What Really Counts?

What Really Counts?

What Really Counts? “It is good to speak of God today.” Thank You for coming and worshiping.

What Really Counts? Does God want us to just show up for the “race”?

What Really Counts? He wants us to “run” Hebrews 12:1(NKJV) 1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise thechastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

What Really Counts? He wants us to “run” 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

What Really Counts? He wants us to “run” 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

What Really Counts? He wants us to “run” 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. 18For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20(For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

What Really Counts? He wants us to “run” 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,

What Really Counts? He wants us to “run” 26whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more Ishakenot only the earth, but also heaven.” 27Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29For our God is a consuming fire.

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1 • We should not carry extra weight around for our race

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1 • We should not carry extra weight around for our race • Our race should be for the long haul – 1

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1 • We should not carry extra weight around for our race • Our race should be for the long haul – 1 • Jesus is our owner, trainer, manager, and example for our race – 2-3

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1 • We should not carry extra weight around for our race • Our race should be for the long haul – 1 • Jesus is our owner, trainer, manager, and example for our race – 2-3 • The lord wants us to resist sin in our lives – 4

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1 • We should not carry extra weight around for our race • Our race should be for the long haul – 1 • Jesus is our owner, trainer, manager, and example for our race – 2-3 • The lord wants us to resist sin in our lives – 4 • He will encourage and chasten us along the way, just stay with it – 5-13

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1 • We should not carry extra weight around for our race • Our race should be for the long haul – 1 • Jesus is our owner, trainer, manager, and example for our race – 2-3 • The lord wants us to resist sin in our lives – 4 • He will encourage and chasten us along the way, just stay with it – 5-13 • His chastening is right – 5-13

What Really Counts? • He wants us to “run” • God’s witness is there for us to know - 1 • We should not carry extra weight around for our race • Our race should be for the long haul – 1 • Jesus is our owner, trainer, manager, and example for our race – 2-3 • The lord wants us to resist sin in our lives – 4 • He will encourage and chasten us along the way, just stay with it – 5-13 • His chastening is right – 5-13 • Train well, run better – 12-29

What Really Counts? He wants us to WIN 1 Corinthians 9:24-27(NKJV) 24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.25And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.26Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

What Really Counts? • He wants us to WIN • We need to run – 24

What Really Counts? • He wants us to WIN • We need to run – 24 • We need to see the goal – 24

What Really Counts? • He wants us to WIN • We need to run – 24 • We need to see the goal – 24 • We need to run well – 24-27

What Really Counts? • He wants us to WIN • We need to run – 24 • We need to see the goal – 24 • We need to run well – 24-27 • We need to see the better crown – 25

What Really Counts? • He wants us to WIN • We need to run – 24 • We need to see the goal – 24 • We need to run well – 24-27 • We need to see the better crown – 25 • We need to do our best for Him and ourselves – 25

What Really Counts? • He wants us to WIN • We need to run – 24 • We need to see the goal – 24 • We need to run well – 24-27 • We need to see the better crown – 25 • We need to do our best for Him and ourselves – 25 • We need to envision the end, not present problems -25

What Really Counts? • He wants us to WIN • We need to run – 24 • We need to see the goal – 24 • We need to run well – 24-27 • We need to see the better crown – 25 • We need to do our best for Him and ourselves – 25 • We need to envision the end, not present problems -25 • We need to defeat sin in our lives- 27

What Really Counts? RUN with Christ Galatians 5:4-26(NKJV) 4You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. 7You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

What Really Counts? RUN with Christ 11And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! 13For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! 16I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

What Really Counts? RUN with Christ 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

What Really Counts? RUN with Christ 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6 • Running for Him can be set off course – 6-10

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6 • Running for Him can be set off course – 6-10 • When we get off course we serve not each other – 13-15

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6 • Running for Him can be set off course – 6-10 • When we get off course we serve not each other – 13-15 • When we serve well we run well – 15-17

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6 • Running for Him can be set off course – 6-10 • When we get off course we serve not each other – 13-15 • When we serve well we run well – 15-17 • When we run well we serve well – 14-18

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6 • Running for Him can be set off course – 6-10 • When we get off course we serve not each other – 13-15 • When we serve well we run well – 15-17 • When we run well we serve well – 14-18 • When we don’t run it shows – 19-21

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6 • Running for Him can be set off course – 6-10 • When we get off course we serve not each other – 13-15 • When we serve well we run well – 15-17 • When we run well we serve well – 14-18 • When we don’t run it shows – 19-21 • When we do run it shows – 22-26

What Really Counts? • RUN with Christ • Running for Him is more than a set of rules – 4-6 • Running for Him can be set off course – 6-10 • When we get off course we serve not each other – 13-15 • When we serve well we run well – 15-17 • When we run well we serve well – 14-18 • When we don’t run it shows – 19-21 • When we do run it shows – 22-26 • When we do run for Him, His Spirit grows – 24-26

What Really Counts? Finish the race (for Him) 2 Timothy 4:1-8(KJV) 1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

What Really Counts? Finish the race (for Him) 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

What Really Counts? • Finish the race (for Him) • Run the race He wants you to run – 1

What Really Counts? • Finish the race (for Him) • Run the race He wants you to run – 1 • Run the race before the Final Judge – 1

What Really Counts? • Finish the race (for Him) • Run the race He wants you to run – 1 • Run the race before the Final Judge – 1 • Read the rules and share them with others – 2

What Really Counts? • Finish the race (for Him) • Run the race He wants you to run – 1 • Run the race before the Final Judge – 1 • Read the rules and share them with others – 2 • Obey the rules even when they don’t – 2-5

What Really Counts? • Finish the race (for Him) • Run the race He wants you to run – 1 • Run the race before the Final Judge – 1 • Read the rules and share them with others – 2 • Obey the rules even when they don’t – 2-5 • Run the race, finish the course, keep the faith – 7

What Really Counts? • Finish the race (for Him) • Run the race He wants you to run – 1 • Run the race before the Final Judge – 1 • Read the rules and share them with others – 2 • Obey the rules even when they don’t – 2-5 • Run the race, finish the course, keep the faith – 7 • Get the crown – 8

What Really Counts? • Finish the race (for Him) • Run the race He wants you to run – 1 • Run the race before the Final Judge – 1 • Read the rules and share them with others – 2 • Obey the rules even when they don’t – 2-5 • Run the race, finish the course, keep the faith – 7 • Get the crown – 8 • Rejoice forever with the Lord the righteous judge - 8

What Really Counts? We need to understand what really counts in life is not always what we own Matthew 6:19-24(KJV) 19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

What Really Counts? We need to understand what really counts in life is not always what we own 24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

What Really Counts? What really does count in life?

What Really Counts?