NL_Part_1_-_I_CANT_GIVE_UP_NOW_by_PASTOR_EJ.pdf

Devotional

Day 1: You Belong to a Story Bigger Than Yourself

Throughout the journey of faith, it’s easy to feel isolated—like you’re running your race alone, unseen and unsupported. But Scripture reminds us that we are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses”—those who have gone before us, whose lives bear witness to God’s faithfulness in every season. Their stories, with all their struggles, doubts, and victories, are not just ancient history; they are living testimonies meant to encourage and strengthen us today.

When you feel weary or alone, remember that you are part of a much larger story. The faithfulness of God is not just a promise for you, but a reality proven across generations. The trials you face are not unique or insurmountable; others have walked similar paths and found God to be enough. Let their stories remind you that you are never truly alone, and that God’s presence and power are with you in every step of your race.

“Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:7,10 ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person from Scripture or your own life whose faith story encourages you? How can you let their example remind you of God’s faithfulness in your current season?

Day 2: Release What Hinders, Embrace What Heals

Endurance in the Christian life isn’t just about avoiding sin; it’s also about letting go of anything that weighs us down, even if it isn’t inherently wrong. Sometimes, the things that slow our progress are good things that have become distractions, unhealthy attachments, or burdens we were never meant to carry. God calls us to honest self-examination, to identify what is holding us back from running freely in His purpose.

Letting go requires courage and trust. It means believing that God’s path and pace are better than our own, and that He knows what is best for us in every season. As you lay aside every weight and sin, you make room for God’s healing and freedom. This is not about loss, but about gaining the ability to run with endurance and joy, unencumbered by what no longer serves your journey.

“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven.” (Lamentations 3:40-42 ESV)

Reflection: What is one habit, relationship, or commitment that may be weighing you down spiritually right now? What step can you take today to begin releasing it to God?

Day 3: Perseverance Means Getting Up, Not Never Falling

The Christian race is not about flawless performance, but about perseverance. Everyone stumbles, faces setbacks, and encounters moments of weakness. What matters is not that you never fall, but that you keep getting up, keep confessing, and keep moving forward. God’s grace is sufficient for every failure and every weakness; He is not looking for perfect runners, but for those who refuse to quit.

Faith is tested most in the difficult stretches—the hills, the mud, the moments when quitting seems easier than pressing on. In those times, remember that God’s strength is made perfect in your weakness. He delights in your willingness to keep going, to trust Him with your brokenness, and to rely on His grace for every step. Endurance is about faithfulness, not perfection.

“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16 ESV)

Reflection: Where have you recently stumbled or felt like giving up? How can you invite God’s grace into that area and take one step forward today?

Day 4: Fix Your Gaze on the Living, Reigning Jesus

Our faith is sustained not by our own effort, but by fixing our eyes on Jesus—the One who endured the cross, despised the shame, and now reigns in victory. When we focus on Him, our perspective shifts from our pain to His power, from our struggle to His sufficiency. Jesus is not just a figure from the past; He is alive, present, and actively interceding for us.

Looking to Jesus means letting His story define your own. The empty tomb and the occupied throne are your assurance that the outcome is already decided. In every season, let your heart be anchored in the reality of the resurrected Christ. His victory is your hope, His presence your strength, and His love your motivation to endure.

“But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’” (Acts 7:55-56 ESV)

Reflection: What would it look like for you to intentionally fix your eyes on Jesus today—in your thoughts, your prayers, and your decisions?

Day 5: Live and Run from the Victory Already Won

The work of Jesus is finished; He is seated at the right hand of God, signifying that the battle is already won. We do not run to earn God’s love or approval, but because we are already accepted and cherished. Our endurance is fueled by hope, not fear—by the knowledge that our Judge is also our Advocate, and our King is also our Brother.

Let your heart posture be one of trust and worship. Run not to be saved, but because you are saved. In every season, remember that you are running from a place of victory, not striving for it. Let this assurance free you to live with boldness, gratitude, and joy, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life are you still striving for approval or victory? How can you rest in the finished work of Jesus and let that truth shape your actions today?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon:**

In this sermon, “I Can’t Give Up Now,” we explored Hebrews 12:1-2 and the call to run the race of faith with endurance. Using the analogy of cross-country running, I shared how the Christian journey is not a sprint but a long-distance race, filled with hills, mud, and unexpected turns. We are reminded that we are not alone—surrounded by a cloud of witnesses whose stories testify to God’s faithfulness. The message challenged us to lay aside every weight and sin that slows us down, and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and now sits at the right hand of God, having completed the work of salvation. Our hope, strength, and motivation to endure come from looking to the resurrected Christ, who has already won the victory for us.

**K

Key Takeaways

1. You Are Not Running Alone: The “cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12 are not passive spectators, but living testimonies—stories of faith that remind us God has carried others through before us. Their journeys, with all their struggles and triumphs, are meant to encourage us that our trials are not unique or insurmountable. When you feel isolated in your struggle, remember that you are part of a much larger story, and God’s faithfulness is proven across generations.
2. Letting Go Is Essential for Endurance: The text distinguishes between “weight” and “sin”—not everything that slows us down is inherently evil, but anything that hinders our progress in Christ must be laid aside. Sometimes, it’s relationships, habits, or even good things that are not God’s best for us in this season. True spiritual growth requires honest self-examination and the courage to release what God has not called us to carry, trusting that His pace and path are better than our own.
3. Endurance Is Not About Perfection, But Perseverance: The Christian race is not won by those who never stumble, but by those who refuse to quit. Faith is tested in the hills and the mud, not on the easy stretches. God is not looking for flawless runners, but for those who keep getting up, keep confessing, and keep moving forward—knowing that His grace is sufficient for every fall and every weakness.
4. Fix Your Eyes on the Resurrected Jesus: Our faith is not sustained by our own effort, but by looking to Jesus—the founder and perfecter of our faith. He endured the cross, despised the shame, and now reigns in victory. When we focus on Him—not just as a historical figure, but as the living, reigning King—our perspective shifts from our pain to His power, from our struggle to His sufficiency. The empty tomb and the occupied throne are our assurance that the outcome is already decided.
5. Run From Victory, Not For It: Jesus’ work is finished; He is seated at the right hand of God, signifying that the battle is already won. We do not run to earn salvation or approval, but because we are already accepted and loved. Our endurance is fueled by hope, not fear—by the knowledge that our Judge is also our Advocate, and our King is also our Brother. In every season, let your heart posture be one of trust and worship, running not to be saved, but because you are saved.

