Preached by: Sis. Michelle Lao
E-tab 1st Service
Mar. 26, 2017
Key Text : Hebrews 12:1-3 AMP
Jesus, the Example
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every UNNECESSARY WEIGHT AND THE SIN which so easily and cleverly ENTANGLES US, let us RUN WITH ENDURANCE and ACTIVE PERSISTENCE the race that is set before us, 2 [LOOKING AWAY FROM ALL THAT WILL DISTRACT US and] FOCUSING OUR EYES ON JESUS, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him ENDURED THE CROSS, [b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
3 Just consider and MEDITATE ON HIM who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.
INTRODUCTION
Many people fall in their Christian life for one reason: they quit, they drop out, they fail to stick with it. Simply put – IF WE FAIL TO ENDURE WE WILL FALL. The finish line of faith is a life that is “MORE CHRISTIAN” TODAY than yesterday. The goal is NOT PERFECTION, but PROGRESS.
It is sad seeing once ACTIVE Christians of this church not even attending church now. I heard of so many stories of how a brother or a sister got saved because of the persistence of a once active brother or sister. What made them stop doing things for God? What made them go back to the world? What made them backslide? I can’t help but ask.
Can you still remember who brought you to this church and who made repeated follow ups on you tirelessly knocking at your doors enduring all your excuses just what Bro. Mark did on Bro. Winston? After receiving your salvation did you pay it forward by bringing souls to the Kingdom of God? Or you just remained stagnant and content of what you have become.
To those who continued to run the race with endurance what made you stay on course?
Together with some leaders last January, we happened to talk about the old times. Some leaders fondly recalled the many times they were disciplined in this church during their youth and summoned to the SP’s office. While listening to them talk, I can’t help but be amazed by their endurance in sustaining one discipline after another and still remaining committed up to now. To be summoned to the SP’s office was not for the fainthearted and it was not a pleasant experience at all I gathered but they did not lose heart. After all that they have been through it was not the discipline but the loving purpose behind the discipline they remember. And we can see their examples now – Pastors and leaders who are steadfast in their faith with a trademark of humility and teachability.
This morning I would like to share a message entitled – ‘RUN AWAY … TO WIN!’
My aim is for us to identify the things that we should RUN AWAY FROM IN ORDER TO WIN THE RACE which are the following:
(1) We should run away from UNNECESSARY WEIGHT and ENTANGLING SINS
(2) We should run away from SELF- FOCUS in facing TESTINGS and TRIALS towards FIXING
OUR EYES ON JESUS AND PUTTING OUR FAITH IN HIM.
Jesus, being the perfect model for faith – never lose sight of where he was headed and He put up with His cross along the way. Just like Jesus, we should be champions of our faith too by not quitting when the going gets tough.
RUNNING AWAY TO WIN is OVERCOMING THE ENEMY, OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, PEOPLE AND OURSELVES WITH EYES ON JESUS!
WINNING here is CONTINUING THE RACE TO THE END regardless of unfavorable circumstances.
Even if we can’t understand what is going on in our lives, still WE STICK WITH OUR FAITH, CHOOSING TO RUN WITH ENDURANCE, TRUSTING GOD’S HEART.
The Christian life is not a stroll in the park but a L-O-N-G DISTANCE MARATHON complete with highs and lows, twists and turns. In marathons – STARTING STRONG IN THE RACE IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL ALSO FINISH STRONG.
If you are a strong runner at the start but you keep stopping because of UNNECESSARY WEIGHT OR ENTANGLING SINS – will you make it to the finish line?
If you are a strong runner at the start but midway you grew weary because of TESTINGS AND TRIALS -will you make it to the finish line?
WHAT IS ENDURANCE?
ENDURANCE comes from a compound Greek word: HUPO (UNDER) + MENO (to REMAIN). Literally, it means ENDURANCE UNDER PRESSURE, UNDER TESTINGS, UNDER TRIALS.
ENDURANCE is an inherent part of AUTHENTIC BELIEVING. INADEQUATE BELIEVING WITHDRAWS IN TIMES OF CONFUSION (John 6:66) but TRUE COMMITMENT ENDURES by LOOKING TO CHRIST for the resources of life (John 6:68) not turning to self, others and the world.
