Run, Dont Walk! | Hebrews 12:1,2 | Al Pittman

amen amen amen praise the Lord it's so good to be back and we have my wife and I we had wonderful time away but so always good to come home amen if you have your Bibles open to Hebrews chapter 12 we're going to some of your asking what about Revelation we're gonna start our study again in Revelation next weekend but today I just want to share a message with you that the Lord is laid upon my heart so welcome to all of you especially those who are watching online and those over at Creekside our Creekside campus god bless each and every one of you turn to Hebrews chapter 12 I'm gonna be read in our text today it's just a couple of verses verses 1 and 2 and Paul the Apostle says therefore we also since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight in the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising its shame and who is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God Amen father we asked for your blessing upon your word today that you give us hearts to receive your word do you cause us Lord to focus upon your voice speaking to us directly and we pray that your word will go forth and that it will accomplish that which you send it to do according to your promise we commit this time to you now and we asked us all in Jesus name and everyone said amen so I've been titled this message run don't walk run don't walk last couple of weeks you've had some great messages we watched you guys online amen and watching the messages and all and the message by Pastor Nathan and Pastor Mark pastor Nathan addressed the internal spiritual disposition of the believer which is hope in pastor mark addressed the manifestation of that disposition of the believer through servanthood serving the Lord what a great perspective to have on this new year and so this morning what I want to do is that armed with that mentality I want to encourage you today to run and don't walk in regard to the course God has ordained for you in this new year now reality is that every one of us in here that are believers in Jesus Christ so we have a course that God has called us to run well you know we like to run other people courses amen I you know I want to run the course of the guy who just won the multi-million dollar lottery amen Lord I want my course to go that way or run the course of those who are wealthy or whatever but God has given you a course to run a path for you on see you can't run my race and I can't run your race amen you've got a race to run your you waiting for your wife to join you in a weight race no I'm not gonna happen or your husband to join you in the race it's not gonna it's your race in the only race God's gonna ask you about when you get to heaven is the one you ran nobody else's run don't walk as believers we often wrestle with doubts and fears which threaten to shorten our stride our gate in the Lord we kind of lessen our strive I don't run with the enthusiasm that we once ran with due to negative pass past negative experiences and thus we began to walk rather than run but the writer of Hebrews says run the race that is set before you the writer of Hebrews encourages us and challenges us not to allow the past to dictate our future I believe another reason many believers stop running will find it difficult to run the Paul reminds us about here in Kailash Colossians chapter 3 in verses 1 & 2 where he says if then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God set your mind on things above not on things on the earth set your mind there are things on the earth we have to but my mind is set upon things that are above so that I can run the race set before me when we examine the great faith chapter Hebrews chapter 11 we find those great and yet flawed patriarchs of faith possess a faith that seems foreign to the faith many believers possess today the reason I say that is I look at Hebrews chapter 11 verse 39 and I find their verse that seems to be the antithesis or the opposite of the faith many believers possess today because we possess faith for one reason so I can get from God for what I want but that's not what we find here in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 39 here's the verse it says in all these although all of those great patriarchs of faith having obtained a good testimony through what faith did not receive the promise Wow what is the promise the promise was the promise of the Messiah of the savior of the world did not come in their day but the Messiah the Messiah has come in our day we have received the promise the promised Messiah if you will and yet I find within them a faith though they had not received a promise to run on and how are they able to do that because of the great glory they believe that was set before them and they believed God we know they believe God because as evidenced by the fact that the Bible says they obtained a good testimony through faith through faith that great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews chapter 11 the patriarchs of faith serve as an example of how we should live out our faith in this year and beyond they may have been promises this past year in dreams and goals which did not come to fruition however as we see with the patriarchs our desire to run does not come from personal gratification but from the belief and a certain future glory if you're running what are you running to it's a glory that is set before us therefore we run on we run on this is the means by which we can confidently run in 2019 run by faith and the means by which we can obtain a good testimony a good