Enduring Faith: Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Endurance Through Focus on Jesus

In the journey of faith, endurance is essential. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we find the strength to overcome discouragement and press toward our heavenly calling. Life's challenges can be overwhelming, but focusing on Jesus provides the perspective needed to persevere. Jesus, who began a good work in us, will continue it if we remain focused on Him. This focus allows us to see beyond our immediate struggles and trust in the greater plan that God has for us. [08:50]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "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, 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."

Reflection: What specific distractions are keeping you from focusing on Jesus today, and how can you intentionally redirect your attention to Him?

Day 2: Choosing Eternal Rewards Over Temporary Pleasures

Moses' choice to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy temporary pleasures teaches us to value eternal rewards over worldly gains. He understood that the reproach of Christ was greater than the treasures of Egypt, reminding us to weigh our choices in light of eternity. This perspective challenges us to consider the long-term impact of our decisions and to prioritize what truly matters in the eyes of God. By choosing the path of faith, we align ourselves with God's eternal purposes and find true fulfillment. [10:34]

Hebrews 11:24-26 (ESV): "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are tempted to choose temporary pleasure over eternal reward, and how can you shift your focus to align with God's eternal perspective?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Promises Amidst Challenges

The heroes of faith, like those who witnessed the fall of Jericho, inspire us to trust in God's promises despite being outnumbered by evil. With Jesus on our side, we can overcome any obstacle, seeing the world as "bread for us." This mindset encourages us to view challenges as opportunities for God to demonstrate His power and faithfulness. By trusting in His promises, we can face adversity with confidence, knowing that God is greater than any opposition we encounter. [12:57]

Joshua 6:20 (ESV): "So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city."

Reflection: What is a current challenge you are facing, and how can you actively trust in God's promises to see it as an opportunity for His glory?

Day 4: Shedding Excess Baggage for the Race of Faith

Running the race of faith requires shedding excess baggage. It's not about what is permissible, but what is beneficial for our spiritual journey. We must lay aside every weight and sin, running with patience and focusing on the eternal prize. This involves evaluating our lives to identify anything that hinders our spiritual growth and making intentional choices to remove those obstacles. By doing so, we can run with endurance and remain focused on the ultimate goal of our faith. [18:19]

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (ESV): "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."

Reflection: What is one "weight" or sin that is hindering your spiritual journey, and what steps can you take today to lay it aside?

Day 5: The Joy Set Before Us in Christ

Our race begins and ends with Jesus, who is with us throughout the journey. The joy set before us, like the joy that sustained Jesus through the cross, is the promise of eternal life with Him. As we run, we aim to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." This is the prize we strive for, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. By keeping this eternal perspective, we can endure the trials of life with hope and anticipation of the joy that awaits us. [20:50]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: How does the promise of eternal life with Jesus influence your daily decisions and attitudes, and what can you do today to keep this joy at the forefront of your mind?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, we are called to endure and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Life can be discouraging when we focus on the challenges around us, but by looking to Jesus, we find the strength to press toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Moses serves as a powerful example of faith, choosing to suffer affliction with God's people rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He understood that the reproach of Christ was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, reminding us to weigh our choices in light of eternity.

The heroes of faith, like those who witnessed the fall of Jericho's walls, inspire us to trust in God's promises. Despite being outnumbered by the world's evil, we are encouraged to see the world as "bread for us," knowing that with Jesus on our side, we can overcome any obstacle. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have run the race before us, and their victories encourage us to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders us.

Running the race of faith requires us to divest ourselves of excess baggage. It's not about what is permissible, but what is beneficial for our spiritual journey. We must run with patience, understanding that this is a marathon, not a sprint. The seed that falls on rocky soil or among thorns serves as a warning to pace ourselves and focus on the eternal prize.

