HEBREWS 12:1-4...RUN YOUR RACE WITH CHRIST

SCRIPTURE

1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed (awareness; range of understanding; comprehension; perception; to surround) about with so great a cloud (a visible body/mass of particles; a large moving body of something) of witnesses (someone/thing that provides evidence or/and can give first-hand account of someone/thing that is seen, heard or experienced; one called to testify), let us lay aside every weight (measurement of heaviness; object used to hold down; oppressive), and sin (any deed or thought that is opposite of righteousness; wickedness/evil notions or acts that are produced by the devil) which doth so easily (without complication) beset ( to attack from all sides; trouble persistently; surround; dangers, temptations, difficulties) us, and let us run (move at a speed faster than walking) with patience (fruit of the Holy Spirit; the ability to endure provoking, annoyance, opposition, delay, difficult/challenging situations without getting upset, angry or responding harshly; calmness; tolerance; restraint; bearing; one who is able to persevere with an even-temper) the race (pursuit; quest; course; trail; course) that is set (placed) before (in front of) us.

Key point: I know that this verse talks about the people of the faith life but to me choosing to see the testament of God in your life is sometimes as simple as looking around and seeing the blessings of his goodness, the big and the small. The love of family, food to eat, shelter from living homeless on the street, the life spared, the kindness/mercy/compassion shown, his healing hand, the very breathe you breathe and so forth. The witnesses of God in our life have no specificity, God can witness himself to us using any/everything.

Thought to Ponder: What are you overlooking in your life that God is trying to use as a witness of his presence? That person, place or thing you may not believe the presence of God is in.

Let's skip ahead in the breakdown of this verse and discuss the race that is set before us.

Key Point: What is scripture talking about when it refers to the word race? The word race in this context means the course of life, the trail, the path God has assigned for you to run that serves out his need in the world. Your individual life's path.

Key Point: There are many paths in life to take, however it is our own individual course of life we are to focus on completing, that which God has specifically tailored our spiritual, mental and physical makeup to handle. Stepping over into someone else's path subjects us to the experiences of life that God may very well be setting out to protect us from, those moments in life where all that is entailed may be more of a hinderance than a help.

Key Point: The key to running life's race is to focus on what God has called you to do and do it the way he has instructed. Not to pay attention to the life others, no comparison, no competition.

Key Point: The word race is synonymous with running against someone to win a prize, there is no special prize different from the next, we all receive when the time comes the same prize from God which we know to be everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thought to Ponder: What are you running after to win, and who’s the one handing out the prize?

Thought to Ponder: What race or you running today, is it the path placed at your feet by God or the one you've been guided to run by the voice of the world?

Now let’s back up.

Key Point: The weights and the sins, what does this mean? The weights and sins are the entities satan uses to deter, distract and destroy us from even getting to the point of coming to the path of life God has created for us to run. The weights keep us bogged down with the cares of the world, the sins keep us in opposition to the Kingdom of Heaven

Key Point: Notice how God spoke about the race after the laying down of weights and sins. Could it be God knew that before we could even get to the point of starting to run we need to first release that which has the ability of affecting us the most. weights and sins = blockers of the finish line.

Key Point: Notice how God uses the word easily to describe how simple it is for sin and the problems of the world to weigh us down, attack us and seek to destroy our mental, spiritual and physical stamina. How easy it is for satan to be satan in our life.

Key Point: On every path of life laid out by God there are devils all around creating obstacles and hardships to destroy our motivation, determination and ability. A godly course is not free from the presence of the devil.

Thought to Ponder: The path God creates to be ran is not hard it’s the weight and sins of the devil and demons that make it hard. God’s way of living is easy, it’s satan’s plan of attack that brings about the pains and sufferings. Apply this thought to the path of life you walk today and see if it doesn’t give you a better understanding as to the why’s you asked/asks God about.

Key Point: Patience, why does God want us to move about our individualized plan of life’s pursuit with patience? We are not in competition with anyone. God is not concerned about who is the fastest, who’s in first place. God is a God of effectiveness and the desires of his heart being fulfilled accurately. Rushing causes mistakes and the less mistakes we make the better off we all are in the long run.

Key Point: Moving about on the path of life God choose is a long and steady course, being patient allows the opportunity pacing so that when the obstacles and hardships of the devil and his demons arise, Godly endurance can be maintained without falling out of Godly stride.