witness for the cause of Christ you know the great Jim writers of old and even the old Negro spirituals of the pass motivated many believers to run on in Christ because those writers focus their focus was not upon earthly gain but upon future glory these songs still inspire us today songs like it is well with my soul when I find that I'm going through a difficult time we're struggling many times I don't usually don't reach for the contemporary songs I reach back to some of those old hymns it is well with my soul written by Horatio Spafford you know ratio Stafford was a lawyer an attorney who said nothing good could come out of Law School Amen but he was an attorney amen no slide on attorneys Amen we love attorneys he was an attorney he had a huge financial investment in Chicago in real estate lost it all in 1871 in Chicago fires the Great Chicago Fire a couple years later he sends his wife and four daughters on a cruise not a cruise but sends him across the Atlantic I should say to get to Europe because they were going to vacation in Europe he would join them later the ship goes down many of you know the story he loses all for his daughters it inspired him to write when peace like a river attendeth my way when joy when sorrows rather like sea billows roll whatever my love thou has taught me to say it is well with my soul amen and then I think of the great Negro spirituals is what they call they call them Negro spirituals back in the day people come times mock them and and all of that but the great songs that came out of the cotton fields and out of slavery inspired a people who had nothing to look forward to to know that they had glory set before them amen songs written like swing low Sweet Chariot amen coming for to carry me home I looked over Jordan and what did I see coming for to carry me Oh a band of angels coming after me coming for to carry me home swing low Sweet Chariot seemed you know we don't know those about those songs but though those songs inspired those who had no hope inspired those you know to overcome the brutality of slavery amen because they knew they had it the hope of glory that was set before them amen song was written by a slave by the name of Wallace Willis in 1840 swing low Sweet Chariot with their eyes focused on the glory set before them how are we to run on unless we have a certain belief in the glory that is set before us if we will run and not walk in this new year it must be according to the glory set before us rather than the negative experiences behind us and how many times we as believers find ourselves trying to run according to the negative experiences you won't run far but you must set the glory before you Peter talks about that in first Peter if you turn over from Hebrews a couple of books you'll get to first Peter chapter 1 beginning at verse 6 and Peter writes in this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while if need be you have been grieved by various trials that the genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to be to the praise honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love though now you do not see him yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory receiving the end of your faith what is that the salvation of your souls amen there's a matter what's going on around us or what may happen in 2019 we can continue to run with confidence because of the glory that is set before us what lies before us in this new year what no one knows you know somebody told me in 2017 what was gonna happen 2018 I would have stayed in seventeen we don't know what a testament to the grace and the glory of God that we made it through anyhow amen but this we do know that there is an immutable and unchanging goal of glory before us in Christ and thus the writer of Hebrews says to run and not walk in the course God has ordained for you in Christ Jesus well how do we do that well we come to the text verses 1 & 2 we find three ways in which we can do that number one is through preparation preparation why do I say that he's a scene you have this great cloud of witnesses he says then let us we have this these witnesses those have gone to force two or witnesses two the goodness of God to the glory of God now we have this so this legacy if you will then let us lay aside every weight and the sin which dust so easily the old King James says but which ensnares us that speaks of preparation you got to be prepared before you run amen and those who are avid runners any haven't runners in here you love the run boy this is the most out of shake cone congregation in all the Colorado Springs I have one person on Saturday night is there anybody at one person an avid runner okay thank you praise the Lord that's alright good passes out of shape to a man you just we just followed your example pastor a man but preparation before you run you've got a stretch hey man you got to prepare yourself to run right you tell you the stretch we have we're gonna run this year we're gonna run the race they gotta set before us we've got to be prepared writer of Hebrews says this is the way you prepare lay aside every weight and every sin that easily ensnares you when it comes to the weights in our life it's good that we all as believe it should be become spiritual Weight Watchers amen there's a lot of those commercials on TV this this time of year right but spiritual Weight Watchers spiritually we have to watch our weight if you will failure to do so means added unwanted pounds amen the Greek word here for weight is odd costs and it speaks of as bending or bulging by its load a mad