Running Life’s Spiritual Race with Endurance

Running with Focus

Hebrews 12:1-3

Theme Passage

Heb 10 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise

Run With FreedomRun With Freedom

Hebrews 12 Hebrews 12 1 … let us run with 1 … let us run with endurance the race that is set before endurance the race that is set before us, us,

Run With FreedomRun With Freedom

Hebrews 12 Hebrews 12 2 2 looking unto Jesuslooking unto Jesus, the , the author & finisher of our faith, who for author & finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the endured the cross, despising the shame, & has sat down at the right shame, & has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. hand of the throne of God.

Run With FreedomRun With Freedom

Hebrews 12 Hebrews 12 3 For consider Him who 3 For consider Him who enduredendured such hostility from sinners such hostility from sinners against Himself, against Himself, lest you become lest you become wearyweary & discouraged in your souls….. & discouraged in your souls…..

1) Focus gives us specific goals to encourage endurance

2 2 looking unto Jesuslooking unto Jesus, the , the author & finisher of our faith…author & finisher of our faith…

1) Focus gives us specific goals to encourage endurance

Worthwhile goals & the Worthwhile goals & the rewards that go with them, rewards that go with them, encourage endurance. Jesus encourage endurance. Jesus writes the script for our race & writes the script for our race & rewards us as we follow Him. rewards us as we follow Him.

Eph 2 Eph 2 10 For we are 10 For we are God's workmanship, God's workmanship, created in Christ created in Christ Jesus to do good Jesus to do good worksworks, which God , which God prepared in advance prepared in advance for us to do.for us to do. NIV NIV

To have endurance To have endurance we need to go we need to go with with the flowthe flow of God of God’’s s work in our life. work in our life. Working against God Working against God is one sure way of is one sure way of draining endurance draining endurance from your life.from your life.

Phil 1 Phil 1 6 And I am sure that 6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work God, who began the good work within you, within you, will continue his will continue his work until it is finally finishedwork until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.comes back again. NLT NLT

2 Corinthians 3 2 Corinthians 3 18 And all of us 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. … Lord. … NLTNLT

2 Corinthians 3 2 Corinthians 3 18 …And as the 18 …And as the Spirit of the Lord works within Spirit of the Lord works within usus, we become more & more like , we become more & more like him & him & reflect his glory even reflect his glory even moremore.. NLT NLT

Do I have goals that drive me Do I have goals that drive me to endure or is my strength to endure or is my strength fading because I donfading because I don’’t have t have

anything to aim at?anything to aim at?

2) Focus brings us 2) Focus brings us inspiration to strengthen inspiration to strengthen enduranceendurance

3 For 3 For consider Him consider Him who endured who endured such hostility from sinners such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you against Himself, lest you become weary & discouraged in become weary & discouraged in your souls…..your souls…..

2) Focus brings us 2) Focus brings us inspiration to strengthen inspiration to strengthen enduranceendurance

When running for the long haul, When running for the long haul, we need to find people, truths, we need to find people, truths, stories & visions that stimulate stories & visions that stimulate us to keep going. us to keep going.

Isaiah 40 Isaiah 40 28 Do you not know? Have 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. ends of the earth. He will not grow He will not grow tired or wearytired or weary, & his understanding , & his understanding no one can fathom. NIV no one can fathom. NIV

Isaiah 40 Isaiah 40 29 29 He gives strength to He gives strength to the wearythe weary & increases the power of & increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired & weary, & young men stumble & & weary, & young men stumble & fall; NIV fall; NIV

Isaiah 40 Isaiah 40 31 but those who 31 but those who hope in hope in the LORDthe LORD will renew their strength. will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run & they will run & not grow wearynot grow weary, they , they will walk & will walk & not be faintnot be faint. NIV . NIV

The great mystery isn't that people do The great mystery isn't that people do things badly but that they occasionally things badly but that they occasionally

do a few things well. The only thing that do a few things well. The only thing that is universal is incompetence. is universal is incompetence. Strength Strength

is always specific!is always specific! Nobody ever Nobody ever commented, for example, that a great commented, for example, that a great

violinist probably couldn't play the violinist probably couldn't play the trumpet very well. trumpet very well.

Peter Drucker

Focus…Focus…

Col 2 Col 2 7 Let your 7 Let your roots grow down roots grow down into him & draw up nourishment into him & draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, from him, so you will grow in faith, strong & vigorousstrong & vigorous in the truth you in the truth you were taught… were taught… NLTNLT

Focus…Focus…

Col 2 Col 2 7 …Let your lives overflow 7 …Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has with thanksgiving for all he has done. done. NLTNLT

Focus…Focus…

Col 2 Col 2 8 8 Don't let anyone lead you Don't let anyone lead you astray astray with empty philosophy & with empty philosophy & high-sounding nonsense that come high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking & from the evil from human thinking & from the evil powers of this world, & not from powers of this world, & not from Christ.Christ. NLT NLT

Running Life’s Spiritual Race with Endurance

Running with Focus

Hebrews 12:1-3