Running the Race: Endurance, Faithfulness, and Focus on Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Running with Endurance: Casting Off Hindrances

In the race of faith, each person is called to run with endurance, focusing on the unique path God has set before them. This journey requires the shedding of any burdens that slow progress, whether they are sinful or not. These hindrances can be subtle, often appearing as harmless distractions or commitments that divert attention from the ultimate goal. Trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal these burdens is essential, as is the courage to cast them aside. By doing so, believers can run their race with perseverance, free from the weights that entangle and hinder their spiritual growth. [12:21]

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 non-sinful burdens in your life might be hindering your spiritual progress, and how can you begin to cast them aside today?

Day 2: Quiet Faithfulness: The Power of Simple Discipleship

True impact in the Christian life often comes not from grand gestures or seeking recognition, but from living a life of quiet faithfulness. This involves focusing on making disciples through simple, consistent actions rather than striving for fame. The analogy of rabbits multiplying quietly illustrates how influence grows through faithful discipleship. By investing in the lives of those around us, believers can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond what is immediately visible. This approach emphasizes the importance of personal relationships and the power of multiplication through genuine, humble service. [21:24]

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (ESV): "And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."

Reflection: Who in your life can you invest in through simple, faithful discipleship, and what steps can you take this week to begin that journey?

Day 3: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: Trusting the Author and Perfecter

Fixing one's eyes on Jesus is crucial for maintaining focus and perseverance in the Christian journey. As the author and perfecter of faith, Jesus began a good work in each believer and promises to complete it. This assurance allows individuals to trust Him even when others let them down, knowing that He is able to keep them from stumbling. By keeping their gaze fixed on Jesus, believers are reminded of His presence, power, and promise to perfect the work He started in them. This focus provides strength and encouragement, enabling them to navigate life's challenges with confidence. [26:51]

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to refocus your gaze on Jesus, trusting Him to complete the work He has started in you?

Day 4: The Joy Set Before Him: Embracing Our Inheritance

Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, which includes believers as His inheritance. This profound truth should draw individuals closer to Him, knowing that He desires them and has gone to great lengths to bring them into His presence. Understanding this joy and inheritance can transform how believers view their relationship with Jesus, encouraging them to embrace the depth of His love and commitment. This perspective invites a deeper connection with Christ, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose in the Christian journey. [32:19]

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: How does knowing you are part of Jesus' inheritance change your perspective on your relationship with Him, and how can you embrace this truth more fully today?

Day 5: A Real Relationship: Tangible Connection with Jesus

A real and personal relationship with Jesus is as tangible as calling a loved one to one's side. As believers fix their eyes on Him, they are reminded of His presence, power, and promise to perfect the work He started in them. This relationship is not abstract or distant but is meant to be intimate and personal, providing comfort and guidance in daily life. By cultivating this connection, individuals can experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers, walking in the assurance of His love and faithfulness. [35:26]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus, making it as real and tangible as your closest human relationships?

Sermon Summary

Taking inspiration from Hebrews 12:1-2, we are reminded of the race set before each of us, a race that requires endurance and focus. The examples of faith from the past are not to glorify those individuals but to show us that it is possible to run our race with perseverance. God has marked out a unique path for each of us, and we are called to run it without being weighed down by unnecessary burdens or entangled by sin. These burdens may not be sinful in themselves, but they hinder our progress. We must trust the Holy Spirit to reveal what these are and have the courage to cast them aside.

The call is to live a life of quiet faithfulness, focusing on making disciples rather than seeking fame or recognition. The analogy of elephants and rabbits illustrates the power of multiplication through simple, faithful discipleship. While some may desire to create large, noticeable ministries, the true impact comes from each of us quietly and faithfully investing in the lives of those around us.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, is crucial. He began a good work in us and promises to complete it. This assurance allows us to trust Him even when others let us down. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, which includes us as His inheritance. This profound truth should draw us closer to Him, knowing that He desires us and has gone to great lengths to bring us into His presence.

In our journey, we must remember that Jesus is both the initiator and the finisher of our faith. He is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before God. Our relationship with Him should be real and personal, as tangible as calling a loved one to our side. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, we are reminded of His presence, power, and promise to perfect the work He started in us.

Key Takeaways

1. Run with Endurance: Each of us has a unique race marked out by God, requiring us to cast off anything that hinders our progress. This includes not only sin but also non-sinful burdens that slow us down. Trust the Holy Spirit to reveal these hindrances and have the courage to remove them. [12:21]
2. Quiet Faithfulness: True impact comes from living a life of quiet faithfulness, focusing on making disciples rather than seeking fame. Like rabbits multiplying quietly, our influence grows through simple, faithful discipleship. [21:24]
3. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. He began a good work in us and promises to complete it. This assurance allows us to trust Him even when others let us down, knowing He is able to keep us from stumbling. [26:51]
4. The Joy Set Before Him: Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, which includes us as His inheritance. This profound truth should draw us closer to Him, knowing that He desires us and has gone to great lengths to bring us into His presence. [32:19]
5. A Real Relationship: Our relationship with Jesus should be real and personal, as tangible as calling a loved one to our side. As we fix our eyes on Him, we are reminded of His presence, power, and promise to perfect the work He started in us. [35:26]
** [35:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:29] - The Race Set Before Us
[12:21] - Casting Off Burdens
[13:52] - Sin That Entangles
[15:12] - Hidden Compromises
[17:10] - Running Our Own Race
[18:38] - Quiet Faithfulness
[21:24] - Multiplication Through Discipleship
[23:08] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[26:51] - The Author and Perfecter
[31:21] - Claiming His Promise
[32:19] - The Joy Set Before Him
[35:26] - A Real Relationship
[38:03] - Enduring the Cross
[41:15] - Fixing Our Eyes on the Throne