Thought to Ponder: Stay diligent with intention, the more we continue on with God the greater the devil and demons that are around doing their best to break us down before we get to the finish line. Run your path of life with intention.

Thought to Ponder: When running your race pay attention to what satan throws your way, the sin/temptation that he confronts you with is usually the part(s) of your flesh he knows is the weakest against him.

2) Looking (focused on; turn one's attention to) unto Jesus (the Son, the Word, the presence of God in human form) the author (writer; the establisher; originator, creator; constructor) and finisher (the end of; the person who finishes) of our faith (that which is believed in; complete trust and confidence in someone/thing); who for the joy (the feeling of great pleasure; intense happiness/satisfaction) that was set (placed) before (in front of) him endured (to suffer patiently through something without stopping; to continue on in spite of hardships) the cross (crucifix; an apparatus used for execution; to intersect; a religious symbol used for the bearing of burdens), despising (to dislike strongly; loathe; the feeling/belief that someone/thing is worthless or beneath consideration) the shame (disgrace; painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by a person, action, situation or the deed of wrong/foolish behavior), and is set (placed) down at the right hand of the Throne (a chair occupied by a sovereign or exalted person as a mark of authority, rank or distinction) of God (Supreme being of authority).

Key Point: Jesus is the example of what a divine path of life looks like from start to finish in all the glory and gloomy parts. The life of Jesus in its' entire context (word and deed) is the answer to verse one. The race (Godly path), the plight (satan and his demons), the patience (how to run).

Thought to ponder: The life of Jesus was to deliver the word of God and save humanity from the depths of hell by bringing them into reconciliation and redemption with the Kingdom of Heaven. Preach, Teach, Baptize, Repentance, Deliverance and Salvation. Is the path of life you now run aligned with the teachings and actions of Jesus the Christ?

Key Point: Faith, double context. Faith meaning the religious beliefs we are to follow, the doctrine of the Lord Jehovah. Faith also meaning the confidence needed within to accomplish the path of life created for us to run. It's both as one, the set of religious beliefs we are to follow created by God so that we can harbor inside the confidence in him we need to accomplish the course of life he has placed before.

Side Note: Why do people say I'm spiritual but not religious or I don't follow religion, like being religious or religion is some sort of a bad thing. I mean Jesus was religious in that he believed in his father as being the God Almighty. And we definitely know he followed religion because he lived his life by the commandments of God and gave command on how to live. And how is being spiritual different from being religious or having religion. All three are one in the same. What if trying to separate one's self from religion or from being religious is the very thing that satan is using to separate you from the presence of God. To me separation seems to be about not having to follow a set of rules or regulations laid out, not having to adhere to a certain set of standards and practices. But isn't that what the commandments of God and Jesus are, a set of rules and regulations laid out so that mankind would live a life in accord and harmony with their Kingdom of Heaven. I am spiritual because I follow the spirit of God that lives within me connecting me to God, I practice religion because I follow the doctrine of principles commanded by God and Jesus, and lastly I am religious because I believe and have reverence for a higher power named Jehovah, God, Lord Almighty, the great I AM who is king over all. Stop trying to be so philosophical, sometimes it's just about simplicity of understanding. I am a Christain because I follow Jesus the Christ, and being a Christian means I apply the life of Christ as my way of living, just as simple as that. I am a God-fearing person because I love God and chose to hold him above all that is in my life, just as simple as that. Stop trying to remove God out of things because you want to make it ok to live a certain way and partake in certain activities. There are all kinds of spirits around and it would be most beneficial to know which spirit you are following.

Okay, lets get back on track...

Key Point: You notice how Jesus was able to make it through? He saw the joy that was to come. Jesus knew that though I suffer now there is a great joy waiting for me at the finish line, a joy that makes what I now am going through endurable, a joy that supersedes all pains and suffering. The joy was the motivating factor Jesus used to continue on in faith in spite of all the devil threw his way. This is how we are to make it through ourselves, keeping our eye on the Godly reward that lies ahead and not the entities satan uses against us.

Thought to Ponder: How different would my life be right now if I actively choose to focus on the joyful aspects instead of the negative, if I choose to see God in everything, the bad as well as the good. Could a joyful outlook be the key to experiencing a Heavenly filled life on earth?