burden or hindrance you know you you know you're overweight when you look in the mirror in your load is exposed I'll just say today Matt hey man all right I remember in the 70s we said wear those bicycle shorts and you know those those all the spandex thank God that air is over amen but it's believers we got to be willing to fight the Battle of the Bulge amen we got to be willing to fight the battle of the bolt weights here when he talks about weights lay aside every weight it represents that which may be acceptable but not profitable not talking about sins here but things that hinder me from running Paul says the 1st Corinthians chapter 10 he says all things are lawful for me but not all things are helpful all things are lawful for me but not all things edify not all things profit me yea I can continue to do that but is it hindering my run my race in the Lord you know a box of doughnuts from Hertz bakery and if you're taking notes located at Barnes Road and Tut Boulevard may be acceptable but it's not beneficial if you're trying to lose weight amen that's the point Hertz doughnuts at Barnes Road top boulevards but spiritually and physically right preparation is important and preparation involves discipline in order to fight the Battle of the Bulge I love what pastor Greg Craig Groeschel of Life Church said and he said this in a quote he said discipline is the bridge between who you are and where or who you want to be small disciplines lead to big results over time close quote so true some people want to start this I want to get in shape the beginning of the year and they just get to kind of a approach little Fitness with a guerilla mentality and I'm gonna run 19 miles a day and I'm you know it's like no just wanna block amen small disciplines lead to bigger things I want to get in shape I wanna be able to be just 300 pounds start with 10 push-ups because if you're discipline in that it will lead to bigger things in preparation to run the race begins with committing ourselves to the small disciplines the small disciplines there's a book written by a gentleman by the name of William H McRaven and it's entitled make your bed and he's the premises said he's talking about fact if you're he learned earlier life that if you do the small things that greater things will come and the small thing van let's make your bed Craig Groeschel talks about one of the things that's really small for him but that helps him do to discipline his body to bring his body in subjection is a little thing like flossing he says I hate to floss but I discipline myself every morning I floss he's a discipline for him and what you're saying to the body said no you don't control me I control you you see the flesh wants to control you so you're not disciplined and and you don't not discipline into small things one of the disciplines God has laid upon my heart and I'm putting myself out here on blast but you know I made the commitment to the Lord and I told the Lord I said you know I mean my wife and I were a wonderful marriage and married for a long time but you know what in any marriage you know the enemy is going to attack you I think I read a statistic somewhere where from a survey a poll done among pastors wives and 80 percent was 80 percent of them found the ministry to be detrimental to their family Pasteur's marriages get attacked too and I know there's many marriages in this church that have been attacked and some may be attacked even now I ran into a man this morning he said pray for me and my wife were going through something enemy wants to destroy and to kill and to steal so that you can't run the race and one of those disciplines the Lord laid upon my heart is that every morning to pray a blessing over my wife well if she's awake we should sleep or whatever it takes 30 seconds I'm telling you that is revolutionising my my heart because I'm not doing because the woman needs prayer I need pray will the Lord geez I rebuke you come out that's not the very man it's a prayer of favor God's blessing God's peace God's protection over my bride and it's for God says you do it because you need it you're the one jacked up it ain't her it's you change your attitude in the relationship and so it's just a small thing but I'm committed to do that every morning you know I tell you what i double-dog dare you any husband to do that and watch God change your marriage amen and I challenge any wife to do that for a husband because you can't fight with folks that you're praying God's favor or they met to pray over them it's a small thing but it's powerful man you don't have to spin I mean if you want to go to pay for the seminar go to the seminar but you know you pay hundreds of dollars a thousand dollars you go to the seminar they lock you in a room and make you write love letters see each other and you can't stand each other Amen I love you write three positive things I'm gonna tell you how to save some money I challenge you the next couple of weeks to pray over your wife pray God's favor over her God's blessing in her life God's protection that's anointing on a life and what God changed your marriage save you a whole lot of money amen and I thought about those things at this preparation the starting with the small disciplines and all this nothing why that's biblical what did Jesus say Luke 16 verse 10 Luke 16 verse 10 is not on the screen he said this he said he who is faithful and what is least the small things is faithful also in much bigger things and he who was unjust in what is lease the small things is unjust also in much we're trying to change the