Run the Race
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/11/2014 PM |
Text: | Hebrews 12:1 |
Psalters: | 226, 232, 247, 326 |
Applicatory to the Lord's Supper |
- That we run.
- The figure is of a foot race ? cross-country type as ran in the Grecian games.
- The runners had a definite goal to reach: the victor?s crown.
- The contestants would prepare themselves for this race, enduring the necessary pain.
- On the day of the race they exerted themselves to the utmost on the prescribed course.
- The spiritual reality is the spiritual race toward the prize of heaven in which every elect believer runs.
- The child of God is given to see that he is regenerated unto a living hope for an inheritance reserved in heaven: eternal life!
- Thus our purpose does not end at death, but is rather then realized completely.
- Some cautions.
- The figure is of a foot race ? cross-country type as ran in the Grecian games.
- How we are to run.
- The ?cloud of witnesses? evidenced right running in their lives, when they consciously lived ?by faith.?
- We are to live our lives dominated by the high purpose of reaching the goal the Father promises His children.
- We are reveal ourselves to be God?s children (like His Son) in every sphere of life.
- We are to exert ourselves strenuously fighting the battle of faith in order to attain this glorious goal.
- We are to work out our own salvation, denying ourselves whatever might hinder us from to goal of serving our God.
- Those in this race are willing, in order to reach the goal, to lay aside all that is non-essential.
- We are to ?lay aside every weight.?
- Also we are to lay aside ?the sin which doth so easily beset us,? i.e., each of us have a kind of sin we easily fall into.
- We are to run with ?patience.?
- Do not be discouraged, but persevere to go through this life and to do so patiently.
- Patience is the activity of enduring, continuing to put forth every effort, because we know Christ is with us.