Run to Win

This is Hans Schild from the finishing well podcast on finishing well.

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Your chosen Truth Network podcast starting in just seconds. Enjoy share but most of all, thank you for listening and choosing the truth. Podcast network. This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill. Do you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that.

Do you feel like your efforts to reach God.

Find God, and please God, you, do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local tribal ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose.

You can visit us online@findingpurpose.net or connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious to the Lord in prayer followed like night like you Lord for the men who come to live and I pray Lord that you just bless them for being here blesses all for being here.

Lord I know that you are here with us, Lord, without you we would be wasting our time and Laura need you as much to buy this room tonight.

I just ask you Lord to cause me to decrease appraisal that the war to give and they that you would empower them because laureth is just my words again the following deaf ears. But if you empower these words. Lord, they were not only fall on the ear still listening to the penetrate down into the deepest recesses of their hearts and minds and souls. And I pray Lord that you will draw all men to yourself tonight that you would open our eyes and help us to see you but who you really are is in your name that I pray, amen, are tonight. We are taught to believe that where the end of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 13 the start of Hebrews having title. Tonight's message run to win someone to pick pick up on the thing from last week when I talk about how the Christian life is the greatest race of all time. This race, as you probably know, is not a Sprint it's what a marathon. If I did pick one word to characterize what it takes to win this race. It would be toward endurance cement to endure the Christian life, a man we must be willing to undergo hardship without given in. This is why Jesus said anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me. Cannot be one of my disciples. What you do across you have to doubt yourself and us. It can be very painful. Following Jesus is not easy to guess what it was never meant to be and that brings us to Hebrews chapter 13 certificate valves in turn would get Hebrews 13 if not already there.

Listen in these closing verses of this incredible book, how to give you six egg exhortations or encouragements on how to run this race with endurance man said it. Listen when you not cross the finish line. We will have run the race to win the prize and will who others were from trees that say what well done. So first we must endure within our hearts. In other words, we must keep the affections of a horse in tune with God's heart is like stoking the fire. We want our hearts to be continuously burning for the objects of God's passion to look at verses one through six of the NIV reads like this keep on loving one another as brothers do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing. Some people have entertained angels without knowing it, continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in person and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering merit should be honored by all in the marriage bed Pure for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral, keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God is said never will I leave you never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence the Lord is my helper, I would not be afraid. What can mere mortals due to me the look in verse one, the writer says keep on other translations say it like this letter remain the idea is that this bond of love in the very early church was in danger of being severed. Thus, the writer of Hebrews is in exhorting us followers of Jesus to continue that is depressing to endure in this brotherly love the great war the shoe. This is Philadelphia the US, the city of brotherly love.

We are brothers in Christ, and we're going to live forever in heaven, and therefore we need to love each other because were part of one big spiritual family in Hebrews chapter 11 we read all the stuff about faith. The theme of Hebrews chapters 12 was hope. The theme of this chapter is love, especially brotherly love, Paul writes in first Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13 and now these three remain faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is what love the greatest trait the world should see in believers is their love for one another. If I this with early church was known for unbelievers marveled at their love for one another, but that word also see these as we love them we'd have a love for those who don't know Christ, so that they will be drawn to Christ to see the love that we have for them. John 13 verses 34 and 35. Here Jesus is a new command I give you love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you do what love one another.

How do we show our love towards others were first one ways to be kind to strangers. And apparently sometimes you might just be showing kindness to a real angel.

This is not all she would be kind of strange but we should visit those in prison. We need to love what God loves God, love strangers, he left prisoners and he loves the family he loves the institution of marriage, and he considers it holy. So if you are true follower of Jesus, then then you must honor the institution of marriage.

This makes this the single man should not have sex before they get married and married men must remain pure in both their actions and in their thoughts.

We as followers of Christ must remain pure with our bodies, our minds and our sagacity. Five bloated in one place of never physically commit adultery against my wife, but in in my mind. We all have. We would all men struggle with this thing called luster would not.

