 612 (NASB)

• All things are lawful for me, but not all things
  are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but
  I will not be mastered by anything.
• Examples (1) Television/ movies
  (2) Recreation (3) The reading of newspapers
  other secular literature. (4) Hobbies that
  dominate (5) Career

21

• A poor spiritual condition or
  lack of service is due to too much
  weight!

22

• Something that may seem so important and
  valuable, may in fact be slowing you down!

23
What We Must Do to Win the Race.

• Get rid of the sin! (Heb. 121b)

24
Hebrews 121 (NASB)

• Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
  witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside
  every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily
  entangles us, and let us run with endurance the
  race that is set before us, - cf. 1 Tim 69 2
  Tim. 24 2 Pet. 220 Gal. 519-21 Col. 35-9
  James 417
• What are sins that easily entangle you?

25
Unload the Sin!

• To unload the sin, a Christian must repent (Acts
  822) and confess his sins (1 John 19).
• Then come up a plan, with the Lords help and
  wisdom, to fight against that sin so you do not
  repeat it!
• Examples (1) Scripture memorization (Mat.
  41-11). (2) Prayer (Mat. 2641).
  (3) Ask for the prayers of brethren (Jas.
  516). (4) Escape! (1 Cor.
  1013 cf. Gen. 3912).

26
What We Must Do to Win the Race.

• Run with endurance (Heb. 121c)

27
Hebrews 121 (NASB)

• Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
  witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside
  every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily
  entangles us, and let us run with endurance the
  race that is set before us,

28
Run with Endurance

• No matter how many times we stumble and fall in
  the race of God, we continue to run!
  (Jer. 84-6 Heb. 1036-39).

29
Jeremiah 84 (NASB)

• "And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD,
  "Do men fall and not get up again? Does one turn
  away and not repent?

30
Hebrews 1036 (NASB)

• For you have need of endurance, so that when you
  have done the will of God, you may receive what
  was promised.

31
Revelation 210 (NASB)

• 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
  Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you
  into prison, that you may be tested, and you will
  have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until
  death, and I will give you the crown of life.

32
Winning the Race is Possible Only if We Look to
Jesus.

• In running the race, the Christian must focus on
  Jesus at all times (Heb. 122).

33
Hebrews 121b-2 (NASB)

• let us run with endurance the race that is set
  before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author
  and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set
  before Him endured the cross, despising the
  shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
  throne of God.

34

• We cannot allow ourselves to get distracted and
  take our eyes off of
  Jesus!

35
Dont take your eyes off of Jesus!

• Competition or comparing yourself with others
  (Luke 946 2 Cor. 1012).
• Fear or doubt (Mat. 1430-31)
• Earthly treasures (Mat. 619-21).
• Self-centeredness/ selfishness (2 Tim. 31-4).
• A multitude of worldly distractions (Rom 122 1
  Jn 215-16).

36

• Let us look unto Jesus, our perfect model runner
  who has finished the race! (Heb. 122)

37
Hebrews 122 (NASB)

• fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and
  perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before
  Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
  has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
  God.

38
1 Peter 221-23 (NASB)

• 21 For you have been called for this purpose,
  since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you
  an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who
  committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His
  mouth 23 and while being reviled, He did not
  revile in return while suffering, He uttered no
  threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who
  judges righteously

39

• Our faith must be in the finisher or
  perfecter of our faith (Heb. 122).

40
Hebrews 57-9 (NASB)

• 7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both
  prayers and supplications with loud crying and
  tears to the One able to save Him from death, and
  He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He
  was a Son, He learned obedience from the things
  which He suffered. 9 And having been made
  perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the
  source of eternal salvation,

41
Hebrews 122 (NASB)

• fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and
  perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before
  Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
  has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
  God.

42
How did He do it?

• He determined in his mind to fulfill the Fathers
  will (Mat 2642 cf. John 638).
• He endured for the joy set before him (Heb.
  122) - to be exalted to Gods right hand as
  Savior and King (Acts 225-35 531).

43

• Jesus example of endurance is our greatest
  source of motivation as we
  run the race of God!

44
2 Timothy 47-8 (NASB)

• 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.

45
Jesus Gives Us the Strength and Courage to
not Only Run, but Finish the Race!

• Consider the endurance of Jesus! (Heb. 123)

46
Hebrews 123 (NASB)

• For consider Him who has endured such hostility
  by sinners against Himself, so that you may not
  grow weary and lose heart. cf.
  Luke 23 John 1930

47

• We will not faint nor collapse in the race of
  faith if we will continue to look to Jesus.

48
Hebrews 218 (NASB)

• For since He Himself was tempted in that which
  He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of
  those who are tempted.

49
Hebrews 415-16 (NASB)

• 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot
  sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has
  been tempted in all things as we are, yet without
  sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with
  confidence to the throne of grace, that we may
  receive mercy and may find grace to help in time
  of need.

50
John 1633 (KJV)

• These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
  ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
  tribulation but be of good cheer I have
  overcome the world.

51

• Looking at Jesus will help to keep things in
  their proper perspective (Heb. 124).

52
Hebrews 124 (NASB)

• You have not yet resisted to the point of
  shedding blood in your striving against sin
• Do we really know what it means to suffer for
  Jesus sake?

53
Revelation 22-3 (NASB)

• I know your deeds and your toil and
  perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil
  men, and you put to the test those who call
  themselves apostles, and they are not, and you
  found them to be false 3 and you have
  perseverance and have endured for My name's sake,
  and have not grown weary.

54

• Every Christian Can Win the
  Race of God if He/ She Will
  Look to Jesus!