WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.940 But while I was gone, you heard two incredible sermons from Hebrews chapter 11. 00:00:06.419 --> 00:00:09.679 ! And I'm not going to lie, I was a little jealous when I was leaving. 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:13.280 ! I was like, okay, Jason and Kenneth, they get to preach Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:19.059 This is, you know, that's kind of one of the ones that everybody looks forward to as you're going through this. 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:25.199 But what I do get the opportunity to do is preach one of my favorite passages, 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:29.260 if not my favorite passage, in all of the book of Hebrews. 00:00:29.260 --> 00:00:35.380 And that's going to be coming from Hebrews chapter 12 and the first three verses here. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:42.840 You see, in chapter 11, the author of Hebrews provided a list of faithful examples of people. 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:48.640 He then uses these examples as a way of urging us to remain faithful. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:54.840 But the point of the passage is not to look at these people as the end, 00:00:54.840 --> 00:01:01.300 but to look to Jesus, our ultimate source of finding strength for endurance. 00:01:01.860 --> 00:01:07.040 Even in the midst of the Hall of Faith, we are called to look to Jesus. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:13.200 And so with this in mind, I want to encourage you to open your Bibles with me to Hebrews chapter 12. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.240 And we're going to read the first three verses this morning. 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:17.460 This is what the Word of the Lord says. 00:01:17.459 --> 00:01:18.299 It says this, 00:01:18.299 --> 00:01:24.059 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:30.339 let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:35.519 and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:40.239 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:44.579 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:51.140 despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:57.000 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, 00:01:57.399 --> 00:02:01.239 so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted. 00:02:01.699 --> 00:02:08.300 You see, everything in this section centers around the idea of running this spiritual race. 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:14.560 This great race is one that takes place in a stadium filled with Old Testament saints. 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:19.480 This is not merely a stadium of spectators who are there just to watch you. 00:02:19.540 --> 00:02:23.800 It is a stadium of enduring saints who've already finished running, 00:02:24.180 --> 00:02:26.460 who've already ran this race, 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:31.580 faith-filled athletes who have been in our shoes and have faithfully endured. 00:02:32.260 --> 00:02:36.400 In addition to this stadium, this picture of this race is taking place, 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.039 we're told to run. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:39.520 We are told to run. 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:43.599 Now, many times throughout Scripture, we're told to run this race. 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:48.620 There's a few times where we're called to walk or where it's described as walking. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.819 Sometimes that's in a positive context, sometimes in a negative context. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:55.740 King David in Psalm 23 says, 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.200 I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:04.159 And so this walking signifies this calm assurance that we have before God 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:08.000 in the midst of one of the most difficult times any of us will face 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.780 as we think about the impending death. 00:03:11.119 --> 00:03:14.339 It gives us this picture of this calm assurance 00:03:14.339 --> 00:03:19.120 that even in what brings fear to most everyone, 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:23.780 we can have assurance knowing that God has made a way for us. 00:03:23.780 --> 00:03:26.479 But also kind of in a negative context, 00:03:26.580 --> 00:03:29.259 we see Paul talking about walking in this life. 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:32.460 And he talks about how in Ephesians chapter 2, 00:03:32.539 --> 00:03:34.920 how we were walking in the ways of this world, 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:37.580 how we're just living in this world. 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:41.219 But here we're called to run. 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:44.099 And so with this running of this race, 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:46.860 it gives us this idea of urgency. 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:51.479 It gives us this idea of running and this urgency and purpose 00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:52.979 that we are called to live. 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:54.919 And so from this section, 00:03:55.819 --> 00:04:00.280 what we're going to see is a few insights into running this race. 00:04:00.359 --> 00:04:04.419 To begin with, we are told to run with perspective. 00:04:05.079 --> 00:04:06.839 We're to run with perspective. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:10.359 I'm convinced that many times as believers, 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:15.219 we don't take our faith very seriously as we should 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:18.860 because we don't understand how truly important it is. 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:24.180 The author here tells us to pause and consider our surroundings, 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:25.939 to look around us. 00:04:26.020 --> 00:04:26.879 Listen to how he opens. 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:27.259 He says, 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:33.520 therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:38.680 The therefore tells you to look back at what was just being said. 00:04:38.780 --> 00:04:40.980 And you have this, all of these witnesses, 00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:44.700 all of these men and women of faith in chapter 11. 00:04:44.700 --> 00:04:45.100 He says, 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:49.900 therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:55.160 Chapter 11, the author highlights a few characters from the Old Testament, 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:59.819 highlighting the faith that they shared in difficult circumstances. 