Winning the Great Christian Race
Rev. Andrew Hunt, III
Senior Pastor
Body of Christ Community Church
President, Community of ONE , CDC
ahunt57@sbcglobal.net
www.communityofoneindy.org
“ Winning the great Christian race”
Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith
Hebrews 12:1... "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
"So run that ye may obtain the prize" We should run the Christian race with sobriety, for our eternal life is at stake. Let others pursue for enjoyment what they will, but in our race everything vital is at stake. The eternal consequences of losing should motivate us to a greater effort than that put forth by those making sport.--Duane V. Maxey.
Recently I read a fable about a dog that loved to chase other animals. This dog bragged about his great running skill and said he could catch anything. Well, it wasn’t long until his boastful claims were put to the test by a certain rabbit. With ease the little creature outran his barking pursuer. The other animals, watching with glee, began to laugh. The dog excused himself, however, by saying, "You forget, I was only running for fun. He was running for his life!" That does make a difference! Motivation is the most important factor in everything we do.
The question for us today is are we running for fun or are we running for our life?
Motivation is the most important factor for each of us as we run this Christian race, running to win the reward of living for eternal with God. This alone should be our motivation, this alone should be a great inspiration for us, but this passage says that there is yet another inspiration for us.
What is that great inspiration for us? It’s this great cloud of witnesses.
This is the one of the stirring passages in Scripture, a passage that is written for the purpose of stirring us to run and to keep running in the Christian race and to run for life. What exactly is the Christian race?
Well the Christian race can be described in many ways.
· It is the race for heaven.
· It is the race for life, for both abundant and eternal life.
· It is the race to live with God forever.
· It is the race for perfection, through our sanctification, to become all that God has ordained us to become. To live with Him forever in a world where there is no suffering, corruption, evil, suffering, or death.
· It is the race for righteousness and justice—for a perfect world of godliness.
· It is the race for the promise land, the eternal land where we will live forever with God.
· It is the race to live in the new heavens and earth with God.
· It is the race to know God, to commune and fellowship with Him now and forever.
This is the great Christian race, the great goal toward which believers like you and I are running. We believe in God and in His great promise of living with Him forever and ever; we believe in God’s glorious promise of a new heavens and earth that shall be perfected eternally. We know that if they can endure, endure to the end, we shall be escorted into the very presence of God where we shall live with God forever and ever Amen. And from there, we shall await the glorious day of redemption, the day when the heavens and the earth shall all be remade and perfected forever. This is what we know as believers it is at the foundation of our faith. Believers know that God’s promise to Old Testament believers—the promise of the promise land—shall become a living reality. How do we as believers know this—know this beyond question? Because of the Promised Seed, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Promised Seed, the one who came to take away the sins of the world.
The Promised Seed has come, and He has died for all our sins and He has been raised from the dead and He is our justification. Therefore, we shall now live forever in the promised land of God’s glorious presence—live forever in heaven and His love and worship and service. The goal of the Christian race is such a wonderful a promise that we cold go on and on talking about. But the point of this present passage is that this race demands our attention; demands that we focus on the Christian race and do it right now because time is short and tomorrow is not promised. The great Christian race lies before us there is no way for us to get to our goal without going through life. We must be willing to run the race and we must be focus on winning the race.
There are five things that this passage has to offer us today, five things that will help run this race and win.
1. We need inspiration, from the great cloud of witness.
2. Jesus is our supreme example.
3. Running the race requires discipline.
4. How do we endure, keep our minds on Jesus.
5. Resist temptation- even to blood.
A Great Cloud of witnesses.
12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
We find inspiration for this race and it is found in the great cloud of witnesses. When we picture our whole life as race. Then the scene becomes that of a great coliseum filled to capacity with spectators, it becomes the RCA Dome filled to capacity with spectators (these are the great cloud of witnesses). The race is about to begin. But before it does the referee gives two quick exhortations; (1) get rid of all the excess weight and clinging entanglements and (2) run and keep on running—enduring to the end. As you run, remember one thing only, remember that you are running towards Jesus. Remember that Jesus formerly participated, and He participated for the joy of wining. He disciplined Himself, endured to the point of death. And because He did just that He received His reward.