Ultimately, our race begins and ends with Jesus. He is with us throughout the journey, ensuring our victory. The joy set before us, like the joy that sustained Jesus through the cross, is the promise of eternal life with Him. As we run, we aim to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." This is the prize we strive for, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Endurance in faith is crucial. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we find the strength to overcome discouragement and press toward our heavenly calling. Jesus, who began a good work in us, will continue it if we remain focused on Him. [08:50]
2. Moses' choice to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy temporary pleasures teaches us to value eternal rewards over worldly gains. The reproach of Christ is greater than the treasures of this world, and wise decisions are made by considering their eternal consequences. [10:34]
3. The heroes of faith, like those who witnessed the fall of Jericho, inspire us to trust in God's promises despite being outnumbered by evil. With Jesus on our side, we can overcome any obstacle, seeing the world as "bread for us." [12:57]
4. Running the race of faith requires shedding excess baggage. It's not about what is permissible, but what is beneficial for our spiritual journey. We must lay aside every weight and sin, running with patience and focusing on the eternal prize. [18:19]
5. Our race begins and ends with Jesus, who is with us throughout the journey. The joy set before us, like the joy that sustained Jesus through the cross, is the promise of eternal life with Him. We strive to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." [20:50]
** [20:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:31] - Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus
[09:10] - The Faith of Moses
[09:51] - Choosing Eternal Riches
[10:59] - Weighing Eternal Consequences
[11:23] - Heroes of Faith
[12:19] - Overcoming the World's Challenges
[13:17] - Running the Race
[14:06] - A Lesson from China
[15:22] - Shedding Excess Baggage
[16:32] - Running with Patience
[17:15] - What is Beneficial?
[18:38] - Pacing Yourself
[19:19] - The Seed and the Soil
[20:25] - The Joy Set Before Us
[21:06] - God's Purpose and Plan

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
Matthew 24:13 - "But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."
Hebrews 11:24-26 - "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward."

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Observation Questions:

What does Hebrews 12:1-2 suggest about the role of "witnesses" in our journey of faith?
How does the sermon describe Moses' choice between the pleasures of Egypt and the reproach of Christ? [09:31]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of "laying aside every weight and sin" in running the race of faith? [13:39]
How does the sermon illustrate the concept of endurance in the Christian faith using the example of athletes? [15:41]

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Interpretation Questions:

What might it mean to "fix our eyes on Jesus" in the context of daily life challenges? How does this focus help in enduring trials? [08:50]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the "reproach of Christ" is of greater value than worldly treasures? How can this perspective influence decision-making? [10:34]
How does the sermon use the story of the spies and the fall of Jericho to encourage believers facing overwhelming odds? [12:57]
What does the sermon imply about the importance of community and shared faith in running the race of faith? [16:51]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt discouraged in your faith journey. How might focusing on Jesus have changed your perspective during that time? [08:50]
Consider the choices you face daily. How can you prioritize eternal rewards over temporary pleasures, as Moses did? [09:31]
Identify any "weights" or distractions in your life that might be hindering your spiritual growth. What steps can you take to lay them aside this week? [18:19]
How can you cultivate endurance in your faith, especially when faced with long-term challenges? What practical steps can you take to "run with patience"? [18:38]
Think of a situation where you felt outnumbered or overwhelmed by challenges. How can the story of Jericho inspire you to trust in God's promises in similar situations? [12:57]
How can you engage with your faith community to find encouragement and strength in your spiritual race? What role does community play in your spiritual journey? [16:51]
Reflect on the joy set before Jesus that helped Him endure the cross. How can the promise of eternal life with Him motivate you in your current circumstances? [20:25]

Sermon Clips

"Jesus in Matthew said he that endures to the end shall be saved and the importance of enduring the importance of keeping our eye on the goal looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher oftentimes when we look around we can get very discouraged but if we keep our eyes on Jesus he's the one who has really put us in the race he's the author and the finisher and having begun a good work in us he will continue if we will just keep our eyes in him and press towards that mark towards that goal the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." [00:08:12]

"By faith Moses when he was come to years he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season he took the worst that God had to offer and that's the reproach that we as Christians often receive he compared it with the best that the world had to offer that is the pleasures of Egypt taking the worst that God had to offer putting it against the best the world had to offer he said hey God's offer is better." [00:09:13]

