Sabbath School Class Week 17

Sabbath School Class Week 17

Happy Sabbath everyone.  I wish I could be there this Sabbath, because I miss you and the class, but more than anything I LOVE this study.  I am at the Youth Rally at Mount Pisgah Academy.  What a blessing it was to sit in a tent with 300 people all praising God and singing, "I need you".  Have you ever needed something so bad, hurt for something, and then... someone came a long at the perfect moment and gave you exactly the assistance or help you needed.  As we sang that song tonight, I kept thinking about the many times that I have cried out to Jesus, "I need you".  My heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for what he has done and is doing in my life! 

READ Hebrews 12: 1

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, is referring to whom.  What did we just read about in Chapter 11.  It was all the greats.  The men and women of faith.  Those who kept going even when they never realized the promises.  So since we have been surrounded by them.  Since we know about them.  Since we have studied them and understand them....  

Let us what? 

Throw off somethings.  Let us try to let go of some of the stuff. NOPE!  Not some.  It is all!!!! Throw off EVERYTHING that does what? _________________________.

Hinder what?__________________________________

and sin that entangles....

This whole chapter lets us know we have a part to play in this faith relationship.  Faith, is so important!  Faith is believing even when we don't see.  Faith is resting.  Yet having faith is not just something we think or feel. Faith is something we do.  

1.  We look at the faithful in the bible.  Be inspired by their faith.

2.  Throw off everything that hinders that faith.

3.  Throw off sin that entangles.

None of this will be easy but it is our part.  Our privilege. 

The next part of this passage refers to this process as a race.  I once ran a half marathon.  Perhaps the most difficult experience ever.  Many things play into the struggle, an injury being one of them.  However the struggle, the work it took to finish that race was so worth every painful moment when I crossed the finish line. Running a race is a long and at times daunting task, but here we are challenged to run it with what?

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READ verse 2-3

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We have the lists of faithful giants to read and study listed in Chapter 11, yet no one... No example is greater than that of Jesus himself.  He was the "perfecter of faith".  All he went through, the race he was willing to run, the sin he was willing to not partake in... all for you!

Read this passage again in the message.  

1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

We have all been given a task.  We have all been challenged to do our part.  We can remember the bible stories to gain strength but most importantly let's keep our eyes on Jesus, let's study how he lived.  Know Him!  That is how we are going to have faith.  That is how we are going to run this race! 

Does your faith need a shot of adrenaline?

Are you drowning in doubt?

Is sin taking over?

This week our challenge will be to 

- do our part!  

- keep our eyes on Jesus!

-let go of sin!

-keep our eyes on Jesus!

-keep our eyes on Jesus!

Listen to the song one more time!  If we are to have faith- we need HIM!