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: “I Can’t Give Up Now”**

---

### Bible Reading

**Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)**
> 1. 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,
> 2. 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.

---

### Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 12:1, what are the two things we are told to lay aside before running the race of faith?
In the passage, who makes up the “cloud of witnesses,” and what is their role in our journey?
What does the text say Jesus did “for the joy set before him”?
Where is Jesus now, according to verse 2, and what does that signify?

---

### Interpretation Questions

The “cloud of witnesses” is described as more than just spectators. What does it mean for their stories to “testify” to us, and how might that encourage someone who feels alone in their struggle?
The sermon points out that “weight” and “sin” are not always the same. Why might it be important to recognize the difference, and how can “good” things sometimes hold us back spiritually?
The passage says to “run with endurance.” According to the sermon, what does endurance look like in the Christian life, especially when we stumble or feel weak?
The text calls us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” How does focusing on the resurrected and reigning Jesus change our perspective on our struggles and the race we are running?

---

### Application Questions

The sermon says, “You are not running alone.” When have you felt isolated in your faith journey? How could remembering the stories of other believers—both in the Bible and in your life—help you keep going?
Think about the “weights” in your life that may not be sinful but are slowing you down spiritually. Is there a relationship, habit, or commitment that you sense God is asking you to lay aside in this season? What would it look like to trust God with that?
The message challenges us to let go of both “weight” and “sin.” Are there hidden or private sins you need to confess and release? What step could you take this week to bring that into the light and seek God’s forgiveness?
The sermon says endurance is not about perfection, but perseverance. Can you share a time when you stumbled in your faith but chose to get back up and keep going? What helped you not to quit?
Fixing our eyes on Jesus means focusing on His finished work and victory. When you are tempted to give up, what practical things can you do to shift your focus from your pain to His power? (For example: worship, prayer, reading resurrection passages, talking to a mentor, etc.)
The sermon reminds us that we “run from victory, not for it.” How does knowing that Jesus has already won the victory for you change the way you approach your daily struggles or spiritual battles?
The message ends with a call to run with a heart of trust and worship. What is one way you can intentionally express trust and worship to God this week, even if your circumstances are hard?

---

**Closing Prayer Suggestion:**
Ask God for the courage to lay aside every weight and sin, the strength to endure, and the faith to keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Pray for one another to run the race with hope, knowing you are not alone and that Christ has already won the victory.

Sermon Quotes

The Christian life is not a sprint but a long-distance run. It takes you through hills, mud, unexpected turns, and rough terrain. You can’t just rely on speed—you need endurance, a steady pace, and the will to keep going even when your body says stop.

God has set a race before each of us, and it’s filled with obstacles, trials, and stretches where we feel like giving up. But just like cross country runners, when the hills get steep and the race feels longer than your strength—don’t quit. Hold on and endure!

There are things in life that may not be evil, but they hinder our progress in Christ. Sometimes, it’s not about what’s sinful, but about what’s simply not God. Let go of what slows you down so you can run your race with focus.

You are not alone in this race. We’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses—those who have run before us and whose stories testify that endurance is possible and victory is certain. If they can make it, so can you.

Faith isn’t something you produce by yourself. The faith you carry is a gift from God Himself. When you’re going through trials, hold on to the faith He has given you—because faith is a divine persuasion given by God.

Jesus is not just the founder of your faith—He’s the finisher. Your faith begins with Jesus, is perfected in Jesus, and ends with Jesus. When you finally see Him, faith will go into retirement because you’ll know He is real.

When you look to Jesus, don’t just see the cross—see the empty tomb. We worship not only because He died, but because He rose again. His victory over death and sin is the reason we can keep going, no matter how tough the race gets.

Sometimes, the things that weigh us down aren’t obvious sins, but relationships, jobs, or habits that keep us from growing in Christ. God wants us to let go of anything that hinders our progress, so we can move forward in faith.

The posture of our Savior matters—Jesus is seated on the throne because His work is finished. He’s not scrambling to win the battle; He already has. So we run with hope, knowing we are more than conquerors through the Victor.

As we run this race of faith, let’s remember: Jesus is the finish line, the reward, and the reason we keep going. Don’t give up now—keep your eyes fixed on Him, not on the pain or the trials, but on the Resurrected King.

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Give me some sermon illustration ideas

Create a fill-in-the-blank worksheet

Sermon structure and transition feedback

Sermon application ideas

NL_Part_1_-_I_CANT_GIVE_UP_NOW_by_PASTOR_EJ.pdf

Devotional

Day 1: You Belong to a Story Bigger Than Yourself

Day 2: Release What Hinders, Embrace What Heals

Day 3: Perseverance Means Getting Up, Not Never Falling

Day 4: Fix Your Gaze on the Living, Reigning Jesus

Day 5: Live and Run from the Victory Already Won

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Quotes

Chatbot

NL_Part_1_-_I_CANT_GIVE_UP_NOW_by_PASTOR_EJ.pdf

Share