6John 6:66-68 New Living Translation (NLT)
66At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
Many Christians RETREAT from trials that’s why they never really grow and mature. We can only grow and mature if we SUBMIT to the trials of this life and continue to REMAIN ON COURSE even in the face of difficulty and not BACKSLIDE.
TRIALS are uncomfortable furnace but it will tell us at the end how GENUINE OUR FAITH is for when our faith has been tested and after it PASSED THE TEST, it produces ENDURANCE within us.
I will use RUNNING as an athletic imagery to show how it is to live the life of faith. The action of the inner man must be CONTINUOUS and SUSTAINED as when we run.
STAYING ON COURSE in the race God has set before us is NOT TURNING OR RETREATING from the way of faithfulness DESPITE ENCUMBRANCES OR TRIALS.
It matters little HOW LONG we have been on the track; it matters more HOW FAR we have progressed from the starting line. If you aren’t making progress what is holding you back? What is slowing your progress toward Christlikeness?
I. RUN AWAY FROM UNNECESSARY WEIGHT AND ENTANGLING SINS
Who are these huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith and what are their roles in the race that God has set before us?
Hebrews 12 begins with the word “THEREFORE.” The “therefore” of Hebrews 12:1 is a reference back to Hebrews 11, the great hall of fame of faith. The champions of Hebrews 11 have run the race victoriously though they were not perfect people.
The champions of yesterday testify to us today. NOAH is telling every drunk you can stop. ABRAHAM reminds every liar that you can tell the truth. SAMSON acknowledges that God’s power can enable you to win over your passion. RAHAB informs you that you can break the chains of promiscuity. MOSES reminds you that with God’s help you can control anger. GIDEON testifies that you can face your fears. And, DAVID beckons that you can overcome adultery and murder. Not only were these people NOT PERFECT, they weren’t even close to perfect. But they progressed toward the finish line of Christ-likeness.
THE WEIGHTS THAT SLOW US DOWN
Do you know that ancient Greek runners would actually run naked so as not to be hindered. Today Olympic athletes wear skimpy outfits made of technical fabric which is lightweight and designed to move moisture away from skin. Runners had to free themselves FROM WEIGHTS – in the form of clothing and even body moisture that might impede their ability to run.
Like the champions who have gone before us, we all carry “WEIGHTS” with us throughout life that tends to impede our spiritual progress. Is there a particular sin that seems to keep drawing you in? Or one that seems like you continually battle in your pursuit of godliness?
There is a need to STRIP OFF WEIGHT and SIN because they will SLOW US DOWN or cause us to STUMBLE -and we can’t certainly run the Christian race if we keep tripping over these sins.
A. The WEIGHT of OUTRIGHT SIN
Sometimes that weight is OUTRIGHT SIN – THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE WRONG BUT WE HAVE SIMPLY BEEN UNWILLING TO LET GO OF THEM. Outright sin entangles the feet so that the runner trips and falls, often repeatedly. How many people have you seen get TRIPPED up in their Christian walk over bitterness, LYING, envy, idolatry, and SEXUAL SINS?
Is your weight LYING? If you are struggling with tongue issues refer to Abraham. Abraham twice lied to a king by claiming his wife was his sister. He was a liar, but he overcame it. God says lose the extra weight.
B. The WEIGHT of BESETTING SIN
Sometimes that weight is BESETTING SIN – THINGS THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO GET RID OF, but THEY KEEP COMING BACK TIME AND AGAIN. MEMORIES OF PAST MISTAKES, and WRONGFUL HABITS THAT WE CAN’T BREAK are among the many besetting sins that encumber our advancement.
Is your weight your PAST? Have you committed something horrible for which you can’t forgive yourself and that the Devil says you are NOT QUALIFIED to run the race? What ghosts from yesterday are haunting you today, weighing you down, wearing you out? Refer to David for encouragement and take it to Jesus. Past mistakes are painful weights. God says lose the extra weight.
C. The WEIGHT of DISTRACTIONS
But sin is not the only thing that keeps us from being spiritual champions. Sometimes those weights are things that are NOT NECESSARILY SINFUL, BUT THEY ARE DISTRACTIONS THAT KEEP US FROM PROGRESSING SPIRITUALLY.