00:04:59.819 --> 00:05:02.500 In each and every one of these situations, 00:05:02.719 --> 00:05:05.920 these men and women had a choice to make. 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:07.319 They had decisions to make. 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:09.319 Follow God or follow this world. 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:16.019 And the right perspective helps us to see that following God is worth it. 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:18.420 In fact, he tells us in Moses, 00:05:18.659 --> 00:05:21.199 it talks about the example of Moses in verse 26. 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:21.560 It says, 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:24.300 and he was looking to the reward. 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:25.740 He was looking forward. 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:27.240 He had the right perspective. 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:32.560 And so here you have a small sampling of Old Testament saints 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:37.139 who understood that following God was worth it. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:40.500 Now, the list was not intended to be an all-inclusive list, 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:44.139 but a window into many that were faithful. 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:47.540 A picture of those who have gone before us. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:51.259 I want you to listen to how Michael Kruger paints this picture for us. 00:05:51.280 --> 00:05:51.759 He says, 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.240 In the crowd sits Noah, 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:58.060 who endured much hardship and faithfully built an ark. 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:01.860 Enoch, who loved God intimately and walked with him. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:06.219 Sarah, who trusted God's promise and received power to conceive. 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:11.459 In the crowd sits Abraham, Moses, and Rahab, and all the others. 00:06:12.039 --> 00:06:15.599 But there is something very different about this crowd. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.600 They are not there to watch you. 00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:22.939 They are there to be seen by you as you run. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:25.100 This encourages us. 00:06:25.900 --> 00:06:28.080 And you think about what is possible. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:31.200 There will be times when you think you cannot finish, 00:06:31.320 --> 00:06:33.000 that you cannot push past the pain, 00:06:33.080 --> 00:06:38.900 but then you realize the stadium that is filled with people who have finished the race. 00:06:39.140 --> 00:06:41.840 And you realize that it can be done. 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:47.219 You know, in my office, well actually, in the storage room upstairs right now, 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:49.959 but hopefully in my office very, very soon, 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:54.179 I have all kinds of things that I have collected from different trips. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:07:00.239 One of the things that I like to collect from different trips and mission trips are nativity sets. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:03.399 And so I've got nativity sets from all over the world. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:09.239 And what they are there for is to remind me of those trips. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:11.540 And it's not just to remind me of the trip and the place, 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:16.180 but to remind me of the people who are there, of the places that we've gone. 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:17.720 In fact, I just got one from Canada. 00:07:17.840 --> 00:07:20.300 It took me a little while to find one. 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:22.560 In fact, I didn't find it until the day before we left. 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:27.840 And I thought I was going to have to settle for a bear nativity with all the characters were bears. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:29.360 But thankfully, I found another one. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:36.139 But we have this and they're there to remind me of the places, 00:07:36.280 --> 00:07:39.480 but more importantly, the people that need to hear the gospel message, 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:45.460 but also the faithful saints that are there preaching the word to be reminded to pray for them 00:07:45.460 --> 00:07:47.139 that are doing this race well. 00:07:47.780 --> 00:07:53.500 The author gives us these witnesses not as a means of scaring us, 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:57.160 not as a way of saying, well, Abraham's just looking down on you, 00:07:57.259 --> 00:08:00.660 making sure Noah's up there and Sarah's shaking her finger at you, 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:01.939 making sure that you do what you're doing. 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:04.000 No, it's not that. 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:09.860 But we're to see them as faithful witnesses that have gone before us 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:14.620 that we can take encouragement to run this race well, 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:16.660 to understand this race is doable. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:17.639 It's worth it. 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:22.279 They are there to put the right perspective in our lives. 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:27.299 The next insight the author gives us in running this spiritual race 00:08:27.299 --> 00:08:31.399 is that we are to run with purpose and intentionality. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:34.819 We're to run with purpose and intentionality. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:41.439 One of the things this passage clearly shows us is the importance of running with purpose, 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:46.779 meaning not running aimlessly, but running with intentionality. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:49.839 This is something that doesn't just happen. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:51.980 It takes us being purposeful. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:54.620 And I want you to listen to how the author describes this. 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:54.960 He says, 00:08:55.300 --> 00:09:01.879 Let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely. 00:09:02.680 --> 00:09:09.180 And so here the author of Hebrews is giving us another sports as a way of explaining 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:13.080 how we should run the race that God has set for us to run. 