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Discipline of the Lord Mg 4
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      • Hebrews 12:2–3NIV2011

  • The Discipline of the Lord – Trained by Grace
    Message 4
    Hebrews 12:2

    Run for Your Life Part 4

    Fix Your Eyes on Jesus! 

    I love you Jesus.
    When I pray.
    I will sometimes repeat I love you Jesus three times.
    Like Peter, I too am a sinner under the burden of shame and guilt
    For me saying that is my way of releasing that shame.
    Jesus paid for my sin and I want nothing more than a love relationship with Him.
    So, I tell Him, but mostly I want to show Him.
    Without Him
    Galatians 2:20 (CSB) — 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
    Galatians 2:20 CSB
    I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
    There is no power within us to run the race.
    There is a race set before us.
    To finish this race well…
    We must fix our eyes on Jesus.
    We have already seen.
    We must throw off everything that hinders.
    We must deal seriously with the sin that entangles.
    God marks out the race—we don't ask God to join our plans.
    Running the race requires endurance. (Endurance comes from the testing of our faith)
    We do all the right things to prepare for the race and the struggles we will face.
    The believer’s race is not about striving harder. It’s about trusting more.

    Look at Who Jesus Is

    Fixing our eyes.
    “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” Hebrews 12:2a
    Hebrews 12:2 NIV
    …Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
    Satan uses distraction as a tool.
    There are plenty of things competing for our attention:
    The list is endless.
    Peter walks on the water
    The disciples see Jesus on the water (They are terrified)
    Don’t be afraid Jesus says.
    Peter says, “Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water.” Matthew 14:28  
    He comes but then something happens.
    He moves his eyes from Jesus to the storm raging around him.
    Jesus says: “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
    Sometimes the circumstances don't need to change nearly as much as where we're looking needs to change.
    Hebrews 12:2 NIV
    …Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
    Jesus is the pioneer of faith
    We looked last time at how Jesus was the trailblazer of faithfulness.
    He demonstrated perfect obedience and trust in the Father
    Unlike Peter, there was no doubt.
    He ran the race to perfection.
    We don't just imitate Jesus; we depend upon Jesus.
    Turn your eyes to Jesus – Fix your eyes on Him

    Look at What Jesus Did

    Endured

    “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame”.  Hebrews 12:2
    Hebrews 12:2 NIV
    For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame.
    There’s that word again
    We talk about the struggles we face in life.
    I don’t want to make light of them.
    Look to Jesus and the cross and that can help put things in another perspective.
    The brutality of the cross is unimaginable to our modern minds.
    Jesus even prayed, asking the Father to spare him of what was coming.
    Romans 5:8 (NIV) — 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
    Romans 5:8 NIV
    But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
    The weight of our sins lay on His shoulders.
    The stored-up wrath of God was poured out on Jesus that day.
    “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LordAlmighty.” Isaiah 6:5, NIV.
    Isaiah 6:5 NIV
    “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
    Fixing our eyes on Jesus.
    Beyond the cross

    “For the joy set before Him.”

    I didn’t really understand this at first, but here is what this means
    The cross was real – but that’s not the end.
    Beyond the cross stood:

    The resurrection

    Victory over sin

    Victory over death

    Redemption – John 3:16 – Romans 5:8

    The Gospel – the Good news.

    Jesus knew the suffering was coming.
    But he also knew the “JOY” that came after the suffering.
    It may look like what you are going through is the worst pain you have ever felt.
    Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 NKJV
    Psalm 30:5 NKJV
    Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
    Life is not the 100-yard dash. It’s a marathon
    Right now, is the only hell you will ever know.  
    Some of you this is the only heaven you will know
    Fix your eyes on Jesus and get running.

    Scorning its Shame

    The crucifixion wasn’t merely designed to kill a person.
    It was meant to humiliate them also.
    Modern art shows Jesus with a loincloth but he was most likely completely naked.
    “After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” Matthew 27:35, NLT.
    Matthew 27:35 NLT
    After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
    Jesus endured the shame and guilt of our sins.
    Bring your shame and guilt to the cross. It’s been paid for.

    Look at Where Jesus Is

    The right hand.
    “Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:2, NLT.
    Hebrews 12:2 NLT
    Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
    He sat down in the place of honor.
    His work is finished.
    “8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,” Philippians 2:8–9, CSB.
    Philippians 2:8–9 CSB
    he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

    The Name Above Every Name.

    Look what it says next.
    “10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10–11, CSB.
    Philippians 2:10–11 CSB
    so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
    One day you will bow a knee to that name.
    Will you bow as friend or foe.

      • Galatians 2:20NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:2NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:2NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:2NIV2011

      • Romans 5:8NIV2011

      • Isaiah 6:5NIV2011

      • John 3:16–Romans 5:8NIV2011

      • Psalm 30:5NIV2011

      • Matthew 27:35NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:2NIV2011

      • Philippians 2:8–9NIV2011

      • Philippians 2:10–11NIV2011

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