The Race of Faith
We are not on a race track with start and finish signs, rather we are on, The Race of Faith that many has gone on before us finishing well. If we were to look for a sign then the start is when you got saved and the finish will be when our Lord could say to you ‘well done, good and faithful servant’. Until then keep your eyes upon Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore 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,
2 looking 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.
Cloud of witnesses – a witness is a person who haves knowledge of an event or changes from personal observation or experience.
In every game they are spectator (pays to get in) and participates, (gets paid for they sacrifice)
Lay aside every weight, and the sin… that ensnares us. What is the enemy using to slow you down? And it might not be right from wrong.
What will happen if i was to look at sin like an opponent who is trying to steel my prize?
Your lane on the track is no different then the lane next to you.
Don’t be Like Peter (at that time) who walk on water until he took his eyes off of Jesus when the storm came.
We could fall in the race and still get back up and finish if we put our eyes upon Jesus again.
Jesus endured the cross, the shame etc. to be able to get to sit on the right hand of God.
Satan couldn’t steel away Jesus’s prize of the throne for himself he just didn’t want Jesus to have it.
Laying aside is a prerequisite of The Race of Faith.
What is your Key takeaway?
Our life matters!
John 14:12
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Our life matters when we believe what Jesus says about us not the world or self.
Romans 8:22-23 (NLT)
22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
As a believer we have the future promise of a new body, but wait theirs more.
The Holy Spirit as a foretaste – first fruit that God gave us a little of heaven now thru the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
All have borne the image of Adam made of dust.
All who trust in the last Adam will bear the image of the resurrected Jesus made of Spirit.
We go from a living being to a life-giving spirit.
How you minister to others does matter!
Our life matters! 2
John 14:12
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Our life matters when we believe what Jesus says about us not the world or self.
1 Corinthians 15:45
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
We go from a living being to a life-giving spirit.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us right now.
I eat so that my body could have strength.
I eat spiritual food so that my spirit man could have strength.
However, many do miss out on living the Christian life in the constant fullness of the Spirit because they are not constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit as Paul commanded in Ephesians 5:18. They have no experience of what Jesus spoke about when He described rivers of living water flowing from the believer (John 7:37-39) “David Guzik”
Romans 8:5-6
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
When I’m operating in the flesh i become a tool in the enemy’s hand.
When I’m operating in the Spirit i become a tool in Gods hand.
Where is your head at most of the time?
Key takeaway
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Our life matters! 3
1 Corinthians 15:45
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
We go from a living being to a life-giving spirit.
James 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
We have all sin and have come short of His will for us.
Wanders from the truth? Save a soul from death?
Gods Spirit in us, is more then able. YOU, could MAKE the difference.
1 Timothy 4:12-16
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Let no one despise your…………
In the light of eternity age is a spec of dust.
We are called to show the evidence of Christ for ourselves and others.
People are hearing and seeing your life, your salvation is not private.
Key takeaway