Sermon Clips

"witnesses so let's lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let's run with endurance the race that is set before us okay you see other people did it there was a race that was set out for them humans they believed it they did it that's example to us that it's not anything else it's not to glorify them it's not so you go well I could never be like that the point is is they did it there was a race set out for them and they ran it and God is saying to you you specifically there's a race set out for you" [00:11:10]

"and it's a long one and you run it with endurance and you go I got this I don't care if everyone else Falls away what's I got to do with me I've got this list of examples I got these Witnesses they did it they were human and they believed and so God has a race for me and he says so you know what throw off every weight anything that's going to slow you down he's not talking about Sin here he says that in the next part he's just say that the the things that weigh you down is it's it's a picture of a runner" [00:12:02]

"you don't run with the water bottle you don't run with anything there's things in your life that are keeping you from running this race that are holding you down and and you just go well it's not sin no you're right it's not sin to swim with a bowling ball it's just dumb you know there there are things that we just like we hold on to and we go well it's not sin yeah but is it helping you run this race you know because he has this race marked out for you and the Bible says you got to you got to cast off these things that are going to keep you from running this race with endurance" [00:12:36]

"and I don't know what that is for each of you I'm going to trust I trust the Holy Spirit to tell you what those things are I don't need to tell you and the sin that so easily entangles again it's the picture of the runner and they would have these you know back then they don't have the track gear we have you know they'd have these sheets that they cover themselves up with but seriously you start running and the thing comes off and it's it's crazy he says you going to just get rid of it and so I mean back then this what I learned in seminary" [00:13:24]

"just we've got to have a generation and individuals that just go you know what I just want to live a quiet life work hard with my hands run the race that I was called to run rather than dreaming of I want to be the leader of this just be faithful with the people right in front of you just love them you know we have enough people going I want to change Orlando and now enough people saying I want to impact David i w to help Susan I want to just get into to their lives want them to know you Lord just quietly making disciples" [00:17:40]

"if we were all just about making disciples rather than making a name for ourselves or our Ministries you guys like elephants cool I was in uh India first time in India and we're driving down the road and the roads are crazy people are walking and people are on donkeys these people are in cars scooters and then an elephant comes up the road I'm like dang that's awesome why why am I the only one that is just staring like that's incredible they're they're they're cool I have a surprise for you no just kidding will you be excited we we love elephants" [00:18:38]

"do you know uh do you know how long it takes like if you have a male and female elephant and uh they have a baby you know how long that takes does anyone know they teach you that in seminary two years yeah two years pregnant for two years ladies think about that you know at 8 months when you're like oh get this out it's like oh you're third of the way you know know 2 years yeah okay let's talk about rabbits you know how long it takes for a rabbit to have a baby 30 days oh that's cool huh and they can have 12 at a time" [00:19:32]

"and they can get pregnant right after they just had a baby or 12 so in four years those two elephants could multiply into four elephants that's it four years if if those you know cuz a a rabbit can have a baby at 6 months old so those two rabbits in four years time do you know what mathematically it could how many rabbits there could be University of Miami actually did this study wow I know so you guys came up with it what four years well how many rabbits would there be 1.8 million 1.8 million from the two rabbits in four years" [00:20:12]

"that no one notices multiplies yeah right when I said that brother Yun goes woman jungle you know you don't know what we said because that's the underground Church right no famous people in the underground Church you can't be famous or you get taken out there's something beautiful about that you know and they multiply to Millions it's like how are there 100 million of them because they're not about birthing elephants you I'm just going to Le a quiet life I'm going to make disciples of everyone around me love the people that there in front of me" [00:21:58]

"cuz this is the race that's marked out for me and we run with perseverance this race fixing our eyes on Jesus because he's the author the author I love this phrase why do we stare at him because he's the author of our faith author of our faith he's the founder the author why do I believe in Jesus today because Jesus started something in my life I don't want to give credit to anyone else did God use people yeah he used people great but that that that'd be like if if Michael pulled out crazy love and goes ah when I wrote this book" [00:23:02]

"I'm like dude I wrote that book I'm the I'm the author of that don't go telling people you wrote it and what God's saying here is he goes I'm the author of your salvation I'm the one that started a process in you I chose you before the foundation of the world that you should be holy and blameless okay so this goes way back so yeah thank thank thank people yes you know honor them but but really I mean and I think I speak for JZ Michael if you want to honor us fix your eyes on Jesus you know I go wow the author of my faith" [00:24:02]

"you saw me when no one else saw me think about your life think about where you were why are you in this room right now why are you watching online why are you in love with him because there's this being in heaven who started something he started started it and so you come here today to thank him even now as I'm speaking Jesus is here thank him God you you started something in my life forgive me for giving too much credit to anyone else you knew knew me in my mother's womb you chose me before the foundation of the world you Jesus I don't want to talk about anyone else" [00:24:58]

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