Running Your Race

RUNNING YOUR RACEHeb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. First I want to Thank God for every person in here tonight, for every born again believer in Christ. When we first asked Christ into our hearts, what took place inside each of us? 2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. We were made partakers of Christ’s divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world. As a result of this, what happened, what was the change that took place?2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Praise the Lord that we have become New Creatures, Amen, we are no longer of this world. Catch what it also says, it doesn’t say SOME things became new, and the rest you’ll have to struggle with, it says ALL things became new. Praise God.So, now that we have established that, let me ask you, now that we are new creatures in Christ, do we still run with our old crowd of friends, who tries to tell us that Jesus isn’t cool anymore, that Jesus is dead, and that we are just Jesus freaks? Do we still run with the crowd that bids us to go with them, and have fellowship with them in nightclubs and bars, drinking alcohol, and getting drunk? Do we carry on as if we were not followers of righteousness?Lets see what the Word says.Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. We must choose where we stand, what side are we on? Whom do you serve? 1 John 2:16 The world really is the devil’s playground! As a Child of God, there is no place for you there anymore. Don’t give the devil a foothold, don’t give him a chance. We must live our lives as Children of the Most High God, separated from darkness.Just as God led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, So He has led us out of Egypt. Egypt is symbolic of the world as we know it today. So How do we run this race that is set before us?1) Once you have come out of Egypt, don’t go back in.Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 2) Live by Faith in what Christ accomplished for youGal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Stop struggling, start confessing you are crucified with Christ, and confess the life which YOU now live in the flesh YOU live by the faith in the Son of God who loved YOU and gave Himself for YOU.This is powerful, if you allow it to go down deep into your spirit. It will change your life.3) Renew Your Mind DailyRom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. We renew our minds by getting into the Word of God daily, and by staying in there. Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Just as your physical body needs nourishment every day, so does your inner spirit man. The part of you that was made new in Christ, you need to feed that inner man daily, and you feed it the Word of God. Then you will start to produce good fruits.Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. The Word of God sets us free, so by staying in the Word it will keep you free of bondage.Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Fall in love with the Word, there is nothing sweeter.Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth4) Practice the Word Daily.Jam 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Its not enough to only read it, act on it, do it, LIVE IT.Did you know that sometimes, YOU, are the only Bible another person might read?5)Pray Everyday1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Keep that fellowship between you and your God strong, and open. If there is any sin in the way, take it to God, confess it, repent of it, and get it out of the way so you can run your race.Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Who says God is boring? Amen?6)Remember your first loveRev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Don’t forget where you were when Jesus found you, and don’t forget what a great Savior He is. Protect the tenderness you have towards the Lord, and keep that fire burning inside of you.7)Keep yourself stirred up.1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. There may come a day when there is no pastor to call, and no prayer warrior to answer your call, but you feel really down, and defeated. If you decide to have a pity party, only two will attend- you and the devil, so do what David did, he got himself together, pulled himself up on his feet, and declared that he was going to encourage himself in the Lord his GOD!I encourage you tonight, whatever it is that gets you excited, hymns, praise music, shouting praises to God, whatever it is, do it, keep yourself excited for Jesus. Don’t let things get dull and boring. Encourage yourself in the Lord every day.Lastly, 8) Keep your eyes on Jesus.Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Don’t look to a preacher, or another person, they will fail you every time. Jesus won’t ever fail you or leave you, nor forsake you. Keep your eyes only on Him.Don’t even look to your circumstance. Don’t look at the wind and the waves, just keep focused on Jesus. Remember this, when everything has gone wrong around you, look out, there is a miracle waiting to happen. Expect it.Closing now, I encourage all of you, me included, to keep running our race that is set before us. We all have something to run for, and we all have SOMEONE to run for! The world is watching us run! That person you have prayed salvation for, is watching you run. So if you ever get tired and you don’t want to run for yourself anymore, then run for that person you’ve been praying salvation for, because they are watching. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,We have a cloud of witnesses who’ve gone on before us, watching us too, cheering us on. They are cheering for you tonight, can you hear them? Keep running your race.Amen___________Written by TheLionessEnriching His Kingdom