Is your weight watching too much TV, You tube, Facebook or are you excessively timid or weak in character that you can’t say no to things and people that could distract you? Have you experienced doing your devo and suddenly your phone made t-h-a-t sound – how do you react? Do you stop reading the bible and pick up your phone compulsively? Or sometimes just as you are about to start with your quiet time there is a deep compulsion to ‘just innocently check’ your Messenger, Viber or What’s App. And before you knew it you become “entangled” once again with all the buzz happening in your social network. These seemingly INNOCENT DISTRACTIONS weigh us down for they keep us from progressing spiritually. God says lose the extra weight.
Some Christians ask the wrong question by saying, “What’s wrong with this movie, or listening to this music, or participating in this activity?” The right question is, “DOES THIS HELP ME TO GROW IN GODLINESS?” If not, cast it off as DEAD WEIGHT.
APPLICATION
ACTIVE FIGHTERS
The story of Phinehas showed me that our REACTION TO SIN is dependent on HOW WE VIEW SIN. In order to STRIP OFF sin we should be ACTIVE FIGHTERS not PASSIVE OBSERVERS. Which one are we? Being just a mere soldier is NOT ENOUGH to win the war. We must ACTIVELY “fight the good fight of faith!” (1 Tim 6:12) with the heart of a strong warrior like Phinehas.
The ZEAL OF PHINEHAS
Numbers 25:6-9 The Message (MSG)
6-9 Just then, while everyone was weeping in penitence at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, an Israelite man, flaunting his behavior in front of Moses and the whole assembly, paraded a Midianite woman into his family tent. Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw what he was doing, grabbed his spear, and followed them into the tent. With one thrust he drove the spear through the two of them, the man of Israel and the woman, right through their private parts. That stopped the plague from continuing among the People of Israel. But 24,000 had already died.
While penitent Israelites were weeping before the door of the tabernacle, one lascivious Israelite named Zimri shamelessly brought a Midianite woman named Kozbi into his tent for the purpose of fornication. When Phinehas saw this HE QUICKLY SPRUNG INTO ACTION.
We should have the ZEAL OF PHINEHAS in addressing sin. Psalm 97:10 says, 10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! Phinehas did not love the devil but loved the Lord.
Sin has both EARTHLY and ETERNAL consequences. God delivers us from eternal consequences but HE DOES NOT PROMISE TO UNDO ALL OF SIN’S EARTHLY CONSEQUENCES.
We should HATE sin the same way God hates sin. Sometimes instead of hating sin we are even NICE TO SIN. What do I mean? Many times we cannot even say NOOOO to a BAD COMPANY RIGHT AWAY OR TO A COMPROMISING SITUATION for we are more concerned about appearing IMPOLITE . We get ENTANGLED because we can’t decide to be enemies with sin right at the start. I am with you we are taught to LOVE ALL but WE SHOULD NOT PARTAKE OF THEIR SINS.
Phinehas as an active fighter QUICKLY SPRUNG INTO ACTION at a time of licentious idolatry and sexual immorality. Phinehas DID NOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY. He received the blessing because HE STOOD UP and had the COURAGE TO INTERVENE.
Psalm 106 (NLT) 30 But Phinehas had the COURAGE TO INTERVENE, and the plague was stopped.
For his holy zeal he was commended and rewarded by the Lord in (Numbers 25:12-13 -NASB):
12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be for him and his [a]descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’”
In many circles today those who hate sin and MAKE A STAND against it is called judgmental or legalistic. Phinehas did not worry about what others thought. He was more concerned about what God thought.
Illustration: Dream About Snakes
Lesson from the Dream:
As RADICAL LOVERS OF JESUS we have to GO TO WAR IN FAITH if the situation calls for it. It was not actually the bolo that I had in my hand nor my superior strength but it is YIELDING TO THE POWER OF GOD in me that gave me victory over the enemy.
Knowing fully well that sin and evil surround us everyday how do we respond? Are we resolute in our stance to put an end to them? Do we possess the heart of a STRONG WARRIOR in defeating sin?
Let us once again remember the ZEAL and QUICK ACTION of Phinehas in fighting sin. We should CUT OFF SIN like a heartless warrior since it is either we destroy sin RIGHT AWAY or sin will eventually destroy us.
As ACTIVE FIGHTERS we should:
1. ACTIVELY REMOVE sins THAT WE KNOW ARE WRONG BUT WE HAVE SIMPLY BEEN UNWILLING TO LET GO.
2. ACTIVELY EVADE sins that we have tried to get rid of, but comes BACK TIME AND AGAIN.
3. ACTIVELY AVOID sins by staying away from every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). We are to recognize sin as something dangerous to the soul. We are not to linger in its presence like Lot in Sodom. We are to GET AS FAR AWAY FROM SIN and CUT IT OFF as QUICKLY as possible.