Key Point: Just as the path of life is already created when you were a thought in God’s mind so was the reward. God created the race you are to run with the reward of Heaven in mind first.

Thought to Ponder: There is something about God's thinking, choosing to see the overall or the end first. Run the race with the bigger picture in mind, with the knowledge of Heaven is the reward waiting for me at the finish line.

Key Point: The cross a symbol of Jesus death. The place where we hang all that is a burden, the cares and weights of the earthly world. The cross, the point of intersection, the moment where the flesh and the Spirit of God become one, the point in one’s life where a choice needs to be made, do I continue living as the world lives or do I submit to the Throne of God and live righteous in him?

Key Point: What was the shame Jesus despised? Hanging on the cross in Jesus's day was viewed as a shameful place to be, the place where criminals were set before the generations of people and allowed to be scolded and ridiculed as they died. Jesus being a Prince in Heaven had to endure the disdain, condemnation, humiliation and the disrespect of being treated like a criminal because he lived and spoke a life of truth.

Key Point: Running a Godly race is not always a glorious thing, Jesus choosing to despise the shame is called intentional running. Jesus looked past that which was before him to see that which he knew awaited him on the other side of the finish line. Shame is a weapon of the devil used to weaken the faith of those whose eyes are kept on the Kingdom in hope that they will tire, give up and never reach the light of God's glory.

Thought to Ponder: As followers of Christ and those who choose to live righteous before the worldly, shame comes with living for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, it is inevitable. The worldly will always have a skewed disposition against the righteous because all that is righteous goes against the kingdom in which it serves.

Key Point: Jesus placed at the right hand of the Throne of God tells us the magnitude of his status and position. The magnitude of his life's work was so deserving of the highest rank in all the Kingdom of Heaven a child of God could have.

Thought to Ponder: What is the status of Jesus in your life?

3) For consider (to think about carefully; ponder; contemplate) him that endured such contradiction (direct opposition between two conflicting forces; to deny the truth by asserting the opposite of; going against) of sinners (those who sin/commit wrong doings; those who commit acts of immorality against the divine law) against himself, lest (with the intent of preventing; to avoid the risk of) ye (you) be wearied (mentally or physically tired; exhausted) and faint (feeble; weak; little strength; close to losing consciousness) in your minds (the element of a person that causes them to think, feel, perceive, remember, desire and be aware).

Key Point: The mind is the key to finishing the path of life God placed for us to accomplish. At some point on our path if we find ourselves becoming weak and feeble, feeling like we are unable to make it through and are ready to give up, it is at this point we should really think about the life of Jesus and all that he went through from the beginning to end. Jesus experienced the temptations, obstacles and hardships brought about by the devil just as we do today and he still made it through to see the glory of God. Jesus’s life is proof that having the right perspective is key to crossing the finish line to see the reward God has awaiting us.

Thought to Ponder: The mind is powerful tool, what is focused on is what has the capability of being manifested. Focus on the Kingdom of Heaven and the presence of God in your life and that is what will be made real to you.

4) Ye (you) have not yet (at this time; up to the present) resisted (to take action in opposition to; fight against; take a stand against; refuse) unto (to the point of) blood (symbol of intensity) striving (to devote much energy to achieve a goal or to obtain; to struggle or fight forcefully) against sin (that which is opposite of righteousness; wrong doing; wickedness).

Key Point: It is a fact that God does not allow us to be provoked by the devil beyond our ability. However, we must first understand that our strength and ability to withstand the provocations of the devil comes from the Throne of God. The Lord Jehovah and the righteousness that dwells within him is where we are to draw the authority of our power. The reason why most people break from the temptations and hardships satan throws their way is because the strength they are pulling is from the flesh/world instead of God. I will say it again like I said last week, we cannot fight the spirit world with that of the flesh, the spirit world must be fought in the spirit by the Spirit of God.

Key Point: God says there is not anything the devil can throw our way that he has not given us the strength to overcome. As long as we keep ourselves rooted in the Kingdom of Heaven, all we need to be victorious in the Lord will be provided.

Thank Lord Jehovah for the studying, teach and learning of your word, may all of what you poured out through me be a blessing to those who eyes read, ears hear and hearts receive in the name of your Holy Son Jesus the Christ, Amen.