1 / 55

Finish the Race

Finish the Race. Hebrews 12:1-4. Proverbs 4:25-27 (NASB).

lily
Download Presentation

Finish the Race

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Finish the Race Hebrews 12:1-4

  2. Proverbs 4:25-27 (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. Our greatest motivation to keep our focus and finish the race of faith is the example of Jesus Christ!

  5. There is a “Race of God” We All Must Run. Heb 12:1 (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,

  6. “So Great a Cloud of Witnesses Surrounding Us”! • God’s faithful people from Old Testament times are “cheering us on” to win! (Hebrews 11). • Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, the prophets, and many others.

  7. The race is from God who has set the rules for the race (Heb. 12:1c).

  8. Many people are running the wrong way! Matt 7:13 (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.

  9. There is only one path that leads to eternal life in Heaven. Matt 7:14 (NASB) "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. – cf. John 14:6 Be on the RIGHT “Race Track”!

  10. We must run the race that God has given “in such a way” that we will win.

  11. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NASB) 24 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.25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

  12. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NASB) 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

  13. 2 Timothy 2:5 (NASB) And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

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

  15. What We Must Do to Finish the Race. • Lose weight

  16. Hebrews 12:1 (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,

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

  18. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (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.

  19. A poor spiritual condition or lack of service is due to toomuch “weight”!

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

  21. What We Must Do to Finish the Race. • Lose weight • Get rid of the sin

  22. Hebrews 12:1 (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

  23. What are sins that easily entangle you?

  24. “Unload” the Sin! • To unload the sin, a Christian must repent (Acts 8:22) and confess his sins (1 John 1:9). • Then come up a plan, with the Lord’s help and wisdom, to fight against that sin so you do not repeat it!

  25. What We Must Do to Finish the Race. • Run with endurance

  26. Hebrews 12:1 (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,

  27. “Run with Endurance” No matter how many times we stumble and fall in the race, we continue to run!

  28. Jeremiah 8:4 (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?

  29. Hebrews 10:36 (NASB) For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

  30. We run with endurance, focusing on the ultimate goal to one day be with God in Heaven. We seek to finish the race! We never give up!

  31. Finishing the Race is Possible Only if We Look to Jesus. • To run the race, the Christian must focus on Jesus at all times.

  32. Hebrews 12:1b-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.

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

  34. Don’t allow yourself to get distracted and take your eyes off of Jesus! • Competition or comparing yourself with others (Luke 9:46; 2 Cor. 10:12). • Fear or doubt (Mat. 14:30-31) • Earthly treasures (Mat. 6:19-21). • Self-centeredness/ selfishness (2 Tim. 3:1-4). • A multitude of worldly distractions (Rom 12:2; 1 Jn 2:15-16).

  35. Let us look unto Jesus, our perfect model runner who has finished the race!

  36. Hebrews 12:2 (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.

  37. Jesus is the supreme example of faith we look to and follow (1 Peter 2:21-23).

  38. Our faith must be in the “finisher” or “perfecter” of our faith.

  39. Hebrews 5:7-9 (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.

  40. Hebrews 12:2 (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.

  41. How did He do it? • He determined in his mind to fulfill the Father’s will (Mat 26:42; John 6:38). • He endured “for the joy set before him” - to be exalted to God’s right hand as Savior and King(Acts 2:25-35; 5:31).

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

  43. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (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.

  44. Jesus Gives Us the Strength and Courage to not Only Run, but Finish the Race! • Consider the endurance of Jesus!

  45. Hebrews 12:3 (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 19:30

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

  47. Hebrews 2:18 (NASB) For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aidof those who are tempted.

  48. Hebrews 4:15-16 (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.

  49. John 16:33 (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.

  50. Looking at Jesus will help to keep things in their proper perspective.

More Related