Sis
Melinda Song
Hebrews
12:1-3, NIV
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great
cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that
so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for
us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author 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.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that
you will not grow weary and lose heart.
INTRODUCTION
I am the worst athlete
ever. To my shame, I have never scored a single point in 100 m for my house
during additional sports in all my years in secondary school.
A. We Are
in a Race (Heb. 12:1c)
- Christian life is compared to a race.
- Everyone is running towards something, whether it be something as basic as money to put food on the table, or fame or fortune.
- The choice is not whether to run or not to run. The choice lies in which race you want to run. Are you in the right race or in a rat race [1](world’s race)?
- You cannot run two races at the same time.
- The race is not a sprint but marathon.
- The course is “marked out for us” (v. 2b)
a. While the destination
is the same for everyone, the journey that gets us there is different for
everyone. Don't compare your track to someone else's track.
b. A lifelong test of
faith with no time outs
B.
Prepare Well (Heb. 12:1b)
1.
Throwing off Everything That Hinders
“let us throw off
everything that hinders”
“let us strip off every
weight that slows us down” (NLT)
a. Ancient Greek runners
run naked.
b. Today athletes skimp
down to the least amount of clothing decency will allow in a race or game.
Illustration: The NYC Marathon, the largest marathon in the world, is a race run
across five boroughs in the first weekend of November. There were 51,394
finishers in 2016 and so far there are 98,247 applicants for the 2017 race.
Picture
a crowd of 50,000 runners on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge waiting to start the
race almost two hours before it begins. And it is November.
Everyone
is bundled up against the cold but they cannot run with all that clothing on so
when the race starts the runners begin discarding clothes and throwing then to
the side. Eventually the 100K+ pieces of clothing are picked up and given to
the homeless. These runners are literally “throwing off everything that
hinders” to “run with perseverance the race marked out.” [2]
c. A weight is simply a
mass or load of anything - physical weight (obesity), or to unnecessary
baggage.
d. A weight is not sin
but they slow us down, divert our attention, sap our energy, and dampen our
zeal and joy for the things of God. We cannot win when we are carrying excess
weight.
The apostle Paul put it
this way: You say,
“I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I
am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. - 1 Cor.
10:23 (NLT)
What are some weights in
your life?
• Perhaps you are indulging in unhealthy
friendships or idle entertainment – Facebook, computer games, etc
• Perhaps it is your work
These things, while not
sin themselves, keep us from fulfilling the will of God in our lives, and may
become gateways that lead us into sin.
• Are there thoughts, attitudes, and habits
that are impeding your progress (Romans
12:2; Titus
3:3; 1 Peter 1:14).
• Maybe you are choked by the riches and
cares of this world. Refer to parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-9; Mark 4:2-9;
and Luke 8:4-8).
Do not ask, “What’s
wrong with this movie, or listening to this music, or participating in this
activity?” Ask, “Does this help me to grow in godliness?” If not, discard it.
2.
Casting Off the Sin That Entangles
“and the sin that so
easily entangles.”
a. In biblical times
people wore long robes that would entangle and trip a runner. The robes must
either be pulled up and tucked into a belt or totally cast aside.
b. Sin has been the
downfall of many a great man or woman of God.
c. THE sin seems to
refer to a particular sin. Sin of unbelief is naturally suggested here based on
the preceding chapter on faith but all of us have our own “pet” sins that
entangle/ensnare us.
d. Your easily
entangling sin is probably not my easily entangling sin - greed, covetousness
(for power, or position), gluttony, pornography, lying, stealing, pride,
jealousy, or temper.
e. By His grace, let us
cast off any sin the entangles.
C. Run
Well
1. Run for The Great Crowd of Witnesses (Heb.
12:1a)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses…”
a. These witnesses are
those mentioned in chapter 11, what is often called the “Faith Hall of Fame.”
b. In any sporting
event, athletes compete in a large arena filled with spectators that encourage
their team. Does Paul mean that these heroes of faith are sitting on clouds
cheering us on?
c. Paul did not refer to
them as spectators but “witnesses”, martus (μαρτυς), A
witness is someone who has obtained testimony about something by first-hand
experience, and then testifies about it to others.
d. NKJV translates
Hebrews 11:2 as “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” And in verse 39 we read, “all these, having
obtained a good testimony
through faith, did not receive the
promise.”
e. Theirs is a testimony
of the victorious nature of enduring faith despite great hardships along the
way. See Hebrews 11:33-35.
f. Their lives encourage us when we feel like
giving up. The God of Abraham, Moses, and David is our God. If they can do it,
so can you! Be encouraged!
g. Let us not forget
that there are also heroes of faith right in the midst of us today who
encourage us in our race.
2.
Run Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2a)
“Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”
FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS
a. In Greek it means “looking away from all
else to Jesus.”
Taking our eyes off
(i) other things and
(ii) ourselves, and
focusing on Jesus
alone.
Illustration: It was May 6th, 1954, and a miler named Roger Bannister became the
first human to ever have run a mile recorded in under four minutes. That world
record lasted only six weeks, when an Australian, named John Landy, beat his
record by more than a second. The rivalry was not over though, as the Empire
Games were scheduled for August of the same year, and Landy and Bannister were
set to square off in one of the most anticipated races in history.
The
two runners could not have been more different. Landy loved to set the pace and
start off strong, he usually led most of his races from start to finish.
