Steps to finishing your race of faith Part 2/2

God has provided all the encouragement we need to succeed

The Race of Faith

Encouragement in our Race of Faith

The writer of Hebrews in 12:1 tells us that “… since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses …"  Have you ever wondered who this great cloud of witnesses might be? Sometimes people today assume, that this cloud are those who have died who we all know family, friends, and acquaintances, and they are watching us from above ... but this is not what the Bible tells us. The "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned here are actually those first introduced to us in Chapter 11 of Hebrews. The ones who have run the race before us, living lives of faith and dependence on God, until they crossed the promised finish line.  We might picture the scene that we toward the end of our marathon of life have entered the last few laps of the race and entered into the stadium for the grand finish. The life examples of these heroes of the faith cheer us on to complete our race of faith by giving us encouragement to finish.

Who are these heroes of faith in the Book of Hebrews Chapter 11?

Here are some examples.

Abel: First Martyr in the Bible. ...

Enoch: The Man Who Walked With God. ...

Noah: A Righteous Man. ...

Abraham: Father of the Jewish Nation. ...

Sarah: Mother of the Jewish Nation. ...

Isaac: Father of Esau and Jacob. ...

Jacob: Father of the 12 Tribes of Israel. ...

Joseph: Interpreter of Dreams.

Many others; see verses 30-40…

Every person named and some not named in Hebrews Chapter 11 give different examples of from their lives of faith by which they served and glorified God. Let us now consider why their names are recorded in the scripture. They were all fallible people just like you and me.

Because they all put their trust in God and watched Him do amazing things - in God’s eyes they are all champions Today, we all are running that same race of faith now, in whatever way God has called us to serve Him, so let us stay faithful as they stayed faithful! Amen

Jesus’ Race of Faith

Hebrews 12:2 looking* 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.

Run the race of faith like Jesus did! The scripture says Jesus went to the cross for you and for me, despite the shame and humiliation he chose to run His race, He kept His eyes on the prize.

“Why?”  verse 2 says, “for the joy set before Him” He saw the prize!

His prize - He completed His mission to save us sinners (you and me) and to accomplish the will of His Father, and He is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hallelujah!

Encouragement to stay the full course of our race of faith.

Profiting from our trials 

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

In James 1:2-4, we as followers of Jesus in the race are encouraged to stay the course: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

More encouragement to stay the full course of our race of faith.

Look to Jesus … and win the prize! Let us make Jesus our only prize, our aim, our life.   Colossians 1:18 says that He is to have first place in everything. We are to set our eyes on Jesus always - confident in the knowledge that there is no better trainer who could have prepared us, no better coach who could be cheering us on, and no better champion gone before us and waiting for us at the finish line to catch us, than Jesus himself!

Yet More encouragement to stay the full course of our race of faith.

 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

God always provides an escape hatch when we are tempted. Sometimes we need to ask the Lord ‘where is the escape hatch from this temptation’? So with the help of the Holy Spirit let us stand on this truth - God does not abandon us because we have weaknesses. He works through our weaknesses because He knows we are a work in progress. 

Learning Points for our race of faith

1. We are in a life-long race of faith which is a marathon. God has surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses whose lives are an example to us.

2. We must set aside all our hindrances, weights, and distractions –anything that takes our eyes off Jesus.

3. We must repent and forsake all sins that would hinder our race.

4. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times in the race until we run into his arms at the finish line.

Amen

Personal Prayer

Materials Consulted

Jacky Wilson: Blog Post ‘Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses' www.psalmonesermons.com

Derek Prince: Commentary of Hebrews 11 and 12 YouTube.

David Guzik: Hebrews 12:1-4. YouTube.

Alexander MacLaren: Weights and Sins (Hebrews 12:1) Blue Letter Bible Commentary.