Sermon Tone Analysis

TEXT:  Hebrews 12:1-3

TOPIC:  Focus on the Finish

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Center Point, Alabama

July 23, 2006

(Gratitude is given to Dr. James Merritt, one of my favorite preachers for the outline, and major portions of this sermon)

 

          Over the past several weeks, the Lord has burned in my heart the biblical text for this morning.

In preparing for the sermon I preached at Centercrest two Sundays ago, and also in my personal quiet time, the Lord has called my attention, my study to this morning’s text.

If you have a copy of God’s word please open to the 12th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 12.

I am reading the first three verses of this most glorious chapter of the word of God.

 

/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, 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.

/

Hebrews 12:1-3, NKJV

 

It was Mexico City 1968.

John Steven Akhwari of Tanzania had started the Olympic marathon with all the other runners hours before, but he finished it alone.

When he finally arrived at the stadium there were only

a few spectators remaining in the stands.

The winner of the marathon had crossed the finish line over an hour earlier.

It was getting dark; his right leg was bandaged and heavily bleeding.

He was obviously in great pain, but he crossed the finish line suffering from fatigue, leg cramps, dehydration and disorientation.

A reporter asked him why he didn't just quit.

He thought for a moment and said, "My country did not send me here to start the race; my country sent me here to finish it."

One thing you’ll find always in the life of the early Christians is the  seriousness and the earnestness by which they faced their assignment in life.

For example, the word here, and let us run the /agona/, translated “race.”

This is our English word “agony.”

Let us run this agony, this race.

Just to say the word is to see those men striving in the arena with all of the vigor and strength they possessed.

Running a race—the agony, the course that is set before us.

Sometimes they would liken the Christian life to a battle.

Sometimes to a fight.

Sometimes to a race.

But always focused on the finish.

How do we do the same?

How do we run the race to win?

*  I.

Lay Beside Whatever Weighs You Down, Hebrews 12:1a*

 /"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight..."/ 

 

Now the picture here is that of a coliseum where the great races were run back in Bible days.

There is a great crowd in the stands.

They're called "a cloud of witnesses."

Now the word "witnesses" does not mean "spectators" as though these are people watching us from heaven.

The word witness literally means "someone who bears witness to a truth."

Now who are these witnesses that the author is talking about?

Well he is talking about those runners who have already crossed the finish line and are now in Heaven waiting for us.

Specifically he is referring to all of those great heroes of the faith he talked about in Hebrews 11.

Our spiritual forefathers, who have run the same race that we are running now.

If you are going to run to win, you must lay aside every weight.

Nobody runs a race in an overcoat with a suitcase in both hands.

When you run a race you get as light as you can.

If you're going to be a winner in the race you are running, you've got to literally "lighten up."

I heard about a man that was trying to lose weight, and he went to a drug store and was weighing himself.

He turned to a buddy of his and said, "I'm so discouraged.

I started this diet the other day, but the scale says I am heavier than when I started."

He said, "Here, John, hold my jacket."

He weighed again and said, "I don't understand it.

It still says I'm heavier."

He said, "Here, John, hold my shoes."

He weighed again and said, "I can't believe it, I'm still heavier than when I got started."

Finally, he reached in his pocket and said, "Here, John, hold my twinkies."

Well, if you are going to win you have got to layaside every weight.

Now a weight is anything that keeps you from becoming everything that God would have you to be.

A weight can be something that, in and of itself, is harmless and a good thing.

But it can become a bad thing if it keeps you from the best thing.

For example:  Some people like to fish.

I heard about a man who said: "The reason 2~/3 of the earth is water, and 1~/3 is land is because the Lord expects us to fish about 2~/3 of the time."

Now there is nothing wrong with fishing, but if fishing keeps you from church, if fishing keeps you from spending time with your family, if fishing keeps you from doing what God wants you to do, and being what God wants you to be, it's a weight.

* II.

Leave Behind Whatever Tires You Out, Hebrews 12:1c*

/"lay aside the sin which so easily ensnares us..."/

 

          We are also to "/lay aside the sin which so easily ensnares us..."/ (12:1c) Now it is one thing to be slowed down, but it is disastrous to be either tripped up or tired out.

It's one thing to run with suitcases under each arm, but imagine running with chains around your ankles.

That is exactly what sin does to you.

First, sin trips you up.

The word for "ensnare" is a word that refers to a vine that wraps itself around a tree.

You see that is exactly what sin will do.

It will trip you

and make you fall flat on your face.

In the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, long distance runner Mary Decker was poised to win her first gold medal ever; and is probably the greatest female runner never to win a gold medal.

But just as she was about to pass the runner in front of her and take the lead and win the gold, she stepped on her heel and tripped and was forced out of the race.

I will never forget what Mary Decker said at the news conference.

She said, "I was right where I wanted to be in the race until I tripped."

You see Satan has a threefold strategy for you as you run your race.

First, he will try to tempt you to quit running or get off the track.

But if you

fall for his temptation, then he will trip you and make you fall flat on your face.

If you stay in that position he will trap you where you won't get up and

run anymore.

But there is something else to see about this sin here.

This sin does not refer just to wickedness, it refers to weariness.

That's why the author of Hebrews goes on to say in verse 3:  /"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

/ You see the greatest enemy to a marathon runner is fatigue.

Sin will not only trip you up, it will tire you out.

It will sap your spiritual strength and your spiritual energy.

*III**.

Look Beyond To The One Who Picks You Up, Hebrews 12:1b-2a*

/"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…."/

The author goes on to tell us, /"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."/

(12:1b) Now the word endurance literally means

determination.

You should run your race with determination.

You should run your race with endurance.