If we endure, if we discipline ourselves, if we will participated with the joy of the Lord as our strength and the joy of winning in our heart we too will receive a reward for our Heavenly Father. The picture painted by the author of Hebrews shows there are two senses in which the crowd witnesses the great Christian race. The crowds, the heroes of chapter eleven, have all participated in this race before. They have run and finish the race themselves—enduring to the very end and winning. Therefore, they are witnesses and also examples for us. They are not only participants but they are also spectators. They actually have the privilege to witness our race and performance. They are vitally interested in how we run the race. The point is this: a great cloud of witness surrounds and envelops us—witnesses who believed God and stood fast for God—stood against all kinds of trials, stood against all kinds of temptations, stood against all kinds of opposition.
But because they believe God, because of their great faith, God gave them the endurance to stand and stand some more. This type of faith should inspire us to believe even the more and to endure in all things big and small. These witnesses never buckled or crumbled in their faith and their reward was godly successes.
They endured against temptation, doing, thinking, feeling, and saying anything that would hinder their running the race. They got rid of the weight, all the sins that weigh us down. They did not give in to temptation they endured in the faith. They endured against great trials—against great problems, against great trouble and suffering, against great loss and hunger, against great hunger and disease, against great abuse and persecution.
They endured against all opposition, from family, from friends, from fellow-workers, from civil leaders, from institutional religionists.
They endure against all by holding fast to their faith and letting go of all the weight.
As Christians it is required that we observe certain disciplines as we run this Christian race. These are twofold. First, we must lay aside every weight, and lay aside the sin that so easily traps us. The words lay aside are (apothemenoi) in the Greek and they mean to take off, strip off, and to remove as if you were taking off clothes.
The Christian runner is running for their life not just running for fun and they must strip off every weight. This means any excess weight and bulk of body. All serious athletes train and strain to remove all excess weight. This refers to things that may be legitimate and innocent in and of themselves, but they hinder the Christian runner. They hamper and slow them down instead of helping them run the race faster. What kind of things would these be? What are some legitimate and innocent things, things that do not help a believer to grow as a Christian?
What about seeking entertainment instead of fellowshipping and communing with God—instead of praying and reading our Bibles—instead of worshipping and witnessing? Recreation is sometimes needed, but the problem with most of us is that we relax and rest far more than we need to, and we neglect our fellowship and communion with God and our intercessory prayer for others. Too many of us do not even know how to spend long times keeping our minds upon God and community with Him. What about seeking the possessions and things of the world instead seeking God?
What about listening to music and other sounds that do not build up our spirits nor focus our minds upon the truth of God. What about watching films and television that failed to give us strength?
We could go on and on, but the thrust is edification, what is edification pastor. Edification is instruction or enlightenment, especially when it is morally or spiritually uplifting. Edification is that which builds you up, that which edifies you. Anything that does not build us up and makes us stronger is excess weight that slows us down. The Christian runner must do exactly what the Olympic runner does: strain to remove all excess weight. Do nothing—absolutely nothing—that hinders or hampers him from running at full speed. He must strip off all unnecessary weight.
Mt. 19:21-22 says
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Luke. 9:57-62
The Cost of Following Jesus
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus [1] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The Christian runner must strip off the sin, which so easily trips or beset them. The words “ easily besests” ( euperistaton) means the sin which, clings , distracts, entangles, and trips up the Christian runner. It is the picture of clothing flapping around a person while they are running; something that entangles them and will ultimately trip them and cause them to fall.
What is the sin that entangles you, what is the sin that will make you fall if you do not strip it off now? Various sins are common to all believers and we must watch out for them, but this passage speaks strongly to the particular sin that entangles and throws the believer. Each one of us has that kind of sin in our lives. Is it pleasure, or indulgence, or our tongue, is it the flesh, or pride, or the converting of possessions, worldly friends? What is it that consume far too much of our energy and keeps us from following God fully and wholly as we are called to do. We must strip it off right now or else it will entangle us and we will never finish the race.