world we won't even make our beds you're trying to save the world in Jesus name you don't even love you why see it's the small things and then got leads to the bigger things amen it's a great discipline to run there must be a willingness to lose self that we gain Jesus John the Baptist said I must decrease that he might increase amen and when you get up and pray over your bride or when you floss or whatever you disciplined small discipline in your life you're bringing the body and subjection to the spirit and you are decreasing in Christ as injuries but he says not only the weight but then you need to get rid of the sins how do we deal with the sins the only way I know to deal with sin is first John 1:9 if I confess my sin he is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness confessing must be followed by forsaking or confession becomes a joke proverbs chapter 28 verse 13 says he who covers his sin will not prosper but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy forsaking the sins which easily amen nettles evil thoughts go through your mind every now and then and thither app in ovens you know but though those sins that easily beset you that word easily in Greek it literally means skilfully surrounding a listen a competitor you know that which easily Rob's you of your allegiance and loyalty to Jesus Christ see there's some there's a see the devil knows what turns you on he got your number he knows that one thing if you don't lay it aside or burn yet it have dominion over you Paul says in Romans chapter 8 he says therefore brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live according to the flesh but if you live according to the flesh you would die and say you lose your salvation but you would be spiritually estranged from the Lord you would die it doesn't lead to life he says but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the flesh you will live amen as I deny my flesh I live it's not letting the world says no let your flesh have it full reign whatever you whatever turns you on whatever you want to do man that's living no it's dying when I died on my flesh then I live in Christ we all know allegiance to the flesh to sin but we all Jesus everything why Paul tells us he says for you were bought at a price therefore glorify God in your body and in your attitude your spirit then he says which belongs to God do you know your body and your attitude belongs to God you sitting there with a poor attitude Gus says what you doing with that that's mine you foes be glorifying me through it using our body for things that dishonor the name of the Lord God said what are you doing with my stuff amen because you've been bought with a price you're not your own see that's offensive to people today but it's radical but it's the kingdom the lay aside means to put away from you because whatever it is whatever sin it is knows you are easy if it be a choice between Jesus and that sin that I love that sin that I love it's gonna win every time it's to send that easily decide you you can't play with therefore you can't play with it there's certain people can never never take a drink amen they know once one drink boom they're gone amen can't be around certain things or whatever influences the sins that easily ensnare you we have to lay them aside now the question I've asked the Lord many times Lord what if I fall because the devil will come to you say you know don't even repent why you should you even repent they're gonna do it again and you you might I'm just being straight up with you that's what John said John said listen you don't have to send but if you do remember you have an advocate with the father a man and I would say Lord why you know maybe just me that's the way it is my daddy was that way that other person was that way whatever you know my mama was this way whatever you know whatever excuse we want to use and we say well I just have to accept it I'm just the way I am I'm Irish who cares I'm black I came up differently I'm Hispanic that's just with me that's the way we roll you know and no way man that's the flesh that's the flesh sin is still sin and we should lay it aside but what if I should stumble well david gives us an answer in psalm 37 as he says the steps of a good man are ordered by the lord and he delights in his way though he fall whoa he should not be utterly cast down why for the Lord upholds him with his hand amen oh this times in 2018 you can look back and say oh I fall and I'm this is not somebody though they stumbled or they'll they tripped a little bit no you are falling amen and the devil said you're done because then I got you I got you I don't care what you fell how you fell I got you he opposed us with his and therefore I would say to you if you've fallen down get up wrong hey man get up and run on a man in Jesus name cuz God's got your back even when people have let you down and even though when you've got stuck on stupid and you fallen yourself he's gotcha amen you don't have to stay down there get up and run on I love the scene from Forrest Gump you know that scene where he when he was a little kid and and he had polio and had the polio braces on and he could kind of just walk like this and and all and and the he's three guys on bikes were coming to chase him and and he's with this little girl and she goes you know what does she say to him you guys are well educated run Forrest run and he starts running you know the scene he starts running like this because he's got the bracelets on from polio you know back in the 50s and all and you know he's running Jen best he can and