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God’s Super Bowl

Hebrews 12:1 – 3 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  2looking 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. 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

Tonight thousands will pack the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and millions will tune in on television to watch Super Bowl 57. They be watching and cheering in hopes that their favorite team will win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Whether it be the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs only one the win the trophy,

Throughout his writings the Apostle Paul compared the Christian life as race as were run in the Olympics in Olympia, Greece.

Today the Christian life is a race it is God’s Super Bowl. The writer of Hebrews said if we are going to run the Christian life with no distractions and not get off track, we must keep our eyes carefully focused on Jesus.

1.Start Well

Since the Christian life is a race, let us examine the racecourse. We know how it starts and how it finishes. For all of us, it starts when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and commit ourselves to the person of Jesus Christ. That’s the starting line. Before you can run the race of life, you must start well.

Of course in between, the Bible says God has a racecourse for every one of that is planned out. Your course is different from mine, and mine is different from yours – different experiences, different places to go and things to do. But they had the same starting point – submission to Christ

2. Run Well

Your encouragement is to run well. You can run well because that is God’s intention for all of us. How do you run well?

A. Run Well With Endurance

Hebrews 12:1c (NKJV)  Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 

Great racers develop endurance. Christianity is not a hundred-yard dash. It is a marathon of endurance.

 B. Run Well With A Team

Hebrews 12:1a (NKJV)  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…

The ideas in Hebrews 11 do not culminate at the chapter division. The Bible was written in unmarked paragraphs instead of chapters and verses. Hebrews 11 begins in chapter 10 and culminates in chapter 12.

In chapter 10, the writer is addressing a group of Christians under unbelievable persecution. They had given up houses; many had had their property confiscated. Many had actually suffered physical persecution, some death. So as he draws near the end of chapter 10, he is encouraging the believers to “hang on.” He encourages them by telling them about marvelous women and men of faith.

In their lives, we see the lifestyles that please God, lifestyles that revolve around faith. He says these are our examples. If these folks can do it, then we can do it too. They are on our team.

The great hall of faith in Hebrews 11 demonstrates that the life of faith really works. We have before us a great cloud of witnesses who are willing to testify that they had lived the life of faith, committed to Christ, and it worked for them.

 C. Run With Your Eyes On Jesus

Hebrews 12 gives one of the most glorious looks at Jesus Christ in all of Scripture. As we run the race of our lives, we must run with our heads up and our eyes focused on Christ. If we are to run the life of faith, we resist the distractions and look deeply into His eyes.

Hebrews 12:2 – 3 (NKJV) 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. 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  

Jesus made Himself nothing and became a servant. He became human. Then He experienced death – not any death but death on a cross. The writer of the Hebrews said in effect, If Jesus Christ can do it, you can too because He didn’t do this as God; He was doing this in His humanity. For the joy of saving us, He endured the cross, despising the shame.

Paul tells us the same in Philippians 2:5-8

Philippians 2:5 – 8 (NKJV) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,  7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

Jesus shows us the course, He demonstrates the proper attitude, He sets the pace, He leads us to victory!

3. End Well

One of the basic teachings of Christianity is so simple: It is not how you start that matters; it is how you finish. Jesus made clear that those who endure to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13 (NKJV) But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 

The finish line of the race is Christ likeness. He is growing us and maturing us on this racecourse to look like Jesus Christ. And of course, ultimately the finish line is out there in eternity, in heaven.

How can we end well?

 A. End Well With A Great Legacy

Not everyone in the Bible made it into the Hall of Faith. We could say that the Bible also has a Hall of Shame – men and women who ought to be in Hebrews 11 but are conspicuous by their absence. At the final judgment, some Christians will be weeping tears of shame because of what they didn’t do for Christ on the racecourse.

  • The first King of Israel, Saul, should be there, but he is not. He focused more on pleasing the people than on pleasing God.
  • The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, should be there, but he is not. He focused more on foreign women and their gods.
  • Balaam was a good prophet, but he had his eyes on the money. His eyes were so out of focus and distracted that he could not see an angel in front of his face. His donkey was more focused on God than he was.

 B. End Well With Prize In Mind

God has a great reward laid in store of greater value than the Vince Lombardi Trophy for all who finish the race. It can only be received by faithfully completing the race.

Philippians 3:12 – 14 (NKJV) 12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:24 – 27 (NKJV) 24Do 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 obtain it.  25And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.  26Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  27But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Conclusion

Putting our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior places us in God’s Super Bowl.

As you run the race of life, God is cheering for you. He loves and cares about you. His love for you is revealed in His giving His Son to come earth to die for your sin.

