WHAT ARE YOU AIMING AT? HEBREWS 12

FAITH THE KEY THAT “SEES” THE INVISIBLE, WHAT GOD REVEALS TRUSTS HIM TO BRING IT FROM THE INVISIBLE INTO THE VISIBLE AND ACTS APPROPRIATELY

AIM FOR THE BETTER 12:1 THE COURSE IS LAID OUT BE ENCOURAGED BY THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE PUT ASIDE ALL DISTRACTIONS WATCH OUT FOR THE TRIPPING SIN FOCUS ON JESUS

FOCUS ON JESUS CHRIST 12:2 HE PROVIDES THE FAITH KEY HE ENABLES US TO “SEE” THE GOAL HE MOTIVATES & STIMULATES HE EMPOWERS US TO REACH THE GOAL

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE 12:2-3 WHAT HE HAD BEFORE THE INCARNATION WAS NOT ENOUGH [JOY] HE “SAW” HIMSELF AS A HUMAN IN A POSITION TO REALISE THE DIVINE DREAM [SEATED AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND] HE WAS PREPARED TO PAY THE PRICE

THE PRICE 12:2-3 THE SHAME OF THE CROSS HOSTILITY AND OPPOSITION

WHERE ARE WE AT? ARE WE CONTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE? IF NOT, WHAT DO YOU WANT? HAS CHRIST GIVEN YOU A “PICTURE”? HAS HE SHOWN YOU GOD’S PLANNED FUTURE? HAS HE STIRRED IN YOU A DESIRE FOR THAT? ARE YOU PREPARED TO PAY THE PRICE?

THE OFFER AND THE PRICE 12:10 GOD WANTS TO SHARE HIS FUTURE WITH US WE NEED TO BE TRAINED FOR IT 12:11 TRAINING [DISCIPLINE] IS TOUGH, PAINFUL BUT IT PRODUCES WHAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR THE KIND OF PEOPLE HE NEEDS

TRAINING 12:5-6 TRAINING IS NOT PUNISHMENT OR REJECTION IT TAKES RAW MATERIAL AND PRODUCES SOMETHING USEFUL IT USES PAIN AND SUFFERING IT IS MOTIVATED BY LOVE

TOOLS FOR TRAINING 12:3-4 GOD USES THE OPPOSITION HIS PEOPLE FACE THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE PAIN AND SUFFERING

TOOLS FOR TRAINING 2:10, 5:8-9 GOD USED SUFFERING TO TRAIN AND PERFECT HIS SON, JESUS GOD USES SUFFERING TO TRAIN AND PERFECT THE MANY SONS THAT HE DESIRES TO PERFECT AND BRING TO GLORY

SUFFERING AND THE RACE SUFFERING WILL BE TRAINING ONLY IF WE KEEP RUNNING THE RACE IT IS AN ENDURANCE RACE IT WILL LAST OUR LIFETIME WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR DISTRACTIONS WE NEED TO KEEP FOCUSED ON JESUS WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD