Keep Running

October 21, 2007 by PastorMark.

#291, Keep Running, Sunday, 10-21-2007, Pastor Mark Boucher

Text: Hebrews 12:1-3, 2 Peter 1:5-8
Theme: Becoming like Jesus takes perseverance.

INTRODUCTION:

1. The Bible compares a Christian’s live to running in a race.
   1. Question: Have any of you jogged, run cross country or a marathon?
   2. Question: What is the most important trait or quality of a runner?
   3. Text 1: Hebrews 12:1-3
2. Perseverance (hypomeno) staying power, patience, the ability to remain and not give up.
   1. Peter was giving a list of character qualities of Jesus. Perseverance follows self-control.
   2. Text 2: 2 Peter 1:5-8
   3. These character qualities are “to be added to your faith.” (v5 – “make every effort to add”)
3. Spiritual formation doesn’t “just happen” without us.
   1. I’ve been running for years, it wasn’t easy or automatic.
   2. I could think about it, read about it, watch others … but to benefit I had to put the sneakers on.

Becoming like Jesus takes perseverance.
What are the most important practices of perseverance in my own life?

1. Persevere in the Word of God. (Keep running with God’s Word)
   1. Question: How do you and I persevere in the will of God?
   2. See the value of the Word of God.
   3. This Book is filled with prophecy.
   4. This Book is proven accurate by archeology.
   5. This Book has the onslaught of antagonists. The mountain attacked by ants still stands. Critics come and critics go, the Word lives forever.
   6. This Book has the power to change a life.
   7. We are saved after hearing the Word.
   8. We are enabled “to participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world.” 2 Peter 1:4
   9. Persevere in hearing the Word.
   10. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
   11. Motivate yourself to hear and listen.
   12. Jesus said, Be careful how you hear.
   13. Hebrews tells us, “we must pat more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1
   14. Perseverance 101 … be found with God’s people.
   15. Persevere in reading the Word.
   16. “It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of the law …” Deuteronomy 18:19
   17. Read every day. (Keep a record in your Bible)
   18. Daily reading is like daily washing or a shower.
   19. “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word.” Ephesians 5:26
   20. Persevere in keeping God’s Work.
   21. “Because thou has kept the Word of my patience, I also will keep thee …” – Revelations 3:10
   22. We don’t have to be ashamed of God and His Word in this immoral nation.
2. Persevere in prayer.
   1. “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1
   2. The Word of God without prayer is not enough.
   3. People with the Word can be cruel, unkind, cold.
   4. Prayer enables us to experience “knowledge on fire.”
   5. Why is it hard to persevere in prayer?
   6. God is unseen; prayer requires faith.
   7. Prayer is hard on our ego.
   8. How do we persevere in prayer?
   9. Schedule an appointment with God everyday.
   10. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
   11. Pray as you walk through life.
   12. Adam and Eve walked with God until they sinned.
   13. Jesus, by His blood, bought back what Adam took.
   14. Pray with others …
   15. “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer.” Acts 4:24

CONCLUSION:

The best part of running – the end.
Finish well.

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