I've got a book that every man should read is entitled every man's battlements of that struggle with her eyes understand male hormones and the desire for sexual intimacy are sex drive was given to us by God is a gift, but he wants us to use it the way he wants us to use it the way he's told us how to use it in his word and the reason he wants us to use it.

The sex drive, the way that he intended for us to use it is said, it will have joy and peace and would do it in a healthy manner. That's one of the ways that God wants to protect us this way gives us his word so that we will obey his laws and his commands, not because it's a task. But there they are, so that we will enjoy life. We live in a world right now where there's an all-out assault on the institution of marriage. If you notice this divorce among believers is no different than divorce among unbelievers that's a try to listen if you sit here tonight. Divorce is not the unpardonable sin we are all sinners but is not God's best at what God intended when he created the institution of marriage in Genesis chapter 2 verse 24. By the way marriage was the first institution of God created.

This is what he says in Genesis. For this reason a man how many man one a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his what one wife, and they will become one flesh notices is one man and one woman, and that is how God defines marriage you get the point, who created it. Who gets to say what it is. As I got news for you.

If is any other combination of whatever is not marriage is not, you can say they're married but is not marriage it is not done according to God's plan in Matthew chapter 19 verses four through six. When Jesus was being questioned about divorce, he said, haven't you read in the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and sit for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. So they're no longer two, but what one. Therefore God has joined together, let man not separate. We live in a country that has completely lost its spiritual morning I get this thing. I get this article.

Everyday, daily article is written by Dr. Jim Dennison Google it.

The daily article you can subscribe to it. It just comes in your email didn't cost anything. This morning I read this… Dennison share the story Ian Jenkins and his partners, Alan and Jeremy and is that three were recently named the legal parents of two children.

The babies were conceived through an egg donor into surrogate mothers. The scene and article details the story calls them one extraordinary household cannot be more upbeat in affirming it clearly advocates for culture in which he pronounces Polly Armory Polly Armory government worker to support what I pronounce it good. What I said is what it is is the practice of engaging in multiple romantic and typically sexual relationships and is considered normal and that any kind of family that they create and that they think they should be free to create any kind of family wall and raise children as they wish. So this is what is happening in our country when you got three men who marry each other live together in the adopted children in Romans one pulses three times that God gives us over to our sinful desires. In verse 24.

Paul says therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of the other bodies with one another. So his approach and understand God. God's given our nation over three times in the first time he gives is over is to what we would call natural sin. This is what God did, I believe in America during the 1950s and 60s free love, Playboy magazine he gives over to natural sin, but it was at least natural. However, we continued down the downspout in verses 26 and 27 again in Romans one, Paul says, because of this, God gave them over to shameful lust. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. In the 1990s I believe that's all the time frame when God gave our nation over to unnatural, shameful, indecent and perverted sin. Unfortunately, America continue down this downward spiral. We get to verse 28 in Romans one pulses.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave him a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Welcome to America in 2021. What happened to our country will began back in the early 1900s when reason replaced. Revelation is a source of truth, the joy that when reason replaced the scientific method. If you can't prove it, then you must be Troy reason well you will reason you want God's revelation. See without the revelation of God's word we begin to drift and then in the 1950s and six churches began just a question God's word and stop preaching the entire counsel of God of the Bible, we begin to skip over those verse that Mike is uncomfortable. The culture began to invade the church rather than the church inviting the culture. Thus, in the 1980s and 90s we began to sacrifice truth on the altar of tolerance and then a 2000 would begin to sacrifice tolerance on the altar of full acceptance and now if you don't accept what the cult what the culture says is the truth. What the media says the truth and what many torso putting forth is the truth and you will get canceled and you become bigots and so many of us who preach the truth of God's word will be arrested and a large garden here one anybody else. I guess if I get in rusted Wayne and Bob never come get me out you not. I got claustrophobia welcome give you a quick this sad this door we live in. So what are we to do part number two. We must endure by the truth of God's word. Look at Hebrews 13. Nine do not be carried away by all accounts of strange teachings, most mainline churches have abandoned the truth of Scripture and her teaching strange doctrines recently. Sometime last year I listen to the sermon of a young hip minister of a very public church here in Raleigh.