One thing we know from RUNNING is that it is an ACTIVE sport. To apply it to our topic today means that we should not just ACTIVELY DO THE WILL OF GOD but we should ACTIVELY REMOVE SIN and EVIL from our hearts, from our lives.
Whether we are aware or not, a CONTINUAL WARFARE is taking place in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:12).
12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
This fight that we are all in today is for keeps – A LIFE-OR-DEATH FIGHT TO THE FINISH AGAINST THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS ANGELS. Hence, we NEED to ENDURE in order to actively fight the enemy.
We have to constantly run away from a vice and race toward a virtue, run away from spiritual danger and run after spiritual good.
II. We should run away from SELF- FOCUS in facing TESTINGS and TRIALS towards FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS AND PUTTING OUR FAITH IN HIM.
WINNING means finishing the race, NOT QUITTING. It is not being number one but being CONSISTENT in MOVING forward. We run the race with endurance by staying on course, to the end – despite testings and trials.
What can make us go OFF TRACK or WEARY to run the race? What can hinder our progress and eventually prevent us from coming through the line victoriously? I gave two instances.
1. A WILDERNESS SITUATION
2. UNANSWERED PRAYERS
1. A WILDERNESS SITUATION
By “WILDERNESS” I am referring to a time of God’s testing’s and trials in my life.
Have you encountered a situation in life where you hit rock bottom? Where your expectations do not match reality? Where nobody can give you answers and all human life support fails? Where God seems to hide His face. Do you consider quitting as a believer of Christ in times like these? This season in our life is an example of a wilderness situation.
I remember being in a situation like this before and Pastor James Singh told me that I have to go inside this path BY MYSELF. It was a time in my walk with God when the road became narrow, wide enough for only ME AND GOD with NO POSSIBLE SHORTCUT.
My discipler ever since I started my journey as a Christian was Pastor Lily. So many times when I needed quick answers I just conveniently ran to her and Pastor Tohnee for guidance and direction. My faith as a young Christian was not first -hand but passed unto me since I draw it from the depth of Pastor Lily’s spiritual roots. I guess I always wanted the quicker way and I don’t want to dig deeper down into my relationship with Jesus. At some points, I believed that she prayed harder than I ever prayed for myself and believed harder for God’s promises to be realized in my life than I ever did believe for myself. So such was my dilemma when I was told by Pastor James that I had to walk through this wilderness situation ALONE WITH GOD and WITHOUT HUMAN ASSISTANCE.
A wilderness situation is a TRANSFORMATION CHAMBER they say where God will break off the old and make one new. But all I knew then was – it was where I felt most alone, abandoned, disoriented, inadequate and everything was out of control. It was a lonely place where my only certainty was in NOT KNOWING WHO I WAS and in NOT UNDERSTANDING THE THINGS HAPPENING AROUND ME. You just don’t know how frustrating this was for somebody like me with a background in Psychology and Social Sciences. Asking the questions, “Why, Why me, Why is this happening to me,” was pointless. It was not a time to ask questions nor of getting answers from God but a time to embrace my aloneness with God even if it was also a time when I felt abandoned by Him. Being together with Him yet feeling “alone” was the best way for me to describe it.
Looking back, I believe that the real test for me while cocooned in my wilderness situation was on whether or not I can ENDURE THE PROCESS. Can I continue to worship Him and enjoy His presence despite my present anger and hurt. Can I stay on course despite His silence and seemingly lack of intervention? Can I remain in the race when all I see is darkness? Will my tears cease to flow now when I sing my love songs to Him?
Though my manifest reality turned out DIFFERENTLY but still I believe that I got MORE! My wilderness experience taught me ENDURANCE AND HUMILITY. For it was when I was totally shaken and broken that I learned to ENDURE IN MY FAITH TOWARD GOD.
Perhaps, God wanted me to FOCUS ON HIM ALONE than on the answers. Perhaps, God wanted me to focus on Him more and forget about myself. Perhaps, God wanted me to STOP ASKING AND START TRUSTING.