Job 11:14 says
“14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.”
Isaiah 55:7 says
“7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
1Peter 2:11 says
“11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
We must run with patience (hupomone). The word means endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, constancy, and perseverance. This word patience is not passive is; it is active. It is not the spirit that sits back and puts up with trials of life, taking whatever may come. Rather it is the spirit that stands up and faces the trials of life, one that actively goes about conquering and overcoming them. When trials confront a believer who is truly justified, he is stirred to arise and face the order to teach him more and more patience. This is the endurance that comes from God for the Christian life.
The Christian runner must be determined; they must have true grit. They must be filled with steadfast endurance, letting nothing stop or hinder them, not any. . . Sin, distraction, lust, desire, enticement, luring invitation, appealing attraction, enticing chance, daring challenge, worldly potential.
James gives us an example to follow as he teaches in James 1:2-4 which says
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, [1] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
(2) Our example is Jesus
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
There is a supreme example of how to run and to win in this Christian race and that example is the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers who have trusted God and endured in their faith are great examples for us. We have seen this in the Great Hall of Faith in chapter eleven. And we see it in the example of believers all around us—believers who really live for Christ. But as great as these examples might be, there is only one supreme example that you and I should always follow. That is the example set and lived by Christ Jesus our Lord, we may and should learn from other examples of believers but all we really need to know and learn comes from Christ Jesus alone. We should always be looking to Jesus. The word “ looking” (aphorontes) in the Greek means to fix your eyes upon Jesus. It also means to fix not just you eyes on Jesus but to fix you mind on Jesus. So we as Christian runners, if we want to win this race must always have our eyes and minds focused on Jesus. Why is this pastor, because Jesus Christ Himself ran the race of faith when He was upon the earth and He shows us exactly how to run it! When we look at how Jesus ran and won the race we need to look at four things.
Running the race requires discipline.
1. Jesus Christ participated in the race Himself; He actually ran the race of faith. No one can run the race for you, you must be an active participant, Jesus will help you run this race but you must take the first step. Jesus did not only run the race of faith, He is the very Author and Finisher of faith. He is the Author because he authored, began, originated, created, and gave birth to the Christian race. He is the Finisher because He perfected, completed, and consummated the race. He ran the race to the finish and won.
The idea is that Jesus Christ ran the course of this life perfectly. He was sinless, perfectly righteous, always obeying God in everything. He ran the race of faith—of utter obedience and trust in God—all through His life upon earth. He finished His course living a perfect and righteous life upon earth. Therefore, He created and authored and completed the Christian race for all believers. He is the blazing example of faith in God—utter dependence and obedience and righteousness—for the believer. The believer is always to be looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith.
Peter says in 1Pt 2:21 this:
“21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
Jesus Christ had a great inspiration: the joy that was set before Him. What was that joy? The glorious day of redemption . . .
· the glorious day when He would be united and exalted with all believers of all ages.
· The glorious day when He would realize all the glory and joy for which He had died and for which God had purposed His death.
· The glorious day when the new heavens and earth would be recreated and all the redeemed would be worshipping and serving God as all in all.
· The glorious day when the salvation of all believers and all generations would be completely and perfectly be fulfilled, and He and those who loved Him would be ruling and reigning with Him forever and ever. There are many ways to express the joy that was set before Christ, but the thing to see is that it was the joy of redemption of God’s very purpose for the world—that stirred and motivated Christ to come to earth and author salvation for man. The glorious day of redemption should stir and motivate us as well. The brighter day that is coming one day. Christ our Lord is our supreme example in being stirred by the joy that lies before us. Jesus says in Luke 10:21 “ In that same hour he responded in the Holy Spirit and said, “ I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth that you have hidden, these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes Father, for such was your gracious will.”