Bannister was different, he liked running from behind most of the race, only to
take over first place in the final lap. The final proved those stereotypes
right as Landy led for most of the race, with Bannister behind by quite a big
margin going into the final lap. But then, something happened; the crowd
started cheering as Bannister made his move and Landy began to get nervous, and
in a moment of panic, Landy broke racing’s number one rule, don’t look back. As
he looked over his left shoulder, Bannister went zooming by on the right to
take first place in the race that would be forever remembered as the “miracle
mile.”
This
moment has served coaches well for all the years since as a lesson to runners
to keep their eyes on the finish line. This moment was so big that to this day
in Vancouver, a bronze statue stands depicting the moment when Landy looked
over his left shoulder. Landy took the loss in good spirits as he famously
said, “While Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am
probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back.”
While
we may never experience the level of embarrassment that John Landy did that
day, despite the fact that our race is eternally more important than the
“miracle mile” was, we, too, must realize that all too often we get distracted (Texting while driving) as we are running our
race. Whether it is the simple distractions of life, or whether it is the sin
or sins of our choice, we are all too easily prone to wander and prone to slow
down in our race.
b. Have you been
distracted or tempted to look away?
c. Don’t think of how far you have left to go or
how difficult things. As you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of the faith,all the grace you need along the way will be supplied!
d. It's where you are
facing/heading that matters.
AUTHOR
a. Christ is the archegon (ἀρχεγον) - a word made up of ago (ἀγο) “to lead,” and arche (ἀρχε), “the first.”
b. He is the supreme
example of faith, whose faith far surpasses the examples of faith commemorated
in chapter 11.
c. In Greek, “our faith”
is actually “THE FAITH” referring to the faith as exhibited in the lives of the
heroes of faith in chapter 11 and in the Lord Jesus.
PERFECTOR
a. He is also the
finisher of the faith spoken of in Hebrews chapter 11. The word is teleioo (τελειοο) which means “to carry through completely,
to finish, to make perfect or complete.”
b. Our Lord in His life
of faith on earth, became the perfect or complete example of the life of faith.
c. Jesus Christ is also
the one who gives us the faith to believe in the first place, and then sustains
that faith every moment of our lives until we arrive in heavenly glory.
d. Philippians 1:6, NLT “And I am certain that God, who began the good work
within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when
Christ Jesus returns.” He put us into this race, and He will see us through to
the end!
3. Run with Perseverance (Heb. 12:1c)
“let us run with
perseverance”
a. This race is full of
obstacles, barriers, hurdles, and hazards.
b. We may stumble and
fall, but don’t give up! Take it one step at a time.
c. The Greek word for
race is agon from which we get our word agony. The race is a
contest in daily progress toward Christ-likeness. We race not against
opponents, but against ourselves.
d. There is an internal
struggle of the soul for our natural bent is toward sinfulness and laziness.
e. The finish line of
the race is Christlikeness. He is growing us and maturing us on this racecourse
to look like Jesus Christ. Are you more like Jesus today than you were
yesterday? Are you engaging in the necessary disciplines and activities that
will enable you to grow and mature in Christ-likeness?
IMPORTANT! In the
Christian race, it is not how you start that matters; it is how you
finish.
D. Finish Well
Look at Paul’s example.
Acts
20:22-24, NIV
“And now, compelled by
the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me
there.23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns
me that prison and hardships are facing me.24 However,
I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the
task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
At the end of his life
he could say…
2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV
I have fought the good
fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the
faith. 8 Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
How does Paul do it?
Philippians
3:13-14, NIV
13 Brothers and
sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I
do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God
has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
The prize is becoming a
spiritual champion. A spiritual champion is one sold out to Jesus, straining to
become more like him everyday. The finish line of faith is a life that is more
Christian today than yesterday. The goal is not perfection, but progress.
Illustration: At 7 p.m. on October 20, 1968, a few thousand spectators remained in
the Mexico City Olympic Stadium. The last of the exhausted marathon runners
were being carried off to the first-aid stations. More than an hour earlier,
Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia had crossed the finish line, the winner of the 26.2-mile
run.
As the
remaining spectators prepared to leave, those sitting near the marathon gates
heard the sound of sirens and police whistles. All eyes turned toward the gate.
A lone figure wearing the colors of Tanzania entered the stadium. His name was
John Stephen Akhwari. He was the last man to finish. His leg bloodied and
bandaged, severely injured in a fall, he grimaced with each step as he hobbled
around the 400-meter track.
The
spectators rose and applauded him as if he were the winner. After crossing the
finish line, Akhwari slowly walked off the field. In view of his injury and
having no chance of winning a medal, someone asked him why he had not quit. He
replied, “My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race. They sent
me 7,000 miles to finish it” (from Leadership [Spring, 1992], p. 49).
CONCLUSION
1. Are you in the right race? If you’ve never
put your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you aren’t even in the race.
2. Let us throw off everything that hinders
(the pleasures and treasures of the world, the lust of the flesh) and the sin
that so easily entangles us.
3. In the spiritual race you are running, get
the mindset of a marathoner and refuse to give up. If you have stumbled and
fallen, don't stay there. Get up. Run fixing your eyes on Jesus.
Philippians
1:6, NLT “And I am certain that God, who
began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally
finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
4. Are you weary? Are
you losing heart?
Heb.
12:3 Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Avoid burn out by fixing
your eyes on Jesus. Hope (Wait) in the Lord and let Him renew your strength.
Isaiah
40:21-31, NIV
28 Do you not know?
Have
you not heard?
The Lord is
the everlasting God,
the
Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired
or weary,
and
his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives
strength to the weary
and
increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow
tired and weary,
and
young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who
hope in the Lord
will
renew their strength.
They will soar on wings
like eagles;
they
will run and not grow weary,
they
will walk and not be faint.
[2]
tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Marathon
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