## Choosing Perseverance

## Hebrews 12:1

(PHIL 3:14) "I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS."

(HEB 12:1) "WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US,"

Last week we talked about the importance of choosing purpose over aimlessness in our lives. Certainly there are folks whose lives are destroyed simply because they had no real purpose and goal for living. Tonight, I want to talk about another important choice we must make in order to be successful as an individual in life, as a believer in their personal walk with the Lord, and again, corporately as a Bible believing local Baptist church.

We must choose perseverance over defeat. Many a battle is won in the mind before it is ever fought on the battlefield. Now, I am not promoting the power of positive thinking in the sense that we can do anything we put our minds to do. But, we cannot dismiss the fact that God's Word emphasizes right thinking! Right thinking will lead to right actions or righteousness. How can we persevere in our lives?

I. Know the Course You're Called to Run (v.1c)

"...AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US...""

A. The passage itself does not clearly give us a definition of the course which requires so much "perseverance", but the context does.

B. Hebrews 11 spells out for us those that "ran the race".

(2 TH 3:13) "BUT YE, BRETHREN, BE NOT WEARY IN WELL DOING."

C. The "heroes of faith" in Hebrews 11 show us a long list of biblical characters who despite a variety of hurdles kept striving to do what pleased God.

II. Don't Let Anything Slow You Down

(v.1b) "LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US..."

A. There are a variety of things that can hinder us from doing what is right.

B. Our passage describes two kinds of hindrances.

1. First, there are the "unnecessary" things that can tie us up-things that may not be "evil" in and of themselves but they don't contribute to "right living".

2. These should be "laid aside".

3. Second, there are "unrighteousness" things that can trip us up-things that for us are areas of frequent temptation.

4. Again, these also are to "laid aside".

5. Failure to deal properly with sin can keep us from living the life of faith-a life of doing what is right no matter how difficult it gets.

III. Remember Those Who Have Finished Well (v.1a)

"WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES..."

A. There are many who can testify to God's faithfulness when they have done what is right amid painful and difficult circumstances.

1. Hebrews 11 is full of these witnesses.

2. Those who have paid the price for doing what is right have laid down an example for us to follow.

3. This can be an important source of encouragement when weariness and exhaustion set in on the course that is set before us.

IV. Our Great Example: Jesus

(HEB 12:2) "LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND IS SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD."

A. We must learn to value that which is valuable.

1. Christ is our ultimate example of what it means to do what is right, trusting fully in God regardless of the cost.

2. Deferred Pleasure.

"...WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS..."

a. The "cross" was painful, but there was the assurance of "joy" that was to be realized on the other side.

b. The immediate investment was painful, and the joyful payoff was deferred.

c. This is a challenging rule to live by, but indispensable for those who are seeking to demonstrate godly endurance in doing what is right.

3. God's Approval

:...AND IS SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD"

a. The joyful reality on the other side of the cross included the approval of God.

b. The approval of God can be a significant source of motivation for those times when doing the right thing has a high price tag.

B. We must learn to put other things in proper perspective.

1. Pain

a. We often allow pain to play too big a role in our decision-making.

b. We must "think less" of pain and more of "God's approval".

2. People.

(HEB 12:3) "FOR CONSIDER HIM THAT ENDURED SUCH CONTRADICTION OF SINNERS AGAINST HIMSELF, LEST YE BE WEARIED AND FAINT IN YOUR MINDS."

a. Jesus faced a continuous movement of disapproval and opposition from people.

b. He obviously thought less of their approval than God's.

c. If we are to do what is right in the race that is set before us we too must worry less about the world's thinks and more of what God thinks.

We must realize that much of our lives are determined by the choices we make. We must choose to follow God's purpose for us, and we must choose to persevere. Don't quit! Don't give up! Keep serving God and living for Him!

Realize also that failure is not final. One of the most subtle and effective attacks of the enemy is to use our failures to cause us to quit altogether! The illustration is one of a race. What is most important is not how fast we run the race, but that we keep our focus on the finish line!

There will be obstacles in our paths, and there will be failures...but don't give up. There is a stadium filled with battered and beaten teammates who have already crossed the finish line. They are cheering us along. Then, perhaps most important, there is the Coach who is telling us to "Come on!" Don't choose to be a used to be or a has been. Choose to keep on "pressing toward the mark."