Run the Race

Run the Race

Hebrews 12:1-4

Runners work hard to build endurance and strength.  Some may lift weights, practice run, stretch, and lose weight.  Runners wear lightweight clothes and tennis shoes, so nothing weighs them down. 

As Christians if we are going to run the race that God has set before us, we must strip off the excess weight that slows us down.  This race is our life and the weight is the baggage that we pack around. 

·        We are too busy trying to run with debt weighing us down..

·        With addictions weighing us down.

·        With unforgiveness weighing us down.

·        We are running with family issues weighing us down.

·        With our friends weighing us down.

 Today is the day that we get rid of these weights and run the race!

 We can’t run with a bunch of baggage attached to us!

That baggage is going to weigh us down and keep us from reaching our godly potential.  Why? Because we are focused on the baggage instead of on God.  The scripture tells us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus! How do we expect to run this race if our eyes are focused on our mess!  It is time to strip it off and run the race!

Haven’t you seen people that have taken their eyes off God and put their focus on their problems?  They are tired all the time.  They have just thrown in the towel and gave up on the race. They are weighed down by the issue of life.  Examples: husbands acting a fool, kids in trouble or not acting right

 As Christians we must remember that the goal of the enemy is to destroy us!  He is going to start with the closest thing to you.  He is going to attack your mind.  It is all a mine thing addiction, worrying, low self esteem, and some times sickness.  It is all just a trick of the enemy.  Remember the devil does not want you to succeed.  His purpose is to slow you down by throwing everything at us. 

It is not by happenstance, my car broke down, that I locked my keys in the car, that I cut my tongue all in one day.  The enemy wants us to throw in the towel and refuse to finish the race.  

Never quit, have determination! 

In Philippians 3:14, Paul says “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize!”

We have to press our way! We have to press just like Paul in order to receive that prize which is our salvation.  

 Matthew 26:36-39

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”

 ³⁷ He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.

³⁸ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

We have to press our way the same as Jesus did for us in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus was knew he was going to die.  He filled with anguish and distress.  Ask yourself, “What Jesus threw in the towel on us?”  Forget it!  I’m not dying for them. Instead he picked up the towel and ran the race, and he died for our sins.  He was pierced in his side for our sins.  They put nails in his hands for our sins.  They put a crown of thorns on his head for our sins.  Jesus said, not my will but your will be done. 

One thing we need to realize is our father is here to help us run this race, just like you saw in the film.  It is time to give up on your will and let God’s will be done in your life.  There is no way to run the race without him. 

Let go of the weights in your life:

1.     Choose friends who are committed to the race, wrong friends take you off course. 

2.     Drop certain activities.

3.     Get help with addictions that weigh you down. 

4.     Get help today!!

Lastly today is a new day!  It is time to run the race!  Receive your prize of salvation!  Our God has many mansions in heaven and we will store up treasures that no man can steal or destroy! You just have to run the race!!