John 3:16 – 17 (NKJV)  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 


You Can Win Over Anxiety

 Phil 4:4 – 7 (NKJV) 4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We are living in days of high anxiety, with great concern over the state on our nations economy, wars and rumors of war around the world, the continued threat of terrorism, and the upcoming national elections. God’s Word however, offers us hope, strength, and peace in the midst of all these.

We can win over anxiety:

1. By Dedication To God 

Rom 14:8 (NKJV) 8For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’€™s. 

Dedicated Christians do not neglect their prayer lives, fail to study God’s Word, or falter in church attendance.

Devotion to things of God brings release from self and selfish concerns. Dedication, plus God’€™s assistance, helps us to win over anxiety and worry

Rom 12:1 (NKJV) 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

We can win over anxiety:

2. By Dependence On God

Psa 37:5 (NKJV) 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Too many Christian depend solely on their own weak, finite powers. This invariably results in frustration and failure.

As we surrender our will and weaknesses to God’€™s perfect will and infinite power.  God is able to carry the responsibility for our life, freeing us from excessive care and concern.

Prov 3:5 – 6 (NKJV) 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

We can win over anxiety:

3. By Delighting In God

Phil 4:4 (NKJV) 4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Anxiety/worry dispels the Christian’€™s delight in the Lord.  It drains joy, peace, and hope from one’€™s life.

We win over anxiety/worry when we count our blessing and discount our losses, look for the good, overlook the bad, forgive ourselves, and forgive others.

Psa 37:5 (NKJV) 5Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

We can win over anxiety:

4. By Diligence For God

2 Cor 5:14 (NKJV) 14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 

When it comes to doing God’€™s work, some Christians are unconcerned. Some are lazy.  The feel let the professionals do all the work of evangelism, or other works of ministry. In either case, these Christians are unhappy and unfulfilled.

Busy Christians are happy Christians.  When we work for God, we forget our own difficulties.  The Lord cares for those who give Him first place in their lives.

Col 3:23 – 24 (NKJV) 23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 

We can win over anxiety:

5. By Direction From God

John 16:13 (NKJV) 13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

Many Christians are looking for direction for their lives.  They rightfully want their lives to be meaningful and purposeful.

When we make a total commitment of our lives to God, we can stand on His promises that, “He will guide you into all truth.”

Anxiety/worry has no place in the life directed by God.

Prov 3:6 (NKJV) 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Conclusion

No matter what today or tomorrow holds in store for us we can face it with the promise that He has gone been us, His promise to never leave us, or forsake us.

Heb 13:5 – 6 (NKJV) 5Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, €œI will never leave you nor forsake you. 6So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?


Living In The Favor of The Lord

 (Psa 5:12 NIV)  For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

 In order to live in the Favor of The Lord we must position ourselves in right relationship with Him in several areas of our lives. The Lord wants to favor those who diligently and fervently seek Him. Some of these important areas are:

First-Living in the Favor of the Lord through Prayer.

 A major key in maintaining a right relationship with God and to live in the Favor of the Lord is through prayer.

In Matthew 6:33 the Word speaks of the importance of prayer- But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

(James 5:15-18 NIV)  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. {16} Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. {17} Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. {18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Second-Living in the Favor of the Lord through Faith.

God’€™s Favor always follows Faith. Nay-saying and perpetual doubting are a choice to die in the wilderness.  Jesus said in Matthew 9:29- Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”€

In the midst of these trying days Faith is required to receive everything we need. (Heb 11:6 NIV)  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Third-Living in the Favor of the Lord through Obedience. 

God’€™s favor follows obedience.

(Rom 6:16 NIV)  Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Walking in obedience to God’€™s Word opens the door to truth which guards and protects us from the deception of enemy.

(2 John 1:6 NIV)  And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

What has the Holy Spirit been asking from you lately?  Are you ready to obedience His voice and leadership?

Fourth-Living in the Favor of the Lord through Patience.

God’€™s Favor is a traveling companion to your patience in Him.

After Joseph interpreted the cupbearer’€™s dream in prison, it was two years before God used his obedience and patience to dramatically favor his beloved servant.  And yet, God’s Hand had been on Joseph throughout both lean and prosperous seasons of his life. Genesis 39:1- 41:16

Conclusion:

Our Prayer Life, Our Faith in God and His Word, Our Obedience to God, and Our Patience all determine the level of God’€™s Favor in our lives and church. Are YOU willing to pay the price, to take the steps to see the release of God’€™s Favor in YOUR life?