Our sufferings may not be punishment but BATTLE SCARS that demonstrate our LOYALTY TO A LIFE OF FAITH that God wants us to fight to the end.
Do you remember the experience of Job? He lost his home, his fortune, his children, his health, and his reputation. All that he counted dear was taken away from him. When he finally hit the bottom, filled with anger and wishing that he were dead, he uttered these words of faith: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15 KJV). It’s as if he is saying to God, “You can take my life, but you can’t make me stop trust¬ing in you.” Yes, Job wasn’t too happy about what God had done to him but underneath his anger and searing pain was a bedrock faith in God.
It is saying,“I don’t understand this at all, but I’m hanging on to you, Lord, and I’m not going to let go.” Sometimes that’s the place to which God wants to bring us.
2. UNANSWERED PRAYERS
Of all the things that weigh us down, perhaps no burden is greater than the SILENCE OF GOD in the things that we pray for.
I remember one particular time when I felt that I really prayed, perhaps said all the right words and did what I was told to do, asked my brothers and sisters in Christ to join me in prayer, deeply believing that this time I have “sufficient” faith already, hence, God will give me what I asked for. After I prayed, I waited and waited and waited . . .
I confessed at one point I was like the older son in the Parable of the Lost Son. I believed that I was “MORE DESERVING” of God’s goodness because I felt that I was in my “best form” spiritually – but God has His ways. What I considered my best form was self made and must be undone. I have to grow in humility.
Talking about unanswered prayers should not make us lose faith in God or doubt the goodness of the Father but a way to test our REAL INTENTIONS for following God. Will we continue to draw near Him even if we feel that our prayers are NOT ANSWERED – according to how we want it answered?
I find no story of unanswered prayer that encourages me more than the account of Paul’s unanswered prayer in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9:
7“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these sur-passingly great revelations, there was given me a THORN IN MY FLESH, a messenger of Satan, to torment me” Paul prayed for God to REMOVE THE “THORN IN HIS FLESH.” In fact he prayed not once but THREE TIMES. And each time God said NO. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. In Paul’s case he kept on praying until God finally gave him an explanation. 9 Each time he said, “MY GRACE IS ALL YOU NEED. MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS.”
Removal of the thorn in his flesh was the answer Paul wanted from God but God answered DIFFERENTLY by giving him the grace to endure it instead.
God gave Paul WHAT HE NEEDED but not necessarily WHAT Paul WANTED.
It is true that unanswered prayer sometimes happens to the very best of Christians as the case here and when it happens it is humanly unexplainable.
But God has something far greater in store for us at such a time. He is drawing out of our faith a DEEPER RELIANCE AND TRUST IN HIM.
Sometimes our prayers are not answered because GOD CAN DO MORE THROUGH US by not answering our prayers than He can by answering them. Sometimes GOD’S NO IS BETTER THAN HIS YES.
When God says NO, we are forced to decide whether we will STILL TRUST GOD – WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF AN ANSWERED PRAYER to lean upon.
WE MAY NOT SEE IT YET NOT UNTIL THE WHOLE STORY UNFOLDS BUT GOD’S “NO” NOW IS THE BEST ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER.
How far are we willing to endure? Do we love God more than His gifts? Will we continue to run the race in the midst of our wilderness and valleys of unanswered prayers? How far we will go with God is determined by the DESIRE OF OUR HEARTS
(Psalms 37:4) – the desire to run the race with Him and win.
James 1:12 New Living Translation (NLT) 12 God BLESSES those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who love him.
BACKSLIDING
What then is the opposite of running to win? Backsliding is the opposite of running to win. Staying stagnant in your faith is also backsliding. The one thing you don’t want in your Christian walk is to go backwards spiritually.
FALLING INTO SIN and EXPERIENCING A WILDERNESS SITUATION can make us go OFF TRACK or WEARY to run the race. It can make our hearts cold. It can turn the once active believer to slip back and become unbelieving in his heart again. That is why we should be careful in GUARDING OUR HEARTS above all else for it DETERMINES THE COURSE OF OUR LIVES (Prov. 4:23). And be reminded that WHEN WE FALL, WE MUST LEARN TO GET UP AGAIN, and BEGIN ANEW: “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity (Prov 24:16).
III. FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS
Do you feel SINFUL AND INADEQUATE? LOOK TO JESUS. He is the gracious one for sinners who stumble. Do you feel WEARY AND DISCOURAGED from the trials of this life? LOOK TO JESUS. He is able to keep us from falling. He is the example of one who has run the race perfectly. Do you feel MISUNDERSTOOD AND ABANDONED by people? LOOK TO JESUS. He is the one who strengthens us for the race.
LOOK UPWARD, LOOK TO JESUS expresses a mental posture. He is to be our FOCUS as we run this race and we should ALLOW NOTHING TO DISTRACT us from following him.
WE RUN WITH ENDURANCE BY FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS.
A. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS REQUIRES TAKING OUR EYES OFF OF OURSELVES.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS is taking our EYES OFF OF OURSELVES and FOCUSING ON JESUS ALONE. When our eyes are focused on Him we will know that He has not forgotten us and we receive the goodness, peace and the love that God has for us because we are not sidetracked. The result is a life that is full of Christ, strong in purpose, abundant in love and powerful in faith.
B. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS REQUIRES TRUSTING ALL THAT HE IS FOR US.
We are taught to look away from all else but to “Jesus only’ for He is our entire sufficiency. Jesus longs for us to come to Him, He longs for us to rest in Him.
“Looking to Jesus” brings before us the HIGHEST EXAMPLE of a successful runner in the Christian race. When you are in trouble, ask, “What, in such a case, would my Master have done?”
C. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS MEANS TRUSTING HIM WHEN SINNERS WRONG US.
Jesus showed us the greatest example of endurance by faith through the most difficult trial ever -to leave heaven and take on the form of a servant and be obedient to His death on the cross as the substitute for our sins.
Let us not forget that Jesus is greater than all of the persecution, rejection, criticism, or anything worse that we might have to bear for His sake.
D. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS IS THE KEY TO NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.
It seems that there are many who are weary and “burn out” in their souls in the Christian marathon. The remedy is to fix our eyes on Jesus. The believer who does not keep looking with faith to Jesus will eventually collapse.
ILLUSTRATION
In my story earlier I told you about how Pastor James told me that this time it will just be God and I alone together in my wilderness situation. I remember we were in an organic farm in Passi then and he showed to me that Pastor Lily, Tohnee and himself can’t follow me anymore towards the row of calamansi plantation ahead of us intended to depict the start of my personal race with God.
This was a call to seriously ENTER THE RACE marked out for me alone and to RUN IT. TO PUT MY FAITH in Jesus, the perfect model for faith – so that He can reveal Himself to me. Jesus trusted his Father in His earthly race – FROM START TO FINISH -and I should trust Jesus the same way with mine.
When Pastor Ian Peters came last September 2016 he gave me this verse which is our key text today. At that time, I cannot understand what he meant by it but in the process of doing my sermon a download of answers came. God finally brought me to see beyond the pain and towards healing, from confusion then to clarity now.
The answers that I was looking for cannot be found in ME – in what I can or cannot have nor on what OTHERS can make out of my wilderness situation, nor on my CIRCUMSTANCES but it is simply, “EYES ON JESUS.” That I should keep Him always in sight and just to focus on His glory, His Majesty and His Holiness.
CONCLUSION
The invitation of the lifetime is before us – an invitation to run the race.
We can’t run the race if we have never entered it.
We enter by submitting to the hand of God who sets different courses for His children according to His purpose.
If we don’t put our faith in Jesus, we are not even in the race.
If we don’t put our faith in Jesus and run with endurance, we won’t get the PRIZE THAT AWAITS THOSE WHO LIVE BY FAITH and it is nothing less than the eternal joy in the loving presence of God Himself.
Let us all then ENTER THE RACE, LOOK BACK TO THE WITNESSES, LOOK FORWARD TO THE JOY and LOOK UP TO JESUS.
As we CONTINUE IN OUR RACE, we should RUN AWAY FROM UNNECESSARY WEIGHT and ENTANGLING SINS -as the weight of outright sins, the weight of besetting sins, the weight of distractions – and FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS and PUT OUR FAITH IN HIM when TESTINGS and TRIALS overwhelm us.
Our focus should and always remain grounded in faith that GOD IS IN CONTROL. Our focus should be on WHO CHRIST is in us – that He is our GOOD, GOOD FATHER and we run in the strength that God supplies.
This is fixing our eyes on Jesus! This is running free from anything that seeks to drain us of hope in Christ. This is running with endurance. This is running to win.
