Sunday, September 01, 2019

THE UNCOMMON COMMON DENOMINATOR


                               

Hebrews 12:1-4                               

Pastor Rick Jackson

In the Football Hall of Fame, the common denominator of all the people represented is football, in the Baseball Hall of Fame its baseball, and so on. In Hebrews 11, the chapter sometimes called “the Hall of Faith”, you might think the common denominator of all the people represented therein is faith, but you would be wrong, the common denominator of all the people represented in the Hall of Faith is the Lord Jesus Christ! Without Him there would be nothing.
Your name may not be in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews but if your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life you can be an all-star for Jesus. Don’t believe me? How about believing the Holy Spirit? Daniel 12:3 declares, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever”.

I. OUR RESPONSIBILITY [v. 1]

1. Lay aside Every Weight [1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23]
 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

2. Lay aside Every Sin [Romans 13:12, Ephesians 4:22, 25; Colossians 3:8, James 1:21, 1 Peter 2:1]
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

3. Run with Patience [1 Corinthians 9:24, Galatians 2:2, 5:7; Philippians 2:16]
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

II. OUR SAVIOUR [v. 2]

1. Jesus is the Author of our Salvation [2:10]

2. Jesus is the Finisher of our Salvation [John 19:30]
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

3. Jesus is the Intercessor at the Right Hand of the Father [Hebrews 1:3, 7:25, 8:1, 10:12, Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34]
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

III. OUR INSPIRATION [v. 3-4]

1. Contemplate what Jesus Did [v. 3a, Is. 26:3-4]
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

2. Conquer weary Thoughts [v. 3b, Is. 40:30-31]
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

3. Consider the Ultimate [v. 4, Revelation 2:10]

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