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Read Hebrews 12:1-2
“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.”
Definition of Patience: “Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint, not hasty or impetuous, steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity.”
I don’t know if you realize this or not, but we currently live in times of impatience. Our current North American political temperature, social media temperature is on the rise and getting higher each day (so it feels like). Even when talking to one another it could turn into a yelling match quickly depending on what issue we are discussing or what our favorite news anchor said / didn’t say. We may even want to yell at our pastors or leaders for them not saying / doing something that we wanted them to say or do.
We live in a society of instant gratification, a less than 24 hour news cycle, and infinite ways to compare our lives to others through social media. We are constantly stimulating our thoughts, brains and bodies with things to do and things to occupy our time.
Why do they get to go on a vacation, and I don’t? What are they doing that I am not doing? Sometimes that can turn into jealousy and maybe even resentment or hatred. Our society is a jealous society, discontented with the things we have, looking for the next, brightest trinket to get our hands on. Our churches are always looking for brand new theological trends, NEW revelations instead of being content with these ancient revelations or to sit in what God has already given us. We are obsessed with what we don’t know and gaining NEW knowledge and NEW things ALL OF THE TIME.
“Impatience has become an endemic feature of our society by which people tend to question due process in life in general. We expect, unconsciously, to get everything we want in a matter of seconds, minutes, or, in the worst case, hours. We have developed a culture of immediacy that has made us impatient beyond reason, and, in the long term, will inevitably make us incompetent.”
--Forbes Magazine (Website Article)
“The research team discussed in their paper how their findings show that people are impatient not only when thinking about whether to wait or not for a larger reward in the abstract, but they are even more impatient when they actually must wait to receive a larger reward.”
--Ohio University Study Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, a flagship journal of the American Psychological Association
The Point: The Church, Christians are called to endure the race set before us; we do that by focusing on Christ and what He has done for us; by being involved in a church community and enduring this faith together
Our world has a Patience problem. We have become increasingly impatient, and it is affecting our lives, our expectations and our priorities in our lives.
1. Endure the race by setting your worship on the true example of Jesus Christ
Vs. 1b
“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
The Koine Greek Definition of “Endurance”
ὑπομονή hupŏmŏnē, hoop-om-on-ay'; from G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
We see that in the definition of endurance there is the phrase “Patient continuance (waiting).”
The definition of “endurance” is the main thrust of what the author of Hebrews is reminding the church with here—this is the main purpose of Hebrews 12, the thesis, the main idea.
Context:
We do not definitively know who wrote the book of Hebrews or if this letter had a single destination, rather this is a letter written to the general church and it circulated before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD (Christ died and resurrected in 28-33 AD). Some scholars believe that the person who wrote Hebrews as a leader of a predominately Jewish community meant to show the Jewish people the truth of Jesus.
The Letter of Hebrews has two purposes: to encourage Christians to endure in their faith, and to warn them to not abandon their faith in Jesus Christ. The author encourages faithfulness, love, and sound doctrine. He does so by carefully teaching the OT in light of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ.
“The author shows the superiority of Christ and his new covenant over angels, Moses, the OT priesthood, and the OT sacrificial system. These are so inferior to Christ that it is futile to return to them—or to go anywhere else. Rather, believers should hold fast to their faith, because that faith is grounded in the most superior revelation.”
--ESV Study Bible
Verse 1b is reminding the reader of this exact purpose by explaining the journey of endurance that is set before us as Christians. The Christian’s Walk is not a sprint, rather it is a marathon, we must endure in our walk with Christ through the power which Christ gives us. Notice how Patience is defined by remaining steadfast during adversity, staying upright and true in the midst of pain. Christians aren’t promised a “good” life by our standards rather we are taught that we must endure and be patient in every season of life. Our reward is the ultimate reward, a heavenly reward.
How do we endure the seasons of our lives as Christians?
Walk with Jesus, remain in Jesus, worship Jesus, make Jesus your Lord, start your day with Christ, spend your day with Christ, End your day with Christ. Our saviour endured the worst pain, He died on the cross, to offer the world salvation, to save them from their sin, to give the world ultimate hope and ultimate endurance. When Christians have to endure trials we find strength and peace knowing that saviour, that Christ Himself endured the ultimate suffering.
“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…it is for discipline that you have to endure.”
--Hebrews 12:3-5,7
“Our Lord endured far mare than did any of the heroes of faith named in Hebrews 11, and therefore He is a perfect example for us to follow, He endured the cross! This involved shame, suffering, the contradiction [opposition] of sinners, and even temporary rejection by the Father…He endured and the finished the work the Father gave Him to do.”
--The Bible Exposition Commentary
2. Endure the race by knowing God’s word, rely on what God says to you through His word, know the scriptures and know who God is and who you are in God.
We can’t know who Jesus is properly without spending time in God’s Holy Word. God isn’t hiding from His people, He has revealed Himself in four ways: Father, Son, Holy Spirit and His complete, infallible Holy written word: The Bible.
The author of Hebrews commands Christians to be disciplined in their faith:
“It is for discipline that you must endure. God is treating you as sons, for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
--Hebrews 12:7
We must be disciplined in our lives and in the soul care of our lives. This means living an organized life, working hard when we need to, setting days aside in our week to have a sabbath, a rest. It also means planning our whole weeks and day AROUND Jesus and learning His word; not trying to fit Christ in when we have time for Him. Jesus is the founder and perfecter of our faith!
“For Christ, “the wilderness” or “desolate place” often became his momentarily sacred space. He regularly escaped the noise and frenzy of society to be alone with his Father, where he could give him his full attention.”
--David Mathis: Desiring God
Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46–47; John 6:15 –Jesus often went away alone to a secluded, sacred space
Mark 6:31–32 Mark 3:7; Luke 9:10 , Jesus also called His men, His disciples to come to some of these alone times or sacred spaces, to open their souls, their lives up to the Father as a community.
We must retreat to our alone spaces, to get away from the crazy business of life and this world. A regular sabbath, a regular rest is a weekly practice in a healthy Christian’s life. How do we endure? We follow Christ’s example, we read His word, and copy the patterns of His life on earth, we rest and retreat to God weekly and daily.
3. Endure the race by running together. Go to Church. Hold each other accountable in our journey with Christ—Hold each other to the Faith.
“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…”
--Hebrews 12:1a
Being a part of a church is a vital and necessary part of living a healthy, enduring Christian life. Church isn’t optional, God commands us to run together.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God…And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as your see the Day drawing near.”
--Hebrews 10:19-21, 24-25
God has never meant for humanity to be alone, we are social creatures, and He has given us the beautiful gift of the church community to help us endure the race He has set before us:
--Man Cannot be alone – Genesis 1:27
--Jesus tells Peter that He will build the church through Peter– Matt. 16:17-20
--The modern church is born and becomes the main way for God to work in His people –Acts 2 (The Whole Chapter)
If we are to endure in our faith, if we are to remain close to God we must understand that we need to walk our faith out together in our church community. We need to hold each other accountable, confess our sin to one another, pray for one another and learn God’s word together. (1 John 1:7-9) As a church we must look to Jesus as our head, our high priest, we must point each other to Him. We must run this race called life with endurance, holding each other up to face the true saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.
“We must guard against seeing Jesus as only an example; He was and is so much more. But He also remains the ultimate example of Christian endurance. ‘Looking unto Jesus means life, light, guidance, encouragement, joy: never cease to look on him who ever looks on you.’”
--Charles Spurgeon
The Point: The Church, Christians are called to endure the race set before us; we do that by focusing on Christ and what He has done for us; by being involved in a church community and enduring this faith together
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