The Life Before You - Part 2

Welcome to the intense podcast with Charles Stanley for Tuesday, October 5 is like a race in the Bible encourages believers to run with focus and determination here. The conclusion to a message that challenges you to take seriously the life before you.

When you think about life. What do you think about you wake up in the morning excited to meet the day you wake up in the morning thinking the worst thing the most difficult going on that I have to do is to get up because you don't want to face life. Let me ask you something else. What is why be to you what your real reason for living and people may give lots of reasons.

Lots of things about life your lame describe it in the 12th chapter of Hebrews. If you look there for just a moment the first three verses the writer of Hebrews compares life to something that I want us to look at and look at some very probing searching questions in your life today. He says the 12th chapter of Hebrews beginning in verse one. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which does so easily entangle laws and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. That is, grow weary and lose heart in the race in a list. The right of Hebrews has described life. Here is a race and he says let so run this race without the entanglements without encumbrances. This life of this race that is set before us that first of all is to look at the originator of this race send them examine two or three things here.

It is God who created you. It may be through human parents that you came but it is God who created you, he is the ultimate reason for your existence.

The day he created you with a purpose in mind, and all of your life has originated from him.

He's the one who brought you into this life. He's the one whose plan your life.

He's the one who is given a purpose for your life. He's the one is responsible for equipping you and giving you abilities and talents and gifts he's the one is put you in the environment, urine. He's the one is responsible for so much about your life. He's the originator of this whole race as he describes it here now. The reason Paul uses the word race is because his writers and writers of people that they they understood about the Olympic Games in the instrument games and so they be like the Olympics the day in the Super Bowl in this World Series and all the rest of a great sports enthusiast and so what he's saying in this passage is that our life is like a race and the one who originated this was God and the origin of the race. For every believer. The very beginning line where it all starts is the day you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior God at that day set you on the track and you see we not all running on the same truck there is a track for your life. There is a track for his life because usually we not competing with each other without trout trying to out run someone else. Not trying to overcome someone else we not trying to get anywhere before someone else gets there. He says that life is like a raise and the moment you were saved, he started you at the starting line and from that point on, God says you and I are to run that race. Well, this is what is talking about here. We talk to this 12 chapter about running the race a little to see what he says no one should notice the encouragement he gives is the inverse premises. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us.

Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin was not so easily entangle as let us run with endurance the race that is set before us noisy me when he says he talks about this great cloud of witnesses that surround us. There are those who believe that the all of our loved ones who pass on before the great saints of God are up in heaven there they just looking over the portals down on earth to see how we doing and encouraging is along well. I don't think you justify that the Scripture if it's a bit so that's fine.

But the truth of what he means is this that in the past God's great host of great saints who have been faithful to him what is referring to. Primarily, here's the whole 11th chapter of Hebrews and you recall, this chapter, it starts out by saying that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Then he says, by faith.

Men of old gained approval and he list the whole group of men. Here comes down to the end names a whole group together and what is referring to is the accomplishments of these but listen, it's interesting that twice in this chapter he says, and all these, having gained approval through their faith. That is, they were approved of God by their fate.

Now he says on the basis of that being surrounded by this great host of witnesses that is those who have proven faithful those who trusted God we have the lives of these great saints for the Joseph O'Daniel or David Jeremiah, Paula, Barnabas and Timothy. He says, surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses, this great host of the men who lived before his men women whose lives will inspire us and challenge us and encourage us to keep on being faithful in time of difficulty. Daniel, for example, the lines then David being chased by Saul Joseph being tracked and oftentimes misused all the Scripture, God's servants and God's saints in all types of difficulty sometimes climbing the mountain, sometimes hinder the ballot.

He says the host of great witnesses that God has given us. Should be an encouragement to the race that you and I running numbers. Everybody has their own track goddesses the life that the race that is set before us. The Christian life and their similarities, but your vocation, your temperament, your background, your equipment. All that's different. So the life that God has set before you.