2. Jesus Christ is the supreme example in discipline: He followed the rules of the race even to the point of dying in order to create the race. He obeyed God perfectly. He ignored and despised the shame of the cross in order to finish the race of perfect obedience to God. And because He was perfectly obedient, He has blazed the path of perfect righteousness, of the very faith that makes us acceptable to God. The Christian race exists today because Jesus Christ disciplined Himself; He obeyed God perfectly, even to the extent of dying for us. This He willingly did, and because He did, He is the supreme example for us. We should endure in believing and obeying God no matter the cost or price we have to pay, even if it means martyrdom. 1Peter 3:18 “ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
3. Jesus Christ is the supreme of receiving the reward of faith. He was exalted to the right hand of the throne of God. Believers witnessed His ascension and several believers have seen Him in visions and dreams since then. Because Jesus ran the perfect race of faith He was consider worthy of all things. Rev. 5:12 says this “ Saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” So pastor how do I endure to the end? How do I keep the faith and run this race to win? How do I keep from becoming faint-hearted during all the trials and temptations of life? Keep your eye on Jesus.
(4) Keeping eye and mind on Jesus.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
There is a controlling factor in life that keeps life balanced, a controlling factor that makes life livable, a controlling factor that can handle all the storms of live every time they arise. This controlling factor is Christ Jesus, and if you want to get through life you must live it through Jesus, you must keep your eyes and your mind on Jesus. You must consider Him who endured all sinners such hostility against himself. The word “consider” means to compare, reckon, count up, weight. Believers are to focus upon Jesus Christ and His sufferings and compare and weigh them against our sufferings. Christ endured so much more than we have had to endure. Let any orphan, widow, criminal, prostitute, slave, or any sufferer compare themselves with what Jesus when through.
· Mt: 1:18-19 tells us that Jesus was born to an unwed mother.
· Luke. 2:7 tells us that Jesus was born in a stable in the worst conditions.
· Luke. 2:24 tells us that Jesus was born to poor parents.
· Mt. 2:13 tell us that as a baby Jesus life was threatened.
· Mt. 2:13 tell us that because to the threat Jesus as a baby had to be moved around and hidden.
· Mt. 13:53-58 tells us that Jesus lost His earthy- father Joseph at a early age.
· Mt. 13:53-58 tell us that Jesus at a early age had to work to help support His mother, brothers, and sisters.
· Mk. 3:21 tell us that Jesus was once charged with being insane.
· Mk 3:31 tell us that Jesus’ own family opposed Him.
· Luke 4:28 tell us Jesus was rejected, hated, and opposed by the people He ministered to.
· Mk. 14:10-11 and 18 tell us that a close friend betrayed Jesus.
· Jn. 18:33 tell us that Jesus was tried before a high court and charged with treason.
· Jn. 19:16 tell us that Jesus was executed by crucifixion, the worst possible death.
When we compare our sufferings with the sufferings of Christ, this should keep us from becoming weary. This should keep us from becoming exhausted, tired, worn out, and hurt. This should keep us from becoming faint of heart and fainting in our minds, from becoming discouraged and disappointed.
(5) Resist temptation even to the point of shedding your blood.
“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
There is a great demand placed upon the life of a Christian as they run this Christian race. The demand is this: we are to be faithful and resist temptation even to the point of shedding our blood. This passage paints for us the picture of Jesus being in the Garden of Gethsemane and the ordeal that He faced there. Because Christ when through His Gethsemane moment He are able to face the ordeal on the cross. He struggled against the temptation to choose some other way other than the cross, but instead He endured for our sakes, for our redemption. He resisted temptation even to the point of shedding His blood. We too as Christians must have our Gethsemane moment in life, the moment in which we totally surrender to what God wants to do on our lives. Until we have that Gethsemane moment we will never taste all that life has to offer to us. Until we have that Gethsemane moment we can’t even imagine winning this Christian race, in fact until that moment we are not even in the Christian race.
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