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Running Your Race

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Kim Molina
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43 views

Running Your Race

Uploaded by

Kim Molina
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Endure…Run your

Race from start to


finish
Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIRV)

A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off


everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on
to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of
faith. And He is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no
attention to the shame of the cross. He sufferred there because of the
joy He was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God.
Introduction

Every believer has a race to run.


You can either choose the path that
leads to an eternity with Jesus or the
path that separates you from Him and
leads to eternal condemnation.
1
Learn from the
Witnesses
Learn from the Witnesses
The first part of Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are
surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…”
Who are these witnesses? They are the men and women of God
whose faithful lives are recorded in the Old Testament. These
individuals exercised trust in God, were commended by Him for
their faith, and were praised for their righteousness.
Learn from the Witnesses - Abel
By faith, Abel was commended as a righteous man when God
spoke well of his offerings. Hebrews 11:4

Abel’s offering pleased God. Abel and Cain both knew what God
wanted, but while Abel gave what God desired, Cain offered what
he himself wanted. Abel’s obedience contrasted with Cain’s
disobedience.
Learn from the Witnesses - Enoch
Before Enoch was taken, he was commended as one who pleased
God Hebrews 11:5

“And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever


would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6
Learn from the Witnesses - Noah
By faith Noah, when warned about things not seen, in holy fear
built an ark to save his family. Hebrews 11:7

Noah’s faith led him to act on God’s warning about the coming
flood. While Noah believed God, others ignored his message of
judgment. His obedience stood as a condemnation of those who
continued in disobedience.
Learn from the Witnesses - Abraham
By faith Abraham, when tested by God, willingly offered Isaac as a
sacrifice, his one and only son. Hebrews 11:8

God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many


nations. Even though Abraham had only one child, Isaac, he still
obeyed, trusting that God would fulfill His promise.
2
Strip Off Every
Weight That Slows
Us Down and the Sin
That So Easily Trips
Us Up
Strip Off Every Weight That Slows Us
Down
and the
Hebrews 12:1Sin
(NLT) That So
says, “Let Easily
us strip Trips
off every weight Us Up
that slows
us down.”

To run our race effectively, we must remove anything that hinders


our spiritual growth.
Desires and Earthly Pleasures

Our desires impact our spiritual growth and maturity. It’s up to us


to determine the depth of our hunger for God.

"A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul


every bitter thing is sweet." – Proverbs 27:7
Bad Company

As Christians, we must set boundaries with friends who negatively


influence us. If it’s difficult to resist their influence, consider a
gradual approach. Gently and respectfully share your concerns with
them, encourage positive change, and see it as an opportunity to
share the gospel.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.'"


Trials in Life

Trials can make us bitter unless we accept God’s grace to endure


them. Trusting God through suffering allows us to grow in our
knowledge of Him.

"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in


hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then
I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
Drifting Away

The gradual process of disconnecting from God and His people is


dangerous. We must stay vigilant and pay close attention to God’s
Word.

"So, we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. We


must be careful so that we will not be pulled away from the true
way." – Hebrews 2:1
3
Aim for Endurance
Aim for Endurance
As we run with endurance, we must also refocus on the goal, on
the finish line. God knows we need endurance! It is not easy or
enjoyable to develop, but it has a sure reward. We must endure
and finish our race by fixing our eyes on Jesus. He is an example of
what it means to run with endurance. He has gone before us,
facing every kind of suffering, and endured victoriously.

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the
joy set before Him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." – Hebrews 12:2
Conclusion
In a marathon, we know there is only one winner, but in the spiritual
race set before us, there is not just one winner. It’s not only Abel,
Enoch, Noah, Abraham, or the other heroes of faith. Everyone in God’s
race can win! Jesus said in 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we endure, we shall
also reign with him.”

My fellow spiritual runners let’s train and prepare well. Let’s endure to
the end and keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our race
and our faith. When we reach the finish line, we will hear a warm
welcome and words of congratulations from our Master:

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful
over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your
Endure…Run your
Race from start to
finish
Hebrews 12:1-2

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