they're coming after and they're gonna beat him up and he starts running then also his knee bends and all sudden the metal starts breaking and their leather straps burst blues and all in this stuff just falling down to the ground and he's running like lightning boy and they can't even catch him amen I believe this year God is saying to some of us wrong for us lay aside the weight and the sins that easily beset you praise the Lord praise His Holy Name Amen run don't walk run amen it's time to run it's time to run and he's running they couldn't even catch you some of us alone try to go through 2019 with the braces off the weights in the sands and we wonder why we have no joy in the Lord run force secondly we can run if we have endurance and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us many believers do not have in Dorne because endurance it's not sexy it's not fruity it doesn't feel good there are times you're gonna want to quit but you must run on that's how you grow strong through endurance Paul tells us in first Corinthians chapter 9 he says do you not know that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize run in such a way that you may have obtained it in other words endurance means to run like you mean it I don't quit the first volley that's shot across the bow of my life I don't quit because other people have fallen out of the race I run thus to attain the prize like I mean it it's a consistent run II the smartest man that ever lived Solomon said in Ecclesiastes chapter 9 the race is not to the Swift the race is not to the Swift this not about you know shooting out you know you know I give me a shot out of a cannon you know but a steady stride in the Lord I don't stop running I don't walk I'm running continue to run the race is not to the Swift it's not how fast you're running today because Jesus Christ has called us as his disciples to a marathon and out of 40-yard dash and I was at school I was good in the 40-yard dash but man when I football coach had me running laps around the football field I usually came in last amen but God has called us to a marathon sometimes believers think it's a 40-yard dash it's not how we start but how we finish that matters therefore keep running despite the pass knowing God is sovereign over every trial every temptation and every affliction in every disappointment Our Lives how do I know that when Paul tells me in Romans chapter 5 in an instant the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he says and not only that but we also glory in tribulations knowing that the tribulation that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance you know produces character and character hope and now hope does not disappoint why because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us God's love continually being poured out into my heart it's what enables me to endure convinced that God loves me that's what enables us to endure you see our endurance is not based on self determination but God's determination to love you he said nothing will separate you from his love in Christ Jesus God has never stopped loving you it's God's willingness to pour his love out into our hearts on a daily basis that enables me to endure to endure cuz it been many times I said God I'm just would you like Peter you say all these guys and I'm not going to endure they're gonna abandon you but I'm never gonna leave you then I find myself having abandoned him I remember Jesus said but I prayed for you Peter that your faith would not fail faith in one faith in God's great love for you and after you return to me Peter go strengthen somebody else go tell somebody else about how much God loves them we endure because God's love is poured out in our hearts and I would say this you might want to write this down I don't you know but to not endure is to refuse God's love you show me a believer who's not enduring anymore in the Lord who's quit I'll show you somebody who stopped believing in the love of God that God's love is greater than their sin the God's love is greater than the failure that God's love is great weaknesses to not endure is to refuse to believe in God's law the last thing we want to come up deal with here the last aspect of running want to look at and talked about preparation and endurance and now we come to focus verse 2 Hebrews chapter 12 looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith it was a lot of distractions in the world today there's a whole lot more distractions than it was 40 50 years ago amen I mean with the iPhone and all that I I'm addicted to they got us don't they amen if I want that information I got my iPhone there boom just look it up you know makes me feel like I'm brilliant you know I got spellcheck and everything else we don't know anything anymore do we and but it's just so much so much information actually more information I think then we need we wonder why there's so much anxiety on the rise because I think we know too much hey man remember the days when you know you had to remember somebody's phone number to call amen do you know anybody's phone number now I don't I know my own ask me what's your phone number let me check my phone remember rotary phones you know I saw this little article I don't have a chance to read it but it was the picture of these two Millennials looking at a roadie rotary phone totally confused and know how to handle it like what is this you know yet have patience for the rotary phone it was you know right are they pull today they pull that thing off the wall right him too impatient yeah and your party lines