Keep Going Forward

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KEEP GOING FORWARD
HEBREWS 12: 1 – 10
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, 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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Some of you know how hard it is to keep going when you have put your loved one in a full care facility. I always thought dad would die at home.
I remember Newell Thornhill and his family. They cared for him until he died. There are a lot more of them and Vickie and I could not continue to do it. How do you keep going? The Lord provides.

Hebrews 11 tells us of the faith of some of the Bibles giants. The giants of faith or heroes of faith. The writer, believed to be Paul, says in chapter 12: 1
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,
He had just named the cloud of witnesses in chaper 11.
He says we are in a race and need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. No letting up, no looking back, no slowing down and no backing off.
I. Don’t Let Up 1 Cor. 15: 58 Paul says to the brethren.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Don’t let up with the Lord. Keep the faith.
A. Col. 3: 1- 2 Seek that which is above.
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Heavenly things are eternal, earthly things are temporal and will all pass away. Only the spiritual things will go on.
B. 2 Cor. 4: 18 Paul says look at that which is eternal. All else will pass away.
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We are here to glorify God. Yes we may obtain wealth, health, freedom and over come troubles, but our main purpose should be to glorify God and in doing so we will not let up.







II. Don’t Look Back Phil. 3: 13 – 14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul uses the word “forgetting”, this is not the inability to remember, but in this case not allowing our cares, fears, and things of the past to hinder our race in Christ.
A. Heb. 4: 15 16 We have a high priest that helps us.





Heb. 4: 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Christ understands us, knows us and loves us. We also can not fool him. He knows our desires and when we are looking back at our past sinful life. Let us not think we can fool him as we do the world around us.



B. 1 Peter 5: 6 – 7 Peter writes,
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
We do not need an appointment, we don’t have to wait, and we don’t need to look back.
III. Don’t Slow Down Rev. 3: 15 – 16 Jesus knew they were lukewarm.
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Jesus knew their works and they had slowed down.
They had slowed down to the point they were lukewarm. They found satisfaction in their works. To them it was good enough, but it made Jesus sick.
Let us not slow down in our faithfulness to God. Let us keep going forward.
A. Heb. 10: 22 - 23 To keep going forward,
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
It is not enough to draw near to Jesus. Many draw near but do not obey him. Draw near with a pure heart. Draw near with full assurance of faith. Hold fast.
B. 2 Peter 1: 2 – 4 Peter reminds us of Christ great promises.
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

IV. Don’t Back Off 2 Peter 2: 20 – 22
Peter speaks of those that returned to the world of sin.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Soloman in Prov. 26: 11
A. Luke 9: 57 – 62 Jesus says follow him!
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the lough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
If we look back we are not fit, not going.
B. 2 Cor. 4: 14 - 18 We are renewed daily.
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We must keep on keeping on. God never fails us, we fail him.
The prophet Isaiah tells us we can not do it alone.
Isa. 40: 27 – 31 God has not changed.
27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 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.
John 14: 1 – 3 Jesus promises his disciples and us.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Jesus is coming. Don’t let us let up in our service to God. Don’t let us look back desiring our past sins. Don’t let us slow down in our faithfulness or let our zeal and faith cool off. Let us not back off or grow weary in our Christian life. Keep on keeping on.

If you are not in Christ today you are not in the race to eternal life in heaven. You are headed in the wrong direction. If you know what to do then now is the time. If you’re not sure let us study with you.
God’s word is the Bible and has been written that you might understand and obey Jesus Christ in Baptism for the remission of sins.
If you’re a Christian today but not living faithful to God, now is the time to repent and begin again.
Jesus is coming for the faithful.
You want to be ready when he comes.
We need to be ready now. We have no promises of tomorrow.
Will you come as we stand and sing?