 

Surviving Critical Times

(Heb 10:22-25 NIV) let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. {23} Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. {24} And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. {25} Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

These verses focus on some vital issues for Christians who live in critical days. A person’€™s faith is not affected usually by a single catastrophic event. It’€™s more like a grinding-away. A constant dripping of water will wear away steel. The events of our times wear away at those who do not exercise their faith daily.

The writer of Hebrews said there are some specific things we need to do as we that day approaching.

1. Draw Near

(Heb 10:22 NIV) let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

A. Literally, “€œCome near the High Priest over the house of the Lord.”€ 

B. How? “€œWith a true heart in full assurance of faith,”€ and with a clear conscience and clean body.

C. For many, worship has become a tired friendship.

D. (Psalm 73:28 NIV) But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

E. (James 4:8 NIV) Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

F. In critical times, we must draw near to the Lord.

2. Hold Fast

(Heb 10:23 NIV) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

A. “Hold Fast” implies that we are to keep our hope and faith ever in our memory and ever within our grasp.

B. What you believe is important.

C. Your faith will be tested: (Eph 6:16 NIV) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

D. Doubts and discouragement come when we put down the shield of faith.

E. Sooner or later you have to determine what you believe and hang on for dear life.

3. Consider One Another

(Heb 10:24 NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

A. Consider literally means “to pay attention to one another.” The temptation is to seize it now!

B. We need each other. (Rom 14:7 NIV) For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. (2 Cor 1:4 NIV) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

C. The Apostle Paul used the term “one another” regularly in his writings; e.g., Romans 12:10; 15:14; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13, 16).

D. Surviving critical times means we pay attention to one another.

4. Don’€™t Get Out The Habit Of Going To Church

A. (Heb 10:25 NIV) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

(Heb 10:25 CEV) Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.

B. The importance of corporate worship cannot be overemphasized.

C. (2 Th 2:1-2 NIV) Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, {2} not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

D. “€œEncouraging one another”€ (vs. 25) relates to corporate worship and indicates that there is encouragement in assembling together.

E. Encourage one another daily. (Heb 3:13 NIV) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Conclusion

How do you survive critical times?

1. Draw near the High Priest.

2. Hold fast to your hope & faith.

3. Pay attention to one another.

4. Don’€™t get out of the habit of going to church.


 

The Church: God’€™s Instrument for Revival  
A Look at the New Testament Church 

  (Mat 16:13-18 KJV)  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? {14} And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. {15} He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? {16} And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. {17} And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. {18} And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  (Acts 4:31-35 KJV)  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. {32} And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. {33} And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. {34} Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, {35} And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.  

1. The New Testament Church Was A Church of Prayer.  

A. They prayed “€œAnd when they had prayed” The New Testament Church was  praying church, they had learned from the teaching and living example of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

B. Prayer brought results “€œthe place was shaken.”€ Un-prayed prayers do not effect change or bring results.  When we purpose in our hearts to pray, God will heard us and answer prayer. The N. T. Church learned in the midst of the good times as well in the bad times to pray and seek the face of God.  

C.  They prayed together “they were assembled together.” A keystone, or foundation of the N. T. Church was their unity.  They learned the importance of sticking together, as the Jewish leaders sought to destroy this newly birthed church.  They sought for ways to bring division.  However, the early church had a unity as they sought God’s will and  direction.  

2. The New Testament Church was Filled With The Holy Spirit.

A. All were filled:
“they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.”  

B. All were filled when they had prayed, “And when they had prayed they were all filled.”€ It is the will of God for all believers to be filled or to receive the fullness or Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  

3. The New Testament Church Was A Church of The Word.  

A. The Word emanated  from the Holy Spirit infilling, “were all filled” “and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

B. The was verbalized “€œ
they spake the word of God.”€

C. The Word was preached with boldness
“€œthey spake with boldness.”

(1 Cor 1:18 KJV)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God
.

4. The New Testament Church Was A Church of Grace.

A. There was an abundance of grace “€œgreat grace was upon them all.” God’€™s grace is needed in this hour. We have the promise of God’s grace being available to us to share with our world.


(Rom 5:20 KJV)  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

The  church today still has a message of God’s amazing grace to share with a lost world.  Look at where God brought you from. Look at what He is doing in your life.  He can do it again.  He can and will do it for others.

B. Grace and love prevailed, they “€œwere of one heart and of one soul.”

5. The New Testament Church Was A Church of Generosity.

A. Sharing was a natural grace “Neither was there any among them that lacked.”€

B. Their giving was an outward expression.  

Conclusion:

The church is the body of Christ, and the members of the body of Christ are the only one in all of God’€™s creation that are breathed upon, inspired, anointed, and moved upon by the Holy Spirit.  Our challenge today is to be the continuation of that New Testament church today.

 

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