you know it somebody breathing on the other end hey I know somebody's on this phone you need to get off right now you know things were slower then how do we maintain a focus in a world so with so many distractions well one way practically is we can pray we can stay in the word and we can stay in fellowship so I look forward every week to seeing you as it reminds me I'm not alone reminds me that we're on this journey together we need to fellowship of the Saints but not only practically can we stay who we stay focused that way but also directionally and this is what the writer of Hebrews is talking about here directionally looking on to Jesus keeping our eyes on Jesus who was the author he started the journey and the finisher of our faith you know the Lord doesn't want us to have a rearview mirror relationship with Jesus he doesn't want to have a rear view mirror relationship well looking in the rearview mirror going yeah I remember 20 years ago way back there oh I love the Lord I used to trust God that's a review mirror relationship he wants to be before us you can't look unto Jesus unless he's before you and unless he's before all not only is he before me I'm just looking at Jesus but he's got to be before all listen to the words that he the radical words of Christ in Luke chapter 14 if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children brothers and sisters yes even his own life also he cannot be my disciple and whoever does not bear his cross and comes after me cannot be my disciple don't even be fun unless I am before everything else that's radical man but that's the kingdom and it's what he calls us to or we can follow him that's why had many quit many walk away because they love other things more than Jesus we can remain focused knowing that God never starts anything he doesn't finish Philippians 1:6 says being confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ listen God is faithful the government might be shut down but Jesus isn't Amen the government might be shut down and a lot of people are going through it right now and what an opportunity if you know of someone a neighbor someone who's going to that to be the hand-feed eyes of Jesus and then maybe help them through that time just buy a bunch of groceries and ring the doorbell and take off you know to bless somebody amen we like to sit around murmur and complain government shutdown hey maybe it's not between you for us to bless somebody amen that's just a thought but the reality is that the government may be shut down but the Lord never isn't the Lord isn't because he's faithful amen and so I can still run on because God is faithful Psalm 37 David says trust in the Lord and do good dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness the Hebrew word for feed implies tending a flock or to graze grace throughout the year upon the faithfulness of God don't graze on your faithfulness because you're not faithful all the time amen don't graze on the pastures faithless or the church's faith for this those things will let you down but graze upon the faithfulness of Jesus Christ and if you graze upon his safe for this you'll be able to run on a man you'll be able to run on as we graze upon the faithfulness of our God we remain focused by grazing on his faithfulness but we remain focused by following his example verse 2 of Hebrews chapter 12 this Jesus who for the joy set before him endured the cross despising the shame how could he endure the cross because of the joy set before him how am I gonna make it through this new year with some of the disappointments and things that we may I may face it's because of the joy set before me I've got to follow his his lead his example he was able to endure the humiliation of the cross for the joy was a joy you in me our salvation and the glory that was set before him the joy overshadowed the temporary shame of the cross and the joy that we have of that future glory will overshadow whatever trial or tribulation we may face in this upcoming year the lesson for us as believers is keep the joy in front of you how do I do that what Jesus is the joy amen looking unto Jesus he's the source of our joy keep Christ forever before you focus is essential to running the race we must stay focused is essential to running the race your any avid runner Rotel you've got to stay focused I was reading a couple of articles on running it talked about being them being focused on how their breathing how their posture being focused you know on the heartbeat made a heart rate making sure they're there in stride or whatever doing it doing it right because if you're running just running aimlessly and just if you're running like crazy order like your hair's on fire you know you're not gonna get any benefit from that any avid runner knows you have to stay focused to read the benefits of running and how do we focus as Christians what does it look like in real time but it look it's it's in second Peter if you'll turn there with me second Peter chapter 1 it means that we need to continue to be focused is to continue abounding in the College of Jesus Christ second Peter chapter 1 verse 5 in this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while if need be you have greed by various trials oops 2nd Peter that's what I get been taking my glasses off sorry I said mean that sounds familiar 2nd Peter chapter 5 amen gonna see this thing chapter 1 should somebody come up here to help me no I'm kidding uh-uh second Peter chapter 1 verse 5 there we go but also for this very reason giving all diligence add to your faith virtue to virtue