Run to Win

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin, which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

So here you sit in the Gwinnett Arena for FORWARD conference 2010, and whether this is your first FORWARD conference or your 6th FORWARD conference an amazing opportunity stands before you. An opportunity to do something that will forever change your life, and the lives of everyone that you know. Hebrews 12:1 tells us that every single one of us has a race that God has set before us.

Think about it, the God of creation, the one who spoke the entire universe into existence has a specific race set aside for you. He created everything that you see around you; from the tiniest microorganism to the largest star in the galaxy, God stood on the day of creation and spoke them into being. That same God from the beginning of time has set a course specifically laid out for you to run! He has custom designed the course based specifically on the gifts and abilities that he has placed inside of you! In order for us to run the race to its end Hebrews 12:1 tells us we have to do things…

“Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin, which so easy entangles us…” First, we have to lay aside every encumbrance. An encumbrance is anything that keeps us from progressing on the racetrack God has us on. The thing to keep in mind is that encumbrances often times are not sins. Than means anything, whether it be a relationship, hobbies, or over-commitment, anything that constantly keeps your from spending time with God is slowing down your pace towards God. Maybe you need to simplify your life, whatever it takes make time for God lay aside all the distractions in your life!

Secondly, we see that we get rid of “the sin, which so easily entangles us.” Notice the writer didn’t say the sins (plural) but rather the ONE SIN that will always trip us up…DOUBT. The minute we begin to doubt what God has called us to do we begin to lose sight of the race that has been set before us. When we stumble and fall, the enemy will tell us that we are not worthy enough to do what God has called us to do. We have to believe what God has said about us and keep running towards the goal!

So what will you do at FORWARD conference 2010? Will you step up the starting block? Will you run FORWARD, not looking back running with everything you have? This is the race that is set before you? If you do God promises that your life and this world will never be the same.

Pastor Jeremy DeBord