Running The Race
Notes
Transcript
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.
Have you ever ran a race before in your life? How did it make you feel? Did you finish the race, or Quit, was there pain while running it, easy or difficult. I want you to think about the race you run and process how it went when you ran it, and why did you run that race?
We are going to be talking about how to run your race with God. We are going to be talking about the type of race that God has given to us to run. see as Christians we are given a a set of standards to running the race. We have been given the tips and tricks to win that race.
First we need to talk about the type of race before us.
Your Race
Your Race
The race that has been set before us is something that us young people tend to struggle with the most. When running our race we tend to use every excuse to step out of the race.
The race that was given to us is quite simple we are to keep the faith in Jesus Christ that he is our savior and trust in him that when we go to follow his command and make other disciples he will always be with us.
Often times though we find reasons why we can’t finish that race that we chose to run. Think about it when you ran that physical race there were many reasons that you could have quit such as
Your shoes are untied
you cant breathe
your muscles hurt
The list goes on and on there are many reason that could be made up to quit. see as christians we tens to do the same thing in our race with God.
Depression
Drugs
Alcohol
What our friends think
Our lives at home
My parents dont care about me
my family doesn’t love me
That is a list that could really never end. We as the younger generation face so much in the outside wourld that it makes our race so hard to finish when we run it.
It is how we chose to finish that race we cant lose the faith. When we maintain the race we are following what the passage in Hebrews is saying . there are many witnesses around us. but how we act when these things are going on in our lives shows others what we as Christians stand for.
When we keep the faith we see that there is a reward in the end when we finish that race.
Reward For Running
Reward For Running
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.
See Paul tells us what the prize is going to be when our race finally ends. we are going to receive a crown with Paul in the day of Judgement. God gives us rewards while we are running when we keep the faith. God gives us things in our lives that are blessing for keeping that faith.
Example: story about my life verse my sisters lives.
So the questions becomes Have you been running the race or have you strayed?
Have You Strayed?
Have You Strayed?
Often times we are Youth we don’t come to the altar because it is not really that important but now is the time to truly talk to God about getting back on the track to run this race.