In essence, he implied this. I'm not making this stuff up. He implied that Jesus never really said you must be born again to a church full of young people who just took it hook line and sinker. And yet I did this I listen to the sermon carefully.

I had Jim break.

Listen to have other people listen to what he did about twisting and redefining the words of John three so they can of what he said, seem to make sense to what he said the great war for again is is nothing I say pronounce it on nothing that you know you TH in any case, it means from the top of the veil above.

Technically, he's right, but also means again who knew it meant again. Nicodemus that's why said how can a man in his mother's womb. Having times twice, you must be what born twice again from above. The Greek word another means both again and another is a total half-truth in his whole conversation about Intuit Paul Whorton second Timothy four verses three through five for the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths what he said was a myth, but you man, I'm telling you to keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Talking to Timothy he's talking to me because that's what I do not preach the word of God and I got news for you.

I'm going to keep preaching the truth until somebody comes in interest may not of preaching to the jail. That's what excitement we live in such a time when the truth has been exchange for a lie. Romans 121 and 22 says, for although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, futile and their foolish hearts talking although they claim to be wise, they became fools exchange the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore this regard begin to give us over would begin exchange the truth of God for law.

Our nation has done this. We have so to the wind. Now we should expect what the whirlwind and I can say our nation, some profit, but is so obvious we are under God's judgment. Can you not see it in the only hopeless, I'm not.

I'm not a look at the glass half full.

I'm a very optimistic positive person. I always have been and I still am, but the only hope our country is and it begins with us is what we have to repent. As believers and return to God and ask his forgiveness. So, how we as men to live in this fallen world, how we gonna run this race when it first, we must endure within our hearts. We must keep our hearts pure and will fire for the things of God.

And second, we must endure by the truth in John 831 and 32 Jesus said to the Jews who believed him. If you hold to my teachings you're really my disciples, are you holding to his teachings. If you're one of his disciples. Then he said then you know the truth and the truth of what set you free.

In John 1460s his disciples. I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the father except through me. Do believe this what you willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus.

With every ounce of your being. Are you willing to even die for these truths will living in a world where men and women are dying for these truths to show that right now. Persecution is wrapping up everywhere and is coming here.

Are you ready for this is common and listen to more and more the persecution comes here.

The more you will see who the real Christians are. Are you ready art. Third, we must endure about loving not to think of this world, but the things that will last forever.

The things of God and his kingdom. Look at verse five keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God is said, that will alleviate never will I forsake you. When we as believers come to really understand that this world is not our home, and that when we die we take nothing with us and that alone should lead us men to fix our eyes on heavenly things on the finish line, not so functional things as world, I believe God blesses man financially, this not a prosperity gospel, but I believe you blesses man financially when he sees that they are blessing others with what he's given them when they are good stewards, you could still work number four. We must endure the disgrace of Christ.

Look at verse 11 and 13, the high priest carries the blood of animals into the most holy Place is a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp and so Jesus also suffered where outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us then go where to him outside the camp bearing the disgrace, he bore what is it mean when he says the disgrace of Christ. Why was Jesus carried outside the city of Jerusalem to be executed when Jews associate holiness and purity with places so is outside the city where the unclean was dealt with the holiest place, of course, was the temple but the city of Jerusalem was also considered holy.

That meant that certain things should take place within the city walls everything impure should be done at settle taken their at the time of Jesus. Some Jews known as the Essenes even forbade that the date it was against the law for them or gets their practices to defecate within the city so they had to hike 3000 cubic outside the city, which is about a mile just use the bathroom. Jews also considered. As you know anyone who was hung on a tree to be under God's judgment and so the cross was despicable to them.