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:16.139 He makes an interesting imperative here. 00:09:16.220 --> 00:09:19.160 He tells us to put two things aside. 00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:21.820 Now, one, it's not hard for us to understand. 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:26.540 He tells us to put away sin, that we should be putting that away. 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:29.540 And I think that's something that most of us understand. 00:09:29.920 --> 00:09:36.180 Most of us, if we believe Jesus, if we claim to be followers of Christ, we're not going to argue with that. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:39.540 We understand that we should be putting away sin. 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:42.959 And we understand that this is something that we should lay aside. 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:45.719 Few people will argue with that. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:48.699 But we must be intentional with this. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:53.939 You don't have to work very hard to be entangled by sin. 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:57.299 In fact, that's the default in life. 00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:03.620 If you do nothing to fight sin, sin will cling to you very tightly. 00:10:04.359 --> 00:10:09.899 So if you are going to run the race, you have to be proactively casting off sin. 00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:13.259 But he also tells us something else here. 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:17.439 He says, let us lay aside every weight. 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:20.279 Every weight that keeps us from running. 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:33.980 Remember, the author of Hebrews is writing to a community of Hebrew believers who apparently were struggling with looking back on Judaism instead of looking to what Judaism was pointing them to. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:42.360 They were looking back on this old life and remembering all of those things instead of looking forward to what it was pointing them to. 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:44.079 And it was pointing them to Christ. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:52.240 But what's interesting is that what they were now struggling with at one time was good for them. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:56.060 At one time, this was what God was calling them to do. 00:10:56.139 --> 00:11:02.100 What they are struggling with at one time is exactly what God was wanting them to do. 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:10.280 You see, they were letting what God called them to do get in the way of what God was calling them to. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:15.699 They let what God called them to get in the way of what God was calling them to. 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:19.579 And I think this is something that we struggle with many times. 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:28.059 Sometimes it may be that we feel like at one point in our life, God had called us to something and that we just missed it. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.959 We just missed that we didn't do what he called us to do. 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:34.539 And now all of a sudden, since we didn't do what he called us to do, 00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:41.179 then we've just messed up the rest of our lives and we can never get back to doing what God is calling us to do. 00:11:41.579 --> 00:11:44.139 And nothing could be further from the truth. 00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:48.500 If that were true, none of us would be able to fulfill what God is calling us to do 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:50.939 because we've all missed it at some points. 00:11:51.699 --> 00:11:52.719 And so that's not it. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:12:02.779 But also, I think sometimes we let what God has called us to get in the way of what he's calling us to do right now in our lives. 00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:11.519 You see, there's no doubt in my mind that 14 years ago that God called me and our family to this church as a youth pastor. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:14.779 And it was something that we struggle with. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.759 We prayed about. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:18.819 It wasn't that we didn't want to come back to Toccoa. 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:23.039 I wasn't one of those who was like, you know, as soon as I'm graduating, I'm never looking back. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.299 No, we love it. 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:27.220 But all of a sudden, this church is asking us to to move home. 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:32.100 And in my mind, I'm thinking, well, well, God, I want to be open to going wherever you lead us to. 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.960 Is that really bad? 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:36.159 That seems pretty convenient for us. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:38.040 And so we struggled with it. 00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:41.940 But the search committee that was calling me, they asked, said, pray about it. 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.639 And they prayed about it. 00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:50.000 And after both of us genuinely praying about it, we felt like that is exactly what God was calling us to do. 00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:56.940 And I felt and I still feel like that the title of youth pastor is one of my favorite titles that I've ever had. 00:12:57.160 --> 00:12:59.580 It was a time that I enjoyed immensely. 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:08.500 And then after that, the Lord called us here as associate pastor of missions and discipleship, a title that I got to enjoy for about a year. 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:11.180 And so we were able to do that. 00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:23.640 But during that time, it was a time where I got to think about and focus on some aspects of discipleship and missions that would be really difficult to do and devote the time to in the role that I'm currently in. 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:33.539 And then so after a year of that, we began to pray and we began to ask, Lord, Lord, do you want me to step into this role as senior pastor? 00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:35.740 Do you want me to move into this? 