RUN HARD...but not ALONE

Run in such a way that you want to WIN…” 1 Cor 9:24-27 

HIS EYES RUN to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is loyal toward Him.

DAVID – Psalm 119:32 – “I run along the path of your word, for you have set my heart free.” 

ISAIAH 40:29-31 “…those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary; walk and not faint.”

SAMUEL – 2 Samuel 22: 30 - For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.

SOLOMON – Proverbs 18:10  - The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. HABAKKUK – 2:2  - “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

RUNNING OUR RACE  1. SUFFERING – Necessary suffering vs Unnecessary Suffering

2. DISCIPLINE – the foundation of all discipline is “Delayed Gratification”

3. TODAY: DIVINE MENTORS:  RUN HARD! BUT NOT ALONE

A MENTOR – Someone who can PREVENT you from getting “STUCK”; or help you get UNSTUCK; 

“ I should have listen to my ____________, then I wouldn’t be _____________.

YEARLY RITUAL: ONE WORD; ONE SCRIPTURE; ONE PERSON

QUOTE: “When the student is ready, the mentors will appear. These heroes and legends have been expecting you.”

Rom 15:4 Whatever was written beforehand is meant to instruct us in how to live. The Scriptures impart to us encouragement and inspiration so that we can live in hope and endure all things.

MY PRAYER – Psalm 71:18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

RAHAB - Hebrews 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

RAHABS BACK STORY: 1. Joshua 2. Jericho 3. Rahab

Joshua 2:9-14 (MSG) I know that GOD has given you the land. We’re all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. 10 We heard how GOD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, ….

11 We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and GOD, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below. 12 “Now promise me by GOD. I showed you mercy; now show my family mercy. And give me some tangible proof, a guarantee 13 of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters—everyone connected with my family. Save our souls from death!” 14 “Our lives for yours!” Said the men. “But don’t tell anyone our business. When GOD turns this land over to us, we’ll do right by you in loyal mercy.” Joshua 2:18 here is what you must do: Hang this red rope out the window through which you let us down and gather your entire family with you in your house—father, mother, brothers, and sisters…19   Anyone who goes out the doors of your house into the street and is killed, it’s his own fault—we aren’t responsible.

20 But if you tell anyone of our business here, the oath you made us swear is canceled—we’re no longer responsible.”

21 She said, “If that’s what you say, that’s the way it is,” and sent them off. They left and she hung the red rope out the window.

Joshua 6:15-17 (MSG) 15 When the seventh day came, they got up early and marched around the city this same way but seven times—yes, this day they circled the city seven times. 16 On the seventh time around the priests blew the trumpets and Joshua signaled the people, “Shout!—GOD has given you the city!

17 The city and everything in it is under a holy curse and offered up to GOD. “Except for Rahab the harlot—she is to live, she and everyone in her house with her, because she hid the agents we sent.

I AM NOT DEFINED BY MY PAST!

1. GOD SAVES THOSE WITH A PAST

2. GOD USES THOSE WITH A PAST

3. GOD REDEFINES THOSE WITH A PAST

God redefined Rahab — From a fallen woman to a CHOSEN woman, from a bad girl to a BRIDE, from a mess to a MOTHER and from prostitute to a PARENT of the Messiah.

IMAGINE IF… In 2022:   if we approach our bible as an APPOINTMENT WITH OUR MENTOR...

TAKE HOME 1. What ONE THING about your past makes you feel WEAK? 2. What’s ONE SCRIPTURE about your past that makes you feel STRONG? 3. WHO WILL YOU BELIEVE?     YOUR FEELINGS or YOUR FAITH  

RUN HARD

RUN WITH INTENTION

BUT WHATEVER YOU DO …DON’T RUN ALONE

Run Week 2 – The Power of Discipline Hebrews 12:1-11 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?

It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,  and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all…No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. “Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life’s problems.” - M. Scott Peck

Key Point: The foundation of all discipline is delayed gratification.  

Christmas Unmasked

When It’s Nothing Like You Expected

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Key Point: When you are faced with a situation that is nothing like you expected choose to bring your best and give it.

The Gifts of the Magi and what they may represent:

2. Frankincense for a high priest (Jesus us intercessor between God and man)

3. Myrrh for sacrifice (Jesus as the sacrifice that would save the world)

Key Point: We focus on the presents, but what if it’s about the presence.

Turn off the TV

Turn off phones (don’t look stuff up)

Pull out some old photos

Play a board game

Ask some pre-planned questions to get conversation going

Christmas Unmasked:

When the infinite enters the finite, it becomes impossible to see everything that is happening.

Whenever you see heaven touching earth, heaven has to hide itself --

Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. – Isaiah 53:3

The Power of an Attitude of Gratitude

"It was concluded that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties that must be undertaken and overcome with greater courage."

"Whatever great dangers and difficulties lie ahead would, through the help of God, with fortitude and patience, be either overcome or endured."