knowledge to knowledge self-control to self-control perseverance to perseverance godliness to godliness brotherly kindness and get brotherly kindness love it's great lists there for if these things are yours and abound you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ for he who lacks these things is short-sighted even to blindness and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins so for me to run I must continue to abound in the knowledge of Christ continue abounding in these things perseverance brotherly kindness abounding in love abounding in Christ when we stop abounding we stop running when we saw the bounding we stop running in the Lord and we start walking in doubt and unbelief but Paul lived otherwise as he says in Acts chapter 20 verse 24 but none of these things moved me nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race I love that ball said I'm not running your race my race with joy how are we gonna finish are you gonna finish your race Paul said I'm gonna finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God okay in conclusion three final points and real quick and then will we end in their time but I want to give you the reason why we need to run the reason why we need to run is pretty obvious but number one is that we have a real adversary the devil's out to eat your lunch he's come to kill steal and destroy but the Bible says if we will resist him and how do we resist him by running toward the heart of God amen the Bible says it will resist him he'll flee John I James chapter 4 verse 7 submit to God resist the devil and he will start running he will flee from you amen so remember you have an advocate and how to overcome me the advocate or the not an advocate but we have an adversary and how do we overcome this adversary in our lives by running to the heart of God resist submitting to God resisting the devil and he will flee the second thing we need to understand we need to run because we need to stay in good spiritual condition to stay spiritually fit first Timothy chapter 4 verse 8 Paul says for bodily exercise profits a little amen there's some profit to it a man you get six-pack abs or whatever amen but that's about it it profits a little but godliness is profitable for all things helps you to be a better employee a better employer a better brother or sister in Christ profits in all things having promise of this life blessings in this life that now is end of that which is to come amen stay fit and being godly following the Lord and the third reason we need to run is that we have a predestined course of glory our course is predestined for glory Romans 8 verse 30 moreover whom he predestined that is whom God predestined those he also called God has called you whom he called these he also justified he's justified you through faith in Christ and whom he justified these he also glorified amen that is God's progressive a course for the believer glory amen second Timothy chapter four verse seven Paul said I have finished the race this year I pray that you would finish the race that you were run on that you will run and not walk with godly preparation godly endurance in godly focus Psalm 65 verse 11 and I will clothe you crown the year the Lord with your goodness in your past drip with abundance what does the Lord have for you all I know is goodness and there's abundance you will suffer no lack if you were run the race set before you so run on Amen father we thank you for your word today thank you for the encouragement Lord as we look at this new year there may be someone here today this is Pastor al I don't know Christ I don't know for certain I was to die today that I go to heaven you're here you're over in Creekside Creekside campus or you're watching online you don't know if you were to die that you have salvation but you know what the good news assists the Bible says these things are written that you may know you have eternal life so if you don't know Christ today we'd like to give you an opportunity to surrender your life to the lover of your soul to a God who sent his son to die for your faults and failures in your sins so that you might know his love and be forever free from the condemnation of sin it's a pastor that's me I want to be born again I want that second chance in life if that's you I want invite you to stand to your feet right now I'll lead you in a prayer to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior maybe someone in this auditorium or upstairs and our overflow you're watching online or over a creek I just stand right now thank you I'm gonna pray this prayer just in case of somebody there's no one I see standing here just in case of someone over at Creekside or watching online and this is the prayer you can pray simply by faith simply say Lord Jesus I believe you are the son of God I believe you died for my sins and I believe that you were risen from the dead forgive me come into my life I receive you today as my Lord and as my Savior in Jesus name Amen my friend is just that simple religion has made it complicated but Christ made it simple if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ believe in your heart that God has raised from the dead the Bible says you're saved you're in the kingdom of God you're a new creation old things pass away behold all things become brand new

Channel: CWCCS

Views: 13,078

Rating: 4.8333335 out of 5

Keywords: church, bible study, bible, New Year, Run, Forrest Gump, Run Forrest, forgiven, hope, love, peace, joy, God, Jesus

Id: VhmaOgJS10E

Length: 52min 54sec (3174 seconds)

Published: Sun Jan 13 2019