We not in competition about else will have a look and see who's outrunning others getting ahead.

Listen, that if somebody getting a did you know from God's point of view. Nobody get ahead of you visit your own. Your track all by yourself you running the race that God has set before you. You not only in competition with other people you running the race to complete it in an area pleasing God and listen when we think about this great host of witnesses and the encouragement you think about how many people God to surround you to encourage you on the race all of us have needed encouragement. All of us had had come to those points in the race of life we think is no way for me to get over this hurdle and somebody says to his you can do it. I'm praying for you and I'm betting on your uncle be hanging in there with you.

I know you can do that when you get to that hurdle will you know you're up and over, and on your way and you never even lost your pay. The encouragement that all of us need in the race. The third thingamajig notice he says there is this. He's is laying aside every encumbrance and the sin which does so easily entangle as let us run with endurance the race that is set before. So here's what the word endurance means the word endurance is is a Greek word pupil Monet, which means to bear up under the pressure of something they understood what the writer of Hebrews was referring to a talk about endurance is that you can take a 20-year-old fellow and a 60-year-old man put them on the starting line of the race and when the gun goes off, they'll be pretty much together for about 6 feet maybe a little bit further than that not much more than what happens.

The 20-year-old he zone out there because his body is a little bit more pliable and flexible. What he's referring to here is not the speed but endurance you see a cross country runner. It is now fast he can run it's can he endure. Can he endure the leak of the race, he may start off first and the first for 500 yards, he may be well ahead but he can he endure to the end that is does he have the reserve strength. Does he have the energy, can he pace himself, does he know how to run that one right down to the finish line without crowding in only that he doesn't lose it all. He learns to endure and how does a man a woman learn to endure by struggle and strive and conflict and stretching. He learns in the training arena and you see these runners.

They were trained for years the wrong they trained their bodies to be able to endure all kinds of testing and trials and and the agonizing of running when every single cell of your body is crying out stop and you say, but I my friend. One thing that Frazier implied he wasn't sure was. Is this the Christian life is not easy. All of us have to learn to endure. Now watch this.

What he says. He says there's something else here, he says, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfected by faith that is not only is he our encourager, but he's our example is the Lord Jesus Christ who encourages us. He is our example and he is our enabler who is it that enables you to run. Listen how many times have you said God I can't take anymore. I just got I just can't go any further.

This is it got.

I just came on your knees in desperation when you follow the track and you lying prostrate crying out before God got.

I can't run up the steps I can take one more.

I just came doing God, what happens mysteriously, you find yourself getting up shaken all the dust and doing what you start walking and before long you not walking but you running the race and what's happening you're on your way again. Who do you think got you up when you cut down who you think keeps on enabling you when you think got.

I can't take anymore who keeps on surging your physical body, your emotions and your spirit with divine supernatural engine is Almighty God, the great Shepherd listen I want a there is somebody running along with you and that's Jesus friend you may be blurry, bruised, broken burden and thinking your heart. There's no way to take one more step, but I want Teresa listen to this coming to me all you that labor and are heavily give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me from meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest of your souls. I will tell you my friend where ever you are in the race right now there is somebody Jesus Christ. Who's there to assure you direct you provide for you enables you and encourage you if you just let him do it. Listen to what he says. The two things he said you not have to watch out for the race.

He says therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding as let us also watch this carefully lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which does so easily entangle us in the run. I watched what is in encumbrance and encumbrances. Anything that slows me down that hinders my Rondell people in those days were even the men wore long down the select address our their ankles when there's nothing wrong the ground to cover you up if you up if your purpose is being covered, but if you can run a race. You better get rid of. Again, functional run races and get you know what he saying there is a lot of people who are having a very difficult time in the race of the Christian life and one the primary reasons is they caring something with them that God never intended his with a can you imagine this fella come in the race and behind Mr. Little red wagon just full full of all the things that he prizes and so he's ready to go in here he goes down the track just running the truck pulling a little red wagon for of his valuable weed cement does know when the work list that's costing images, costing you time is no way for you to win the race is slowing you down is hindering you when you go around the curve. You got the slowdown because a little red wagon internal parties, but there you go pulling your little red wagon UK Medi-Cal and ask a question are you pulling your little red wagon behind you because you just you just can't let go of what got God's called you.