Someone dying on the cross was repulsive when Jesus went out, saw the city to be nailed to a tree. He bore disgrace was meant he took our shame, our disgrace upon himself to his.

The question we have to ask ourselves, are we willing to go outside the city away from everything that we hold dear to bear his shame upon ourselves.

Are you willing to do that you want to be despised for the sake of Christ.

What you willing to leave the safety of your comfortable life. I have to ask, listen, I'm looking in the mirror. God's lived a very comfortable life is ridiculous have come from a life is been and are really willing to leave it to follow Jesus never really left it. See the more closely what would Jesus and identify yourself with him.

The more you should expect to feel the disgrace of the world towards you. All you willing to be known as one of Jesus followers.

Are you really is easy in here not easy out there in Matthew 10 Jesus says whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my father in heaven. There's a price to follow Jesus you want the player number five almost done. We must endure by prayer. Look at verse 8 to 19, pray for us. We sure that we have a clear constant desire to live honorably in every way however tickly order to price and I may be treated restore to you soon there to the two most important disciplines in a Christian's life of prayer and read the Bible and on about you, but every time I try to do both of those is one of those that you find your mind get distracted to Satan what you doing his will through everything a distraction if you can. And the reason he didn't want to do it big. He knows that when you read God's word you will understand his will and when you pray it's powerful is effective. James 56 is the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. When you get down on your knees like this and pray you think you have God's attention.

These listen to everything that comes out of your mouth. Listen, you won't have your prayers answered the need to pray according to God's will have you know God's will read the Bible you read it and it is what is this first John five 1415 this is the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us and if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have. We asked of him solicited. He got these big demagogues word to begins to change the way you think, you begin to understand what God's will and this is not about your life being like a bed of roses is about his glory and the advancement of his kingdom and it changes the way you pray select tell you this. If you're praying according to God's will and you can ask for anything and he'll give you exactly what you asked for. Finally, we must endure by keeping our eyes on the finish line. Look at verse 14 for here we do not have an endurance city, here on this earth but we looking for the city that is to come, when the writer says that that we do not have an endurance city means that we are just going back to this truth that we are aliens and strangers here this week we have no continuing city that is there's no permanent Association with any earthly thing so we have to be like Abraham and have our gaze fixed on the one see this coming the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God's justice approaching a picture of what Harris is on closing.

Did you know that one day.

Right now Christians are disgraced all throughout the world digit is coming a day when Scully flipped around and Christians will become the envy of the world and God will take away all of the disgrace to Christians of born and he will wipe every tear from the eyes of those who suffered how I know this because I've read the Bible Isaiah chapter 25 talks about this coming day. Listen to what he says, verse 69 Isaiah 25 on this mountain is talk about the wedding supper, the Lamb on this mountain.

That's the master there in Jerusalem. We will gather one day on this mountain, the Laurel money will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples is all believers a banquet of aged wine the best of meets in the finest of wines on this mountain, he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all nations the sheet that covers all nations. He will swallow up death forever.

Huggett is unsound. The sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces, he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth, how we know this because this is the Lord has spoken, and if he says it you can believe it, and that day they will say, surely this is our God we trust in him, who would be looking at what we say that Jesus surely Jesus you are God, Jesus, we trusted in you. Let us rejoice and be glad in our salvation. I'm looking for that day. The second last verse in the Bible says yes on coming soon. Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus, man is coming soon. We want to endure a band of brothers we need each other. Pray for each other study God's word together with you doing this 18th year I will tell doing this until I die of you guessed it with me.

Heavenly father, thank you for your word. Thank you for your truth, Lord, give us the strength to endure, help us to love you more and more every day.

Lord I pray that our hearts would burn with the things that burn in your heart and now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you, men with everything good for doing his will and he met and that he work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, and the glory forever and being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders, a local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net.

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