.  Living Hope Fellowship Church....Sermons by the Pastor 

THE RACE OF FAITH

by Jonathan Rentfro (03/01/06)

Brother Rentfro has a street outreach ministry to young people in our area

            Psalm 119:32 says, “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”

            Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “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, 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.”

            The picture set before us is that of a race.  The names have been entered, but the course has yet to be run.  This is exactly the position of many of the Hebrews to whom this letter was addressed.  They had professed their faith, but had not yet made any forward move.  Indeed, some, seeing the formidable length of the course, the stiffness of the gradient, and the hindrances along the way, were about to withdraw.

            Because of this Paul drew their attention to the men and women of faith (Hebrews, Chapter 11) who rose up in difficult circumstances and did awesome powerful works through their faith in God. Their lives testify to us that we can press toward the finish line and make it all the way!

            What is the race?  It is the purpose and plan that God has for your life.  In Acts 26:19 Paul said, “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”  In other words Paul was saying, “I’ll do what God wants me to do.  No matter what happens, whether I am beaten or tortured, or if there is a ship wreck, I will fulfill the purpose and plan Jesus has for my life.”

            This race is a relay race.  After the torch lighting ceremony at the Olympics, the torch is carried by one person, passed to another, and then another.  Those in Hebrews, Chapter 11, passed the torch of faith on to the next generation.  God wants to raise you up to pass the torch of faith to this generation.  In Acts 2:17 He said He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.  I challenge you to step up to the line to begin the race to fulfill your destiny.  Note that it won’t happen without a struggle.

            Teenagers think God does not want to use them.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken hostage by an evil king.  They were taken out of their land to Babylon, which is now called Iraq!  God used them to change the heart of that king.  These three teenagers said they would not bow to the king’s idol.  Daniel 3:16-18 says, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

            This gold plated image was awesome on the outside, glistening and shimmering in the summer sun, but on the inside it was worthless, empty, and made of cheap metal.  Today there is another type of false golden image being erected that pulls at the lives of teenagers.  It says, “You’ve got to bow down to the next trend and the next fad.  You’ve got to bow down to the music industry and the MTV generation.  That image comes with premarital sex and drugs and alcohol.  On the outside it looks pleasurable and fun, but on the inside it is cheap and worthless!

            The enemy is out to hinder your run, but God has an answer for every temptation of the devil.  God’s answer for drinking is Ephesians 5:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”  God’s answer for sexual purity is 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 which says, “Flee fornication. . . .”  God’s remedy for bad relationships is found in Proverbs 4:23.   The devil brings people into your life to influence you against living for God.  Remember Samson.  Pain from the past can hinder you.  Joseph named his firstborn son, Manasseh, which means “called to forget”.  One preacher said it really means, “Past, Shut Up”,  so forgive and go on. 

© Living Hope Fellowship, Inc.
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