For example, to serve him in some form or fashion. And here you go and you wonder why things don't work at the because God never intended you to pull anything behind pieces laying aside these encumbrances know what's in encumbrance and compass can be something is not necessarily a sin.

It becomes a sin when God says get rid of it. There's some things in life are not sin within themselves. But if God doesn't want it as a part of your life and you refuse to give it up then it becomes a sin.

Let me ask you question. Can you put your finger on something that God's article his thing on your life today. God says you to get rid of it. You need take care of it. You need to deal with. Is this something that you caring that's hindering you in the race and every once in a while you have to stop and help in part and get because you see when you're carrying something God doesn't want you to carry gets to your second thing he said is he sick lay aside those things that encumber you been any civil outside the sin which doth so easily beset you now watch this when he says you notice the sin which does so easily beset you all the work is entangle you. That is all along the race. Watch this now all along the race. The patches above were you running down the track and if you're not careful you got 100 yards and you just didn't sit right.

You're not careful all of a sudden you running about 25 yards. Barbara, I'll have to tell you what that would do if you entangling you in the time you pulled yourself out of that you be blurry in the mess.

Listen to what he says caution on the track the life that is set before you.

Be aware of any encumbrance those things that you caring in your life that God says is slowing you down and hanging you up number two the sin which doth so easily beset us.

The implication is there is a sin. There is a weakness, a sin, a weakness in a life that person has the watch out for. Above all the rest, the sin that does so easily set as there is a weakness in our lives that Satan will use you know what he say he say watch out for encumbrances and watch out for the sin which doth so easily, Bessette's, and let us run with endurance the listen to. Then he says lay aside. Lay aside what lay aside the encumbrance may not be an excellent sermon something God is wanting your life. Secondly, lay aside the sin.

How do you lay aside the sin number one you identified number to your technology before God.

It's a sin number three by an act of your choice when he says lay it aside.

That implies the meaning of that is that you have with later side means that you land on how to lead them by faith and then you claim that because of your position in Christ Jesus.

Paul said, I am crucified with Christ. He says we by an act of apposition by faith. Apposition is we can claim there any listen the power at any particular Centinela but I watch this when you running the race, my friend. Remember this tapped on the tracks and what you haven't decided once and for all. Well enough of that sin. That's it.

Never had to worry about that again.

No, because all along the race.

He says the sin which so easily beset is that means that all along the track and sadness. Are you cruising along and everything is just fine. All of a sudden here's that patch above wagon. If you choose death or to go around how many times you have to choose death to the sender that so easily set you every single time you face not once-in-a-lifetime.

Not once in the race. Not once and forever every time you see there always those running along your race sailor. What about this. They want to encumber you with their idea and their their ideas, their speculations, they want to take omelettes thought patterns or things that would slow you down and encumber you in God's choice raise and he says he purposed when he gave his life to glorify himself and you. The objective of my life is the encumbrances of my life are the sin which does so easily beset me is on the challenge of my friend to get a pencil piece of paper.

When you go home today. Listen, and you might not even want to see that but get a pencil piece of paper and write those three things down.

The objective of my life is the encumbrances in my life are the sin which doth so easily beset me is that my lack of faith confessing. Having identified those things in your life you deal with them by faith, asking God to give you freedom and liberty, and the discernment to be able to spot them in the race and the be able to avoid them as God brings into your mind one last thing, listen one of these days were going to give an account of the race nonanswers today my friend how are you running the race.

Thank you for listing to part.

11 the life before you.

If you like to know more about Charles Stanley in touch ministries that night and had started writing this podcast is the presentation in touch ministries Atlanta, Georgia