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:43.440 And after praying about it and asking others to pray about it, we feel like that is what the Lord was leading us to do. 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:52.080 But you see, if I got so caught up in, well, I know that God called me to be a youth pastor, then those next steps would have never happened. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:57.960 We can't let what God called us to get in the way of what God is calling us to. 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:08.259 You see, you may be at a place in your life right now where you did exactly what God called you to do at one point. 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:11.879 You did exactly what you felt like he was leading you to do at one point. 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:20.560 Maybe there was a time in your life where you had young kids at home and you felt like the Lord was leading you to take a step back from serving in some different capacities 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:25.860 so that you could focus that time and focus that energy on raising your children. 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.220 That's a wonderful thing. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:30.420 That's a season that sometimes God calls us to. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:33.540 But maybe now those children are grown up. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:37.180 Maybe now those children are in college and they're in high school. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:40.560 Maybe they're involved in some different aspects of ministry of the church. 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:44.500 And now you have to look at what God is calling you to. 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:53.019 Some of us may have done an excellent job of listening to God years ago and we're still doing what he called us to do. 00:14:53.019 --> 00:15:03.600 But because of a lack of growth, because of a lack of obedience, what he called us to is getting in the way of what he's calling us to right now. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:12.300 And so from this we must remember that absolutely we need to ask the question, is what I'm doing a sin? 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:18.240 But for the believer, that's about as low of a bar as we could ask. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:21.500 That's about as low of a thing as we could ask. 00:15:21.599 --> 00:15:30.620 The better question that we as believers should be asking ourselves is not whether it's a sin or not, but does it help me run? 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:36.379 Is what I'm doing getting in the way of me doing what God has called me to do? 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:40.500 No serious runner puts on extra weight before a race. 00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:46.659 You don't see any Olympian running an event in hiking boots and blue jeans. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.139 It doesn't happen. 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:57.200 No, they go out there in shorts that are so short that it would be kind of unacceptable to wear in any other situation other than a race. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:01.440 And they find as light of shoes as they could possibly find. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:07.060 And they take off as much as they possibly can so that they can run the race better. 00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:13.740 Let us as believers set aside anything that doesn't help us run. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:22.160 And so finally from this passage, we see that as believers, we must run with perseverance and focus. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:28.219 For this final consideration, we are told to run with endurance and focus. 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:34.339 The Christian life is a race and we are to run, but it's not a sprint. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:38.679 We are to run with endurance and keep our focus on Jesus. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.559 Listen to these words again. 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:42.259 And let us run with endurance. 00:16:42.259 --> 00:17:12.240 Here we are to run the race that God has called us to run. 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.980 How are we to run it? 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.539 With endurance. 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:24.680 By saying this, the author is very clear that he has in mind a marathon and not a sprint. 00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:30.200 What he is calling us to is a long obedience in the same direction. 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:35.000 The life of a Jesus follower is a lifetime of faithful endurance. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:39.900 But the author has also tells us how we can do this. 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:44.560 He says you do this by fixing your eyes on Jesus. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:52.040 One of the things that many track coaches will tell you is that you don't spend time looking behind you. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:52.840 You don't. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:57.500 If you're running a race and you start looking over your shoulder at everybody who's coming behind you, 00:17:57.780 --> 00:18:00.019 you are going to get chewed out by the track coach. 00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:04.519 You're going to get you because they want you to be laser focused on that finish line. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:07.579 Of finishing this race well. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:10.799 Looking forward to that finish line. 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:11.680 We run. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:14.279 As we run, we should be looking to Jesus. 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:17.660 And as we look at all the ways in which we run, 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:22.220 we recognize that we have a perfect example in Scripture to follow. 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:25.180 And the example is Jesus himself. 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:28.359 I want you to listen to something in verse 2 again. 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.839 It says this, 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:34.919 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:41.119 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:48.259 It wasn't until a few years ago that the weight of this verse really began to sink in for me. 