Title: Running the Race and Winning it
Text:
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Introduction
If you were to go into a sports shop, you will find a great variety of sports equipments, ranging from sport shirts, rackets and shoes.
The more expensive the equipments, the lighter it is. I remembered when I started playing badminton at the age of about six, I had my Aeroplane brand racket which was made of a wooden head and a steel shaft. Then when I was about ten, I was given my first yonex carbonex 3 made of a wooden head and a carbon graphite shaft. Now rackets are manufactured lighter and lighter from Titanium to Nano.
Players preferred lighter rackets so that they will not get tired so fast in the course of the match or race. The runner today have lighter clothings, which are able to evaporate perspiration quickily so that it will not add to the weight of the shirt. Shoes are made lighter so that runners do not feel the weight of the shoes.
The Apostle Paul the great spiritual runner said that to run the race well and finish it, we need to lay aside every weight.
This evening I want to share with you the different weights which you should unload from your life in order to finish the race.
1. Your pre-Christian experiences create baggage in your race.
John 10:10
10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
By the time you became a believer, the devil would already have created much damage in your life. He desires to destroy you and bring you to hell together with him.
When I first became a believer, I was carrying a lot of baggage. While I knew that I was saved and that God loves me, there are loads of things in my life that needed to be sorted out. I could not grow as a believer until I begin to dropped the baggage which I was carrying.
God led me through a house cleansing process, before the chains that tied me to the baggage were finally cut away.
2. The first major baggage which needs to be removed is the:
a. The baggage of Hurts and Rejection
Proverbs 17:
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 18:
14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But a broken spirit who can bear?
The bible says that a broken heart or when you have hurts in your life it dries up your very life. A broken heart is worse than physical sickness.
Many young people today carry within them a great amount of hurts and rejection.
These hurts arises out from family situations.
- A lot of young people felt that their parents are only concern about their school results.
- Some are hurt because they felt that favoritism is shown in the family.
- A lot of young people felt that their parents have no time for them.
- Broken families where parents divorce.
- Abusive families.
Hurts can developed because of Friendship or BGR.
Hurts can develop out of bad childhood experiences or even when you in your mother’s womb.
Hurts and Rejection hinders you in the Race. Why?
Hurts develops into bitterness and bitterness eats you up.
Hurts affects the way you see God and often caused you to question God’s love for you.
Hurts often causes one to develop a low self esteem, thus paralyzing you.
Hurts steal away joy from your heart and instead produces an inner pain which is unbearable.
b. Jesus came to heal the broken hearted.
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Romans 5:5
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
c. Steps to releasing the weight of Hurts.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the hurts in your heart.
- Forgive the person who hurt you. (Matt 18:23-35)
- Ask God to heal the hurts in your heart.
- Renew your mind. Accept that situations will remain.
Conclusion
Are you weigh down by baggages of hurts, unforgiveness and bitterness. These not only will slow you down in your race, it will eventually cause you to drop out completely.
Come to Jesus, honestly this evening. He is the healer of your hearts and he will heal you as long as you are willing to open your hearts to Him.