"It said for he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt and then he took into the whole equation the eternal consequences and fellows if you're wise you'll always weigh things in the light of eternity what is the eternal result or consequence of following Jesus Christ what is the eternal consequence of rejecting Jesus Christ and you are if you are wise you will always look at the eternal what is the profit on an eternal basis." [00:10:31]

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed for seven days and finally he gives just a summary there are too many men and too many deeds to read he itemized and so he said who through faith subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness obtained promises stopped the mouths of lions quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong waxed valiant in flood and fight and turned to flight the armies of the aliens women received their dead raised to life again." [00:11:19]

"We are faced with a great surge of evil in the world in which we live today and we are outnumbered greatly by the evil in the world and they have a bigger pocketbook than we have but yet as when the spies came back you know the ten said oh my we can't do it fellas the cities have walls that reach into heaven and every man is a giant we were like grasshoppers in there site and and they were so you know ready to just cave in and Joshua and Caleb said hey they're bred for us we can do it we can eat them up let's go for it." [00:12:11]

"And so as he looked or as we look at this passage it encourages us how to run the race we have a great cloud of witnesses who have run the race before us and we see the victories that they won but in order to be victorious we must he said lay aside every weight and sin which doth so easily beset us years ago I was invited to go to China to speak in some of the seminaries concerning evangelical Christianity in America and I invited Mike and skip to go with me and they were taking us around showing us the sights of China." [00:13:17]

"But you know when you are running a race you see the athletes as they line up at their blocks and they've stripped down they have the lightest shoes possible they want to lay aside every weight because they know that it can be a hindrance to their winning the race we need to know that there's a lot of excess baggage that we sometimes pick up that hinders us from running a good race and so we are exhorted here to lay aside every weight and sin which does so easily beset us that we might run with patience this race that is set before us." [00:15:34]

"If you have any hope of winning the race you must divest yourself of all excess baggage many times people say well as a Christian can I do this or can I do that and the question isn't really as a Christian can I do this Paul said all things are lawful for me but he said all things are not expedient in other words there are some things yes I can do them but they can slow me down they can impede my winning the race and so the encouragement is to lay aside every weight you might look at your life today are there weights in your life that are keeping you from your best for the Lord." [00:17:06]

"Run with patience you know this is not a sprint fellows it's a marathon and and so in a marathon you've learned to pace yourself so many people they start off very fast they they put everything into the first hundred yards like they were running a sprint and then they've given it all and they soon fall by the wayside there they're worn out but pace yourself lay aside every weight really consider the race that you're running and of course run to win the Bible talks about the seed that fell on the rocky soil that came up quick but it soon died and withered away." [00:18:28]

"As we run it says looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith as I look forward at the end of this race Jesus is standing waiting for me waiting for me to enter into his presence and when I do I want to hear him say good job Smith good race and enter into the joy of the Lord you know my whole walk began with Jesus it's going to end with Jesus but the glorious thing is he's there with me through the whole race and he's going to see me through the victory and that I can be sure." [00:19:25]

"The scripture ends who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross Oh what joy the Lord has set before us with him in heaven throughout eternity yes there are things that I must endure as a Christian but when I look at the rewards at the end they are nothing they're nothing to be compared with a wonderful reward when I stand before my lord to receive the crown of life having run the race that he is set before me God has a purpose God as a plan God has a race for each of you get into the race give it your best and may you win the glorious prize the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." [00:20:25]

"We've got to press on and seek to obtain that wonderful prize and what is the price being with the Lord in his kingdom forever at the end of the race here on earth having him say to us well done good and faithful servant you have been faithful in the few things now I'm gonna make you ruler over many things enter into the joy of the Lord and really that is my goal that is my desire that's in the the whole thing that keeps me running is the anticipation of one day standing before my Lord and receiving his commendation that I've got run a good race and entering in to the joy of the kingdom of God." [00:22:07]

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Enduring Faith: Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Endurance Through Focus on Jesus

Day 2: Choosing Eternal Rewards Over Temporary Pleasures

Day 3: Trusting in God's Promises Amidst Challenges

Day 4: Shedding Excess Baggage for the Race of Faith

Day 5: The Joy Set Before Us in Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Enduring Faith: Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

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