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:53.759 I began to think about this verse and it really began to sink in. 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:55.179 And reading others, 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:59.820 You see, there's much joy in fulfilling what God had called Jesus to do. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:02.500 And being obedient to his Father. 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:06.620 But I think that this verse is implying us to go a little bit further. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.519 To go further with this, Charles Spurgeon notes. 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:09.940 He says, 00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:16.779 The joy that was set before Jesus was principally the joy of saving you and me. 00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:20.640 I know it was the joy of fulfilling the Father's will. 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:22.460 Of sitting down at the Father's throne. 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:24.320 Of being made perfect through suffering. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:28.980 But still I know that it was the grand motive of the Savior's suffering. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:31.839 The joy of saving us. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:38.359 You see, in John chapter 3, John says that God sent Jesus into the world to save us. 00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:46.179 And so what is the one thing that Jesus has on this side of the cross that he didn't have on that side of the cross? 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:48.539 Is it a perfect relationship with the Father? 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.559 No, he's had that forever. 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:56.039 What's the one thing that he has on this side of the cross that he didn't have on that side of the cross? 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.099 And it's a relationship with you and me. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:05.440 A way for us to come to him in faith and be saved and enter into that relationship. 00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:08.720 We are the reason he endured the cross. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:14.799 May we live with this perspective as we run the race that God has called us to run. 00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:21.900 But you see, the prize that Christians are focusing their lives on is not ultimately heaven. 00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:23.779 It's not heaven. 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:31.220 If we are truly Christians, if we belong to God by faith in Jesus, heaven is already ours. 00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:34.120 That's not something we're working to obtain. 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:41.379 If we are true believers, if we understand the gospel and someone asks you, are you going to heaven? 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:43.839 We don't say, I hope so. 00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:45.879 Or we'll see one day. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.539 Or I'm doing my best to get there. 00:20:48.939 --> 00:20:49.500 No. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:55.719 We understand that heaven is ours because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:59.279 Not anything that we are doing on our own. 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:09.279 But making sure that what we're to focus on, the prize that we're looking forward to, is the same prize that Jesus ran for. 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:12.559 We keep our focus on what Jesus was focused on. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:18.839 Making sure that our priority is telling a lost and dying world there is hope and that it is found in Jesus. 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:24.799 Our focus must be fixed on Jesus and telling a lost and dying world about him. 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:30.139 If we let that be our focus, then all of a sudden our lives began to be streamlined. 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:33.519 All of a sudden we began to run this race well. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:38.220 How many of you in here can remember when you first learned to drive a car? 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.159 Anybody in here? 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:41.659 For some of us it wasn't too long ago. 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:44.099 For others it may have been a long time ago. 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:48.659 But I can remember, I can distinctly remember learning to drive. 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:52.680 Now I may not be able to remember all the details as well as my parents. 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:56.980 They probably remember the traumatic side of it a little bit and all those details a little bit more. 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:59.720 But I can remember learning to drive a car. 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:06.299 And one of the things that I struggled with just for a little bit at the very beginning was being a little bit jerky with a car. 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:11.000 With being a little bit jerky with it, I was trying to, you know, to make sure it stayed in the lines. 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:16.420 And if you got motion sick, it probably wasn't a great thing to do to ride with me at the beginning. 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:22.360 But I can remember just trying to keep it in the lines and it just kind of felt like it was doing this. 00:22:22.679 --> 00:22:24.740 And I can remember my dad asking me a question. 00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:26.679 He says, what are you looking at? 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:33.199 And being probably a smart-aleck teenager, Catherine says, I probably still have a smart mouth. 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.919 But I have a little bit more of a filter now. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.219 I said something along the lines. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.219 I'm looking at the road. 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.559 What do you think I'm looking at? 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.259 I'm looking at the road. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:41.379 I'm trying to keep it in the... 00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:43.779 He says, but where are you looking in the road? 00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:46.379 I said, I'm looking right here in front of me. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:49.280 I'm looking at the road right in front of me trying to keep it. 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:53.360 And he says, stop looking at where you are and look at where you're going. 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:57.680 And then all of a sudden, the jerkiness stopped. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:00.400 All of a sudden, it wasn't like we were playing pinball anymore. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:02.080 All of a sudden, it got a lot smoother. 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:08.559 Because all of a sudden, we're looking forward to where we're going, not with where we are. 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:17.679 This is how, as believers, we are to get so focused on Jesus that those other things push aside. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:23.099 We're to be so focused on what God has called us to do that we're not distracted with those other things. 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:32.339 How often do we as believers get so focused on the world around us that all we're doing is reacting to the world around us and getting tossed around by it? 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:40.099 When what we really need to do is take our eyes off of this world and set our gaze, set our fix, set our eyes on Jesus. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:43.259 And let that become our focus. 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:47.259 Now, I'm not sure where everyone is in their walk with Christ today. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.919 I'm not sure where you are in that race that he set before us. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:54.140 Some of you may not have started that race yet. 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:58.080 You may be here today for the first time or maybe the thousandth time. 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.779 I don't know. 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:09.680 And you realize what you need to do today is stop trying to convince yourself that you're saved and start running the race and give your life to Jesus. 00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:13.960 And then and only then can we begin to run with endurance. 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:17.320 For others of us, we may be at different points in this race. 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:23.619 Some of us are just starting off in this race and some of us are much, much further along in this race. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:29.639 But no matter where we are in this race, we must continually throw off sin. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:35.159 But ask the more serious question is what I'm doing helping me run. 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:39.400 But you see, this isn't just a question that we should be asking ourselves. 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:43.980 It is a question that we must be constantly asking of the church. 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:48.160 Are the things we are focused on helping us run? 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:51.759 Are we shaping our church to run better? 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:55.240 Are we shaping our church to run for Christ, to look more like Christ? 00:24:55.340 --> 00:25:00.560 Are we trying to make it look more like ourselves and our preferences and our conveniences? 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:07.299 Are we living as a church in a way that's helping us run the race that God has called us to run? 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:10.099 Are the things we are focused on helping us run? 00:25:10.179 --> 00:25:12.099 Are they helping produce endurance? 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:16.700 Are we focused on getting the gospel to those that need to hear it? 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:23.899 Ultimately, the question that we must ask ourselves and us as a church is are we looking to Jesus? 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:29.619 Because then and only then are we able to run like God has called us to run. 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:33.039 Father, thank you so very much for your word. 00:25:33.179 --> 00:25:34.779 Thank you for what it teaches us. 00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:39.359 Lord, thank you for the ways that it calls us out to live our lives. 00:25:39.459 --> 00:25:41.659 Thank you for the examples that you give us. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:47.059 Those faithful believers that we can look to and understand that they've ran this race well. 00:25:47.719 --> 00:25:49.519 Help how they live their lives. 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:54.119 Be an encouragement to us to live our lives in a way that looks to you. 00:25:54.119 --> 00:26:01.799 And so, Lord, as we begin to think about how we live our lives, how we're running this race that you've called us to run, 00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:04.399 Lord, may we fix our eyes on you. 00:26:05.239 --> 00:26:07.199 Help us to run well. 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:11.459 And, Lord, I pray that there's someone here today that needs to get in the race, 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:14.479 that they need to begin that relationship with you, 00:26:14.679 --> 00:26:19.519 that you would give them the boldness and clarity to understand that they need the relationship with you 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:21.299 before they can begin to run. 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:27.079 And so, Lord, may we not try to convince ourselves that we're saved by our own actions, 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:31.680 but look to you, the founder and perfecter of our faith. 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:33.960 So, Lord, we thank you for Jesus. 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:36.919 We thank you that we can look to you for salvation, 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:41.279 and we can continue looking to you as we run this race. 00:26:41.659 --> 00:26:46.079 And so, Lord, give us the boldness, give us the strength to live for you. 00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:48.180 We ask all this in Jesus' name. 00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:48.720 Amen. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:50.839 I'm going to invite you to stand. 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:52.880 We're going to sing a song of invitation this morning. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:57.339 If the Lord is speaking to you, won't you respond as we stand together and sing? 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:27:27.480 Thank you.