GRATITUDE Endurance Hebrews 12

Review: Gratitude Challenge  Taught to be Sent  Lepers  Programming  Story Endurance

Review: Everybody has a story to tell…  Always be prepared to give an answer  With gentleness and respect  Expect "pushback"- choose love Endurance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles - Hebrews 12:1 Endurance

Therefore… Hebrews 11 Endurance

I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions… Endurance

…quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Endurance

There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Endurance

Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. Endurance

They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. Endurance

These were all commended for their faith…- Hebrews 11:32-39 Endurance

By faith, some conquered and overcame By faith, some endured exile, torture and death Endurance

The issue wasn't what happened to them, but whether or not they held to their faith. The were "commended" for their faith. Endurance

Commended= martyrethentes- borne witness to (by God), implies approval Endurance

Which is more important- that things go well? Or that God is glorified? Endurance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles... Endurance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… Stadium full of elite athletes, all attested to by God Endurance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… The Faith is linear and connected to those who came before Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… Hinders= onkos- weight or load. Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders… Some things that are not wrong in themselves keep us from giving our best to Jesus. Therefore...? Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders… Some things that are not wrong in themselves keep us from giving our best to Jesus. Therefore... throw off those things Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders… Hinders= onkos- weight or load. Anything that keeps me from running well is a weight to be cast off Endurance

Comfort in the Philippines Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… Entangles- “well around standing.” Literally- thwarting in every direction Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… It is biblically impossible to walk in unrepentant sin in one area, yet faithfully follow God in every other Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… As I throw off sin, I find myself more free in EVERY area of my life Endurance

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… I would not be called to throw off these things unless God can and will empower me to do it! Endurance

The cloud of witnesses faced the same obstacles, yet persevered Endurance

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… Endurance

Who marked it out? Endurance

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do- Eph. 2:10 Endurance

The goal of life:  Is not to find what I want to do and enjoy it  But to discover what God created me for and trust him to do it through me Endurance

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… Why is it critical to view the faith as a long-distance race? Endurance

Anyone can be live off excitement or emotion for a while Maturity comes through commitment Endurance

Seed and Sower- only the seed that continued faithfully long- term produced fruit to God’s glory Endurance

What’s my commitment level? Endurance

BToL: I cannot separate my commitment to God from my commitment to the things of God Endurance

What’s my commitment level? Endurance comes through commitment Endurance

…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith... Why is it important to focus on Jesus? Endurance

Fixing our eyes…  My goal determines my focus- and vice versa  Remembering Jesus gives me strength to carry on (Communion) Endurance

Fixing our eyes…  I can’t take direction from someone I’m not listening to Endurance

Jesus began our faith. He will complete it in us …he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus- Phil. 1:6 Endurance

2 Examples:  The cloud of witnesses- gives hope  Jesus- empowers and directs Endurance

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Endurance

Joy? Endurance

Joy? Part of enduring is learning to look beyond the pain to the joy it brings Endurance

“But…people make fun of me!” “The people at work don’t invite Christians to parties and after-work gatherings” “My boss hates believers” Endurance

…endured the cross, scorning it’s shame…” Believers are the only people on the face of the earth who live our lives for a King who first give his life for us Endurance

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart Used by Aristotle of runners who relax and collapse after finishing the race Endurance

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood Endurance

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? Endurance

It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Discipline is a sign of love Endurance

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Hardship is a form of discipline Endurance

“What did I do wrong?” “I’ve been in church, read the Bible, tithed, prayed before meals…” Endurance

God's discipline is never punitive, but correctional and formational For the believer, hardship always has a purpose. Our response determines whether the purpose is accomplished Endurance

If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline— then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Endurance

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! Endurance

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness Endurance

God's discipline is formative, helping us become all he created us to be Endurance

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Endurance

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Endurance

Circus Endurance

Takeaways:  Do I allow hardship and temptation to cause me to feel isolated and "different"? Why? Endurance

Takeaways:  What weights/hindrances do I need to throw off right now?  Will I? Endurance

Takeaways:  Am I walking in unrepentant sin? If so, do I understand the cost- to Jesus? to me today?  Will I repent right now? Endurance

Takeaways:  Where is my focus? Why?  Do I see hardship as formational and therefore proof of God's love? Endurance

Q & A Endurance